Review of Air Baltic flight from Tampere to Tallinn in Economy

THIS ROUTING

ALL ROUTING OF 2023

ABOUT AIRLINE, AIRCRAFT AND ROUTE

Airline history and info: 
Air Baltic is a Latvian airline that was founded in 1995. It operates flights to over 60 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and the CIS region. The airline's main hub is Riga International Airport, and it also has secondary hubs in Tallinn and Vilnius. Air Baltic has a fleet of over 40 aircraft, in the fleet there is 47 Airbus A220-300. The airline has won several awards, including the World Travel Awards for Europe's Leading Airline and the Baltic States' Leading Airline.

Aircraft info (At the time of travel):
Registration: YL-ABA
Aircraft: Airbus A220-300 - Type Code: BCS3
Serial Number (MSN): 55121 - Age (JUN 2021): 2 Years - Mode S: 502D3F
Airline: Air Baltic - Code: BT / BTI
Operator: Air Baltic - Code: BT / BTI
Country Of Registration: Latvia
Delivery Date to the Air Baltic: 25/06/2021
Previous owners: No previous owners, only Air Baltic

Route Info:
BT1651is a route from Tampere Pirkkala Airport (TMP) to Tallinn Airport (TLL). The flight is operated by an Airbus A220-300 aircraft. The flight duration is approximately 45 minutes.

ARRIVING TO THE AIRPORT, NAVIGATING AT THE AIRPORT

So first of all I want to apologize that I'm posting this flight report almost 2 years later, the reason for that is I was busy with school. 

So after a short around 6-hour trip, I arrived back at Tampere airport, which looks even more beautiful at night time :)

I arrived around 1 hour and 20 minutes before departure, but to my surprise, there were only 2 passengers, 4 with me and my mom, and security wasn't open yet. Only this small cafe called Tampere Cafe was open.

I also decided to eat the sausage that I bought earlier from Tallinn Airport. Also bought 2 candies. They were… interesting. 

Since I had some time before boarding I decided to have a quick toilet visit, the toilet could be cleaner but it was okay (7.5/10), also waiting area before security checks was okay, and there wasn't really anything except the check-in area (that I believe opens around 1h before departure time, at least I didn't see anyone there before security opened) and a small cafe. 

So, security checks started (finally), I love that you need to push these trolleys by your self

Also security personnel was very friendly, I forgot that I bought one small juice box from Tallinn earlier and I forgot, they found it and told me that I can take as long as I want to drink it :)

So after passing security without any problems (almost), I made my way to my gate which took 5 seconds because this airport is so small, also to walk furthest gate, it took only like 20 seconds, but if the shop would be open it would only take 10 seconds. My gate was gate number 1.

Time to see what Airside has to offer. Airside has 4 gates, 1 duty-free shop that was closed at the time when I traveled, it also has, it also has a map with Air Baltic destinations from Tampere (outdated at the time of the travel), some Moomin pictures, a small cozy sitting place (located next to gate 2) and small children playground (located next to gate 4).

Also another Air Baltic plane arrived from Tenerife that would be flying to Riga on following morning

The terminal was not very crowded before that flight arrived because (I think) 30% of passengers that came from Tenerife continued to Tallinn. 

And there is our plane that came from Amsterdam, and yes that's the same plane that took us from Tallinn to Tampere. 

When the Amsterdam flight arrived and started deboarding, then also the Tenerife flight started deboarding, I was surprised how friendly Tampere Airport workers are because this one worker stood there and directed passengers that came from Amsterdam (passengers that continued to Tallinn didn't need to get off) and passengers that came from Tenerife, saying following thing to every passenger with the simile on her face: Tampere that way, Tallinn that way, Tampere that way, Tallinn that way.

BOARDING

After some time boarding started, time to see where is my boarding pass.

Our beautiful Air Baltic A220

And let's don't forget my favorite picture

And this is my seat for next 30 minutes (Seat 10A) & view

I had a warm welcome from the crew who recognized me from my previous flight.

TAXI, TAKE OFF, CLIMPING

After the stairs were pushed away then purser came into BA and welcomed us on board, after that captain welcome us and annoucued that flight time would be around 45 minutes. 

We taxied to runway 24, we had a smooth take off and climb to our cruising altitude. 
 I did not take any picture for that topic but I took one video.  

CATERING, IN-FLIGHT ENTEIRMENT, CRUSISING AND CABIN

Since it was dark outside there was nothing to see outside so let's see what seat 10A has to offer.  Seat 10A has a tray-table, 2 small seat pockets where you can put your water bottles, a bigger seat-pocket that holds an inflight magazine, a safety card and air sickness bag, and a small flight information screen.  

And this time purser brought our pre-ordered meals, he didn't forgot those this time :)

But before, lets have a quick loo visit. 

The loo looks clean, I don't see anything wrong with it. I also figured out how to use tap but I can't remember any more

Cabin turning cruising. 

So now it's time to eat our pre-ordered meal.
Main dish: Long French bread with chicken fillet, barbecue sauce, and pickled cucumber
Dessert: Twix Chocolate
Drink: Orange juice
And I paid 11.99 euros for it

Also, quick side note, it was one out of 2 choices, that was available to pre-order. Also to my surprise, it was a very tasty meal. Sadly I forgot to buy that tasty blue berry muffin.

DESCENDING, LANDING, TAXING

So now it's time for decend. Decent went smoothly, also they switched on that calming orange light. 

Cabin turning decend. 

Also I was able to enjoy some night views over Tallinn. 

After landing we pulled so called "Finnair move" that means doing backtrack on the runway, and then using gate 2. Finnair loves to do that :)

Also, you can watch Landing here:

DE-BOARDING

After landing we made our way to gate 2, cabin deboarder quickly because that flight wasn't that full. 

One last view out of my window.

I wished crew good night, because it was around 5 past mid-night. I aslo love this big screen that says airBaltic Airbus A220-300

And let's not forget our traditional picture. 

The airport was very empty, it felt like we were the only people alive. Also our beautiful gate 2 (A.LeCoq styled gate, A.LeCoq is an Estonian beer brand)

Since I'm tired and not in a good mood anymore (for personal reasons) I'm going to save everyone from car ad's and baggage section, so we will skip to that message that says: "We waited you back home!" (In Estonian: "Me Ootasime sind tagasi koju!") and if you are tourist you it says in English: "We wish you the best of times!"

Quick arrival board picture.

Since we were not only flight arriving there was many taxis, I'm going to say that you will see twice as many taxis on day time. 

Thank you for reading and see you in the next one! Bye :)

FLIGHT INFO

Scheduled Departure: 23:30 - Actual Departure: 23:33 - Scheduled Arrival: 00:15
Status: Landed 00:03 - Flight time: 00:30
Airline: Air Baltic - Callsign: BTI1562
Flight Number: BT1562
Equipment: BCS3 (YL-ABA) - Aircraft: Airbus A220-300