Every now and then, we get a launch of a route that we are particularly excited about. Fiji Airways has just announced that they will re-launching their Vancouver to Nadi, Fiji route for November 25, 2022. Fiji Airways offers connecting service to a number of destinations through its hub in Nadi, Fiji. Read on to see all the details about this route and what to expect on board.

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Fiji Airways Re-Launching Flights to Vancouver

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Fiji Airways is a great small scale airline with a long history. As the flag carrier of Fiji, it has flown since 1951 previously under the Air Pacific banner.

We had previously experienced Fiji Airways Business Class Los Angeles – Nadi and Fiji Airways Business Class Nadi – Auckland. On both flights, we had a pretty good time and received very friendly service along with great wines.

The airline currently serves a limited Pacific Rim network of Destinations out of it’s base in Nadi, Fiji.

The current destinations list include (in part):

• San Franciso, USA
• Los Angeles, USA
• Honolulu, USA
• Sydney, Australia
• Brisbane, Australia
• Melbourne, Australia
• Christchurch, New Zealand
• Auckland, New Zealand
• Hong Kong, China
• Singapore

Fiji Airways Announcing the Return to Vancouver

It looks as though we can re-add Vancouver to the above destination list.

Fiji Airways has announced on that they will be returning to the Vancouver market. This is a resumption of service that previously occurred under the Air Pacific banner before the year 2012.

Fiji Airways will be returning to Vancouver with a 2x weekly service on Monday and Friday from Vancouver to Nadi, Fiji. The service starts on November 25, 2022.

The flights are scheduled to depart as follows:

• FJ880 Nadi to Vancouver departing 10:15PM arriving 1:20PM (Flight Time of 11hrs & 40 minutes)
• FJ881 Vancouver to Nadi departing 9:40PM arriving 5:30AM (+2 days) (Flight Time of 11 hrs and 10 mins)

Per their press release, service will start with a special trade flight on August 5, 2022, with regular service starting on November 25, 2022.

What does Fiji Airways look like?

Fiji Airways is a One World Connect member. This means that you get select reciprocal benefits when flying Fiji Airways that include Priority Check In, Mileage Accumulation and Lounge Access.

Fiji Airways offers an angle flat business class seat on it’s Airbus 330’s aircraft. While it’s a nice looking business class cabin, the seat’s aren’t completely state of the art given that they don’t lie fully flat.

It is the same orientation that we would see on Singapore Airlines Regional Business Class on their Airbus 330 regional configurations.

It is unlikely that we will see their new Fiji Airways flagship Airbus 350-9, as I would imagine that Vancouver will get their older Airbus 330 aircraft pictured here.

The Likely Lounge Access Arrangement in Vancouver:

I think it is also fair to expect that we can see Fiji Airways use the Plaza Premium Lounge Vancouver International as it’s outgoing departure business class lounge. Plaza Premium Lounge Vancouver seems to contract with every airline not found in an alliance.

There is a remote possibility that we will see Fiji Airways partner with Cathay Pacific to allow access to their large Cathay Pacific Vancouver Lounge under the One World Connect program.

While British Airways also operates a British Airways Galleries Vancouver Lounge, on a practical basis, it is too small to accomodate any additional travellers other than its own passengers. As a result, I don’t think we will see a reciprocal relationship there.

Frequent Flier Opportunities:

In addition to being a One World Connect member, Fiji Airways allows for reward mileage accumulation on Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan.

This is great news for Canadian travellers, since you can also earn points through the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Mastercard (or Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Visa for American readers), that will allow credit card spending to be earned to be redeemed against a reward redemption on Alaska Airlines.

Flights are Already on Sale:

Fiji Airways has already loaded flights for sale into their website.

Regrettably, the paid fares in Business Class are launching at just north of $7,000 Canadian Dollars. This isn’t exactly a great deal for an introductory fare.

In the meantime, economy class award redemptions appear to be already available through Alaska Mileage Plan.

Unfortunately, I don’t see any business class award seats yet available. I have found with Fiji Airways that you really have to look well into the future (200+ days) as not a lot of business class seats are released into the reward inventory buckets for redemptions.

Hopefully, we will see some reward availability loaded onto this route in the near future allowing for redemption through the Alaska Mileage Plan.

The Bottom Line: Fiji Airways is Returning to Vancouver

While I was initially a little skeptical about flying Fiji Airways, they were terrific to deal with. I’m really excited to see that Fiji Airways is returning to Vancouver.

This flight adds the amount of possible access routes to the Pacific Rim and offers some great new mileage redemption opportunities through Alaska Mileage Plan.

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Are you excited to see that Fiji Airways is returning to Vancouver ?

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