Tried & Tested

Air Baltic B737-500 business class

30 Jun 2016 by Jenny Southan
Air Baltic B737

BACKGROUND

Latvia-based carrier Air Baltic serves 60 destinations in Europe, Scandinavia and the Middle East from its home base in Riga. It flies twice-daily from London Gatwick, codesharing with BA. Although the airline operates a business class section with food and drinks included, the economy cabin is no-frills, so food and drink has to be paid for.

Business class tickets (all flexible) include two pieces of checked luggage (up to 40kg in total), seat selection, priority bag drop, fast-track security, lounge access and an onboard meal and drinks. Business class passengers can take one case measuring 55cm x 40cm x 20cm as hand luggage, as well as a handbag or briefcase.

CHECK-IN

Online check-in opens five days in advance. I chose seat 2A and emailed my boarding pass to myself. I arrived at Gatwick’s South Terminal at 0800 for my 0930 departure and passed through security quickly.

THE LOUNGE

Business class flyers can use the Club Rooms lounge on the second floor. Operated by No 1 Traveller, it is open to the public for a £35 fee and offers free food and drink (including champagne).

BOARDING

At 0840, screens showed my flight as departing from Gate 31, a ten-minute walk away. Boarding via an airbridge started at about 0905, with business class passengers given priority. A friendly member of crew offered me a choice of water or juice.

THE SEAT

Air Baltic flies the B737-300 and -500 on the route – I was on the B737-500, which had 21 rows (there is no row 13). Business class was fitted with the same slimline Recaro seats as economy, upholstered in navy blue leather. However, middle seats were kept free, with a pull-out table separating them from A-C and D-F. The cabin was sectioned off from economy by a curtain. There was a good amount of legroom
(34 inches), nine degrees of recline and the surfaces were clean – a decent product for a flight of this length (two hours 45 minutes). There was no IFE or wifi.

WHICH SEAT TO CHOOSE?

Seats 1A-C have the most legroom. The bulkhead is closer to 1D-F so these seats are more restricted.

THE FLIGHT

We pushed back late at 0945, taking off at 1000. There was no explanation for the delay. Once airborne, a second drink was offered and a menu presented. I had pre-ordered a vegetarian special meal but the standard three-course breakfast would have been an appetiser of salmon and cream cheese, a main of scrambled eggs with vegetables and mozzarella, and a dessert of honey-roasted granola with dried berries and yoghurt. The wine list included two whites (Côtes du Rhône Pasquier Desvignes, France, and Santa Luisa Sauvignon Blanc, Chile), two reds (Reserve de Tholomies Pays Merlot, France, and Ponte Bello Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Italy) and Heidsieck Monopole Brut champagne. There was also the option of spirits, soft drinks, tea and coffee.

My meal arrived at 1040. There was a tasty hard cheese with dill and tomatoes; white rice with sweet and sour chargrilled vegetables, which was better than I expected; and the granola and yoghurt.

ARRIVAL

We landed 15 minutes late at 1430 local time, disembarked via steps at the front and took a bus to the terminal. Passport control was quick.

VERDICT

A very good short-haul service with welcoming staff. The “hybrid” concept means economy is essentially “low-cost”, while business class is full service, providing something for all.

FACT FILE

  • ROUTE London Gatwick to Riga
  • DEPARTURE TIME 0930
  • JOURNEY TIME 2hrs 45mins
  • AIRCRAFT TYPE B737-500
  • CONFIGURATION 2-2
  • SEAT WIDTH 16.1in/40.9cm; 17.2in/43.9cm
  • SEAT PITCH 34in/86cm
  • SEAT RECLINE 9 degrees
  • PRICE Internet rates for a return business class flight from London to Riga in September ranged between €802 and €1,525.
  • CONTACT airbaltic.com
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