07.03.2004
QF 163 SYD-AKL
seat: 2F
Boeing 767 (2-2-2 configuration in business class)
07:25-12:20
Early wake-up for our flight to Fiji via AKL. Our friends dropped us at the airport. Check in was fast and we got our suitcases checked all the way to NAN, however AKL-NAN BP's would have to be issued in AKL. We couldn't get seats together and were advised to check again at the gate. As there was little time we didn't visit the QF lounge. At the gate we asked for seats together. The gate staff asked the guy who was seated next to my friend if he wanted to change seats, but he wasn't very collaborative at that moment. However once on board he went to a FA and asked if he could change seats because so that he could seat with his friend on another row...
The flight was OK, although business class was completely full. Pre take-off OJ/water were served and soon after take off there was a breakfast served (can't remember if it was on trays or plates). I seem to have lost the printed menu for breakfast, but it had basically the same items as for the HKG-BNE breakfast. Staff was good, but didn't have time to interact much with passengers. Landing at AKL was thrilling: we almost touched down, when suddenly we took off again. According to the captain the reason was a sudden change of wind. This event caused a 20 minutes delay in arriving in AKL.

FJ 410 AKL-NAN
seat: 28A
Boeing 737-800
14:00-16:05
We went immediately to the flight connection desk and got our BP's for AKL-NAN (printed on AirNZ BP's). At the gate we asked if our luggage would make it as the connection time was rather short and we were assured that the plane would not leave without our suitcases (well it was wrong as my friends suitcase didn't make it to NAN on the same flight). For this side trip to Fiji we both had economy tickets. The flight wasn't completely full in economy and I got myself a window seat. After take-off from AKL, the FA's served the drinks and meals. Nothing special on this Air Pacific flight. The crew was friendly. Arrival to Nadi airport was spectacular as we did a U-turn just before landing in front of the mountains.

Nadi airport had changed from the year before (this was my second time in Fiji). Last year in March the airport was under major reconstruction. Unfortunately my friend’s suitcase didn’t show and we had to complain about this and buy some necessary clothing (at a very expensive price from the airport shop). The NAN airport staff guessed that the suitcase would arrive within 24 hours with an AirNZ flight (AirNZ is responsible for FJ’s luggage handling at AKL).

For Fiji, we had reserved a 5-night all-inclusive package at the Treasure Island resort, which is located some 30 minutes (by speedboat) away from Denarau marina, nearby Nadi. Last year we also visited Treasure Island, and were very satisfied when comparing price and quality. The resort had arranged all transfers from the airport and soon we were packed in a taxi on our way from NAN to Denarau marina. While leaving NAN airport a Federal Express DC-10 was doing the same spectacular U-turn before landing.

I felt very nice to be back in Fiji and Treasure Island. Some of the resort staff (almost all Fijian) recognized us from last year and came to say “Bula” and hug us (they also surprised us with complementary sparkling wine, fruit plates and t-shirts). The staff was probably very happy to see us returning to their resort (even if we’re living on the other side of the globe). As this was low season, the resort was very calm. The weather was perfect, very sunny for the two first days and a bit cloudy towards the end of our stay. We made some snorkeling trips on the outer reef and also a small trip to Bounty Island (which belongs to the same company running Treasure Island). The food was excellent, especially for a la carte diners, where the chef had put lots of effort in the food presentation. Our stay on this paradise island went fast and on the last night we had our ‘Isa Lei’ farewell song after diner. On March 12th we woke up early for our speedboat departure to mainland Fiji. Some of the Treasure Island staff came to say goodbye at the pier, even if the sun wasn’t up yet.

12.03.2004
FJ 411 NAN-AKL
Seat: 30B
Boeing 737-800
08:45-12:45
The airport was rather busy in the morning with departures to AKL, SYD and Nauru (we had heard some news of the Nauru state bankruptcy situation, but this didn’t affect the airline of Nauru). We had some time to kill before boarding and visited the duty-free shops and wrote last postcards. Air Pacific flight to SYD (a B747) left just before our flight to AKL. I had expected that this flight would be on a Boeing 767 (as first announced on Amadeus), but we had the same Boeing 737. As the flight wasn’t full, I could move to a window seat and take some pictures as we took off. A warm breakfast was served and during the rest of the flight I listened music on the IFE.

Our landing to AKL was on time and we went directly to the transit desk in order to have good seats together on the AKL-SCL flight. However the flight, which originates in SYD, wasn’t yet closed and we had to wait almost half an hour. We really wanted our BP’s as fast as possible in order to enjoy the QF lounge. During our waiting a queue formed in front of the transit desk and we could see the inefficiency of AirNZ international transit services. There was only one PC terminal for handling OneWorld, Air Tahiti (and some other) passengers. Also every time the staff in charge of transit had to make some calls somewhere before issuing BPs. Finally we got our BPs and could move on to the QF lounge. In the lounge, I first took a shower and then went to the buffet for some snacks and drinks. We also checked e-mails at the business center. After almost two hours in the lounge, we decided to start going towards the gate where LAN Chile’s Airbus A340 had arrived. At the same time I saw three Emirates aircrafts on the tarmac and at one of the gates.