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Home / Travel

Flight check: Air Baltic

By Cameron Ewen
NZ Herald·
2 Dec, 2015 08:30 PM2 mins to read

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An AirBaltic Q400. Photo / Suplied

An AirBaltic Q400. Photo / Suplied

Cameron Ewen flies AirBaltic BT342/313, Vilnius to Tallinn via Riga.

The plane: Q400, the big brother of Air NZ Link's Q300 - possibly the coolest, fastest and meanest turboprop out there.

Class: Economy but AirBaltic does have an upgradeable product, same seats though.

Price: $93.

On time: Yes, although the flight was boarded remotely by bus, providing a scenic tour of Vilnius airport. It's a 50-minute flight.

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My seat: 10D, then 17A, both windows, before and aft of the high wing, great for views and aeroplane geek watching of the props and wheels.

Fellow passengers: Classy-looking Baltic/Scandi types with unpronounceable names - I was the only Antipodean, with my Aussie passport causing interest at immigration.

How full: Both flights were half-full, but for some reason the largest guy who boarded was seated next to me; thankfully, he moved once the doors were closed.

Entertainment: Bring a book, the UK's gate-to-gate electronics rule doesn't apply here, but the stylish inflight magazine, Baltic Outlook, is a winner: Vogue beware.

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The service: Short flights mean busy crew, but with the light load, the young women looked after us all easily. We were diverted to Helsinki from Riga because of a broken-down aircraft on the runway at Tallinn; during the delay the crew kept us informed and happy.

Food and drink: AirBaltic has a buy-before-you-fly option. I ordered the continental breakfast for $9.50 and was delighted with a decently sized and varied box of food, which actually lasted through the transfer at Riga to lunch in Tallinn.

The toilets: Fine, clean but a bit squashy on this small plane.

Luggage: Low-cost airline, so buy online before you go or you will be charged. Note you can buy online until the day before the flight.

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The airport experience: All airports were small, clean and straightforward. AirBaltic operates a hub in Riga, the airport lounge is very plush, with brilliant bar and outdoor viewing area for those who want it.

Would I fly this again? Very cheap deal, great service, easy connection, you bet I would.

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