HON on LOT - benefits, protocol?
 

I have tried googling some information on this, but obviously if you search for "HON LOT" you get a *lot* of posts on Hon... If there is a thread somewhere, please re-direct me there.

Question is what it is like to fly on LOT as HON. Any benefits and infrastructure on the ground (lounge, special assistance/escort, etc)? In the air (blocked neighbouring seat, higher ranking for upgrades, C class amenities in Eco)? Or basically not a big difference between being HON or not?

Will be flying them intra-Europe, in Y on a leisure trip to Krakow via WAW

Not a LOT really. Lounge-wise (in Warsaw), there's a cramped section within the Polonez business lounge (right hand side as you walk past the first food counter, it has a dedicated entrance) which was (possibly still is, at least judging from the wording on the website) supposed to be for HON/SENs only yet all passengers holding a Star Alliance Gold card can access it so, it goes without saying, it may get fairly busy (as of not finding a seat) at times. That said, you will get escorted to the main terminal when arriving at a remote stand (which does happen 8 times out of 10) whereas, in regards to the blocked seat, I'm paging [MENTION=185918]hugolover[/MENTION] as he's the expert on this matter but it seems to me that LOT does seat blocking for all Star Alliance Gold members irregardless (I know this by direct experience especially when travelling with the Mrs who's also *G and, when booked on different PNRs, we never seem to be able to choose a seat next to each other).

G

Approx 40 HON’s pass through Warsaw on a monthly basis, obviously that is a very small number and one would hope this means favourable treatment. I always pity the LO HON's even more than usual because if one is unlucky enough to fly many domestics there is zero potential to gain any HON miles given the one class cabin.

Seat blocking should be working fine and you can choose the most forward rows on the domestic flight, which on the Dash, are typically blocked until OLCI even if you have the fare class for ASR.

You should be driven to the aircraft by service called "LOT Limousine" on the same basis in the LH hubs, ie, if it would be a bus (or to use obfuscating Lufty language an "Outside Position".) That's 100% guaranteed if its a Dash, less so the larger the aircraft, some KRK are B734 and B738. They have a new fleet of Volvo XC60 (I think) for this. You should be collected if you arrive into Warsaw on the same terms. I've only seen how they deal with Anna Maria Anders but she is also naturally premium. So, you're really our guinea pig for this as a normal HON.

You can ask at the desk for a LS handling agent to escort you to the gate even if you have a airbridge position but it would be kinda pointless. Indeed, if you do end up with a bus position and there is no escort then do ask at the reception and it should be arranged for you.

All this is in theory :D.

Only 40?
OK, I know, OT, but do you have similar statistics for other M&M hubs?

I'm not sure where HL got the data from but it somewhat makes sense to me, especially if you consider LOT's mediocre long-haul network and that Lufthansa has an incredibly wide (in terms of both destinations & frequencies) coverage of the Polish provinces (including the likes of Bydgoszcz & Rzeszów) directly from Frankfurt & Munich.

G

Always received same service & recognition on LOT as HON, as LH 👍

I have a good source within LOT. You're right about the crap situation for HON Miles. Am I right in thinking that LOT are the *only* integrated M&M airline that awards HON Miles that has a huge number of flights (relatively speaking) that have zero potential to earn any HON Miles? For the M&M Airlines that I can think of, everyone has a multi class cabin. IMO they shoot themselves in the foot with that and they already are on the backfoot in terms of recognition compared to LH and LX. Okay, enough of feet...

So you got picked up when arriving at an apron position? Is that also when terminating your journey in WAW? Which would be better than LH and LX right?- I'm right in thinking that its offered in the hubs for connections only? And what about onboard as per the OP's question?

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Sorry, no clue. I'd guess FRA might be a fair few :D.

Things may change, at least in terms of ground experience, with the new supa-dupa hub in Baranów - you never know, we may get a FCT/FCL :p

G

Just curious about the HON benefits at Warsaw recently (the last posts in the thread are from before the Pandemic). Does it differ when flying LOT vs Lufthansa?

I'm on track to qualify for HON circle in June and often fly on the WRO-WAW route.

Oh, in WAW it is just PERFECT. And was also almost all the pandemic times.
If you start your journey in WAW be sure to ask assistance when you check in (they have special counter for HON). Otherwise neccessary to tell it in the lounge. After that you will be visited by HON Assistant who offer escort to plane. If plane is not on gate position you will be driven to plane by Volvo, also collected from plane on field by car.
If you will be collected from nong-gate-position plane then HON assistant escort you quickly thru any formlaities/security checks if needed.
Only thing what is neccessary to get it on arrival to WAW is your HON number in booking -- re-check it also on the boarding pass (on paper bp must be remark HONOUR).
At least on LO flight in WAW everything worked all time sperfectly.

I am not sure about arriving LH/OS/LX flights, maybe somebody here do have experience?

As of last year flying LH, nothing in WAW, they cut the service, with LO it’s full service, Limousine if outside position, escort to & from the lounge

On a recent flight there was an HON just stood at the gate demanding the car cos somehow they had forgotten him and he refused to go on the bus. All pax stood on the bus waiting for him. Car never turned up so he relented and went on the bus... arrival was also by bus, a very clapped out bus in fact :D.

I found his behaviour quite pathetic.