This article will discuss airBaltic vouchers.
What are airBaltic voucher types? How to exchange an airBaltic voucher to cash?
Airline vouchers are often used as reparation for flight disruptions, but it’s crucial to understand that these are not the same as compensation. This write-up outlines the common situations when airBaltic grants vouchers and expounds on your rights in such scenarios. Remember, voucher acceptance is usually at your discretion – often, you can request cash payment/bank transfer instead.
Vouchers are not equivalent to flight compensation.
1. airBaltic Vouchers
Vouchers are essentially coupons that come with a predetermined value and can be used to make payments. Airlines commonly issue vouchers, and airBaltic is no exception.
There are two primary forms of airBaltic vouchers: airBaltic gift cards and flight compensation vouchers.
- AirBaltic Gift Cards – These are standard travel gift cards available for purchase on the airline’s website. You can use them to pay for airBaltic flights that you are booking. Anyone can buy such a gift card.
- AirBaltic compensation vouchers – These vouchers can be used in the same way as gift cards. The difference is that such vouchers are issued by airBaltic in case of flight disruptions (such as flight delay, cancellation, overbooking).
The process of receiving a gift card is quite simple – someone gives it as a gift to you or you purchase it for your own use.
But, what about flight compensation vouchers or vouchers that you receive as a refund for an unused flight? To find out more, continue reading.
2. airBaltic Voucher as Refund/Compensation
Why were you given a voucher?
2.1 Your Flight Was Cancelled
When your flight is cancelled, you should be offered a choice.
If airBaltic cancels your flight, they must offer you two options: a refund for the cancelled flight or an alternative flight to your destination. This alternative flight could be with airBaltic or another airline and should be provided free of charge. In specific situations, flight cancellation might also make you eligible for flight cancellation compensation.
Remember, an airBaltic refund or compensation should be paid into your bank account. The airline might propose a voucher, but it’s up to you to accept it or not.
2.2 You Cancelled a Flight
The rules differ when you, the passenger, choose to cancel your flight.
According to airBaltic’s policy, your eligibility for a refund primarily depends on your ticket’s fare conditions.
If your ticket is refundable, you should receive your money back. However, for a non-refundable ticket, a full refund might not be possible. Instead, airBaltic may offer a voucher for future travel with them, or nothing at all – it’s a non-refundable ticket after all.
Always ensure to examine the particular terms and conditions related to your ticket to understand your entitlements in case of cancellation.
2.3 Your Flight Was Delayed
There are typically two scenarios here.
Either airBaltic is at fault for the delay, or the delay wasn’t caused by the airline.
If airBaltic is liable for your flight delay, you could potentially qualify for flight delay compensation. The procedure of getting the money and compensation amount are determined by the European Union’s guidelines. Compensation generally varies from 250 to 600 euros, although in some rare cases, you might only receive 50% of that.
However, airBaltic might opt to offer an airBaltic voucher instead of the compensation you’re entitled to. It’s critical to remember that voucher acceptance is optional. Also, if you do accept the voucher, ensure that its value is at par with the legally stipulated amount.
If the flight delay is not airBaltic’s fault, then a voucher cannot be cashed, assuming they have even issued you one. Since they aren’t accountable for the delay, they aren’t legally obliged to offer any type of compensation.
2.4 You Were Denied Boarding
Overbooking may lead to involuntary denied boarding for you or other passengers. As a passenger, you are entitled to either an alternative flight or a refund to your bank account. Moreover, due to denied boarding because of overbooking, you might also be eligible for overbooking compensation.
As with flight delays and cancellations, if compensation is due, you don’t need to accept a non-refundable voucher. You can ask for a transfer to your bank account.
If you voluntarily give up your seat (voluntary denied boarding), you could also be offered an airBaltic voucher. Be sure to carefully review the offer terms, such as its refundability, validity period, and any usage restrictions. Make sure, you know what you are accepting.
By Europe and EU here on this page (and on this website in general) we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
2.5 Other Situations
As always, keep a close eye on what’s being offered to you.
If anything seems unclear or raises concern, it’s recommended that you do some independent research to verify if you’re getting a fair deal. Our webpage outlines a variety of situations where you might be eligible for a refund or compensation from airBaltic. It’s important to remember that often, airBaltic is required to issue a complete refund instead of a voucher, even if they propose the latter as the only choice.
Here’s a summary of what you can get in every situation:
| Situation | EU flight compensation | Refund |
|---|---|---|
| Flight delayed for 3+ hours | If it’s due to the fault of airBaltic, you are entitled to flight delay compensation | No |
| Flight delayed less than 3 hours | No | No |
| Flight cancellation less than 2 weeks before the flight | If it’s due to the fault of airBaltic, you are entitled to flight cancellation compensation | Choice between a refund and new flight (You can choose either) |
| Flight cancellation more than 2 weeks before the flight | No | Choice between a refund and new flight |
| You have cancelled a flight | No | Depending on the ticket |
| Boarding denial (due to overbooking) | You can get denied boarding compensation | Choice between a refund and new flight |
| You have given up your seat (voluntary denied boarding) | No | As per agreement with airBaltic |
The type of compensation you may receive will depend on the specific situation, and could include a refund, compensation, or both. It’s important to note that any payment you are entitled to must be made in cash or transferred directly to your bank account, depending on the circumstances.
Read more:
- How to Claim airBaltic Compensation?
- Your airBaltic Compensation Claim Is Denied. Now What?
- Your airBaltic Refund Is Taking Forever. What Can You Do About It?
- Your airBaltic Flight Is Delayed. Should You Wait at Home?
3. How to Exchange airBaltic Voucher for Cash?
When discussing voucher conversion to cash, there are two scenarios that need consideration.
Firstly, if you have a refundable voucher, you can opt to turn it into cash. You can reach out to the airlines and inquire about the procedure and requirements for cashing out the voucher.
Secondly, there could be instances where you are given a voucher instead of compensation or refund, although rules suggest that you should receive cash compensation. In such a situation, you also need to get in touch with the airlines to resolve this matter. By contacting them, you can voice your concerns and request the rightful compensation in cash instead of a voucher.
4. How to Request a Refund From airBaltic?
To claim a refund for your airBaltic flight, you can make a request through the “My Bookings” section on the airBaltic’s website. The refund will typically be credited using the same method of payment that you used for purchasing your ticket.
Depending on the type of your ticket and the specifics of your request, you might be entitled to a complete refund, partial refund, or no refund at all.
4.1 Insist on an airBaltic Refund (or Compensation), Not Voucher
In numerous circumstances, you should have an option.
As per law, you reserve the right to decline airBaltic gift cards or vouchers as compensation or refund. The reason being that EU regulations command both refund and UK/EU flight compensation to be paid into your bank account, unless you, the passenger, consent to an alternate arrangement. Hence, airBaltic has to offer that instead of vouchers.
For a detailed list of all possible scenarios, you can refer to the table provided above.
What if you have already accepted a voucher?
In case airBaltic has issued you a voucher instead of a cash refund, but you believe that you were entitled to monetary compensation, you can attempt to request a conversion. Nevertheless, the probability of securing a full cash refund will be dependent on your case specifics. If airBaltic did not provide an adequate explanation or did not offer you an option to choose between a voucher and monetary compensation/refund initially, your chances might be better.
What is your experience with airBaltic vouchers? Have you ever been given one? Was it a refundable airBaltic voucher or you could use it only for airBaltic flights?