Riga remains one of those Baltic capitals that rewards the traveler willing to think creatively about routing, since there is no nonstop option and business class from Seattle to Riga always means connecting through a major European or East Coast hub. My preferred build is Delta's SEA–JFK or SEA–AMS segment in Delta One, followed by an Air Baltic connection on the airline's Airbus A220 or Bombardier CS300 business class into Riga — Air Baltic being Latvia's national carrier and the only airline actually operating that final leg into RIX. American Airlines offers an alternative via its Northeast hubs paired with joint-venture partners across the Atlantic, though the sweet spot for lie-flat comfort remains Delta One's Amsterdam or London-routed itineraries, given Schiphol's efficient transfer process and generous connection windows.
Having flown this corridor several times over the past few years, I've learned that the Amsterdam routing tends to be more forgiving on tight layovers than London, largely because Schiphol's non-Schengen to Schengen flow (once you're through EU passport control) is faster than navigating Heathrow's terminal shuffle. My insider tip: book the SEA–AMS Delta One flight rather than SEA–JFK–AMS when possible, since the transatlantic westbound legs from AMS back to Seattle often see better lie-flat seat availability in shoulder season than the JFK routings, which fill quickly with New York-based business travelers.
Late spring through early autumn — May through September — is when Riga deals in premium cabins tend to surface, largely tracking the broader Baltic tourism season and Delta's seasonal capacity shifts into Northern Europe. Award space on the Air Baltic connection is comparatively easy to find even close to departure, which isn't true of the transatlantic long-haul segment. Given how thin business class inventory can be on this routing, setting up fare alerts for Seattle to Riga business class fares is genuinely the smartest way to catch the occasional pricing dip before it disappears.
