An AirBaltic Q400. Photo / Suplied
Cameron Ewen flies AirBaltic BT342/313, Vilnius to Tallinn via Riga.
The plane: Q400, the big brother of Air NZ Link's Q300 - possibly the coolest, fastest and meanest turboprop out there.
Class: Economy but AirBaltic does have an upgradeable product, same seats though.
Price: $93.
On time: Yes, although the flight was boarded remotely by bus, providing a scenic tour of Vilnius airport. It's a 50-minute flight.
My seat: 10D, then 17A, both windows, before and aft of the high wing, great for views and aeroplane geek watching of the props and wheels.
Fellow passengers: Classy-looking Baltic/Scandi types with unpronounceable names - I was the only Antipodean, with my Aussie passport causing interest at immigration.
How full: Both flights were half-full, but for some reason the largest guy who boarded was seated next to me; thankfully, he moved once the doors were closed.
Entertainment: Bring a book, the UK's gate-to-gate electronics rule doesn't apply here, but the stylish inflight magazine, Baltic Outlook, is a winner: Vogue beware.
The service: Short flights mean busy crew, but with the light load, the young women looked after us all easily. We were diverted to Helsinki from Riga because of a broken-down aircraft on the runway at Tallinn; during the delay the crew kept us informed and happy.
Food and drink: AirBaltic has a buy-before-you-fly option. I ordered the continental breakfast for $9.50 and was delighted with a decently sized and varied box of food, which actually lasted through the transfer at Riga to lunch in Tallinn.
The toilets: Fine, clean but a bit squashy on this small plane.
Luggage: Low-cost airline, so buy online before you go or you will be charged. Note you can buy online until the day before the flight.
The airport experience: All airports were small, clean and straightforward. AirBaltic operates a hub in Riga, the airport lounge is very plush, with brilliant bar and outdoor viewing area for those who want it.
Would I fly this again? Very cheap deal, great service, easy connection, you bet I would.
The flight to Queenstown from the capital traditionally takes 55 minutes.