Latest news with #FijiAirways
Otago Daily Times
10 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Flight from Chch to Fiji diverted after technical issue
Photo: File / Getty Images A Fiji Airways flight from Christchurch had to be diverted to Auckland after a technical issue on Tuesday afternoon. Flight FJ450 was scheduled to depart Christchurch for Nadi at 1.15pm but was an hour late. The Boeing 737 was then forced to divert to Auckland where it landed at 3.44pm. In a statement, Fiji Airways said a replacement aircraft was dispatched last night to take the passengers to Nadi. "The safety of our guests and crew is our highest priority," the airline said. "We sincerely apologise for the disruption and appreciate our customers' patience and understanding. "Our teams are in direct contact with all impacted guests and providing necessary support."
Business Insider
12-07-2025
- Business Insider
I traveled to the world's least-visited country, which may disappear by 2050. Here are 7 things I wish I knew before I went.
I love learning about unique cultures and spend a lot of time researching how to visit new countries in the most economical way possible. I've traveled to 140 countries, the majority as a solo traveler (though my Maltipoo dog Kimchi has accompanied me to eight countries and counting). My latest adventure was my most logistically challenging yet: I went to Tuvalu, a small South Pacific island nation roughly halfway between Hawaii and Australia, that may be completely underwater by 2050 due to climate change. Tuvalu is the least-visited country in the world, drawing only about 3,700 travelers a year. With minimal infrastructure, little tourism promotion, and rising sea levels threatening its future, it remains largely off the global travel map. I've been to other less-touristed destinations before — Bhutan, Bangladesh, Algeria — that were complex due to hard-to-get visas, limited infrastructure, or safety concerns. Tuvalu presented a new kind of challenge: It's incredibly difficult to coordinate flights, and there's limited travel information online. I stayed in Tuvalu for three days and two nights. Here's what I wish I'd known before going. 1. There's only one way in and out — and you can save on flights by being strategic An 'aha' moment on the Tuvalu trip was when I told my driver I was afraid of missing my flight, and he reminded me, "The plane hasn't landed, so don't worry." Tuvalu is the only country I've visited where, each day, there's one plane in and one plane out, so your Flight Information Display System is literally the sky. Tuvalu's only airport on the main island, Funafuti International Airport (FUN), is served exclusively by Fiji Airways. Flights are very limited and currently include from Nadi, Fiji, once a week (Monday) and from Suva, Fiji, three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday). Travelers who aim to visit all 197 countries often plan ahead for their Tuvalu trip, knowing flights are difficult to coordinate. To avoid paying thousands of dollars, my recommendation is to wait for a Fiji Airways annual sale to book a round-trip flight from San Francisco (SFO) to Nadi. I've seen fares as low as $700 round-trip, which is a steal, as they're normally $1,000+. My flights from Fiji to Tuvalu were another $700 round-trip. It's advised to add a buffer day in Fiji before connecting to Tuvalu. 2. Hotel bookings can get complicated When coordinating international travel in the South Pacific, it's important to account for the International Date Line. I departed San Francisco on a Sunday night and arrived at my destination Tuesday morning — only to realize I had mistakenly booked a hotel for Monday night. The 11.5-hour flight effectively skipped Monday entirely due to the time zone shift, a common oversight when crossing the date line. (Luckily, the hotel was kind enough to accept a late cancel for me.) Tuvalu has limited hotel rooms and — like the flights — they often sell out. In addition to tourists, construction crews from Australia and other nearby nations visit to support the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project, which pumps sand from the seabed and deposits it along the shoreline to combat rising sea levels. I had to email several hotels before I found a vacancy at NiuEti Lodge. 3. Expect a crowd at the runway — but not a taxi Tuvalu's airport runway runs straight through the center of the island, doubling as a community space when no flights are scheduled. On off days, locals gather on the airstrip to play volleyball, soccer, and other sports — making the runway as much a playground as a point of entry. When I landed, I hadn't realized there were no taxis. I asked how to get a ride, and without hesitation, a local offered to drive me, refusing any payment. Just as we were about to leave, I spotted a small sign for my hotel and a woman calling my name. It turned out to be a personalized pickup I hadn't expected — there was no mention of it in my hotel confirmation. 4. Bring cash Before we hit the road, I asked if there was an ATM. The airport staff excitedly showed me the ATM behind a red velvet curtain — they assumed I wanted to see the country's first ATM that was being unveiled and becoming operational later that month, not that I needed cash ASAP. The ATM wasn't yet working, so I had to visit the bank and Western Union myself money, as I didn't bring enough cash. Tuvalu only accepts Australian dollars (AUD), so Fiji dollars from the ATM during your layover won't work, and credit cards are rarely accepted, even at hotels. It's best to bring AUD or carry extra USD or EUR to exchange. 5. Food options are limited Tuvalu imports nearly all of its food, and prices can be quite high — comparable to New York City — so budget accordingly. I ate most of my meals at 3T's restaurant, an open-air casual Chinese restaurant by the beach that specializes in fresh fish stir fry for $11 to 15 AUD. It was filled with locals enjoying the food washed down by Fanta Maracujá, a tangy passion fruit soda that's super popular on the island. The grocery store was sparsely stocked, with one variety of many staples — Corn Flakes for $6 AUD and Ritz crackers for $6 AUD. The store was sold out of bananas, though I found a small market at the airport with a few bunches of local small bananas. 6. Locals are incredibly welcoming, and it's fun to explore on foot Tuvaluans are kind, close-knit, and eager to help. You can walk nearly everywhere; the main island of Funafuti is only 0.93 square miles of land area. Crime is rare. I always felt safe, although there aren't many street lamps on the island, so plan ahead for a ride when coming back to your hotel at night. I was offered rides from locals more than once, even if I told them my destination was close by. Exploring on foot gives you a front row seat to locals fishing, playing with their dogs, and taking a dip in the ocean. Fun facts I learned when exploring the island: Tuvalu owns the .tv country code top-level domain, meaning it sells .tv to companies such as or and one of the church services they offer is held in the water. A local told me that Simon Kofe, Minister for Transport, Energy, Communications, and Innovation, was on my return flight to Fiji. He's well known for his advocacy work on climate change, including Tuvalu's project to make a digital clone of the country in the metaverse to preserve its culture. We took a photo and chatted about Tuvalu's new passenger and cargo vessel, the Manu Sina. 7. Visitors are expected to respect and protect the environment To help preserve Tuvalu's environment and culture, visitors are encouraged to follow local practices that respect preservation, wildlife protection, and environmental care. That means recycling and conserving energy — no blasting air conditioning or lighting up LED displays like we do in New York. Of all the countries I've visited — including Mongolia, Madagascar, and Suriname — Tuvalu stands out as one of the most culturally fascinating. If you value sustainable and responsible tourism, it deserves a spot on your list.
Sydney Morning Herald
06-07-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
What new airline alliances mean for you (and your frequent flyer points)
While the airline's fleet of 34 aircraft servicing 40 destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East is dwarfed by the fleets and networks of Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways, there are reasons why you might prefer Oman for a multi-day stopover. This is one of the most interesting, cultured and likeable of the Gulf states, with a male population that still regards a dagger in the waistband as an essential item of daily attire. In the capital, Muscat, the souk in the nearby commercial area of Mutrah still carries on its ancient business of spices and gold, supervised by the descendants of traders who once sold carpets, camel skins and frankincense between India and the Mediterranean. Beyond Muscat is a heroic landscape of forts and toothy mountain ranges, where an intricate system of irrigation has created a web of startling green oases. Local tour operators offer expeditions from Muscat to take in the desert towns, the towering dunes of the Wahiba Sands and the lost-in-time landscape of the Hajar Mountains. Australian passport holders benefit from visa-free admission to the Sultanate of Oman for stays of up to 14 days. I flew with Oman Air in March, business class return from Delhi to Cairo, and although these were relatively short flights aboard the airline's 737s, with no fully reclining seat, the aircraft, amenities, service and food and beverage were all on par with the stars of the Middle East triumvirate. An 11-hour layover at Muscat's airport was pain-free. This is arguably the best international airport in the region – quiet, calm and well supplied with relaxation areas. This is the second airline to join the alliance this year, after Fiji Airways became a full member in April. The Fijian national airline was previously a 'Oneworld Connect' member, which allowed Qantas frequent flyers to acquire and spend points with the airline, but full membership brings extra benefits, such as admission to Oneworld lounges when travelling aboard Fiji Airways. Ways to boost your frequent flyer points Get a co-branded credit card Loading A co-branded card issued jointly by a credit card issuer and an airline is the best way to accelerate your points-earning power because they earn points with a specific airline rather than reward points, which convert to airline points at a lesser rate. For example, the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card earns 2.25 Qantas points per dollar spent on eligible Qantas products and services, and 1.25 Qantas points on everyday purchases per dollar. The American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card comes with two Qantas points per dollar spent on Qantas products and services, 1.25 Qantas points on everyday business spend and 0.5 Qantas points on government, utilities and insurance per dollar. Both cards come with a huge points bump by way of a sign-up bonus. Use airline shopping malls Airlines have online shopping malls featuring preferred merchants whose merchandise ranges from fashion labels to sporting goods, technology and office supplies. You pay the same price as if you were shopping direct with the merchant, but you earn extra points, often at a rate better than one per dollar. Bank your points with the alliance that best suits your needs Airline alliances expand your travel opportunities. Frequent flyer points accrued with one airline can be used to buy seats or upgrades within the alliance in most cases, which gives you a far greater choice of destinations when you want to spend your loyalty points. There are also perks and privileges that apply at each alliance membership level, bringing benefits such as speedier check-in, priority luggage handling, preferential boarding and upgrades, and lounge access across the alliance member airlines. Loading There are three airline alliances, but for most of us, the ones that matter are Star Alliance and Oneworld. As a Oneworld member airline, Qantas allows flyers to use their points for flights on 14 other airlines including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines and Qatar Airways. While it is not a member of any alliance, Virgin Australia flyers acquire Velocity points and status credits that can be used for flights and upgrades on partner airlines including Singapore Airlines, United, ANA, Air New Zealand and Qatar Airways.
The Age
06-07-2025
- Business
- The Age
What new airline alliances mean for you (and your frequent flyer points)
While the airline's fleet of 34 aircraft servicing 40 destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East is dwarfed by the fleets and networks of Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways, there are reasons why you might prefer Oman for a multi-day stopover. This is one of the most interesting, cultured and likeable of the Gulf states, with a male population that still regards a dagger in the waistband as an essential item of daily attire. In the capital, Muscat, the souk in the nearby commercial area of Mutrah still carries on its ancient business of spices and gold, supervised by the descendants of traders who once sold carpets, camel skins and frankincense between India and the Mediterranean. Beyond Muscat is a heroic landscape of forts and toothy mountain ranges, where an intricate system of irrigation has created a web of startling green oases. Local tour operators offer expeditions from Muscat to take in the desert towns, the towering dunes of the Wahiba Sands and the lost-in-time landscape of the Hajar Mountains. Australian passport holders benefit from visa-free admission to the Sultanate of Oman for stays of up to 14 days. I flew with Oman Air in March, business class return from Delhi to Cairo, and although these were relatively short flights aboard the airline's 737s, with no fully reclining seat, the aircraft, amenities, service and food and beverage were all on par with the stars of the Middle East triumvirate. An 11-hour layover at Muscat's airport was pain-free. This is arguably the best international airport in the region – quiet, calm and well supplied with relaxation areas. This is the second airline to join the alliance this year, after Fiji Airways became a full member in April. The Fijian national airline was previously a 'Oneworld Connect' member, which allowed Qantas frequent flyers to acquire and spend points with the airline, but full membership brings extra benefits, such as admission to Oneworld lounges when travelling aboard Fiji Airways. Ways to boost your frequent flyer points Get a co-branded credit card Loading A co-branded card issued jointly by a credit card issuer and an airline is the best way to accelerate your points-earning power because they earn points with a specific airline rather than reward points, which convert to airline points at a lesser rate. For example, the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card earns 2.25 Qantas points per dollar spent on eligible Qantas products and services, and 1.25 Qantas points on everyday purchases per dollar. The American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card comes with two Qantas points per dollar spent on Qantas products and services, 1.25 Qantas points on everyday business spend and 0.5 Qantas points on government, utilities and insurance per dollar. Both cards come with a huge points bump by way of a sign-up bonus. Use airline shopping malls Airlines have online shopping malls featuring preferred merchants whose merchandise ranges from fashion labels to sporting goods, technology and office supplies. You pay the same price as if you were shopping direct with the merchant, but you earn extra points, often at a rate better than one per dollar. Bank your points with the alliance that best suits your needs Airline alliances expand your travel opportunities. Frequent flyer points accrued with one airline can be used to buy seats or upgrades within the alliance in most cases, which gives you a far greater choice of destinations when you want to spend your loyalty points. There are also perks and privileges that apply at each alliance membership level, bringing benefits such as speedier check-in, priority luggage handling, preferential boarding and upgrades, and lounge access across the alliance member airlines. Loading There are three airline alliances, but for most of us, the ones that matter are Star Alliance and Oneworld. As a Oneworld member airline, Qantas allows flyers to use their points for flights on 14 other airlines including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines and Qatar Airways. While it is not a member of any alliance, Virgin Australia flyers acquire Velocity points and status credits that can be used for flights and upgrades on partner airlines including Singapore Airlines, United, ANA, Air New Zealand and Qatar Airways.
News.com.au
04-07-2025
- News.com.au
‘Never been easier': Fiji Airways flight review Nadi to Sydney as a family
As soon as I arrived at Sydney International Airport at the delightful hour of 3am on a Friday morning, knots filled my stomach. My toddler, who I'd woken just thirty minutes prior, was in no mood to be whisked through the brightness and buzz of Australia's busiest terminal — and nor was her 'not-alway-great-morning-people' parents. But as soon as we shuffled to the front of the Fiji Airways queue, our passports checked and our boarding passes issued — the mood suddenly lifted. 'Enjoy your time in Fiji,' the ground staff beamed. And with coffee in the air and a quick pastry at the gate — we stepped on board our first international flight as a family (sleep-deprived and all) — and to my surprise, it couldn't have been better. FJ914: The flight, food and entertainment from Sydney to Nadi There's an unusual amount of anxiety that comes when flying with a toddler — you never really know what you're going to get once on board. As we navigated the aisle to our seat-of-three in row 31, the friendliest of cabin crew were at the ready to assist with our bags and getting comfortably seated in any way they could. Fiji Airways flies twice daily from Sydney, and the same from Nadi, with the journey from Australia slightly shorter than the return. Taking our seats, with our toddler between us, we were in the air and on our way right on time. Despite the early flight, and the tired eyes that set in midway through, the timing actually worked in our favour — with the little one drifting off for a solid two hours of the journey. Meanwhile, I was able to sit back and — gasps all around — actually relax in silence with a movie of my choosing (sorry, Moana). Within an hour, breakfast was served. I opted for the hot vegetarian breakfast, which was potatoes, baked beans and a side of spinach, while a kids meal was delicately placed next to our sleeping daughter for later. What really stood out for me was the amount of room in economy. Despite having a toddler climbing across us to take a peak out the window whenever she could — there was ample space for her to draw, read and play with her toys during the flight. It goes without saying, but the key to an almost relaxing flight with a toddler isdistraction, distraction and more distraction. So pack a few new gadgets (we road-tested a colouring kit and some games from Lovevery which were fantastic and super easy pop in carry-on) — and it made a huge difference when a little screen time wouldn't suffice. For the moments of quiet time, there was plenty of up-to-date movies and TV shows for both young and old(er), and given the shortness of the trip (and the fact we landed slightly ahead of schedule) — it felt like we left Sydney's winter for the sunny skies of Fiji in the blink of an eye. Upon arrival, we were met by one of the ground staff as part of the airline's brand new 'Premier Service' offerings. Available to anyone for around $117 with family packages available, the service allows a Fiji Airways passenger to be met at the gate by ground staff, and enjoy fast-tracked immigration, expedited customs processing, priority boarding and personalised assistance at Nadi International Airport. FJ911: The flight, food and entertainment from Nadi to Sydney The flight back was a real treat. Hello business class! Often when I fly, I count down the minutes to the destination. But for this flight — four hours on board was not nearly enough. After checking in at an almost empty Nadi International airport at 6am, we whisked through security and towards Fiji Airways premier class lounge in a matter of minutes. The lounge was spacious and included a great kids corner with some toys, games and a kids movie running around the clock. The buffet was serving your standard breakfast essentials — eggs, bacon, fresh fruit, pancakes and Bircher muesli — and yes, there was a barista working his magic. We stepped onto the A350 and — squeals — turned left at the galley. Taking our seats, I was quickly offered a warm towel alongside a juice or champagne while we settled in for the next four hours to Sydney. My toddler was seated next to me, and while I had so many nerves about what she might do in the fancy part of the plane — the sheer novelty of having a remote controlled seat, snacks on tap and Moana on repeat kept her quiet for the first hour. Then, to my surprise … it was lights out. While she slept, I enjoyed the airline's hospitality and entertainment — all while stretched out in my flat-lay seat. The menu covered off options for both the savoury and the sweet tooth among us, with a plate of fresh fruit and a stack of the banana pancakes with orange curd taking my fancy for breakfast. The coffee – one of the biggest let downs on a flight in my experience — felt fresh, and was served in a mug about the size of my head. The entertainment had some of the latest flicks — while the box-sets had everything from current to classics available. And while I didn't quite get the chance, if you're in the mood for a good read — all guests receive free access to PressReader with more 7,000 publications on hand. A little perk which I didn't realise until we were in the air was the free WI-FI available to all guests on board (if you're on an A350 or the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, that is), while business class passengers got the full stack — with complete-flight internet connectivity. With Fiji being such a family-friendly destination, that same mantra flowed on board — and so even when my toddler jumped awake and decided she wanted to do a few aisle-to-galley hot laps, fellow passengers appeared unphased. Overall experience and three 'must bring' items on board Ranked 12th in the World's Best Airlines for 2025, according to it's not hard to see why Fiji Airways is a popular carrier especially for those with little ones in tow. With baggage allowances of 23kg per person in economy (or 30kg if you're seated in the pointy end), I truly couldn't recommend a carrier more. And to be honest, after flying business with bub from Nadi to Sydney, it's a flight that will be hard to beat. Let's be real, flying will never be the same again after this. The overall experience was warm and fuss-free, with cabin crew professional and helpful throughout. The airline recently started its new Nadi-Dallas route, meaning it has also adopted the American Airlines AAdvantage travel rewards program, with redemption capabilities on both airlines. On board, you won't miss the Sustainability Framework 'Maroroya' message, which is played out on screen. The messaging details the airline's sustainability mission, as well as some of the initiatives that are already in play. As part of the OneWorld alliance, Fiji Airways has a shared commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Any Fiji Airways passenger can purchase entry to the Premier Lounge at Nadi International Airport for around AU$93 — and from experience, it's a great way to ease into your outbound adventure.
