Self check-in airBaltic
 

Hi, I've never used self check-in before. According the the airBaltic website, there's a 10€ charge to check in at the counter so I'd like to give it a try. How does dropping off my luggage work? Is an employee there to attach the appropriate tag? Will I have better chances of going through with a slightly heavy suitcase? Also, if I'm starting in Riga for an international flight, does the self check-in kiosk print out boarding passes for both my flights? Finally, is airBaltic at Vilnius airport just as strict with baggage weight? I'll be flying airBaltic from Vilnius to Riga and AF from Riga to Paris to Montreal. I'd like to choose a seat as close to the exit as possible on my flight from Riga to Paris as my connecting time is tight. Do I get to choose my seat at the self check-in?
Sorry, it's a lot of questions...
Thank you

I don't know anything about airBaltic or Vilnius, but generally speaking self check-in works like this.

there is a kiosk where you enter your record locator # (6 characters) then you follow the screen prompts for # bags to check-in & seat selection.

Since airBaltic and AF are codeshare partners it is possible you'll get an AF boarding pass, but I can't be sure. It may depend on the details of your ticket

At the self check-in there will be an agent there to apply your luggage tag to your bag and check your ID. Your bags can definitely get checked through to Montreal, but that depends on whether or not AB has all your flight info in the computer. If they do not, then the agent can enter them in and reprint your tags if needed. Be sure to check the tag and be sure is says your final destination.

As for check-in/seat selection, that depends on the AB/AF agreements. I would not bet on getting AF seat selection and boarding pass, which means you may need to do this online before you depart Vilnius, or at Riga. Too many unknowns to be sure what will happen.

Since our connecting time is tight, AF will have a check-in cut off time, etc, this is a case where I'd say spending the 10euro is a good use of funds. What will you do if airBaltic cannot check you in Riga to Paris to Montreal? See if you can check-in with AF from a computer ahead of time.

I would not assume that the baggage drop counter will staffed by an employee. It is increasingly common, at least in Europe, to check in on line ahead of time (or at machines at the airport) and then, at the airport, to scan your BP, put your own luggage on the conveyor belt to be weighed, print and attach your own baggage tags, and then print the baggage receipt.

Thank you J62 and ML Times!
I think the 10€ will be well spent but I should get used to the new way of doing things.

There is no need to spend 10€ to use the check in desk. Check in online or use the machine at the airport. You should find staff hanging around the kiosks to help you through the process. Alot of airlines are as MLTimes described.

If this were a simple one airline itinerary I'd agree, don't bother with the 10€ and do it yourself.

Since the bigger concern is boarding passes and baggage checked through to Montreal, this may be a good use of the 10€.

First thing I'd do is see if you can check-in online all the way to Montreal. If you can, then by all means use the kiosk. If you cannot via AB, then see if you can get boarding passes from AF online. Besides your bags, your biggest risk would seem to be checking in with AF before the cutoff time in Riga.

I agree; it is not a simple itinerary so check in with an agent might be best.

Thank you Odin and J62! I think this time I'll spend the 10€ but try the online check in or self check-in kiosk for my departure from home. That might be simpler.

Honestly, I don't think this is a complicated itinerary. The first flight into Riga is on an AF codeshare partner and might even be a codeshare.

Thanks MLTimes.
I checked Estonian Air, as I will be flying direct from Tallinn to Vilnius, and it has the same policy as airBaltic: 10€ for counter check-in.
Montreal airport specifies that self-serve will print out boarding passes for all flight segments
whereas airBaltic "performs check-in to the final destination for all airBaltic operated connecting flights, e.g. a passenger can check-in from Helsinki to Paris when flying via Riga and for most of the connecting flights where the second flight is operated by another airline."
My flight into Riga is on a different day. My flight out of Riga is to Paris then Montreal, both with AF and on a single ticket. Sorry if I wasn't clear but like you mentioned, I think they are partners.