Fiji Airways is building on Nadi's reputation as a transit hub for travellers crossing the South Pacific.
OPINION
Tom Rose makes his way to Samoa’s main island of Upolu, flying from Auckland to Faleolo International Airport via Fiji’s tourist hub of Nadi.
Airline: Fiji Airways FJ420 & FJ253
From: Auckland International Airport
To: Faleolo International Airport, Upolu, Samoa
READ MORE: Island time: Relax and unwind at Samoa’s revamped beachfront resort
Visas and requirements: Heading to Samoa for a holiday is pretty easy as a Kiwi. All you need for entry requirements on arrival is your passport (this must be valid for a minimum of six months by the time you touch down) and a return plane ticket. You’ll need to obtain an entry permit if you plan to stay in the country for longer than 60 days, which you can sort through one of Samoa’s diplomatic missions in Auckland or Wellington.
Departure airport experience: I flew out of Auckland Airport on a Sunday evening at 6.20pm, yet it seemed like one of the quietest times to fly. Getting dropped off at the international terminal’s new Transport Hub was a breeze with little traffic around. The staff at the Fiji Airways’ check-in desk were friendly and accommodating. With only a few others in the queue, I’d checked in, dropped my bag off and printed my tickets in about five minutes.
After heading up the stairs and through security, which was just as smooth sailing, I meandered through the duty-free stores and towards the departure gate. Fiji Airways doesn’t have a lounge, yet members of the airline’s Tabua Club can access Auckland International’s Strata Lounge; the premium lounge for airlines without one of their own. All of the shops – restaurants, cafes, bars and retail – were open, so I grabbed a bite to eat and a few last-minute things from the Relay convenience store before waiting for boarding.
Once in Nadi, transiting passengers are required to go through security checks before heading into the departure lounge. The line moved pretty quickly when we arrived, although given it was nearly 9pm in Fiji, there weren’t many other passengers to account for in the airport. There was little to do in Nadi’s transit terminal, with everything closed apart from duty-free and Burger King. But after an hour’s wait, it was back to boarding for the final flight to Upolu.
Seat: Blessed with a window seat when departing Auckland, I was booked in seat 30A for the three-hour flight to Nadi. Travelling in Economy on a Boeing 737-8 Max, with a 32-inch pitch for legroom, 17 inches between each armrest, and a 5-inch recline.
Boarding a Boeing 737-800 for the second flight from Nadi to Faleolo International, Samoa’s main airport, I wound up with a window seat again. Apart from the change in planes, there was little difference regarding space and comfort.
Crew: On both flights, the crew welcomed everyone with a cheerful and friendly “Bula!” as we boarded the plane. Two attentive teams with bubbly personalities and a close-knit working dynamic, the consistency across both flights was unmatched.
Passengers: The plane appeared fully booked, with families, businesspeople, couples and singletons cohabiting in the cabin space. Interestingly enough, I learnt after the first flight that a significant chunk of passengers weren’t on their way to Fiji. There was an array of accents onboard, and once I got to Nadi Airport’s security screening it seemed that roughly one in every three passengers was in transit with me.
Fiji Airways runs flights out of Nadi to four cities in the US, five in Australia, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and more, alongside flights to New Zealand and Samoa. Nadi has built a reputation as both a destination and a convenient stop for a layover, with a network of connections that have made its airport a formidable market competitor in recent years.
Once in the transit lounge, my fellow passengers carried on to places like Los Angeles, Brisbane and Tongatapu, and when boarding the next flight, we were told it was yet another full plane. Being so late in the evening, everyone kept to themselves and it was a quiet journey to Upolu.
Food and drink: The meal service began on the Auckland-Nadi route with a full bar that included New Zealand and international wines, Fiji beers, juices, coffee and tea. Dinner was served soon after, with the choice between chicken or vegetarian. Opting for the meat dish, I had teriyaki chicken noodles with steamed vegetables. The portion was generous (for aeroplane food) and came with a bread roll and a Tymo biscuit from Fijian brand FMF.
Once the second flight had left from Nadi to Samoa, the food and drinks service started up, albeit with a reduced selection. Coffee, tea and water were available while passengers were offered a chilled chicken and veg salad. Overall, satisfied.
Entertainment: Wi-Fi wasn’t available on either flight, although the first flight had a screen with a huge selection of movies, TV shows, games and music to choose from. Some of the films had only just left the cinemas, so I got to work watching Civil War and The Watchers (although we landed at Nadi before I could find out Dakota Fanning’s fate in the latter film). The headphones supplied weren’t the comfiest in the world, but they worked, which I guess is all that matters when dealing with single-use items. I was quite fine with having no screen on the second flight, plugging in my Air Pods and dozing off to music.
Arrival airport experience: Landing at Faleolo Airport at a humbling 1.10am, I was surprised at how lively it was. I was told that, given the airport’s small size and limited capacity, workers only come in for sporadic shifts when flights are scheduled to arrive. The staff brightened our arrival, smiling as they welcomed passengers to their island country. I cleared immigration in no time, grabbing my bag straight from the carousel and heading through a customs checkpoint with no line.
The best bit: Fiji Airways proudly presents an elevated customer experience compared to most other airlines, which helps explain why they were named the top airline in the Australia-Pacific region for the second year at Skytrax’s World’s Best Airline awards. The company values the little things and both flight crews ran a memorable service that easily rivals our national carrier’s.
The worst bit: No TV screen on the second flight. It wasn’t the end of the world and not something I’d get upset over, but I can understand if others found it frustrating when transiting from a plane that had one. (The return flight had screens, so this may depend on the plane used for each service).
Final verdict: A straightforward service with all the basics mastered. Having the option of a layover in Fiji on the way to Samoa opens up more doors for Kiwi travellers and creates new ways to connect our two countries. Fiji Airways has flights from Wellington and Christchurch to Nadi too, so it’s an appealing route for those up and down the motu.
This surf town is a great choice for a weekend away, all year round.