The LOT Kafeteria 2018-23 (retired)
Sep 19, 2018, 9:28 pm
#211
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
I flew LO 280, LHR-WAW last night and, as promised, I can report that there are no curtains installed on the 737-800. The service was just as described upthread, and it was quite good for a flight of around two hours. LO's South African Shiraz is quite drinkable, especially compared to what Air Canada and United dish out!
Sep 20, 2018, 1:13 am
#212
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
Thank you for reporting back, highly appreciated!
Sep 20, 2018, 7:27 am
#213
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: WAW
Programs: A3(*G), Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,534
Did you get a confirmation by email of your claim being lodged? You should chase them up anyway. I helped a friend file a claim recently for a cancellation and forced stopover in SOF. It took only 2-3 weeks for him to get paid.
Sep 20, 2018, 7:50 pm
#214
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: BSL/FRA or PHL
Programs: LH Miles and More, DL SkyMiles, Bonvoy, Hilton
Posts: 2,335
I filed a claim about a week ago via the LO customer service website, and received a confirmation. I will report back how long a reply takes and what the reply was.
Sep 24, 2018, 6:01 am
#215
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Wrocław, Poland
Programs: SK *S, LH *S; Accor ALL Gold
Posts: 231
LOT's current E170s are getting their seat comfort enhanced with six more seats squeezed in per plane.
Sep 24, 2018, 7:42 am
#216
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 11,582
Them O/U class tix don’t pay for themselves! 😋
Oct 3, 2018, 10:34 am
#217
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
A small HISTORICAL QUIZ
So today is Oct 3 and the last activity here was on Sep 24, huh?!
How about giving you a challenge with my small historical quiz?
No official prize, but if happen to be in KRK or WAW please send me a message and I will buy you a drink.
1. Secret’ IL8 flights
It is 1988. It is People’s Republic of Poland and the Wall is still there. During the evening a small international terminal of WAW Okecie airport is busy. LO IL8 (Ilyushin 18) is preparing for a certain ‘secret’ flight to a certain destination (not in the communist part of Europe). It is a red eye departing daily at 22.10. Could you name this LO destination? Would you be able to identify the purpose of this LO flight? .
2. SVO
It is 1987. Could you name 4 airlines that operate flights between WAW and SVO? This is a bit tricky as one of these airlines doesn’t have local traffic rights, but is indeed flying between WAW and SVO.
3. F/A bases
It is 1988. There are 2 airlines in Poland (but not necessarily Polish) that have F/A bases in WAW. Could you identify these airlines?
How about giving you a challenge with my small historical quiz?
No official prize, but if happen to be in KRK or WAW please send me a message and I will buy you a drink.
1. Secret’ IL8 flights
It is 1988. It is People’s Republic of Poland and the Wall is still there. During the evening a small international terminal of WAW Okecie airport is busy. LO IL8 (Ilyushin 18) is preparing for a certain ‘secret’ flight to a certain destination (not in the communist part of Europe). It is a red eye departing daily at 22.10. Could you name this LO destination? Would you be able to identify the purpose of this LO flight? .
2. SVO
It is 1987. Could you name 4 airlines that operate flights between WAW and SVO? This is a bit tricky as one of these airlines doesn’t have local traffic rights, but is indeed flying between WAW and SVO.
3. F/A bases
It is 1988. There are 2 airlines in Poland (but not necessarily Polish) that have F/A bases in WAW. Could you identify these airlines?
Oct 3, 2018, 1:37 pm
#218
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,051
@2: Obviously LO and SU. Third I'd say YU? fourth no idea.
Oct 5, 2018, 9:10 am
#222
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
#1 - My rough guess is: secret flights to Beirut, providing weapons to Lebanon. Though those were usually happening on Antonovs, so I'm not that sure here.
The purpose was not as illegal as providing weapons, but these flights were not listed in any official LO timetable.
Oct 5, 2018, 9:50 am
#223
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: BSL/FRA or PHL
Programs: LH Miles and More, DL SkyMiles, Bonvoy, Hilton
Posts: 2,335
Exposure of LO operations to increasing fuel prices, etc.
I was recently having an offline discussion with someone about the vulnerability of LO to increasing fuel prices. One camp seemed to be of the opinion that since they don't hedge fuel contracts, and LO is anyway in the best of times one small mistake away from financial disaster, that the recent fuel price increases will be devastating, perhaps even inflicting mortal wounds. Basically, the argument is that low fuel prices are covering for a host of other sins.
The other camp (which I lean toward, but could be persuaded otherwise), thinks with an updated long-haul fleet that has excellent fuel burn, gradual modernization of the short-haul fleet (which will also save fuel costs), some room to increase prices, and the general health of the Polish/Eastern EU economy will allow LO to muddle through the next fuel price bubble and/or economic turbulence.
Does anyone here have a thoughtful, well-informed opinion/analysis (even illogical, ill-informed speculations are OK, too) on what LO will do/what will happen when the next round of economic headwinds come?
The other camp (which I lean toward, but could be persuaded otherwise), thinks with an updated long-haul fleet that has excellent fuel burn, gradual modernization of the short-haul fleet (which will also save fuel costs), some room to increase prices, and the general health of the Polish/Eastern EU economy will allow LO to muddle through the next fuel price bubble and/or economic turbulence.
Does anyone here have a thoughtful, well-informed opinion/analysis (even illogical, ill-informed speculations are OK, too) on what LO will do/what will happen when the next round of economic headwinds come?
Oct 7, 2018, 12:21 am
#224
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
1. Secret’ IL8 flights
It is 1988. It is People’s Republic of Poland and the Wall is still there. During the evening a small international terminal of WAW Okecie airport is busy. LO IL8 (Ilyushin 18) is preparing for a certain ‘secret’ flight to a certain destination (not in the communist part of Europe). It is a red eye departing daily at 22.10. Could you name this LO destination? Would you be able to identify the purpose of this LO flight? .
2. SVO
It is 1987. Could you name 4 airlines that operate flights between WAW and SVO? This is a bit tricky as one of these airlines doesn’t have local traffic rights, but is indeed flying between WAW and SVO.
3. F/A bases
It is 1988. There are 2 airlines in Poland (but not necessarily Polish) that have F/A bases in WAW. Could you identify these airlines?
1. It was IST.
In 1998 communism was virtually collapsing, but shops were still empty (like empty-empty, and not that some goods were temporarily not available). The government started giving certain trusted people passports to go to Turkey to buy goods and then resell them in Poland. The trip was on a red eye IL8 flight to IST where folks were spending a day in the Grand Bazaar buying goods and then taking another red eye back to WAW.
2. LO/SU/SR (Swissair as part of the ZRH-WAW-SVO route)/KL (as part of the AMS-WAW-SVO route, no traffic rights between WAW and SVO)
3. LO and PA (PAA - Pan American World Airways)
PA WAW-based F/A's were operating on all Eastern European routes that in the summer 1988 included B727's flights from FRA to the following destinations: WAW; KRK via PRG; LED via SVO; OTP via BUD; DBV via ZAG; BEG via ZAG. This F/A base survived the PAA bankruptcy and was taken over by DL. It existed till 1998 or 1999 and was closed as the last non-US base.
Oct 7, 2018, 1:27 pm
#225
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,051
These are the answers:
1. It was IST.
In 1998 communism was virtually collapsing, but shops were still empty (like empty-empty, and not that some goods were temporarily not available). The government started giving certain trusted people passports to go to Turkey to buy goods and then resell them in Poland. The trip was on a red eye IL8 flight to IST where folks were spending a day in the Grand Bazaar buying goods and then taking another red eye back to WAW.
1. It was IST.
In 1998 communism was virtually collapsing, but shops were still empty (like empty-empty, and not that some goods were temporarily not available). The government started giving certain trusted people passports to go to Turkey to buy goods and then resell them in Poland. The trip was on a red eye IL8 flight to IST where folks were spending a day in the Grand Bazaar buying goods and then taking another red eye back to WAW.
wow.
3. LO and PA (PAA - Pan American World Airways)
PA WAW-based F/A's were operating on all Eastern European routes that in the summer 1988 included B727's flights from FRA to the following destinations: WAW; KRK via PRG; LED via SVO; OTP via BUD; DBV via ZAG; BEG via ZAG. This F/A base survived the PAA bankruptcy and was taken over by DL. It existed till 1998 or 1999 and was closed as the last non-US base.
PA WAW-based F/A's were operating on all Eastern European routes that in the summer 1988 included B727's flights from FRA to the following destinations: WAW; KRK via PRG; LED via SVO; OTP via BUD; DBV via ZAG; BEG via ZAG. This F/A base survived the PAA bankruptcy and was taken over by DL. It existed till 1998 or 1999 and was closed as the last non-US base.