Quick answer
Does airBaltic still accept Bitcoin?
Yes. On October 12, 2026, the official airBaltic payment page still listed bitcoin through BitPay, but only for GREEN and GREEN plus tickets. airBaltic is one of only two airlines in our index that take crypto at their own checkout. SatFares, a flight booking site paid only in crypto, also sells airBaltic tickets for USDT, USDC, BTC and other coins. The amount is held, not charged, until the e-ticket number is issued.
airBaltic: crypto payments and booking
| Accepts crypto directly | Yes |
|---|---|
| Payment processor | BitPay |
| Coins | BTC |
| Conditions | GREEN and GREEN plus fares only ("BitPay payments are available for GREEN / GREEN plus tickets only"). |
| Since | 2014 |
| Details | Listed as "Bitcoin via BitPay" among the official payment options. |
| Checked on | October 12, 2026 (official website) |
| Sold by SatFares | Available |
| Card holder check | A card that does not belong to a traveller can be used: the card owner's phone number is required, and airBaltic may call to confirm. If the owner can't be reached, airBaltic may cancel the booking. |
| Country | Latvia |
| Hubs | RIX |
Source: airBaltic, payment options
airBaltic: more payment facts
| Cards listed | American Express, VISA, MasterCard, Maestro, VISA Electron, VISA Virtual and UATP |
|---|---|
| Other options | PayPal, and bank links such as Swedbank, SEB, DNB and Nordea, depending on your country of residence |
| Company invoice | Issued after payment from the company details entered at purchase; it can't be split later |
| Deadline before departure for BitPay | None stated on the official page |
| Refund of a BitPay payment | Not stated on the official payment page |
| "Basic fares, 5 days ahead" (older lists) | Not on the official page on October 12, 2026 |
Which airBaltic fares can I pay with bitcoin?
Only GREEN and GREEN plus. The payment page says it in one line: "BitPay payments are available for GREEN / GREEN plus tickets only". If you pick another fare type, the bitcoin option does not apply, and you pay by card, PayPal or bank link.
The page names "Bitcoin" and no other coin. It does not say how a BitPay payment is refunded when a flight is cancelled.
Is the "Basic fares, 5 days before departure" rule still true?
Not according to airBaltic's own page. Some lists of crypto-friendly airlines, such as a NOWPayments article of March 2026, still say bitcoin works on Basic fares booked at least 5 days ahead. On October 12, 2026, the official page named GREEN and GREEN plus fares, and gave no deadline. Rules change: check the payment step before you book.
Can I pay airBaltic with USDT or USDC?
Not at airBaltic's checkout, which lists bitcoin only. With SatFares you can. Top up in USDT on Tron (TRC-20) or Ethereum (ERC-20), or in USDC on Ethereum (ERC-20). Then book the airBaltic flight from your balance. A stablecoin keeps the amount in dollars between your top-up and the booking.
BitPay at airBaltic or a SatFares balance: what changes?
With BitPay you pay airBaltic directly, in bitcoin, on two fare types. With SatFares, you pay us from a balance and our team books the ticket on request; airBaltic still issues it in the traveller's name.
- Coins: bitcoin only at airBaltic; BTC, USDT, USDC, ETH, SOL, LTC with us.
- Charge: with us, the total is held at checkout and charged only when the e-ticket number is issued.
- Airline cancels: with us, you get a refund in USDT or USDC within 7 days, or a balance credit, as you choose.
- Cost: the price shown is the fare found live for all passengers, in US dollars, taxes included, with no fee added; the final total is confirmed before you are charged. Our fee: none (no booking fee or payment fee is added).
airBaltic on SatFares: Available. Its hub is Riga (RIX).
What if airBaltic cancels my flight?
On a SatFares booking, you get a refund in USDT or USDC within 7 days, or a balance credit, as you choose. If you cancel yourself, the airBaltic fare rules apply, and any refund is credited to your balance. Your flight booking will be bound by the fare rules and Conditions of Carriage of the airline(s). More on airline cancellations.
Frequently asked questions
Does airBaltic accept Bitcoin in 2026?
Yes. On October 12, 2026, airBaltic's official payment options still included bitcoin through BitPay, for GREEN and GREEN plus tickets only. Our dataset dates the BitPay option to 2014, and it was still on the page twelve years later. Other fares are paid by card, PayPal or bank link.
Which coins does airBaltic accept?
The official page names bitcoin only, through BitPay. It does not list other coins or networks. If you want to pay airBaltic with a stablecoin, SatFares accepts USDT on TRC-20 or ERC-20 and USDC on ERC-20. BTC, ETH, SOL and LTC are accepted too.
Can I pay airBaltic with Bitcoin Lightning?
The airBaltic page does not mention Lightning. SatFares does not accept Lightning either: send BTC on the Bitcoin network, credited after 2 confirmations. See pay with BTC. airBaltic's own BitPay option works only on GREEN and GREEN plus fares in any case.
Can I pay for someone else's airBaltic flight?
Yes. At airBaltic, a card that is not the traveller's is allowed if you give the owner's phone number; airBaltic may call to check. With SatFares no card is involved: you pay from your crypto balance and enter the traveller's details exactly as in the passport.
Does airBaltic refund a bitcoin payment in bitcoin?
The airBaltic payment page does not say how a BitPay payment is refunded. Ask airBaltic before you book if it matters. On a SatFares booking, the rule is written: if the airline cancels, you get a refund in USDT or USDC within 7 days, or a balance credit, as you choose. If you cancel, the fare rules apply.
Do I need to upload my passport to book airBaltic on SatFares?
No. No ID upload, no selfie at checkout. Airline ID rules still apply: names exactly as in the passport, date of birth and gender, plus passport details for international flights. We pass them to the airline only. The ticket is issued by airBaltic.
Sources (2)
- airBaltic payment options — airBaltic (checked 2026-10-12)
- Top 10 travel websites that accept cryptocurrency payments — NOWPayments (2026-03-02)