A double-shot of destinations The seat stuff Frequency
Fiji Airways launched the Hayne Plane, the direct route from Nadi to San Francisco, which coincidently maps the reverse career path of codeswapping sports star and global ambassador Jarryd Hayne. After a relaxing night in Nadi, Phillip Rollo went along fo
The airline
Fiji Airways.
The route
Nadi International Airport, Fiji, to San Francisco International Airport, US. It’s 9040km of nonstop flying across two oceans and past Hawaii.
The plane
Airbus A330-200. The aircraft was purchased in the past 18 months and was a step up from the tired looking thing (Boeing 737-800) I flew from Auckland to Nadi the day prior. The A330-200 carries 249 passengers in economy and 24 in business and was full for the inaugural flight.
Time in the air
10 hours, 30 minutes.
The loyalty plan
Tabua Club. Fiji Airways is also a partner to the Frequent Flyer programmes of Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and Qantas Airways.
Up the back or at the pointy end
Seat 2K, right window seat, in the second row of business class. I generally prefer the aisle as it’s easier to shift around – space is usually tight on any aircraft – but it was neat to look out and see so many SFO airport staff taking photos of the inaugural landing, even if the view was the night sky and ocean most of the way. Lots of leg room, seat reclines all the way down to a bed, there’s a USB port to charge your phone, power, and a couple of cubbyholes for personal items. The noise-cancelling headphones were so fantastic I fell asleep with them on. The monitor is 15.4 inches. Toothbrush, toothpaste, a slim duvet, pillow, and face mask were provided, as were a large pair of pyjamas although they were a notable omission on the return leg.
Baggage allowance
30kg for business (just 23kg for economy).
Comfort factor
Even with some snorers among us, I managed an impressive sixhour long sleep, which is the true gauge of comfort. To be able to fully recline your seat back into a bed is one of the best luxuries that business class on Fiji Airways provides. Oh, along with the fantastic food. The fact their flights are at night makes it easier to sleep too.
That’s entertainment
All seats, even economy, feature an on-demand 15.4-inch entertainment system loaded with audio and video options. I counted 42 films and watched The Hateful Eight and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. TV series options were limited but the audio catalogue was vast.
Feeding time
The flight departed at 10.15pm so dinner was always going to come at an inconveniently late time – who eats at midnight? – but the Fijian focused food, inspired by celebrity chef Lance Seeto, was simply divine and a real highlight.
The entree was an appetiser of cocktail prawns, avocado, and cherry tomatoes, which I followed with a main of spare ribs, sweet potato croquette, green peas, cherry tomatoes, and beef au jus. On the side was a fresh garden salad with balsamic vinaigrette, and for dessert we all downed a choc chip berry brownie with vanilla ice cream in a chocolate cup.
There were local beers, including Fiji Gold, and the wine choices came via Australia’s Shaw Smith and Tempus Two. I recommend the Fiji Airways signature cocktail, which combines Fiji Rum Liqueur and Fiji Coconut Rum Liqueur with maraschino cherries and orange slices.
My eyes were bigger than my stomach at breakfast time, opting for fresh fruit (strawberries, pineapple, and melon), muesli with full milk, a croissant, and wholemeal bread with jam and margarine, so I had to turn the hot cakes away. My drinks selection was a hot chocolate and orange juice, and the breakfast arrived two hours before landing. The twice-weekly service departs Nadi to San Francisco on Thursdays and Sundays at 9pm (local time), while the San Francisco-Nadi flight departs at 11pm (local time) also on Thursdays and Sundays. Both are good times for sleeping.
The verdict
Having travelled economy from Auckland to Nadi on out-dated Boeing 737-800 where you don’t even get your own TV, the business class treatment on the Airbus A330-200 is a step up and is certainly worth considering on a much longer flight.
The smiling Fijian staff are very friendly and welcoming, the reclining seat is comfortable, the entertainment is satisfactory, and the food is delicious. So that’s a lot of key boxes ticked.
However, I have to mention that the connecting flight from Auckland to Nadi, which was already delayed an hour, circled the skies of Auckland for two hours before returning back to square one due to a landing gear fault, and there was very little communication as to why. The majority of customers will be flying economy so Fiji Airways needs to step up its game in this area.
If its prices remain competitive, Nadi-San Francisco is a great double-shot of varying vacation destinations though, and if you can snare a good deal you might find it’s still cheaper than competitor airlines even with a relaxing night or two in Fiji thrown in.
I also discovered that inaugural flights are surprisingly festive affairs, walking through a model ‘‘Golden Gate’’ in the departure lounge. The passenger next to me said ‘‘we’ve made history’’ as we landed at SFO, and there was loud applause from all on board.