Fiji Airways did not come on my radar until recently, and flying them turned out to be more of a cultural experience than an ordinary journey. I was traveling to the popular honeymoon destination, and it is one of the handful carriers who flew to Fiji. The flagship carrier of Fiji, brings in 64 percent of all visitors who fly to Fiji, and employs over 1,000 employees.
You may read through the J.D. Power Satisfaction Studies and Rankings for airlines before deciding which airline to fly. But until you have had a personal experience, you really don’t have a full picture. Especially, when it comes to smaller, lesser known airlines, that you don’t fly a lot. That’s why, you depend on blogs like these to provide an honest review.
Where Can Fiji Airways Take You
Fiji Airways serves 27 destinations as of January 2024. You can book flights from the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and other Polynesian Islands to Fiji. In North America, you can get direct flights from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Vancouver to many destinations in Fiji. The main international airport is in Nadi, the tourist capital on the mainland, while the political capital, Suva, also has a decent airport.
If you are looking for loyalty miles, Fiji Airways is a Oneworld Connect Member. Fiji Airways code shares with Air Vanuatu, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Airlines, Jetstar, Jetstar Asia, Qantas, Samoa Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Solomon Airlines.
Strong Cultural Identity and Brand
Fiji Airways’ logo is a Masi symbol that epitomizes Fiji. The black and white design was created by local Fijian Masi artist, Makereta Matemosi. The biggest value that Fiji Airways offer is the service. Fijians are globally known for having the best hospitality, and you can feel it from the time you step on to the plane and on to the island. Staff members welcome you with an exciting “Bula!” meaning hello and “Vinaka” which means thank you. Fiji Airways staff seem to be always smiling, attentive and polite. They help you navigate crowded gates and planes simply by being nice.
In a time where the staff can largely influence the passengers in air flight experience, the flight attendants on Fiji Airways will instantly put you on vacation mode.
Experience Fiji Before Landing
When I board my 10-hour long 10pm flight from LAX, I was excited for the upcoming romantic getaway, but also want to get some sleep so I arrive fresh to enjoy my vacation. The cabins on Airbus A350 were spacious, with pink hued backlights. The moment I settled in my business class seat, the flight attendant greeted me with a hot towel and a glass of champagne.
The business class cabin had lie flat suites with 33 business class seats, in a 1-2-1 configuration, spread across nine rows. The gray leather seats were super comfortable, and you can get a mattress topper when you are ready to sleep. The black and white pillows, blankets, and amenity kits, look sophisticated. I was well stocked with socks, pen, toothpaste, eye mask, and premium brand Pure Fiji lotion and hand sanitizer. I also liked having two storage compartments, so my purse and shoes were not on the way of my bed. Of course, you want to watch a movie before, there’s a 17 inch personal screen with lots of entertainment options, and USB port to charge your devices.
Dining on Fiji Airways
Aside from the delicious food, I loved that the tray table was quite large and could be adjusted in height. This is important for me particularly, as I use my laptop to catch up on work emails. You can also get 15 minutes of free messaging on a mobile device and pay extra for web plans.
Another great amenity is the constantly supply of bottled Fiji water available throughout the flight. Fiji water is considered one of the purest in the world and the best way to stay hydrated on long flights.
Passengers are offered a four-course dinner once airborne. I was surprised to see so many vegetarian and vegan options, along with Fijian inspired meals, using locally sourced ingredients. There was stir fry tofu bowl, yellow pumpkin curry, broccoli and cheddar quiche, and red velvet pancakes. “Tasteful to the palate and the eyes!” says the chef on the welcome menu card. And Fiji Airways delivers on that promise.
Certain flights also offer dehydrated garnishes feature locally grown root crops like cassava, dalo (taro), kumala (sweet potato) and vudi (plantain banana); as well as kava and cinnamon ice cream.
Once we crossed the international date line, and were ready to land, we were served a scrumptious breakfast. You can make your selection in advance and hang your breakfast card just the way you do at a hotel room. I opted for a vegetarian omelette, chicken sausage, with fresh tropical fruits, muesli parfait with berries, and a really good cup of coffee with soy milk.
Fiji Airways Lounge
Lounge access is only available to business class passengers. The flagship lounge at the small airport in Nadi has a grassy backdrop at the entrance to make you realize you are leaving the tropics. Inside there are couches and comfortable chairs, though can get crowded as there are not many sitting areas at the airport. You’ll find free wifi and a full bar. The food options are also plenty, to reflect Chinese, Fijian and European flavors.
My experience on flying Fiji Airways was consistent on the return as well. The laidback attitude of the staff, friendly service, good food and modern amenities, made the flight more comfortable. Among the many airlineshttps://goeatgive.com/?s=airlines I have flown recently, Fiji Airways definitely tops my rankings! The national airline does a great job is sharing the country’s culture with the world.
