LOT Polish Airlines Plans New Lounge in Chicago, New Interiors on 787 Aircraft

Updated: October 11, 2023, 12:56pm CDT

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New Chicago Lounge
New 787 Aircraft Interior
Expansion and Growth
Final Thoughts

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LOT Polish Airlines, the flag carrier of Poland, has announced big plans to open a new business class lounge in Chicago, update its Boeing 787 aircraft interiors, and order new aircraft. This expansion shows the carrier’s growth in the past few years, and as a Star Alliance member, you may wish to fly LOT on your next trip to Europe.

New Chicago Lounge

LOT will be opening its first lounge in North America sometime in 2024. The lounge will open at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), and while the location hasn’t been announced, it will likely be in Terminal 5, where many international carriers operate.

The lounge will be open to business class passengers and eligible elite members from other Star Alliance airlines. The lounge will be about 617 square meters, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows with sweeping views of the airport apron outside.

Like many lounges, this facility will offer 3 zones: 1 for eating, 1 for relaxing, and 1 for working. The eating area will feature restaurant-style seating where guests can enjoy food and drink. The relaxation area will offer a dimmed-lighting experience, allowing you to rest comfortably. The work zone will provide tables with plenty of charging capabilities.

This lounge will offer many Polish touches, including several design elements.

LOT New Lounge ORD — Image Credit: LOT Polish

New 787 Aircraft Interior

On the Boeing 787, LOT is installing new seats in all cabin classes. The business classes will move to a 1-2-1 arrangement, and new entertainment systems will be installed throughout the plane. In premium economy and economy, you can expect more room and cushioning in the seats.

New chargers will debut throughout the cabin, including wireless charging in business class and USB-C charging in the premium economy and economy cabins.

In addition to new interiors, the carrier is installing onboard Wi-Fi capability provided by ViaSat, though pricing plans have not been announced.

The new interiors are anticipated to be rolled out in 2026.

Hot Tip:

Like many projects, while the carrier is hoping for the new lounge to open in 2024 and the new seats to take flight in 2026, there may be delays based on various factors.

Expansion and Growth

LOT Polish has ambitious growth plans, including:

Adding more aircraft into its fleet, rising to about 110 aircraft in 2028, up from the 75 aircraft today.
Serving more passengers, with an anticipated 16.9 million passengers in 2028 over the 10.3 million today.

The new investments the carrier is making to the onboard product and lounges will certainly help with the growth for 2028.

Final Thoughts

LOT Polish is really expanding its product through a new lounge in Chicago and new seats onboard its 787 aircraft. LOT Polish hasn’t been the dominant Star Alliance carrier, with Lufthansa Group pretty much running the show, but with these enhancements, LOT will be even more competitive.