Flying from Nadi, Fiji to Auckland, New Zealand in Fiji Airways Airbus A330 Business Class was another cherry on top of what was already a very good redemption. We had redeemed 55,000 Alaska miles per person for two Business Class seats all the way from Vancouver, Canada to Auckland, New Zealand, with a six-day stopover in Fiji along the way. For me, that was a redemption worth boasting about.
After five nights at the Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort, it was time to continue to New Zealand as part of our second around-the-world trip of 2024.
Around-the-World Trip
This was actually our second around-the-world trip in barely three months. Earlier that year, we had flown Emirates Business Class from New York to Milan, continued from Milan to Doha in Qatar Airways Business Class, spent an amazing day at the Al Safwa First Class Lounge, experienced Qatar Airways The Quad, continued to Johannesburg, flew South African Airways Business Class to Lagos, and eventually returned to the U.S. in British Airways Business Class from Lagos to London.
And just a few months later, here we were doing it all over again. This time, Fiji and New Zealand were part of the journey.
Checking In at the Resort
One interesting thing about flying Fiji Airways from Nadi is that the airline operates check-in facilities at several resorts within the Denarau Resort Complex. We took advantage of that and checked in directly from our resort. Although we could not drop off our luggage there because baggage drop for morning flights was only available between 4:30am and 5:30am, we were still able to complete check-in and collect our boarding passes.
Once we arrived at Nadi International Airport, dropping off our bags was seamless. It is one of those small conveniences that makes leaving a resort a little easier.
Fiji Airways Premier Lounge
After dropping off our luggage, we headed to the Fiji Airways Premier Lounge, where we spent about an hour before the flight. The lounge itself was fairly basic, but it was useful. There was enough space to sit down, grab something to eat or drink, and wait comfortably before boarding. For a short visit before a morning flight, it did the job.
Read More:
Fiji Airways Airbus A350 Business Class: Vancouver to Nadi
Boarding Flight FJ411 to Auckland
Our flight, FJ411, was originally scheduled to depart at 8:30am but was later delayed by about an hour. Even the revised 9:30am departure did not happen, as boarding itself only began around that time. What was slightly annoying was the long walk from the boarding gate to where our Airbus A330 was parked. But being an open-air boarding area also meant we got a great view of the aircraft. And the Fiji Airways Airbus A330 was definitely a beauty to behold.
Once we reached the end of the walkway, we waited another 10 minutes or so before eventually boarding. At around 9:50am, we settled into seats 3J and 3K for the scheduled 2-hour-55-minute flight to Auckland.
Fiji Airways Airbus A330 Business Class Cabin
The Fiji Airways Airbus A330-200 Business Class cabin is configured in a 2-2-2 layout. That means the cabin does not offer the same level of privacy or direct aisle access you get on the newer Airbus A350. For solo travelers, that could be a disadvantage. For us, traveling together as a family, it really did not matter.
The seats are angled lie-flat rather than the more modern fully flat, enclosed-style seats found on newer Business Class products. They are also noticeably older. But for a flight of less than three hours, I found them more than comfortable enough.
There was plenty of room to stretch out, and the wider seat was especially useful since we were traveling with a lap infant. Compared with flying this route in a Boeing 737 or Airbus A320 narrow-body aircraft, having this much personal space was definitely a plus.
Departure From Nadi
With everyone onboard, the doors were armed at approximately 10:10am. We pushed back from Gate 3 and taxied for another 10 minutes or so before finally taking off. About five minutes after departure, we passed 10,000 feet and the cabin crew began preparing for the food and beverage service.
Food and Beverage
For a roughly three-hour international Business Class flight, this was probably the weakest part of the experience. I expected a better meal selection. The options on the menu felt fairly limited, and neither of us was particularly excited by what was being offered. We ultimately decided to keep things simple with a croissant and beverages.
The croissant arrived with a bowl of fresh fruit, and I eventually ended up trying the different items from the bakery selection as well. The food was fine. It just did not feel particularly impressive for an international Business Class flight of this length. That was probably my biggest disappointment with FJ411.
Read More:
A Beginner’s Guide to Points and Miles
Lie-Flat Bed
Being a short daytime flight, I did not bother trying to sleep. Still, Fiji Airways provided the same type of bedding we had on our Airbus A350 flight from Vancouver to Nadi, including a pillow and lightweight blanket at each seat. While the A330 Business Class product is clearly older than the A350, having the additional space and ability to recline significantly still made for a comfortable trip across the South Pacific.
Lavatory
The Business Class lavatory was kept clean throughout the flight. It featured a touchless sink along with a full-length mirror in addition to the standard toilet and amenities. Nothing particularly extravagant, but clean and well maintained.
Snacks and Service
There was also a snack basket available in the galley for passengers who wanted something between services. The flight attendants were usually around the galley and available to assist passengers with additional requests. About an hour after the main food and beverage service, snacks were also offered through the cabin. Service overall was efficient, especially considering the relatively short flight time.
Arrival in Auckland
About 35 minutes before landing, we began our descent into Auckland. The second officer came over the PA with an update on the weather and also apologized for the earlier delay. FJ411 touched down in Auckland at approximately 1:32pm, followed by a short taxi to the gate.
And with that, our Fiji stopover was officially over and the New Zealand portion of the trip had begun. Our next flight would take us from Auckland to Sydney aboard Qantas QF4, an interesting fifth-freedom flight that I’ll cover separately.
Verdict
Overall, Fiji Airways Airbus A330 Business Class was an acceptable experience. The cabin is older and the 2-2-2 configuration lacks the privacy and direct aisle access of Fiji Airways’ newer A350. But the seat gave us plenty of room, especially while traveling with a lap infant, and was considerably more comfortable than what we would typically get on a narrow-body aircraft for a flight of this length.
The biggest letdown was the food and beverage selection. But being able to continue our journey from Fiji to New Zealand in Business Class was still a major plus. More importantly, this flight was part of the same 55,000-mile Alaska award that took us from Vancouver to Fiji, allowed us to stop for six days, and then continue onward to Auckland. That is what really made this trip special.
Under today’s Atmos Rewards award structure, Nadi to Auckland falls into the under-1,500-mile Asia-Pacific band, where Business Class partner awards currently start at 15,000 Atmos points one-way. So while you can still book Fiji Airways with Atmos points today, recreating the entire Vancouver–Fiji–Auckland journey for the same 55,000 points is a very different proposition.
Looking back, I’m glad we booked it when we did. 55,000 Alaska miles for Business Class from Canada to New Zealand, plus a stopover in Fiji? That is the kind of redemption I would happily do again and again.
Travel With Kayode: More points. More places.
Read More:
Atmos Rewards: A Complete Guide
Kayode is the creator behind Travel With Kayode, sharing practical tips on points, miles, premium travel, hotels, and destinations around the world. His goal is simple: help travelers get more value from every trip and experience more for less.
