In Praise of... Air Baltic.

[Fab Foodie]

Been flying with Air Baltic, London-Riga-Kaliningrad quite a lot recently. Member of the SAS group. Been very good, Ticket prices OK-ish, they're a tad 'budget airlines' with tight baggage rules, pay for all food and drink on board etc, but the food has been good, the service from the Baltic Babes is excellent (and they're very easy on the eye... some of the blokes too ) and thus far they leave and land pretty much on the dot. Riga airport is a great little hub and again, staff are great.
Last Sunday flying out we got to Riga on time, but there was snow/blizzards over Lithuania and K'grad and the Fokker 50 wasn't going to go that night. After a few mins confusion, we were given calm instruction to go to the ticket desk where we would be given a meal voucher for use at the airport, a ticket for the taxi-shuttle to a hotel and a voucher for a room for the night. All calm, all smooth. The hotel (also SAS group) was great, just buy your own food and drink. In the morning, free shuttle to the airport and onto the plane on a special early flight. No fuss, no bother, lovely staff.
Also, like the lime green colour scheme and blue writing (like the Liquigas Bianchi!).
Thus far, I'm very impressed with Air Baltic and its Riga hub, good honest service.

 

[snakehips]

Do they have much competition on the London-Kalilingrad route ?

Snake

My Library

 

[Fab Foodie]

Do they have much competition on the London-Kalilingrad route ?

Snake

My Library

The other option from London is Aeroflot via St Petersburg or Moscow, both highly unpalatable due to longer routings and transfers at Russian airports.
There's competition to Riga from Ryan Air and I think Easy-Jet, but Riga K'grad there's only Air Baltic (it's only a 40 mins hop). The little Fokker seems pretty full most trips and the London Riga route is pretty full too. Mostly 737's but today (Friday I guess) a bigger 757 at around 75% full for our midday trip.

 

[cookiemonster]

I flew Air Baltic just over a year ago from Oulu in Finland to Riga.

It was an ATR I flew on. Was very impressed with the service.

 

[wafflycat]

Member of the SAS group.

Wot, the Saturdays and Sundays, only flying at weekends?

 

[Globalti]

Some of the small airlines are pretty good. I've used Arik Air and Aero Contractors in West Africa and they are great. Neither has crashed yet, either.

At one time Okada Airways was THE airline for Nigeria and West Africa but they had several crashes and in the end got banned. At the time though they were so successful that they have bequeathed their name to the motorcycle taxis that offer cheap transport for anyone willing to take the risk and are now known as Okadas.

 

[dellzeqq]

Some of the small airlines are pretty good. I've used Arik Air and Aero Contractors in West Africa and they are great. Neither has crashed yet, either.

what more could you ask for?!!