airBaltic

Aircraft was clean and inflight team efficient and friendly. I recognise this airline offers stripped down fares and charges for luggage and seats etc normally provided free by other carriers. In view of this it is essential to get the management of providing these extras under control and that is not what I found. Having reserved a seat online and booking priority check-in at the airport my booking was not on the system and the seat not available. On the return no priority check-in available so I queued. The worst thing was that my complaint was badly handled and I was pointed to the small print in the Conditions of Carriage saying seat reservations don't definitely reserve you a seat and Priority Check-in is not refundable. Travelling is difficult enough without this type of response from carriers. Such a pity.

Amsterdam-Riga-Amsterdam. This was the last leg of intercontinental flight. All went smoothly however got a feeling of very impersonal service from AB. I also faced some level of check-in staff incompetence in Riga airport – my checked in luggage on the way back to Sydney was forwarded to Malaysia only – not to my final destination. According to them that was the only option they can do despite my KLM multi-leg ticket. I had to cross Malaysian border control just to collect my bag check it in again and come back into departure area for the flight to SYD. Fortunately this was the only odd thing I experienced.

TXL-RIX-VNO return. All flights punctual. Flight attendants were friendly pilots kept us updated. However any full-fare airline that charges for drinks and baggage can only receive a mediocre rating. It should be a gesture of courtesy to offer paying customers at least a glass of water or a hot drink in winter.

IST-RIX. RIX-LED. While boarding was a bit chaotic both flights on time and our bags were among the first off the plane. Each was only a relatively short flight so the lack of inflight entertainment / food didn't really bother me. The flight attendants seemed friendly enough. The interiors of the planes looked quite new and the seats were quite comfortable.

RIX-CPH-RIX. Flying to Budapest changing in Copenhagen (rest of journey with Malev). We always use their OptionTown service to upgrade cheaply to Business Class. It is good value - free baggage great lounge in Riga great food and service. Business class food is excellent and the service as good as any airline we have flown. Both flights arrived early.

RIX-CDG. There is no free inflight entertainment system for economy class not even overhead screens on Boeing 737 Classic. Only system which is provided is a iPad+headphones for a fee. There is no free inflight catering too. Hot meals from buy-on-board magazine were not provided for the last 12 rows 12 because they didn't have more then 2 portions of each meal type. There is no free beverages. Not even a glass of water. There is no free pillow and blanket only for lease for whole flight. Quality isn't worth for price of the tickets.

London Gatwick to Riga to Moscow Sheremetyevo. Inflight service very good as was food (pre-ordered). Courteous flight attendants. Enjoyable flight with excellent assistance in making a tight connection in Riga. However desk staff at LGW very surly. In the air - great on the ground - needs lessons in customer satisfaction.

I went to Tel Aviv via Riga no complaints and would use them again. All flights very comfortable left on time and service efficient. Transferring at Riga airport both ways was easy and quick although perhaps could have been more clearly marked as to what to do when transferring. All in all I was pleasantly surprised.

RIX-SVG. There were a lot of flight crew members ready to help you but not too friendly. They should learn how to smile. I had a smooth flight given that the weather was stormy. They didn't give us a meal or drink but it was a short flight.

LGW-RIX return. Both flights on time. Aircraft full both ways leg room fine for short flights. Check-in online in UK machines at Riga not working for London flight but check-in was quick. We used the Air Baltic taxi into the city and Air Baltic bus back - both good and can be booked on airline website.