LOT’s 787 Business Class Overhaul: New Seats, Wi-Fi, Dining

LOT Polish Airlines is finally fixing the parts of its long-haul experience that felt stuck in another era. The big news is not just prettier amenity kits or nicer plates — it’s a real Dreamliner overhaul: Viasat Wi-Fi, new 1-2-1 business class seats with doors, upgraded screens, Bluetooth audio, USB-C, and a multi-year cabin retrofit running through 2030.

My honest take: this is a bigger deal than LOT usually gets credit for. The airline has a useful Star Alliance footprint between North America, Europe, and Asia, but its current long-haul hard product has been inconsistent with what travelers now expect in business class. Direct aisle access is no longer a luxury flourish. It’s table stakes.

What LOT is changing on its Dreamliners

LOT has started installing Viasat inflight connectivity across its long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. The first connected aircraft is a Boeing 787-9 registered SP-LSA, and two more aircraft are expected to have the system by the end of April 2026.

The connectivity platform is Viasat’s Amara solution, and LOT plans to equip 15 Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners. That matters because LOT’s long-haul operation is built around the 787. This isn’t a one-off aircraft getting a shiny demo product while the rest of the fleet stays tired forever. It’s a fleet plan.

The full cabin retrofit is scheduled to begin in 2026 and is expected to be completed by 2030. That’s a long runway, and you should read it exactly that way: for several years, LOT flyers may see a mix of old and new cabins. If you’re booking a paid business class ticket or burning a serious pile of miles, aircraft assignment will matter.

The headline cabin upgrade is the new business class seat: RECARO CL6720 seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, with direct aisle access, privacy doors, and more storage. LOT is also adding a newer inflight entertainment setup with 4K screens, Bluetooth audio, USB-C charging ports, and universal power outlets.

That combination is what I care about most. A door gets the Instagram attention, but direct aisle access, reliable power, and modern entertainment are the real quality-of-life upgrades on a long overnight flight.

The Wi-Fi pricing is simple — and business class wins

LOT’s new Viasat Wi-Fi has two paid packages. Chat costs USD 7 and is meant for instant messaging. Streaming costs USD 29 and covers web browsing, video, and online work.

Business Class passengers get complimentary internet access. Eligible Miles & More members also get complimentary access, though travelers should verify eligibility before counting on it.

Here’s the practical math. Say you’re flying round-trip in economy on a LOT long-haul route with Viasat active and you need real internet both ways. The Streaming package is $29 per flight, so that’s $58 round-trip for one person. For two people, it’s $116. If you only need messaging, Chat is $7 each way, or $14 per person round-trip — $28 for two.

That’s not outrageous pricing, especially compared with some airlines that still make Wi-Fi feel like a hostage negotiation. But it does change the value equation in business class a little. If you were going to buy the $29 package anyway, complimentary internet effectively shaves $29 off each long-haul flight in business. On a round-trip, that’s $58 of real avoided cost per passenger.

Don’t overstate it, though. Free Wi-Fi doesn’t make a bad redemption good. If an award costs far more miles than a comparable partner option, you shouldn’t justify it with a $29 internet perk. Nice? Yes. Redemption-defining? No.

The new business class seat is the real story

LOT’s move to a 1-2-1 business class layout is the most meaningful part of this announcement. For solo travelers, direct aisle access removes the awkward middle-of-the-night climb over a stranger. For couples, center seats can still work well if LOT configures them sensibly. For everyone, privacy doors are a welcome upgrade, though I’m less obsessed with doors than many aviation nerds are.

The RECARO CL6720 is designed as a modern long-haul business class platform, and LOT says the new seats will include more storage. That second part matters more than airlines admit. A business class seat can look beautiful and still be annoying if there’s nowhere to put your glasses, phone, charging cable, laptop, water bottle, and amenity kit without playing cabin Tetris.

The catch is timing. The retrofit starts in 2026 and is expected to finish by 2030. That means you may not know at booking whether you’ll get the new cabin unless LOT clearly labels the product, the aircraft has already been retrofitted, and the plane assignment sticks. Schedule changes and aircraft swaps happen.

If you’re booking far out, I’d treat the new business class as a pleasant upside, not a guaranteed feature, unless LOT gives you a specific seat map showing the new 1-2-1 layout. A seat map can tell you a lot. If you see business class arranged with every passenger having aisle access, you’re likely looking at the new product. If not, manage your expectations.

Better screens, Bluetooth, USB-C, and power are not small upgrades

The new generation of inflight entertainment will bring 4K screens, Bluetooth audio connectivity, USB-C charging ports, and universal power outlets. None of that sounds revolutionary on its own, but together it fixes a bunch of pain points.

Bluetooth audio is especially welcome. I’m tired of airlines handing out mediocre two-prong headphones and expecting people to be thrilled. If you travel with your own noise-canceling earbuds or headphones, Bluetooth pairing can make the whole flight feel more personal and less clunky.

USB-C also matters now. Plenty of travelers carry USB-C-first devices: phones, tablets, laptops, battery packs, headphones. Universal outlets are still essential because laptops can drain quickly during work sessions, and not every device charges well from a seat USB port. Between Viasat and better power, LOT is clearly trying to make the 787 a more credible work environment.

That said, don’t assume every plane has the same tech immediately. The Wi-Fi rollout and cabin retrofit are staged. The first Viasat-equipped aircraft is active, two more are expected by the end of April 2026, and the broader cabin work stretches to 2030. For the next few years, the exact aircraft matters.

Amenities and dining are getting a Polish identity

From August 2026, LOT’s new Business Class amenity kits come in navy blue or copper and include Phenomé cosmetics: face cream, lip balm, face mist, and eye patches. LOT is also offering a three-step HDRÈY skincare ritual for 12 months.

I’m not going to pretend an amenity kit should decide which airline you fly. It shouldn’t. But good kits are part of the premium cabin experience, especially on overnight flights where dry cabin air beats up your skin. Lip balm and face cream are the items people actually use. Eye patches are more of a spa-touch extra, but at least there’s a coherent wellness angle here.

LOT is also rolling out new ergonomic headphones with soft ear pads in Business Class from August 2026, while they’re already available in Premium Economy and Economy. Active noise cancellation will be added as aircraft are retrofitted. That last bit is key: the full headphone experience depends on the retrofit timeline.

Then there’s the tableware. LOT has expanded traditional Bolesławiec pottery — known for its cobalt-blue decoration — to Business Class flights to Seoul from Warsaw and Wrocław since July 1, 2026. That’s in addition to Tokyo, with selected items also appearing in Premium Economy.

I like this move. Airlines are at their best when the onboard experience says something about where they’re from. Bolesławiec pottery is distinct, recognizable, and genuinely Polish. It’s a much better identity play than generic white plates and vague premium branding.

LOT is also partnering with Michelin-starred chefs to improve Business Class dining with Polish flavors. The phrase sounds marketing-heavy, but the strategy makes sense. If you’re flying a Polish airline, the meal should not feel like anonymous international catering. Give me a reason to remember the carrier.

Why this matters for Star Alliance flyers

LOT sits in an interesting spot for points and miles travelers because it’s a Star Alliance airline. That means its long-haul flights can matter even if you never collect LOT miles directly. Travelers may see LOT availability through partner programs, depending on route, dates, and award inventory.

The upgrade could make LOT more appealing as a transatlantic or Europe-to-Asia option, especially if the new 1-2-1 cabin becomes bookable on routes you actually want. Historically, a lot of travelers have gravitated to more famous Star Alliance carriers for long-haul business class. LOT has often been useful, but not always aspirational.

A modernized 787 changes that. Not overnight, and not across the whole fleet immediately, but it gives LOT a more serious seat at the table.

The mistake would be assuming every LOT 787 flight is suddenly a top-tier experience. During the transition, you need to check three things before getting excited: whether the aircraft has Viasat, whether the cabin has been retrofitted, and whether the seat map shows the new business class.

For awards, I’d also compare alternatives. If you can book another Star Alliance carrier with a known strong product on the same route and at a similar mileage cost, LOT’s future promise shouldn’t outweigh confirmed quality today. But if LOT has the best schedule, good award space, and a retrofitted 787, I’d be much more interested than I would’ve been before this news.

Who should care — and who shouldn’t

You should care if you fly between Poland and long-haul destinations, use Warsaw as a Star Alliance connection point, or book Europe-Asia flights where LOT competes with larger carriers. You should also care if you work onboard. Viasat plus universal power plus USB-C is a real upgrade for productivity.

Business travelers get the clearest win: direct aisle access, privacy doors, free Wi-Fi, better storage, better power, and improved dining. That’s the stuff that makes a long flight feel less like lost time.

Leisure travelers should be more selective. If you’re paying cash for business class, don’t pay a new-product premium unless you can confirm you’re on a retrofitted aircraft. If you’re booking economy or premium economy, the Wi-Fi and entertainment upgrades still matter, but the seat transformation is obviously less relevant.

And if your flight is before the rollout reaches your aircraft? Temper expectations. Airlines love announcing fleetwide improvements years before the average passenger reliably sees them.

Frequently asked questions

When will LOT’s new business class be available?

The full Dreamliner cabin retrofit is set to begin in 2026 and is expected to be completed by 2030. That means availability will be phased in aircraft by aircraft. Before booking, check the seat map and any aircraft details LOT provides.

Which LOT aircraft are getting Viasat Wi-Fi?

LOT plans to install Viasat’s Amara connectivity platform on 15 Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners. Service is already active on the first Boeing 787-9, registered SP-LSA, with two more aircraft expected by the end of April 2026.

How much does LOT Wi-Fi cost?

There are two paid packages: Chat for USD 7, aimed at instant messaging, and Streaming for USD 29, meant for web browsing, video, and online work. Business Class passengers and eligible Miles & More members receive complimentary internet access.

Is LOT’s new business class worth booking with miles?

It can be, but only if you can confirm the aircraft has the new 1-2-1 product or you’re comfortable with the risk of getting the older cabin. Compare award pricing, schedule, aircraft type, and seat map before transferring points or locking in a nonrefundable trip.

Bottom line

LOT’s Dreamliner overhaul is genuinely meaningful: Viasat Wi-Fi, a new 1-2-1 business class with doors, modern entertainment, Bluetooth audio, USB-C, better power, upgraded amenities, Polish tableware, and more ambitious dining.

The only reason I’m not fully pounding the table is the timeline. A retrofit running from 2026 to 2030 means plenty of passengers will still see older cabins during the transition. Book carefully, check seat maps, and don’t assume the press release is the plane you’ll board.

Still, this is exactly the direction LOT needed to go. If the execution matches the announcement, LOT’s 787s could become a much more compelling Star Alliance option for long-haul travelers.