I don’t have a whole lot to say about a 30 minute flight with a buy on board menu in economy, but I figure some review is better than none.
Continue reading: Review: AirBaltic Economy 737 Tallinn To Riga
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
That might be the last chance on their 737-500, as they are quickly phasing them out.
The A220 is so much better than their 737s, and they operate the A220 on just about any route longer than 1:30!
Fairly common to be asked to wear your jumper (sweater) our put it away in the emergency exit, seen it happen on many European flight I've been on sitting in emergency exit rows.
"I’ve long been reviewed about Riga-based AirBaltic."
Say what?
"I imagine there was a meal service up there."
While this isn't saying much, the meals in business are above-average, by inter-European standards. Certainly better than what you'd get on some of the bigger European legacy carriers...
So, did you join their "PINS" frequent flyer program? I did -- reflexively -- when I took the TLL-RIX flight even though I knew I'd likely have no use for their points, and sadly the points expired after 3 years.
Um, are they really worse than TAAG Angola? RyanAir? Vueling? Air Koryo? I get some people might not like them, but I am sure they are far from the worst airline ever.
Looks like you got a cleaner plane between Tallinn and Riga than I did.
Also intra-Europe I've been asked on Swiss in an exit row to put on a sweater or put it in the overhead. One of the cabin crew sat next to me and told me to do it, so I put it on!
AirBaltic usually does a very decent job; too bad you got an older 737. I've flown to TLL several times via RIX and have to say it's actually quite pleasant, especially when you can make a 20-minute connection in Riga.
Still, I still think you should've taken the LuxExpress bus in business class. That would make for a fun review 🙂
Weren't very full of smiles...
A lot of European countries, particularly those who were previously occupied by Soviets, don't have a happy clappy smiley service culture : the expectation is to be serious and businesslike.
Flying economy is like a bus in the air. However, I would LOVE to see you review a crowded Wizzair flight. Love it. Especially if you get one of the really really surly crews I've been utterly entertained by.
AirBaltic gets a lot of hate online, but they have improved a lot in my experience. They had awful management during the 08-09 credit crisis which hit Latvia particularly hard. The company nearly went bankrupt because of that.
RIX is my home airport and I fly them at least 10-15 times a year. The experience is certainly better than on Ryanair and - if you're on the A220 - also better than Wizz Air, which are the other two affordable options from RIX. Maybe SAS, LOT and Finnair offer better products on the long-haul than airBaltic, but I generally prefer flying directly if I can.
Since airBaltic has operated the A220, the atmosphere in the company seems to be very different from before. People are more positive and the crews have certainly grown friendlier, especially on longer flights.
Their PINS program is indeed not anything amazing, but now that I am pairing it with websites like Booking and Pointshound, I do get some 4, 5 free economy flights out of it per year. All in all, the deal is getting better and better in my opinion.
@Lucky: Indeed the Daugava!
Other European LCCs are equally strict about hands and laps free in exit rows during takeoff. Happened to me both on Wizzair and Ryanair.
Just want to bring a correction to your attention.
As a Riga based former aviation authority inspector - from the pictures provided it was actually runway 18 you landed on, not 36 as you stated.