TRIP REPORT: LOT, Belgrade - Brussels via Warsaw

TRIP REPORT

Written by Aleksandar Karić

I booked my ticket about three weeks before departure for a total of €205 in Economy Light. I chose this option because it was significantly cheaper compared to flights with the Lufthansa Group or a direct ticket with Air Serbia. One nice feature with LOT is seat selection: while you must pay for it during booking, once online check-in opens you can freely change seats - even to priority rows - as often as you like, completely free of charge. This flexibility turned out to be quite handy for my trip.

BEG-WAW-BRU on August 4

I arrived at Belgrade Airport around three hours before departure. Since I had already checked in online, I headed straight to security and passport control. Despite the airport being extremely crowded that day, the entire process was surprisingly smooth and took only about 15 minutes.

Boarding was scheduled at Gate A7, even though the flight was initially announced for Gate C2. My first leg, LOT Polish Airlines flight LO572 from Belgrade to Warsaw, was operated by a Boeing 737 MAX in the special Independence livery, and the cabin was completely full. This was actually my first time flying on a MAX, and I was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable it felt. The seats came with adjustable headrests, USB ports, and universal power outlets, along with decent legroom - overall a very good impression for a narrowbody.

The crew on this flight was warm and attentive, setting a positive tone right away. Shortly after takeoff, the in-flight service began. In this regard, LOT outperforms many European airlines. Even on this short flight of just over an hour, they offered a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks along with a choice of sweet or savory pastry - all complimentary. The snack itself was perfectly fine for the length of the flight, and it was refreshing to see such service included in economy these days. A friend later told me that this is an improvement compared to last year, when alcohol was not included.

We landed in Warsaw just one minute behind schedule and parked directly at a gate with jet bridge access. After disembarking, I went through passport control followed by an additional security check required for transfers. In my opinion, this is the main drawback of connecting through Warsaw compared to airports like Munich, where such checks are not repeated.

With a relatively short connection time, I went straight to my next gate for Brussels. Boarding was handled via bus transfer to an Embraer E195, conveniently parked right next to the MAX I had just flown on. The second sector, LOT flight LO233 to Brussels, was comfortable as usual for an Embraer, also offering adjustable headrests and a respectable amount of legroom, which is always appreciated on regional jets.

Again, the crew was polite and efficient, and the service felt generous for such a short hop. This time, in addition to the pastry, passengers could also choose between a chocolate bar or nuts, with onboard sales of LOT products also available. It was a simple offering, but more than adequate for the flight length.

The flight to Brussels pushed back about 20 minutes late but still landed exactly on time. Unlike the packed Belgrade - Warsaw sector, this flight was relatively empty, which made it feel even more relaxed.

The only area where LOT still lags the Lufthansa Group is connectivity: neither the MAX nor the E195 offered Wi-Fi in any form. By contrast, Lufthansa Group airlines provide at least free messaging options, with additional paid packages for browsing, streaming, or more intensive use.

BRU - WAW - BEG on August 13

For the return, I arrived at Brussels Airport about 2.5 hours before departure, dropped off at the kiss & fly zone. Right after entering the terminal, I noticed plenty of self check-in kiosks. Even though I was already checked in online, I tried to print my boarding passes there, but it didn’t work. So, I proceeded directly to security - where I encountered a very unpleasant surprise.

Despite almost all lanes being open, the process took over 40 minutes, much longer than usual for Brussels. On top of that, about 90% of passengers, myself included, were selected for additional screening and bag checks. This was the first time it happened to me at BRU, even though I’ve flown from there fairly often in recent years, and security usually takes just a few minutes.

After clearing security, I headed into duty free where I picked up the obligatory Belgian chocolate and some beer. Boarding started on time, and so did departure. The first return sector, LOT flight LO236 to Warsaw, was operated by an Embraer E175. Just like on the MAX, this aircraft offered USB ports and universal power outlets at the seats, as well as adjustable headrests and respectable legroom. The crew was once again friendly, and service was slightly better than on the outbound flights: in addition to the standard pastry, passengers were given a second one, which was a pleasant surprise.

This time in Warsaw, I had more breathing room thanks to a longer connection - and also because arriving from a Schengen country meant no additional security check. That gave me the chance to walk around the terminal. Warsaw Airport offers a decent variety of restaurants with very reasonable prices by airport standards: a large sausage cost around €6, and bottled water was less than €1.

The final leg, LOT flight LO573 from Warsaw to Belgrade, was also on an Embraer E175, with the same comfortable cabin features - adjustable headrests, proper legroom, and seat power/USB. Boarding was by bus, and we departed about half an hour late, eventually landing in Belgrade only five minutes behind schedule.

Overall impression

LOT delivered a solid product for the price I paid. The cabins on the 737 MAX and both Embraers were consistently comfortable, with adjustable headrests, proper legroom, and even seat power options. Crews were friendly and attentive, and the complimentary service - drinks, pastries, and small snacks - felt more generous than what most European airlines offer on similar flights.

The main downsides were the extra security check in Warsaw (for non-Schengen arrivals) and the lack of Wi-Fi, which Lufthansa Group carriers now include at least in basic form. Still, at €205 for four flights, LOT offered excellent value and a very pleasant overall experience.

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