airBaltic
, the flag carrier of Latvia, has its independent frequent flier program called the ‘airBaltic Club.’ The airline itself has described it as an innovative loyalty program designed for every traveler, with an easy registration process for potential travelers looking to fly with the Riga Airport (RIX)-based carrier.
Different membership levels
Achieving a higher status with airBaltic is fairly straightforward, with the airBaltic Club having three membership levels: Club, Executive, and VIP. Becoming a Club member is as easy as registering for the program.
However, to advance to Executive and VIP, a passenger must complete 30 and 60 flights, respectively. airBaltic noted that one business class segment counts as two segments when qualifying for the next tier. However, qualification and/or advancement to the next level must be completed within a year.
The threshold to re-qualify for status includes 25 flights for Executive and 50 itineraries for VIP levels, which have to be completed within a year. The same rule applies to business class segment counting as two segments also applies when re-qualifying for status.
Photo: MBekir | Shutterstock
Club level members only have a few benefits, which include a 10% discount for hot and soft drinks onboard, one monthly free game at airBaltic Disc Golf Park in Riga, Latvia, and not much else. Club members’ points expire within 36 months.
|
Executive level benefits |
VIP level benefits |
|
No points expiration |
No points expiration |
|
10% discount on hot and soft drinks onboard |
10% discount on hot and soft drinks onboard |
|
VIP client support via WhatsApp |
VIP client support via WhatsApp |
|
Free advanced seat request |
Free advanced seat request |
|
➖ |
Free seat selection during online check-in |
|
Early online check-in |
Early online check-in |
|
Check-in at the business class counter |
Check-in at the business class counter |
|
Fast track in Riga, Vilnius, and Tallinn |
Same, but with an additional passenger (only in Riga) |
|
No lounge access |
Free lounge access, including one traveler and a child under 12 |
|
Free games at the airBaltic Disc Golf Park |
Free games at the airBaltic Disc Golf Park |
|
➖ |
2 upgrade vouchers within the qualifying year |
|
Can purchase up to 10,000 points per calendar year |
Can purchase up to 20,000 points per calendar year |
The two higher airBaltic Club tiers also allow passengers to take more cabin baggage and checked baggage items, depending on the type of ticket booked while flying with the airline.
Different ways to airBaltic Club points
The obvious way to earn airBaltic Club points is by flying with the airline. However, points earnings differ between the three membership levels, namely Club, Executive, and VIP.
|
Membership level |
Points per euro |
|
Club |
1 |
|
Executive |
3 |
|
VIP |
3 |
However, the airline also provides bonuses for tickets that are more premium than basic economy. While the per euro earnings do not change between the different ticket types, namely Economy Classic, Economy Flex, Business Experience, and Business class tickets, passengers that have purchased these tickets receive 50, 100, 150, and 200 bonus points, respectively. The bonus points are the same for all tiers of members.
Photo: airBaltic
In terms of earning points on the ground, there are only a few options, including booking a stay via Booking.com, renting a car on Rentalcars.com or SIXT, or sharing opinions via Norstatpanel, a survey platform.
Flying on airBaltic and purchasing an onboard meal, catered by LSG Sky Chefs, which the Lufthansa Group
sold to the Aurelius Group private equity firm in 2023, also earns a point for every euro spent.
Booking a holiday through airBaltic Holidays earns passengers five points for every point spent, with the service providing an option to buy a flight and a hotel with a simple process.
Lastly, flying on a codeshare flight on either Air France
or KLM will result in a point earned per one euro spent while booking the flight on airBaltic’s flight.
airBaltic Club benefits
airBaltic Club members have a range of options for redeeming their accumulated points, including reward flights to destinations across the globe, flight upgrades, airBaltic gift cards, baggage vouchers, and the ability to combine points and dollars to the purchase tickets through the airline’s website.
Point redemption options include:
- Mixing cash and points for ticket purchases at airBaltic.com, starting at 10 points.
- Booking reward flights on airBaltic from 4,500 points.
- Reserving KLM and Air France reward flights from 15,000 points.
- Upgrading to airBaltic business class from 10,000 points.
- Purchasing baggage vouchers from 2,000 points.
- Buying airBaltic gift cards from 1,667 points.
-
Choosing
Sustainable Aviation Fuel(SAF) from 500 points
Planies NFT
Planies are unique digital collectibles called NFTs, and each one gives you extra benefits as a member of the airBaltic Club.
When you link a purchased Planie NFT to your wallet and airBaltic Club account, you’ll get 20 points daily, even if you’re not flying. Plus, you’ll get upgraded to business class every ten flights with airBaltic.
Furthermore, 25 Planies NFTs will automatically earn VIP status without flying.