LOT Business, London Heathrow - Warsaw Chopin, Boeing 737 MAX 8: Excellent in every way

Back in the air for a short trip to Budapest for a business seminar in the Hungarian capital, right in the middle of Euro 2020 (yes, which takes place in 2021…).

The trip is organized by a tour operator, but given my London location, I’m on my own for the flight.

I found a good price on LOT in Business Class, no choice anyway as my first option on BA, a direct flight, is cancelled, as are my 7 bookings since the beginning of the year… Let’s hope my summer vacation in Iceland doesn’t suffer the same fate…

Here is the route followed:

#	Type	Review
1	Lounge	Salon Plaza Premium, London Heathrow Terminal 2 (not reviewed, but similar review herei)
2	Flight	LOT Business, London Heathrow – Warsaw Chopin, Boeing 737 MAX 8
3	Lounge	LOT Business Lounge Polonez, Warsaw
4	Flight	LOT Business, Warsaw Chopin – Budapest, Embraer E170
5	Hotel	Hotel Memories, Budapest
6	Lounge	Mastercard lounge, Budapest
7	Flight	LOT Business Budapest – Warsaw Chopin, Embraer E170
8	Lounge	LOT Business Lounge Mazurek, Warsaw
9	Flight	LOT Business Warsaw Chopin – London Heathrow, Boeing 737 MAX 8

Today’s itinerary

Check-in and ground course

The day before departure, in addition to all the formalities required for my trip to Budapest, I check-in online via the LOT mobile application.

If all goes well during this process, I can’t get my boarding pass because of the checks that have to be carried out before entering Hungary.

So I’d have to stop by the check-in counter on the day of departure.

I leave home about 2.5 hours before the flight’s departure. Traffic is light all the way to Heathrow and I’m dropped off by my driver in front of Terminal 2.

Terminal 2, now my second home at Heathrow

The FIDS is starting to fill up nicely, a sign that the air transport revival is just around the corner.

Only two check-in desks are open for the LOT flight, and these are shared with Croatia Airlines.

Two counters, including a priority counter for two flights, isn’t much.

After a short wait of less than 5 minutes, I am taken in charge by the check-in agent… Who panics at the 7-page long conditions for entering Hungary. Confused, he heads off to his supervisor with my credentials to check my eligibility, then comes back and proceeds with my check-in. He only manages to get my first boarding pass out, then has to start all over again for the second… Hell! I’ll spend more than 25 minutes at his counter, and still don’t understand how we can put such a beginner at the Business counter!

I then head for security formalities, as Heathrow’s Fast Track is still closed at T2, then airside.

For the first time, a border force agent asked me where I was going and if I was carrying any currency, and I replied in the negative!

Lounge

This time, there’s no dedicated article on the lounge, just the Plaza Premium, which you’ve already read about here and here. No change this time, apart from an ultra-crowded lounge, although I could easily find a seat in a solo armchair.

Boarding

Although scheduled for 30 minutes before departure, boarding begins around 50 minutes before departure, and I arrive at the gate when it is already deserted.

Nevertheless, the priority lanes are well marked and I’ll be boarding without delay.

Blind jetways, in the image of the Sino-British bank

The livery of our bird of the day, a little strange

Cabin and welcome

The welcome at the door is polite. With the 737 MAX 8, the aircraft is practically brand new, and the smell of new is very much in evidence in the cabin.

The bulkhead is signed with the logo of the Polish airline

6D737566-2E18-467E-9FD3-46BAFBB7A003 — No doubt about it, this is a MAX 8.

I settle in row 1. As with all European airlines, it’s 2-2 in Business Class, with the middle seat neutralized. Average in terms of comfort, but as good as it gets.

A form outlining the conditions for entering Poland

The pitch, very good, but just right for a *bulkhead*

In any case, the cabin is new and clean, and each triplet seat has two power sockets and two USB sockets, which are very useful with the mountain of devices we all have.

The *Business* cabin is virtually empty, with just 2 passengers, and the *Economy* cabin contains no more than 20 passengers.

A big Singaporean neighbor during the *pushback*

An Airbus A318 of the British national airline

The *Rhapsody in Blue* is about to start!

Mood lighting was even activated in the toilets!

The washbasins are now very small in the new toilet blocks.

Service and catering

Before takeoff, a welcome drink is… No, I’m kidding, that’s all over on Medium-haul.

Nevertheless, a checkroom service is available, although I won’t be using it. I wonder if LOT isn’t one of the last airlines to offer it in the medium-haul segment.

A disinfectant wipe is distributed.

After takeoff, tracing forms are distributed, but you know how I feel about that…