. I had booked a day trip to Wrocław, flying with LOT so I would finally get my flight in a Q400 (I had wanted to fly in this type for years but was always unlucky so I thought this would be my last chance). It was just a one way flight, as the return was by EIP train.We arrived at Warsaw Chopin Airport in good time, as you have to show documents at the door to prove you have a flight that day or you are denied entry. Then we went to find the self check in desks. That was where the fun started!
When I tried to print out the boarding passes a message came up on screen that there was something to pay, and we had to go to a manned check in desk. I didn't know what it was about, as I had paid for our seats when I booked the flight. The check in clerk said that the seats weren't paid for! I don't know if this is something that LOT do very often but I wasn't impressed. I had to find the confirmation email on my phone to prove that I had paid for the seats.
When we went into the departure area it was very quiet, weird considering what WAW is normally like.
Never seen this airline before.
LOT have an Embraer 195 painted in a special livery to advertise my favourite brand of chocolate plums. I couldn't resist bagging a few photos.
The chocolate plum Embraer.
I was hoping that our aircraft would have the "proper" LOT livery, not the tacky euroLOT one which is still on some of the Q400s.
Eventually we were taken by bus to our aircraft, and thankfully it was in proper LOT colours.
Our aircraft SP-EQD being boarded for the flight to WRO.
Engine.
We were in seats 4A and 4B.
The bus which had taken us to the aircraft.
The flight had a cabin crew of two.
Nice to see inflight magazines are back.
The safety card of the Q400.
Flight LO3843 had a scheduled departure time of 11:00. We pushed back at 10:56 and taxied past an area containing Polish government jets and a British Airways aircraft.
A BA aircraft with the Polish government aircraft.
We took off at 11:04 and had a nice, smooth climb through broken cloud.
Shortly after take off.
The flight was expected to take 40 minutes.
English and Polish on the seat back.
We were given a bottle of water and some hand sanitiser gel.
This "blueberry bun" was like a doughnut coating containing blueberry jam. It was nice.
Heading to WRO.
Our course took us over Żyrardów and south of Łódź (a city I am quite fond of). We cruised at 19,900, 361 mph and 243 degrees.
We had good conditions all along the way and landed in WRO at 11:45.
Turning off the runway at WRO.
SP-EQD photographed from the bus.
My opinion of LOT is mixed. The flight itself, and the crew, were very good but I am not impressed by their reservations system!
