Advice with flights to Solomons, PNG from LAX
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 29
Advice with flights to Solomons, PNG from LAX
We (a middle-aged couple) are doing some planning for a trip that will not happen until 2021. The trip will go from LAX to Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea and back to LAX. The order will be LAX>Honiara>Seghe>Seghe>Honiara>Port Moresby>LAX.
I am looking on advice on pricing these flights (approximate) and figure out the timing with various layovers, if for no other reason than making accommodation plans. The trip will be over a three week period.
A lot of the flight search engines do not do multi-city itineraries very well (I am using 2020 flights) and I am wondering what other experienced travelers do for these sort of situations.
Any advice?
I am looking on advice on pricing these flights (approximate) and figure out the timing with various layovers, if for no other reason than making accommodation plans. The trip will be over a three week period.
A lot of the flight search engines do not do multi-city itineraries very well (I am using 2020 flights) and I am wondering what other experienced travelers do for these sort of situations.
Any advice?
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,922
We (a middle-aged couple) are doing some planning for a trip that will not happen until 2021. The trip will go from LAX to Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea and back to LAX. The order will be LAX>Honiara>Seghe>Seghe>Honiara>Port Moresby>LAX.
I am looking on advice on pricing these flights (approximate) and figure out the timing with various layovers, if for no other reason than making accommodation plans. The trip will be over a three week period.
A lot of the flight search engines do not do multi-city itineraries very well (I am using 2020 flights) and I am wondering what other experienced travelers do for these sort of situations.
Any advice?
I am looking on advice on pricing these flights (approximate) and figure out the timing with various layovers, if for no other reason than making accommodation plans. The trip will be over a three week period.
A lot of the flight search engines do not do multi-city itineraries very well (I am using 2020 flights) and I am wondering what other experienced travelers do for these sort of situations.
Any advice?
Some places will require flights on Solomon Airlines and/or Air Niugini and/or Fiji Airways
My guess is you need LAX-Australia (BNE SYD) flights and then separate flights to the other destinations. Fiji (Fiji Airways) may be another transit point.
Should be able to price from the airlines web sites as point to point flights. Will be many combinations possible
Great Circle Mapper
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honiar...tional_Airport
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seghe_Airport
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackso...tional_Airport
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon_Airlines
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...s_destinations
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...s_destinations
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 29
Fiji Airways is the one I have my eye on for the LAX-HIR part. On the way back It may be easier to go back to HIR for the return to LAX. POM>HIR is 2-3 hours. The flights from LAX-NAN are popular so I will need to jump on 'em as soon as available, but they are very reasonably priced.
TBH, I'm thinking a real travel agent too! If anyone is or knows of an agent who knows these destinations and flights really well please contact me via this board.
Thanks for your thorough reply!
TBH, I'm thinking a real travel agent too! If anyone is or knows of an agent who knows these destinations and flights really well please contact me via this board.
Thanks for your thorough reply!
#4
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,241
You may consider buying a round-trip LAX-BNE or LAX-NAN, and then using those airports as a hub for your other activities. These airports are probably the two major players with the most flights to your other destinations.
Otherwise, yes a real TA that has this part of the world as a specialty would probably be worth their $$.
Otherwise, yes a real TA that has this part of the world as a specialty would probably be worth their $$.
Last edited by CPMaverick; Jan 3, 2020 at 5:34 pm
#5
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,589
I was curious about the pricing and found LAX-HIR-LAX at USD 2000 (via BNE on QF), and LAX-HIR-POM-LAX at USD 3000 for the same QF flight LAX-BNE but Philippine airlines POM-LAX. Couldn't price when adding EGM. So point to point is likely to be your cheapest option.
LAX-HIR USD 1000
HIR-EGM USD 200
EGM-POM USD 400 (its actually EGM-HIR-POM)
POM-LAX USD 700 (POM-HIR-NAN-LAX routing) or USD 1000 for POM-BNE-LAX routing
I priced it using momondo.com which tends to find lowest prices for these kind of routings.
You do have to be flexible on your schedule, I did a trip like this a decade ago and got stuck in Pago Pago for 6 days due to cancelled flights, which is fairly normal for some of these routes. Wouldn't have minded if it was RAR but PPG isn't much fun after the first day
LAX-HIR USD 1000
HIR-EGM USD 200
EGM-POM USD 400 (its actually EGM-HIR-POM)
POM-LAX USD 700 (POM-HIR-NAN-LAX routing) or USD 1000 for POM-BNE-LAX routing
I priced it using momondo.com which tends to find lowest prices for these kind of routings.
You do have to be flexible on your schedule, I did a trip like this a decade ago and got stuck in Pago Pago for 6 days due to cancelled flights, which is fairly normal for some of these routes. Wouldn't have minded if it was RAR but PPG isn't much fun after the first day
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 29
You guys are too nice! Never heard of momondo...
We can for sure build in flexibility. We had been working them as separate trips but would really like to do both at once. It is to be one week diving and birding Solomons (one location) and two weeks diving birding PNG. (two+ locations).
The timing is it's too late to do a trip this year for prime birding/diving so we have to wait; plus we were actually nearby just a couple months ago, so need to replenish $$$.
If people want I will report as we go, with flights etc.
We can for sure build in flexibility. We had been working them as separate trips but would really like to do both at once. It is to be one week diving and birding Solomons (one location) and two weeks diving birding PNG. (two+ locations).
The timing is it's too late to do a trip this year for prime birding/diving so we have to wait; plus we were actually nearby just a couple months ago, so need to replenish $$$.
If people want I will report as we go, with flights etc.
#7
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 805
I travel often to the Solomon Islands. The internal airfares are fairly ruinous. If you book them as part of a Solomons Airlines international itinerary you can save $100 - $200. But this may not be possible with LAX being the origin. I've never stopped at Seghe apart from being on the milk run from Choiseul Bay to Honiara. The islands in the west are picturesque and the diving is apparently very good. It's largely undeveloped apart from appalling buildings built by the Chinese traders.
Edited to add that you will need proof of a measles vaccination at least 14 days before travel to enter the Solomon Islands.
Edited to add that you will need proof of a measles vaccination at least 14 days before travel to enter the Solomon Islands.
#8
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: DXB / KUO
Programs: AY, SQ, EK
Posts: 857
I have been to Honiara and Port Moresby only for work - so limited experience here...
Some thoughts:
- Flights are quite expensive obviously; have used PX on SIN-POM and POM-HIR routes in J class (no issues and I actually like POM airport); have also taken QF to HIR
- PX fly to a couple of airports on the UA island hopper route; I think this service started 3-4 years ago and was thinking this would be a great connection one day [ http://www.airniugini.com.pg/fly/route-maps/ ]
- Stayed at the Heritage Park in Honiara; was pretty good but the room was quite basic and wifi quite useless - then again, location was great and was happy with my stay [ Heritage Park Hotel - Honiara Solomon Islands ]
- In Port Moresby, I really liked the Stanley [ https://www.thestanleypng.com/ ]; close to the airport (they have a shuttle as well), liked the food options, great gym etc.
- Black Swan was good for transfers in Port Moresby [ https://www.blackswanss.com/secure-transportation/ ]; thought the prices were not bad either
- For domestic flights in PNG, also do consider PNG Air [ PNG Air ] - they are a very professional organisation
Some thoughts:
- Flights are quite expensive obviously; have used PX on SIN-POM and POM-HIR routes in J class (no issues and I actually like POM airport); have also taken QF to HIR
- PX fly to a couple of airports on the UA island hopper route; I think this service started 3-4 years ago and was thinking this would be a great connection one day [ http://www.airniugini.com.pg/fly/route-maps/ ]
- Stayed at the Heritage Park in Honiara; was pretty good but the room was quite basic and wifi quite useless - then again, location was great and was happy with my stay [ Heritage Park Hotel - Honiara Solomon Islands ]
- In Port Moresby, I really liked the Stanley [ https://www.thestanleypng.com/ ]; close to the airport (they have a shuttle as well), liked the food options, great gym etc.
- Black Swan was good for transfers in Port Moresby [ https://www.blackswanss.com/secure-transportation/ ]; thought the prices were not bad either
- For domestic flights in PNG, also do consider PNG Air [ PNG Air ] - they are a very professional organisation
#9
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,241
But these PX flights from TKK and PNI are only 1x weekly... so you have to schedule accordingly. Route maps in the pacific can be a little deceiving... I've even seen some routes that are 1x monthly!