2019 to be a big year for LOT Polish Airlines
The Polish flag carrier will buy 15 new planes in 2019. Four Boing 787 Dreamliners and eleven Boeing 737 Max 8s will be added to the fleet. One of the dreamliners will be used to serve a new route between Warsaw and Miami.
The new route to Miami is seen as the next major step in the Polish airline’s plan to expand its long haul operations in general and to USA in particular. The new route is welcome news for the 500 000 Polish-Americans living in the state of Florida but also for Polish tourists who are increasingly interested in visiting the “Sunshine state”.
LOT’s planned expansion on the American market is hampered by the visa requirement for Polish citizens travelling to the U.S. In order to remedy the situation LOT has launched an information campaign aimed to decrease the number of rejected visa applications due to poorly filled out applications. If the number falls below 3%, Poland will be allowed to enter the Visa Waiver Program which will allow swifter, less complicated and cheaper travel to the U.S. for Polish citizens.
The LOT campaign “Without visas to the USA” launched by LOT, includes the website www.bezwizdousa.pl, where it’s possible to learn how to meet the required criteria for being issued a visa USA.
The main hurdle is to fill out the DS-160 form online but some travellers also have problem issues with paying for their visa application. Persons applying for a nonimmigrant visa are required to pay a fee which is non-returnable, regardless of whether a visa will be granted in the end ord not.
It is worth finding out whether one belongs to a catagory of travellers that is entitled to an exemption from this fee before paying it. That can be done at http://ustraveldocs.com/pl_pl. Polish citizens normally pay the fee after converting the total sum from dollars to PLN. For the most popular tourist visa, it is 160 dollars, or around 630 Zloty.
The payments is made online via a credit or debit card. It’s worth using the webpage mentioned above to find out when the fee will be active and which mistakes to avoid. The most common mistake is to pay in the wrong currency. To make a payment, create a profile and log in to the online appointment system. Once this is done, select the option “New application / Set appointment”. The program will take you to the page where you choose the payment option. Once you are on the payment page, continue by clicking on the link “To view the available online payment options, click HERE”. There, the traveller will find detailed information about all available payment methods.
In the end, a CGI reference number or confirmation number is given. Without the CGI reference number or confirmation number it will not be possible to schedule an appointing at the local US consulate for a meeting regarding being issued a visa. After paying the visa fee, you can set the date of the meeting in accordance with the information provided in the table “Time of activation of the fee for processing the visa application”. If you are not automatically redirected, log in to the previously created profile and use the CGI reference number or confirmation number to set the appointment.
The meeting at the US consulate is a pure formality and as long as the traveller brings all necessary documents to the meeting, a visa will be issued within days. After that, the doors to USA are open for the traveller.
Depending on where you want to go, LOT Polish Airlines offers passengers a comfortable flight onboard a Dreamliner : from Warsaw: to New York (JFK and Newark), Chicago and Los Angels, from Budapest to JFK and Chicago, from Krakow to Chicago and from Rzeszów to Newark.
If enough Poles manage to fill out the visa forms correctly, visa-free travel for Poles could become a reality as early as in 2020.
Misunderstood
“The public think the politicians don’t know or care about their lives; and the politicians feel misunderstood.” The words of Tony Blair, so take them as you will, but perhaps the politicians are understood only too well, and folk have good reason for their view. Be that as it may, the Polish prime minister feels that criticism of his government’s legal reforms is due to their not being understood in western Europe.
Speaking to CNN during the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, Mateusz Morawiecki said: “There is a lack of understanding [of] what is happening in Poland by our western neighbours.” Poland’s fellow EU members in western Europe were “on the right side of the Iron Curtain,” while Poland was on the wrong side and spent decades under communism.
He told CNN’s Richard Quest that the justice system was being changed to make it as efficient as those in western Europe but that the European Union Commission was seeking to “politicise” the continuing dispute with Poland over these changes. “Although Poland changed its provisions regarding [the] judiciary, the European Commission does not recognise it. I feel that some of the European Commissioners want to politicise this dispute”, Morawiecki said.
The prime minister added that although the new procedures for appointing judges is less dependent on the decisions of political bodies than hitherto, the Commission still contends that at the rule of law is under threat in Poland. Indeed, the deputy foreign minister for European affairs last month voiced surprise that notwithstanding Poland’s having complied with an ECJ ruling last year requiring it to reinstate Supreme Court judges who had been forced to retire, the EU had not withdrawn the procedure under article 7 of the Treaty of the European Union.
The Commission had begun the action against Poland in the ECJ because it argued that the changes to the appointment of judges to the Supreme court undermined “the principle of judicial independence, including the irremovability of judges.” Although it complied with the ECJ ruling – evidence, one might think, of the rule of law actually functioning – the Polish government has contended that its changes are needed to reform an inefficient and on occasion corrupt judicial system that has not fully rid itself of the taint of its communist past.
The complaint that Poland is misunderstood by non-Poles is a common one which extends beyond the political sphere. Many countries consider themselves to be exceptions and it is hardly surprising therefore, given its history, that feeling of Polish exceptionalism should be so strong. Of course, that is no excuse for Poland being given an easy ride where the EU has grounds for believing that there is a threat to fundamental EU values. Nevertheless, the de haut en bascommunications to Poland are perhaps not the most effective way of addressing a proud nation.
The Polish prime minister also had something to say about another great exercise in exceptionalism and, perhaps, misunderstanding, Brexit. When asked about the UK’s impending departure from the EU, Morawiecki said that he regretted it. He said that Poland stood united with the other EU member states on the deal the EU had negotiated with the British government. Earlier in the week Morawiecki had told the BBC that he would like to see more Poles return to Poland from the UK as Poland benefitted from strong economic growth and low unemployment. “So I would hope that many, many Poles would come back to Poland. So give us our people back.” Not, it hardly needs adding, that the British government has prevented Poles from coming or going at will, something that is unlikely to change whatever form of Brexit eventually emerges.
And should a no-deal Brexit occur, the Polish economy is ready according to deputy investment and development minister, Jerzy Kwieciński. as reported Poland’s PAP news agency, although he sees such a development as unlikely. He did say, however, that Brexit is one of Europe’s greatest economic and political challenges in 2019.
Every country is defined by its history: Poland by struggle, the United Kingdom by exceptionalism. But what the United Kingdom also had was Machiavellian pragmatism based on a rational analysis of its best interests and this seems curiously absent of late. Modern politicians seem ignorant of history – perhaps that’s why they misunderstand and are misunderstood.
Paulina Otterstein talks to Stefan Tompson about his life and work.
Stefan Tompson was born in Great Britain, he is the author of short educational films about Poland, its history and its current events. These popular films are often focused on setting the record straight in the foreign media, which often seems to misunderstand what s happening in contemporary Poland, as well as the historical past.
Let's meet in Wrocław
The history of Wrocław goes all the way back to a settlement that developed centuries ago at a crossroads along the Oder River separating Germany and Poland. The city lies at the intersection of several important travel routes running from southern to northern Europe towards the Baltic Sea, and from west to east towards the Black Sea region
The capital of Lower Silesia, and the former capital of the Duchy of Wroclaw, the modern city of Wroclaw has a lot to offer. Placed among the top 100 cities in the world for quality of life according to Mercer, Wroclaw surprises visitors with colorful architecture, world-class art and unforgettable cuisine.
One of the first things worth doing in Wroclaw is going for a walk through the beautiful streets of the Old Town and the area of Ostrów Tumski, the oldest part of the city. Ostrów Tumski features many fascinating buildings, including the kluskowa gate, the Archbishop’s Palace, the 13th-century Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross and the Church of St. Bartholomew (Św. Bartłomiej).
There is also the Archdiocesan Museum, which for more than one hundred years has been collecting sacred art pieces and monuments, long since withdrawn from cult use.
The collection of the National Museum of Wrocław includes paintings as well as sculptures, with particular emphasis on the art of the Silesian part of Poland. Amongst works by international painters from outside of Poland we can see pieces by Marcello Bacciarelli, Wassily Kandinsky, or Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun. There is also a large collection of Polish art in the Wrocław National Museum, among the most famous artists being Stanisław Wyspiański, Aleksander Gierymski or Tadeusz Kantor.
Another idea for spending free time in Wrocław is a walk along the famous Path of the Dwarfs (Krasnale), which leads to the Dwarf Fountain. Each of the dwarfs along the path has its own name. Wierzbnik is sitting in the middle, and Thirsty is taking the flowing water. Not far from these two, Parasolnik shields the frog in the crown, and next to it is the Dwarf Killing the Ships. The fountain also includes a dwarf feeding the pigeons called – the Feeder.
Wrocław is also a city of fine cuisine and memorable cafes. The first one that comes to mind is frequently Cafe Literatka (the literary café), which is located in the heart of the Old Town. The artistic elegance of Literatka draws attention and makes you fall in love with it at first sight.
Another unforgettable experience is visiting the Art Cafe Kalambur. In addition to a wide selection of drinks, you can also have a meal there or just enjoy a cup of coffee. All in an atmosphere of artistic secession.
Located close to the Old Town – Jadka restaurant is one of the best culinary experiences in Wroclaw. Polish wines and a rich variety of delicious dishes! Highly recommended.
If you are spending some time in the beautiful city of Lower Silesia don’t forget to visit Campo Modern Grill – thanks to the outstanding interior – Campo was awarded the most beautiful restaurant in the world.
And… Last but not least, Wroclaw’s Sky Tower is a must. The view will impress you in the night as well as during the daytime.
New mega airport and visa-free travel to the US entice LOT to action
The Polish flag carrier LOT Polish Airlines is expected to be one the main winners from the Polish government’s decision to build a mega airport in the vicinity of Warsaw by 2027. Ultimately, the Central Communication Port will have a capacity to serve 100 million passengers a year. LOT is hoping that the airline will serve many of the passengers travelling between USA and Central Eastern Europe, using the new airport as a regional hub. For that to happen, introducing visa-free travel for Poles to the U.S. will most likely be necessary.
To improve the chances of that happening, LOT has launched an information campaign aimed toward decreasing the number of Polish rejected visa applications to the US to under 3% of all applications. Such a low number would make it possible for Poland to finally enter the Visa Waiver Program and as a result, Poles would be able to fly to the US without having to spend money, time and stress on the visa application process.
The 3% target of rejected visa applications is within reach and LOT has decided to push the process in the right direction. With the use of a new of a new website – www.bezwizdousa.pl – dedicated to the campaign, LOT walks Poles eager to travel to the US through the process of choosing the correct form of visa and information needed by the US consulate in Poland to issue a visa.
Many are nervous about having to schedule an appointment at the US consulate and believe that the chances of receiving a visa are slim. The interview with the consul is in reality a mere formality and is not complicated at all.
It is however necessary to prepare for it. As part of the procedure of applying for a visa, the traveller needs to set up a profile on cgifederal.secure.force.com, fill out all the fields and decide on a password. The next step on the same page is to schedule the appointment with the consulate. The information needed for that includes the passport number, the specific visa fee number and a 10-digit bar code received earlier during the visa application. Personal data needs to be given and the type of visa needs to specified. Following that, it is possible choose the date and time of the meeting with the consul. There is no need to be disheartened by the line in the consulate or embassy as the process is very quick.It is important to bring a valid passport, a printout of the scheduled appointment and a printout of the filled out DS-160 form. The conversation with the consul usually lasts a few minutes.
Conducting the interview in English is recommended and appreciated, but the officials also know Polish. The traveller may be asked to provide details such as to the places we intend to visit and the planned travel route. The officials may also ask about previous trips to other countries and how the traveller plans on financing the stay in America. Other often asked questions include information about the person’s education or history of employment.If everything goes well,and it usually does, a promise to issue the visa is given. It will take a couple of days before the visa arrives and can either be picked up at the consulate or delievered by a courier.
Increasing the number of flights and routes to the US is a priority for LOT. The carrier served almost 9 million passengers in 2018, a 100 percent increase since 2016. The airline has added 66 new routes since 2016, bringing up the total number of routes to 107. Possible travel destinations in the US from Poland include New York City, Newark, Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami.
The new US Ambassador to Poland, Georgette Mosbacher, stated recently that she believes that visa-free travel will be feasible as early as next year. LOT and tens of thousands of Poles interested in booking their first transatlantic vacation are certainly keeping their fingers crossed for such an outcome.
MEMORIES OF WARSAW'S GHETTO OF THE WWII
The Bombing of Warsaw in World War II refers to the bombing campaign of Warsaw by the German Luftwaffe during the siege of Warsaw in the invasion of Poland in 1939. During the course of the war approximately 84% of the city was destroyed due to German mass bombings, heavy artillery fire and a planned demolition campaign. Learn more with William Richarsson and Wojciech Młotkowski, guide of Warsaw Behind the Scenes tour operator.