Review: Fiji Airways Business Class A330 Los Angeles To Nadi

" They call this the Economy Quiet Zone, and it’s for passengers 18 and over only. You can only buy-up to this area at check-in, since I don’t believe Fiji Airways consistently schedules this larger plane on a specific route."

On a full flight, they're basically presuming 24 people are going to buy it. What if they don't? They either have to IDB people or risk putting people who have no desire to be quiet in the quiet zone... I suppose you could call adults up to the desk in the gate area and ask if they'd like a comp "upgrade" to the quiet zone, but no guarantees...

Ben,

I though you departed from a remote stand at LAX? The picture you have of your flight pushing back is next to an Air Canada plane that is at an air bridge. Did u put the wrong picture in or does LAX not use air stairs for remote stands and just has remote terminals? Thanks

Yes I know those seats from SQ. Uncomfortable for more than 2 hours. I never understand how airlines decide to end up with such crappy seats. Clearly the selection panel must consist of no-flyers.

@ Justin -- Well typically they're not actually selling this plane to capacity, since they plan on every flight being operated by an A330-200. So it's unlikely that there will be more passengers than can be seated in the non-quiet zone. That being said, just like an operational upgrade to business class, they could also upgrade adults to this zone for free, which is what I suspect they would do.

@ Ted -- LAX has some odd remote gates. Basically it's a remote terminal, but it's not actually a terminal. Instead each "gate" is just stairs leading up to a jet bridge, from which you board the plane.

"Often airlines only cater one bottle of water per passenger, and then pour the rest of the water out of bigger bottles."

Actually I've only ever seen this unhygienic practice done on US carriers; almost all worldwide carriers give you a fresh (sealed) bottle of water when you consume the one you already have.

H.T -- I've seen it on several airlines, including non-US ones. Some do indeed have more than one bottle, but often they run out about halfway through the flight. Happens more often than not.

Avoid row 1 like the plague. So much galley noise/light/movement. I barely slept on a midnight departure flight.

"The cabin itself feels fresh and is in great condition, but angled seats in 2016 just don’t cut it anymore. I enjoyed everything else about the flight, from the seat, to the service, to the cute Fijian touches."

So did you like the seat or not like the seat??

@ 02nz -- Whoops, typo! Fixed.

Nice airline for a small country

@ H.T. on AA long-haul international (J class) I didn't receive a bottle of water, woke up and was offered a glass of water for the plane's water tank (no more bottles I was told). I declined the water (as I believe these tanks are not very hygienic) and the FA rolled her eyes and condescendingly told me that it was a new plane that the water is clean and safe. Only on AA!
Wrote aa.com, they didn't even acknowledge it. (10+ years as EXP)

FWIW on the water bottle thing. I currently, for business, travel internationally every week (and have for the past ~year) to various destinations. My company only flies me coach, and we use Delta. I've gotten 5+ new bottles of water during my flight, no problem. I know AA is really stringent, and sure others have had your experiences on DL too, but has never been an issue for me.

The dinner service looks tasty!

I think that little container held your pineapple, red onion and basil salsa that was to go with your tuna appetizer.

Last time I flew business class overnight I positioned the fully flat seat like an angled seat because I found it more comfortable.

I think the little container had the pineapple salsa that came with the starter.

When are you coming to Greece Ben? Maybe you could get a chance to fly on our home airline-Aegean? It's not that good (it's a regional airline after all) but it would be a nice experience ... I hope

Sadly, it lookss like Fiji is not making any Business class redemptions available through Alaska for LAX/NAN or NAN/LAX anymore (or they just became as rare as Qantas 1st!).

What is award availability like? I would imagine most people wanting to redeem miles for the route would be doing so with at least one other travel companion. Is it possible to snag two award seats? Thanks for the review.

I think the container probably had the pineapple and basil salsa that was supposed to accompany your tuna starter (per the menu description).

Hmmmm. Christmas Island. Unless there are two this is a glitch in the map. The Christmas Island I know is an Australian Territory adjacent to the south of Java in Indonesia. Perhaps there are two?

@Ben
Nice report on FJ. The aircraft and interiors are merely a function of price. What can't be purchased is the outstanding graciousness and hospitality of the Fijian crews and the Fijian people in general. It appears that Fiji Airways (formerly Air Pacific) has upped the menu offerings and quality. Having been an expat pilot for FJ and domiciled at LAX (yep, may have been one of the PA's from the Captain with a slight Texas accent you previously referenced) I continue to be very impressed with all aspects of their operation. Pilot training was excellent and conducted to exceed Qantas specifications and standards (minority owner of Air Pacific). The only drawback I see with FJ is their early cancellation of their B787 purchases and options and their switch to Airbus 330 (part of the plan of departed CEO David Pflieger on whom I will refrain from any comment). Rumor is they are currently rethinking his decision. I certainly hope so as I'd love to go back for a vacation. "If it ain't Boeing, I ain't going".

Lucky- You never share any of your extracurricular activities. So do you get "lucky" on these trips or what? Your fans would love to know!

Curtis S - no; only a perv like you would be interested.

The movie you were planning to watch is an Indian movie about a guy married to 3 women ..

Does anyone know any particulars (performers and titles) on the boarding music, or from who I could find out.? It is very smooooth and relaxing.

Thanks for how helpful and informative your blog is. I'm travelling to Fiji for the first time in May, 2017. Having been to Australia already, years ago, before Premium Economy and affordable First/Business Class fares I vividly recall my SUFFERING in Economy on Quantas for the flights from HNL-SYD-LAX. I KNOW the importance of being comfortable on Trans-Pacific flights. Therefore, LAX-NAN-LAX will all be in Fiji Airways Business Class, which I automatically know will be a WAY more pleasurable experience. I live in California, so I'm using my Alaska Mileage Plus account to earn all the miles from travel on Fiji. So HANDY that Alaska and Fiji are airline partners, which is a HUGE + !

Staying at First Landing Resort in Lautoka on Viti Levu the first five days of my stay in Fiji, and from what online research I have done on the Resort, it looks beautiful, and has gotten excellent online reviews. My friend and I are staying in a Beachfront Spa Bure there, so hopefully the real-life experience lives up to what I've seen online. Any sightseeing, restaurant etc...tips for Viti Levu you can recommend would be GREAT!

Then off on a 4 day cruise with Captain Cook Cruises on the MV Reef Endeavour to the Yasawa and Mamanuca Islands near Viti Levu, which I am sure will be fabulous for Kayaking, Snorkeling and Scuba diving (we are planning to dive on Viti Levu also pre-cruise) which Fiji is world-famous for of course.

Any tips, recommendations or must-sees are HIGHLY appreciated.

I would appreciate your Ben-to-Ben candor.

Thanks.

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Can you clarify that statement? These seats do not look angled to me. At first I assumed you were talking about angled recline, but later you showed a fully flat bed.

Great review!

@ Geoff -- The seats are at an angle to the ground -- they're not parallel, so you'll have the sensation of sliding down when you fully recline the seat and lie down.

@Lucky, I was thinking of using Alaska miles to get to New Zealand with a stopover in Fiji. But as mentioned above, business class award availability between LAX and NAN seems very hard to find, though there is quite a bit of availability between NAN and New Zealand. I was interested to hear your business class section was half empty. Do you think if one had a business class award ticket but had an economy seat, that they would upgrade at the gate to business class if there are empty seats?

Nevermind, this article confirms that the answer to my question is a resounding no. http://blog.thetravelinsider.info/2013/08/fiji-airways-says-wed-rather-fly-with-empty-business-class-seats-than-allow-you-to-have-the-seats-you-paid-for.html

I have been scouring the fijiairways.com website TRYING to find how to book a Business Class seat from LAX to Nadi. The only option that appears is for Economy. As a 6 foot, 63 year old female, I am more than happy to pay for the leg room and service in Business Class if I could only figure out how to access and book it. Please advise.

the identification of Christmas Island on the AirShow is incorrect lol

I've been saving up ALaska miles for 2 business class tickets on Fiji for USA to New Zealand (stopover of course in Fiji). Was hoping to do this trip next year or 2, but I can't seem to find any availability. I've checked some dates into next April which is as far out as Alaska's calendar goes on their app. Is there a trick? Frustrating. What good is partnering with Fiji if you can't actually use your AS miles on them?

Got back from Fiji two days ago, and I have to say, Fiji Airways Business Class was PRETTY AWESOME! Going out of LAX-NAN was the overnight flight on the Island of Rotuma plane, which is the same flight featured here in the blog. I was in 1K, the bulkhead row window seat, which was a HUGE thumbs up all the way -- I was able to SLEEP! True, the seats aren't like an actual bed, BUT, the blankets and duvets they give are comfortable enough to make it seem like a bed. 4J coming back was fine also, but I believe I had more room overall in the bulkhead row. The meal service wasn't exceptional, certainly lower standards than I would expect in business class, but not the most horrible food I've ever eaten. Breakfast was better than dinner I recall. Out of LAX I had Fish, coming back I had Chicken -- c'est la vie. Overall, I WOULD fly Fiji Airways again, BUT, I think my next South Pacific trip is going to be on Air New Zealand, so the next trip on Fiji will have to wait. Overall, I have to agree with you Ben, Fiji Airways was good, but NOT exceptional.

Lucky,

I may have found a video with what seems to be the music they play during boarding:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsngXvc8OsM

Really had to share despite the age of this post.

Does anyone have any info on the bula bid and the approximate price it would go for on an off-season flight from LAX to Nadi (late Jan)?

Just wanted to say that I am one of the few who's been successful at getting the LAX to NAN business class award space on Fiji airways. The trick was that I reserved that space almost 365 days out. I was able to get 2 seats, and now I'm trying to add a 3rd seat, and even in economy, space is non-existent.

Right now, I'm slightly less than 90 days out from our trip. Really hoping that award space (even coach) shows up soon!

There are two islands bearing the name Christmas in the Pacific. One is part of Australia, the other is Kiritimati, also called "Christmas Island", an island of Kiribati in the Pacific Ocean and site of British nuclear tests in the 1950s.

Anyone have experience with Fiji releasing additional biz seats as departure date draws near? Or is it just the 1-2 seats 300+ days out and that's it?