Has your airBaltic flight been delayed?
You might have checked the flight status online and now you’re considering your options. Do you make your way to the airport anyway, or should you sit tight at home or in your hotel room? Flight delays can range from a minor inconvenience of 30 minutes to a daunting 23-hour delay, which potentially leaves you stuck in the airport for a full day.
The answer can be complicated and dependent on several factors.
Nonetheless, in most situations, the same few scenarios are likely to occur.
Your airBaltic Flight Is Delayed. Should You Stick to Original Plan or Wait?
Where are you right now? At your accommodation or already at the airport?
Scenario 1 – You’re At the Gate, Waiting for Your Flight
You’re already at the gate awaiting your flight when the delay is announced. Or, you just learned of that by checking the flight status on flight information screens. What’s the next step?
Simply stay put at the gate and await further notifications about the status of your flight.
Scenario 2 – You’re at the Airport, But Have Yet to Pass Through Security
You’re at the airport, but you’ve yet to pass through the security checkpoint. You learn that your flight is delayed. It’s advisable to stay put until you have confirmed updates about your flight’s check-in time. If the flight’s check-in time has been postponed, delay going through airport security.
Hold off on passing through security until further instructions.
Have you checked in online yet?
Regardless, wait. Do not proceed until check-in officially starts.
If the check-in is happening as normal, proceed as normal.
Scenario 3 – You’re Back at Home or at a Hotel
Find out if check-in has been delayed.
You can get this information via airBaltic call centre or by checking with the information desk at the airport (you can call them).
If the check-in time has been postponed, you can afford to wait at your accommodation. However, if no changes have been made to the check-in time, it’s advisable to go to the airport as you initially planned; it may be a sign that the delay is going to be a rather short one.
If check-in is delayed, you can wait. It’s a better choice.
If check-in is as per schedule — proceed to the airport as per your original schedule.
How to Check airBaltic Flight Status Online?
Here are a few ways to check your flight status online:
- The website of your departure airport;
- The airline’s website (airbaltic.com in this particular case);
- Online flight trackers like Flightradar24.
It’s wise to check your flight status before leaving for the airport, especially for flights scheduled early in the morning. You wouldn’t want to reach the airport at 5 am, only to discover that your flight has been delayed or cancelled, leading to a long wait. To avoid such a situation, it’s best to check the flight status as soon as you wake up. Right before you leave your accommodation, check the flight status again to ensure there haven’t been any last-minute changes.
Usually, passengers find out about the delay:
- Through SMS or email from the airline, notifying of the delay;
- When they check the flight status online;
- Upon reaching the airport, or even at the gate.
What If You’re Likely to Miss Your Connecting Flight Due to the Delay?
If you have a connecting flight with airBaltic, don’t worry if you miss your connection due to a delay. AirBaltic will manage a new flight booking for you at no extra cost. There’s no need to stress about arranging a new flight on your own. Simply contact the airBaltic staff at the airport for help if you miss your connecting flight.
However, if you have a self-transfer flight, missing your connection falls under your responsibility, and you’ll have to book a new flight. Nevertheless, if your airBaltic flight is delayed or cancelled, you could still receive airBaltic flight delay compensation or airBaltic flight cancellation compensation, based on the situation.
Right to Care at the Airport
Passengers who have to wait at the airport due to a flight delay, cancellation or denial of boarding have certain rights (“right to care“).
- During a relatively short delay of 3 hours or more during the day, airBaltic is required to offer complimentary food and refreshments and some form of communication (like phone calls, emails or faxes), typically given in the form of vouchers.
- In case of an overnight delay, airBaltic is obliged to arrange free hotel accommodation, airport transfers, and one or two meals free of charge for the passenger.
If you haven’t received any of these entitlements, reach out to airBaltic for help.
Could You Be Entitled to airBaltic Flight Delay Compensation?
Indeed, you might be eligible for airBaltic flight delay compensation.
If your flight has been delayed for more than three hours, or if it has been cancelled without a notice of at least 14 days, you may qualify for a compensation of up to 600 euros under EU law, unless the delay or cancellation was due to extraordinary circumstances.
This right applies irrespective of the ticket price and your nationality. Be sure to retain your boarding pass and other travel documents, as you may need them when seeking compensation. If you need assistance with the process, there are services available that can help you claim your compensation from airBaltic – our partners provide such services (you can use compensation claim form on this website to make a claim).
Can You Receive Flight Delay Compensation in Case of an airBaltic Strike?
If your airBaltic flight is delayed or cancelled due to a strike, there are two possibilities – it’s either a strike of airBaltic staff or some other type of strike.
Generally, if the strike is initiated by airport personnel, air traffic control, or a labor strike that does not directly involve airBaltic, you will likely not be entitled to compensation. This is regarded as an extraordinary circumstance, and airlines are not usually held responsible.
However, if the strike includes airBaltic’s own employees, the airline will likely be required to compensate passengers. Always investigate the specific circumstances surrounding your delay or cancellation, and double-check the information provided by the airline.
Read more: airBaltic Strike Compensation
Can You Obtain Delay Compensation in Case of Technical Problems with the Aircraft?
Yes, if your airBaltic flight is delayed due to technical malfunctions with the aircraft, you might be eligible for flight delay compensation.
Mostly, such issues are not considered extraordinary circumstances.
However, there might be exceptions in certain situations, such as if the technical problems were caused by hidden manufacturing defects.
What is your experience with airBaltic flight delays? Have you ever experienced a flight delay with airBaltic? How did the airline resolve the situation?