Review : LOT Business Class, Munich-Warsaw, Embraer E190

As part of a business trip to Warsaw, I booked an itinerary on Lufthansa in Business Class to fit within my client’s budget.
One of the segments was operated by LOT Polish Airlines, a first for TravelGuys that had to be reported.

Lounge

With almost 3 hours of waiting in Munich, what better way than to go to the Senator lounge! I go to the one near the “K-doors” as it is near my door to Warsaw.

Boarding

The boarding starts on time, and has already started when I reach the gate.
Priorities are respected, despite the rather messy organisation of the gates in Munich (as in Frankfurt, without a guidebook).

I go straight to the cabin and the purser welcomes me.

Cabin and reception

The cabin is fairly standard for an Embraer E190, but the colours chosen by LOT are very elegant, in light grey.
In Business, the cabin is configured as 1-1, with the aisle seat blocked. On the negative side, the crew placed their luggage in the Business cabin, which limits the space in the racks.

In economy class, a *buy-on-board* service is offered

The construction of the LOT fleet is quite interesting

A welcome drink is offered: a choice between orange juice and water in plastic cups… But this is already good compared to the European competition!

A distribution of newspapers is even carried out in Business.

Welcome drinks and newspapers distributed before departure

We push back 10 minutes ahead of the scheduled departure time.

Service and catering

The flight attendants start to move as soon as 10,000 feets is reached.

An aperitif is served. I choose a vodka tonic served “à la Gilles”. Those in the know will appreciate this. Snacks are offered with the drink.

Aperitif service is pretty neat for medium-haul *business*

Before the aperitif is served, a tablecloth is laid out, marking a rather long service. I appreciate the effort in a regional aircraft!

A cold meal is provided… You wouldn’t expect much more from an aircraft like this.

The menu of the day: slices of beef throat with cranberry and cucumber cream cheese (a horror for me, but probably adapted to Polish taste) and a fusilli salad with Serrano ham and spinach. Very good.

The tray as it is brought to me. It’s much better than the menu would suggest

The whole thing is accompanied by (cold) bread, butter and a plum chocolate, a great discovery!

The excellent chocolate with plum alcohol

All this washed down with a second vodka-to “à la Gilles” and I was ready for a big sleep… Or rather to give me courage for a difficult presentation.

I note the genuine care in the service. The purser, who sees that I don’t have a napkin with my glass, comes and brings me one in passing. Just perfect with the means at hand.

The purser comes to offer me a third vodka to à la Gilles but I capitulate… I wouldn’t want to be drunk like a Polish… And I fall back on a sparkling water… They ask me if I want ice and lemon of course. And the sparkling water is brought to me with a new towel.

Arrival and disembarkation

We arrive a little early at our parking point in Warsaw. This is a bus parking point, but a dedicated minibus for Business passengers is available. Perfect!

Intra-European arrivals are still numerous at this time, and late connections are still possible

I’m off to my hotel to attend this late meeting

Bottom line

An excellent flight: I am impressed by LOT I must say, which confirms the excellent performance of the Star Alliance airlines noted by Bertrand and myself for a little over a year.