Review: AirBaltic - Is It a Reliable Choice?
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We have flown with AirBaltic several times. Over the years, the overall quality has slowly improved, and nowadays, AirBaltic is a respected player in Europe´s aviation market.
Covered in the Article
AirBaltic - the National Carrier of Latvia
AirBaltic, which is sometimes called also as Baltic Airlines, is the flag-carrier of Latvia. It has only one base in the capital of Latvia, Riga. Earlier, airBaltic was also flying point-to-point connections, but in 2008, the airline changed its business model to connect all passengers at its Riga hub.
For travellers heading to/from Nordics and Baltics, connecting at Riga Airport is simple. The location is good, and unlike big airports, the Riga Airport is compact, making very short connections possible. Walking distance from a gate to a gate is often only a few minutes. Crossing the Schengen border requires 15 minutes more.
AirBaltic was known for its old Boeing 737 fleet, but during the past few years, the airline has upgraded the entire fleet. Now, airBaltic is a pure Airbus airline flying only with Airbus A220 fleet. No old classical Boeing 737 planes are used anymore, and neither are Dash Q400 turboprops.
Route Network
Almost all airBaltic´s routes start or end at the Riga Airport. The airline has destinations all over Europe and also a few destinations in the Middle East. East Europe is especially well covered. It is impossible to fly long-distance routes with the Airbus A220 fleet, so airBaltic is only a short-distance airline.
Business Model of airBaltic
AirBaltic is a hybrid airline. It combines the traditional model with the low-cost model. airBaltic looks more like a low-cost airline than a traditional one. A flight ticket includes only the flight; you must pay extra for everything else. Seat allocation, hold luggage, and catering are all paid services.
Luggage Allowance
AirBaltic charges a high luggage fee for luggage in the hold. A good thing is that the luggage may weigh even 25 kilograms, a little more than many other airlines offer.
A normal-sized cabin luggage is allowed with a personal item free of charge, but they can weigh only 8 kilograms together. You must pay an extra fee if the luggage weighs 8 to 12 kilograms. However, we have never seen airBaltic´s airport staff weighing passengers´ cabin luggage.
Seat Allocation
It is possible to choose a seat during the booking or the check-in, but there is a fee. The fee varies between the seat locations. A paid seat includes an option to check in even 5 days before the departure.
Without reserved seats, airBaltic does not normally separate passengers in the same booking as some other airlines do.
Catering
There is no free onboard service on airBaltic flights. Not even free water is served, but you need to pay for everything.
It is possible to order moderately priced meals before the flight. We have ordered food a few times, which has been tasty and affordable. There are also snacks and drinks on sale onboard.
Entertainment
Onboard, there are free airBaltic magazines. There are also tiny screens sharing information about the progress of the flight. Not any other entertainment is available.
Wi-Fi
Airbus A220 fleet has a Wi-Fi but no internet connection. You can use Wi-Fi only to browse airBaltics' information and to order snacks and drinks. Snacks ordered by the Wi-Fi will be brought to your seat, but the payment must be made traditionally to a flight attendant. According to our experience, this service is not so popular.
Our airBaltic Experiences
AirBaltic has taken us to Portugal, Austria, Germany and to many other destinations. Our first airBaltic experiences were not that good because the planes were old, and the service model was not as developed as it is now. Our latest airBaltic experiences have been perfect, and we have got value for our money.
Missed Connections and Compensation
We have been unlucky to miss flight connections twice at the Riga Airport because of the late arrival of the inbound flight. AirBaltic has offered us hotel rooms and meals as regulated by the EU261. However, airBaltic has refused to pay us the monetary compensation, and we have escalated the cases: once in Germany and once in Latvia. Both times, we won the cases and finally got the full compensation.
Rating
Simpliness of the Booking
AirBaltic has a well-working website where booking a flight is simple. Booking flights via a travel agency is also possible, but there is not much of a price difference.
Fleet
The brand new Airbus A220 fleet is comfortable. The cabins are immaculate and nicely decorated. The planes are also quiet and more environmentally friendly. There could be more entertainment in such new planes.
Onboard Service
No onboard service is included in the ticket price, so you need to pay more for everything you get. The paid food and drink selection is good quality.
Ticket Prices
AirBaltic is never super cheap like Ryanair, but often, the airline is an inexpensive choice.
Overall Rating
We feel that airBaltic is a great low-cost airline. You need to pay extra for all the services, but they are good quality. The fleet is new, and the flights are operated safely and professionally.
Common Questions
- What aircraft types are in airBaltic´s fleet?
- AirBaltic uses only new and modern Airbus A220 planes.
- Is there complimentary onboard service on airBaltic´s flights?
- No, you need to pay separately for everything.
- Is there Wi-Fi onboard airBaltic?
- Yes, there is, but without an internet connection.
- Is airBaltic a safe airline?
- The safety record of airBaltic is excellent. But be aware that there are always risks with every kind of transportation.
- Is airBaltic cheap?
- We would say that airBaltic is inexpensive, not cheap.
- Where to buy tickets for airBaltic flights?
- We compare prices often on Skycanner. It finds the prices of many booking sites.
- Is it easy to connect at the Riga Airport?
- Yes, the airport is small, so connecting is easy and fast.
- Does Latvia belong to the Schengen Area?
- Yes, it does.
- How much time do I need to connect at the Riga Airport?
- We would say that 30 minutes is enough.
Bottom Line
AirBaltic has become one of the best options to fly to the Baltics and North Europe.The fleet is modern and comfortable. Ticket prices are low, but you need to pay for extras. The Riga Airport is a fast and comfortable connecting point. According to our experiences, airBaltic is a reliable choice to fly with.
What are your experiences? Comment below!
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Comments (1)
Thank you for the comment. AirBaltic has compensated us two times for delays. But we agree that it is not easy to get compensation.