LOT Opens New Lounge In Chicago (ORD)
Intro
With a long overdue development, LOT, Polish Airlines has just opened its latest lounge in Chicago (ORD). Over the past few years, LOT has been growing at a rapid pace, promising to offer brand new cabins on their long-haul fleet, as well as beginning to open a lounge outside of Poland. Considering that LOT's primary route is Chicago, this route makes a lot of sense.
The Details
A few days ago, December 19, 2024, LOT Polish Airlines officially opened its lounge at Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD). Located in Terminal 5—just past security and near the food court—the lounge serves as a comfortable space for passengers traveling through the airport's main international terminal. It operates daily from 7 AM to midnight, catering to a wide range of flights departing from the terminal.
Spanning 617 square meters (6,642 square feet), the lounge features seating for up to 165 guests. The design is modern and open, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering natural light. Amenities include various seating arrangements, a buffet, a bar, restrooms, and shower suites.
This marks LOT's first lounge outside of Poland, making it a significant milestone for the airline. Chicago was a natural choice for the lounge, as it is LOT’s largest outstation. The airline operates flights to both Krakow and Warsaw from Chicago, with the Warsaw route typically offering two daily flights.
According to LOT’s lounge access policy, passengers can use the lounge up to four hours before departure unless they are connecting through Chicago, in which case earlier access may be allowed (I am still not entirely sure about this).
While there won't be any sort of sit-down dining, there will be an extremely nice looking buffet.
My Thoughts
I would have to say that this lounge makes a lot of sense when it comes to Lot Polish Airlines. In recent times, they have seen very good demand on their routes since 2022 and are looking to expand. There is no better way to expand than by opening a lounge in the US. Now, if only they would launch daily flights to LAX (it's a personal problem, I know).
Now, my only drawback about the lounge is that long-haul flyers on LOT have access to the United Polaris Lounge in ORD. Granted, it is closed for the upcoming few months, but it still remains curious to me why any flyer would visit the LOT lounge over the Polaris Lounge...
Final Thoughts
The opening of LOT Polish Airlines' lounge at Chicago O'Hare is a key milestone for the airline, marking its first lounge outside of Poland. Located in Terminal 5, the lounge offers a modern space with seating, a buffet, a bar, and shower suites, catering to LOT’s growing presence in the U.S. Chicago, as the airline's largest outstation, makes for a logical location. While the lounge is a solid addition, it will be interesting to see how it competes with premium options like the United Polaris Lounge, especially once it reopens. Regardless, this marks an exciting step for LOT as it expands its international footprint.
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