Lot Polish Airlines, Poland’s flagship carrier, offers co-branded credit cards that allow cardholders to earn valuable MileagePlus miles on everyday purchases. These cards also come with various perks and benefits that enhance the flying experience with Lot.
Overview of Lot Polish Airlines
Lot Polish Airlines is the largest airline in Poland, operating domestic and international flights throughout Europe, Asia, North America, and the Middle East. The airline operates a hub-and-spoke model through Warsaw Chopin Airport, with over 120 destinations worldwide.
Lot is a member of the Star Alliance, allowing passengers to earn and redeem miles across United, Lufthansa, Air Canada, and other partners. Lot operates a frequent flyer program called MileagePlus, through which members can earn miles by flying with Lot and partner airlines.
Lot Polish Airlines Credit Cards Offerings
Lot has partnered with several banks to offer co-branded credit cards. These cards allow consumers to earn Lot MileagePlus miles on everyday credit card purchases. Cardholders also get privileges like free checked bags, priority boarding, and inflight discounts when flying Lot.
Credit Card Options
There are several personal and business Lot credit cards available, including:
- Lot MileagePlus Explorer Card
- Lot MileagePlus Club Card
- Lot MileagePlus Business Card
- Lot MileagePlus Presidential Plus Business Card
The Explorer card is Lot’s basic consumer credit card, while the Club card has higher earnings rates and more benefits. The Business and Presidential Plus cards cater to small business owners and heavy Lot travelers respectively.
Credit Card Benefits
While benefits vary slightly between cards, most include:
- Earn 1-3x miles per $1 spent on purchases
- 25,000 – 50,000 mile signup bonus after meeting spending requirements
- First checked bag free for cardholder and companions
- Priority boarding on Lot flights
- Discounted award tickets and inflight purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
For heavy Lot travelers, airline credit cards can provide thousands of dollars in value through free bags, miles earning, and travel perks.
How to Earn and Redeem Miles with Lot Polish Airlines Credit Cards
Lot’s credit cards make it easy for cardholders to rack up frequent flyer miles quickly through everyday spending. Cardholders can then redeem earned miles for free flights and upgrades with Lot and 20+ airline partners.
Earning Miles with Lot Polish Airlines Credit Cards
There are several ways to earn Lot MileagePlus miles with a Lot credit card:
Daily Purchases
The basic earning rate on the Lot credit cards is:
- 1 mile per $1 spent on the Explorer Card
- 2 miles per $1 spent on the Club Card
- 2 miles per $1 spent on the Business Card
All purchases whether everyday bills, groceries, dining, etc will stack up miles at this base rate.
Bonus Categories
The cards offer 2-4x bonus miles on select categories:
- 2x miles on Lot purchases
- 4x miles on Lot inflight purchases
- 2-3x miles at restaurants
- 2-3x miles on hotels
Bonus categories help cardholders rack up extra miles on common purchases.
Welcome Bonus
New cardholders can earn 25,000 – 50,000 bonus miles by meeting minimum spending requirements within the first 3 months of account opening. The welcome bonus offer provides a huge influx of miles to get cardholders jumpstarted on redemptions faster.
Redeeming Lot Polish Airlines Miles
Once enough miles are earned, cardholders have a few options for redemptions:
Booking Award Flights
The best value is using Lot miles to book free award flights. Domestic awards start at 15,000 miles roundtrip, while in Europe awards start at 30,000 miles roundtrip. Lots of availability helps make booking award flights attainable.
Upgrading Tickets with Miles
Miles can be used to upgrade paid economy tickets to premium economy or business class. This provides a big boost in comfort and amenities. Upgrade costs vary based on route, cabin, and travel dates.
Transferring Miles to Partner Programs
Instead of using miles to book Lot award flights, they can be transferred 1:1 to MileagePlus partners like United, Air Canada, Singapore Airlines, and others. This helps unlock award flights on other airlines.
Lot Polish Airlines Credit Card Benefits and Privileges
Beyond racking up miles, Lot’s co-branded credit cards unlock a suite of travel benefits and elite-like privileges for cardholders:
Complimentary Checked Bags
All Lot credit cards include a free checked bag for the primary cardholder and up to 8 companions on the same reservation. With checked bag fees typically $30 each way, this perk alone can save hundreds of dollars yearly.
Priority Boarding
Cardholders get earlier Zone 2 priority boarding on Lot-operated flights, allowing time to settle in and find overhead space. This perk is extended to companions traveling on the same reservation as the cardholder.
Inflight Discounts
Those with a Lot Airlines credit card get 25% off inflight food, beverage, and WiFi purchases when the card is used as a payment method. It makes for significant savings on long international itineraries.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
As Lot primarily flies internationally, cardholders benefit from no foreign transaction fees on purchases processed abroad. This avoids incurring costly fees that many other cards impose.
Travel Insurance
Lot credit cards come with travel insurance benefits including trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage coverage, and rental car insurance. This provides financial protection on trips booked with the card.
Tips for Getting the Most from Your Lot Polish Airlines Credit Card
To maximize the value of a Lot Airlines credit card, here are some smart tips for cardholders:
Hit the Minimum Spend for the Welcome Bonus
Be sure to spend enough within the first 3 months of account opening to earn the lucrative sign-up mileage bonus. This offer alone makes obtaining the card worthwhile.
Use for Daily Spend to Rack Up Miles
Use the Lot credit card as the go-to for all purchases to earn 1-3x miles per dollar. Monthly bills, groceries, and other regular spending add up.
Take Advantage of Bonus Categories
Spend strategically to earn accelerated miles, targeting the 2-4x bonus categories like Lot flights, restaurants, hotels, and inflight purchases.
Transfer Miles to Partners for Maximum Value
Rather than redeeming for lot-operated flights only, transfer mile to partners like Singapore Airlines to book premium class awards at higher redemption values.
Use Miles for International Premium Flights
Splurge miles on long-haul international flights in business or first class. These flights normally cost thousands but are a fraction of the price using miles.
Is the Lot Polish Airlines Credit Card Worth It?
With many travel credit cards available, is obtaining a Lot co-branded one worthwhile? Here are the pros and cons:
Pros of the Lot Polish Airlines Credit Card:
- Up to 50,000-mile sign-up bonus
- Free checked bags save $60+ roundtrip
- Priority boarding skips lines and guarantees overhead space
- 25% discount on Lot inflight purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- Earn miles quickly on everyday purchases
- Redeem miles for free flights, upgrades, and transfers
Cons to Consider:
- Annual fee – $95 for Explorer, $450 for Club card
- Earning rates lower than some competing travel cards
- Most benefits only apply when flying Lot Airlines
Alternatives to the Lot Polish Airlines Credit Card:
Some alternatives for consideration include:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred – $95 annual fee, 60,000 point signup bonus, 2x points on travel/dining
- Capital One Venture – $95 annual fee, 50,000 mile signup bonus, 2x miles for all purchases
- Amex Platinum Card – Lounge access, hotel status, credits, 60,000 point signup bonus
FAQs
What is the signup bonus offer for the Lot Polish Airlines credit card?
The signup bonus offer is typically 25,000 – 50,000 Lot MileagePlus miles after spending $2,000 – $4,000 within the first 3 months after account opening.
How many Lot miles can you earn from everyday credit card spending?
You earn between 1-3 Lot miles per $1 on all everyday purchases depending on the card. The Explorer Card earns 1 mile per $1, while the Club Card earns 2 miles per $1.
What additional bonus categories help earn extra Lot miles?
You can earn bonus miles on purchases with Lot, at restaurants, hotels, and other categories – typically 2-4 extra miles per $1. Inflight Lot purchases get 4x miles.
Can Lot miles be transferred to airline partners?
Yes, Lot miles can be transferred on a 1:1 basis to any of Lot’s 20+ airline partners in the Star Alliance program like United, Air Canada, and Singapore Airlines.
What Lot of flight benefits do credit cardholders get?
Cardholders and travel companions get their first checked bag free, Zone 2 priority boarding, and 25% off inflight food/drink purchases when flying Lot.
Are there any other key benefits on the Lot credit card?
The card has no foreign transaction fees and also comes with travel insurance coverage for things like trip delays, lost baggage, and rental car insurance.
What is the annual fee for the Lot Airlines credit card?
The annual fee varies by card – $95 for the MileagePlus Explorer Card and $450 for the MileagePlus Club Card. Business cards have higher fees.
Does the card have a signup bonus worth getting?
Yes, with bonuses ranging from 25k to 50k miles, the signup bonus alone more than offsets the annual fee and gets you closer to a free flight.
What is the minimum credit score needed to qualify for the card?
You will typically need a credit score in the Good (700+) range to qualify for approval for a Lot Airlines credit card.
Can the Lot credit card be a better option than general travel rewards cards?
For loyal Lot passengers, the specific Lot flight perks and MileagePlus earnings can provide more value. For broader travel, flexible cards may be better.
Conclusion
The Lot Polish Airlines co-branded credit cards offer a robust earning potential for MileagePlus miles, along with valuable perks for Lot passengers. Big signup bonuses, free checked bags, priority boarding, and inflight discounts provide a lot of value, especially for frequent Poland travelers. However, the cards cater mostly to loyal Lot customers rather than general travelers. For overseas Polish fliers, the cards are likely worthwhile for long-term mileage earnings and savings. But those who only occasionally fly Lot domestically may find better value in cards that offer flexibility across more global airline and hotel partners.
Faizan Ahmad is a financial analyst and writer who specializes in investments, banking, and corporate finance. He has over 7 years of experience working in the finance industry in various roles.
He leverages his strong financial modeling and data analysis skills to provide insightful commentary on business, markets, and economic trends.
At Ventures Money, Faizan covers topics including Credit Card Reviews, Loans, Insurance, and Mutual Funds in the banking sector. He provides in-depth analysis of the latest news and trends to help readers make smart investment decisions.
Outside of writing, Faizan enjoys following the stock market, rooting for his favorite sports teams, and spending time with his family.