airBaltic is the Latvian flag carrier, flying a fleet of Airbus A220 aircraft from Riga, with smaller bases in Tallinn, Vilnius and Tampere, to cities across Europe and beyond. It sells a range of fares from bare-bones to fully flexible, and most of the cost of a cheap ticket sits in the extras.
A good airBaltic booking starts with choosing the right fare tier for how you travel, then checking the bag allowance against what you carry, then timing the booking for the sales.
The Green fare tiers
airBaltic sells its economy fares in tiers, all carrying the Green name. The names and inclusions have shifted, so read the fare comparison at booking, but the pattern holds.
Green is the basic fare: a seat and a small bag under the seat. No checked bag, no seat selection, no changes without a fee.
Green Plus and Green Classic add a checked bag, a larger cabin bag and seat selection in different combinations. For most leisure travellers with luggage, one of these is the right buy.
Green Flex adds free changes and better refund terms. Business-style flexibility on an economy seat, priced accordingly.
airBaltic also sells a Business class on many routes, with a blocked middle seat and catering. On short flights, Green Flex is often the better value for flexibility alone.
Cabin and checked bag rules
The cheapest airBaltic fare includes only a small personal item that must fit under the seat. A normal carry-on suitcase does not qualify, and paying at the gate costs far more than adding it at booking.
Check the current size and weight limits on the airBaltic baggage page for each item. The A220 overhead lockers are generous, but the limit is enforced at the gate on busy flights.
A checked bag added at booking is cheaper than adding it later, and adding it later is cheaper than at the airport. Decide before you pay.
Sports equipment, instruments and infant items have their own rules and fees. Look them up rather than assuming.
Connections through Riga
Most airBaltic routes connect through Riga. The airport is compact and transfers are quick, but a tight connection on a single booking is protected and a connection across two separate bookings is not.
Book the whole journey on one airBaltic ticket. If the first flight is late, airBaltic rebooks you. On two tickets, a missed connection is your cost.
airBaltic also codeshares with several larger airlines. If your ticket was bought from a partner, the fare rules and bag allowance follow that ticket, not airBaltic's Green tiers.
airBaltic Club
airBaltic Club is the airline's loyalty programme. Members earn points on flights and with partners, and can spend them on flights and extras. It is free to join, and earning starts with the first booking if you add the number.
The points value is modest on a single cheap fare, so the main reason to join is if you fly airBaltic a few times a year or live in the Baltics.
Check the current earning rates by fare tier; basic fares often earn fewer points than the higher Green tiers.
When airBaltic fares are lowest
airBaltic runs frequent sales, often with a fixed lead-in price for a booking window covering travel months ahead. Signing up for the airBaltic newsletter is the way to hear about them.
Prices rise closer to departure and around Baltic public holidays and summer. For a summer trip, book in the early-year sales.
Mid-week departures and early flights are consistently cheaper than Friday and Sunday evenings.
Changes, cancellations and refunds
Basic airBaltic fares are usually non-refundable and changeable only for a fee plus fare difference. Green Flex allows changes without the fee. Check the fare rules at booking for your tier.
If airBaltic cancels or delays a flight significantly, EU passenger rights apply on flights from EU airports, including rebooking or a refund, and compensation in some cases. Keep the booking reference and any delay notices.
Extras such as bags and seats are generally not refundable if you cancel voluntarily.
Where the airBaltic savings are
Airline codes typically apply to the base fare, not to taxes, fees or extras. On a cheap Baltic hop where taxes are most of the price, the saving is smaller than the percentage suggests.
The 15% code is the best on any fare above around 70 euros. Below that, the flat $10-equivalent code may save more. Try both on the same booking before paying.
airBaltic codes are usually entered before payment and may be limited to certain routes, dates or fare tiers. If one is rejected, check the conditions before assuming it has expired.
Sale fares and codes rarely combine. When a sale is on, the sale price is usually the floor.
Common questions
Which airBaltic fare includes a checked bag?
Not the basic Green fare. Compare the Green Plus and Green Classic inclusions at booking.
Is a carry-on suitcase included on airBaltic?
Only a small under-seat item on the basic fare. Add a cabin bag at booking if you need one.
Can I change an airBaltic flight?
For a fee plus any fare difference on most tiers. Green Flex allows changes without the fee.
Is airBaltic Club worth joining?
It is free, so add the number. The points only add up if you fly airBaltic several times a year.
| Discount | Type | Get the deal |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Off | Promo code | View at Airbaltic → |
| 15% off | Promo code | View at Airbaltic → |
| 10% off | Promo code | View at Airbaltic → |
| $10 off | Promo code | View at Airbaltic → |
