My flight from Nadi back to Los Angeles was scheduled to depart at 9:40PM, and I made it to the airport at around 7PM. Even though Nadi Airport has a fair number of longhaul flights, the airport is quite small, and feels more like a regional airport. I quickly found Fiji Airways' check-in area, and…
Continue reading: Review: Fiji Airways Lounge Nadi Airport
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Even if they wanted to is it even possible to fly Dubai to Nadi? Certainly further than their flight to Auckland no?
Your experience of getting to the lounge was much different than mine was in October. I didn't even go through the Duty Free section. The lounge itself was also much more crowded when I was there. But it looks like some of the construction has been completed since then and other projects started. Would be nice to revisit once it's all complete.
Alex, Nadi is closer to Dubai than Auckland by 115 miles, so Emirates theoretically could fly there:
http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=AKL-DXB-NAN
@ Alex
DXB-NAN is about 100 miles shorter than DXB-AKL, however, if EK were ever to serve Nadi, maybe they'd serve it through AKL. AKL-NAN is only 3 hours, and the 777 that operates DXB-AKL sits in AKL for 10 hours every day, so maybe that would be a possibility? This is what Emirates does on DXB-BKK-SYD-CHC-SYD-BKK-DXB.
@Alex: The distance for DXB-NAN is 8,709 mi according to GCMap, compared to 8824 for DXB-AKL. So a Nadi flight is long but possible. Of course, EK don't necessarily have to fly to NAN non stop. Based on the Greater Circle path, BKK might be a reasonable place to break up the flight at. A 5th freedom from east coast Australia is also an option.
The benches you thought may be in storage have been there for many years. It is an overflow area for when upstairs gets too full.
Air New Zealand operate their own lounge at the airport which is currently being refurbished as well. It's supposed to reopen by the end of the year.
On an unrelated note, security lines in Lisbon T1 are about an hour to an hour and a half long with NO FAST TRACK. Only three lanes are operating for all passengers due to strike.
The Fiji airport renovations are moving along quite well. I've been going there over the last 12+ years, and this isn't the first renovation in that time, but this one's looking pretty good with the bit that's finished.
I'd note that the Fiji Airways lounge is also a Priority Pass lounge, which gives Fiji the same number of PP lounges as all of Australia!
I do love the small band as you get off the plane - and Fijians will sing at any time. I caught an airport security guy singing to himself on one trip. This type of thing was completely missing on my trip to Tahiti and Bora Bora, and I missed it - Tahiti provided enough French techno-pop to last a lifetime.
I used the Westin for a 1 night stopover on my last trip - didn't really like it. Next time I'll try the Sheraton, it looks a bit better.
I would also add, if you are NOT flying business with Fiji Airways, show up to the airport early, very early. Being able to use the lounge with Priority Pass will ease the pain of arriving early.
I know people who have been at the airport 2 hours early and they've not made their flight due to the flight being oversold.
Having to fly back to the USA via Sydney after your honeymoon is a bit of a downer.
I'm in NZ right now and flying through Fiji in 7 days. Going to have a 4-hour layover in Nadi (family of 5). My Priority Pass is in the States. (Long story). Is it worth the US$63 it will cost to have expedited to me? Note we'd be able to use on way back to NZ as well.
Hey Lucky! I'm at the Fiji lounge now, and wow! It is the best priority pass lounge I've ever visited. A great variety of seating, amazing food, shower, and even a spa with low-cost treatments. Attendants walk around taking drink orders, and when I fell asleep in one of the cubbies they brought me a blanket. I would pay for entrance to this lounge if it wasn't free.