With Qantas flying SYD/NAN from 31 March [effect on VA fares]
 

surely this will put downward pressure on both Virgin & Fiji Airways fares, although these 2 airlines have A330s on route (Virgin once a week & Fiji Airways twice a day), so choice out of Syd

1) Jetstar (about 4 days a week) on A320

2) Qantas about same on old B737

3) Virgin daily on old B737 & 1/week A330 in peak periods

4) Fiji Airways up to 3 flights daily (1 or 2 x A330 & balance by B737 max)

Qantas will never try to be cheapest, but something has to give. Who will lose out ?

As far as I know, the only one who offers through fares to many parts of the south Pacific , Hawaii + LAX & SFO is Fiji Airways, so they have some advantage there.

You'd think VA and QF would be the most competitive with each other. FJ gets more locals and onward connecting traffic ex-NAN. JQ gets the cheap tourists. QF and VA fight for premium O/D pax, and connections ex-SYD.

Still, I am not sure their fight will drop fares. QF doesn't want to compete with JQ, so they are unlikely to drop fares into JQ range. And VA will only drop fares enough to stay competitive with QF. It may mean better pricing and award availability in J, and slightly lower Y fares (but not much).

Hi, I know a bit off topic but I'm looking at flying Virgin MEL-NAN, returning on the same plane on the same day NAN-MEL. You can't book this as one ticket, I assume due to minimum connection time (first flight arrives 3.10pm, returning flight leaves Fiji at 4.35pm). Is there any issues if I book two one ways? Will VA be able to print both boarding passes in MEL and can I stay airside at NAN? Just contemplating a status run and want to sample the A330 product in both directions.

Thanks!

think the VA A330 only operates to Fiji once a week in peak season & no don't think this would work.

Why not? What am I missing?

Seems OK to me. Certainly you won't miss your connection, as it requires the inbound plane to depart. If you have no checked baggage (and why would you), it should be straightforward. You might even be able to get your return BP printed in Melbourne.

You'll confuse the .... out of the Fijians. They might even think you are doing a drug run & arrest you & throw you in a Fijian jail cell until sorted out.

Wow, ok. Is there a precedent for that? Sounds pretty outlandish.

If you arrive at the airport with an onward ticket, I don't see what will be confusing about it. You don't need to explain that you just arrived from MEL, all you need to show is your onward ticket to MEL.

NAN has an international transit lounge, so there is no requirement to enter Fiji. I'd simply follow the international transit signs, go through security (I think?), and go to my gate.

If you can't get your return ticket at MEL or with OLCI, then I can see it being problematic, it's worth checking to see if VA have a check-in agent in the secure area I guess. But with a ticket, should be easy.

That would make quite the Banged Up Abroad episode...

soounds like you haven't been to NAN. Signs to int transit lounge ? Security ?

Which NAN have you been to?

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c5ada5927b.jpg

Airports Fiji Limited - Nadi Transit

it's one big transit lounge !!!!

You don't go through security if changing from international to international flights, unless you leave the airport. NOTE: Many people flying from eg. Brisbane to LAX or SFO same day, will have a 4-5 hour connect & many go across road to a hotel to escape the airport. Some even trek as far as Denarau Island(not really an island, just a bridge over the river), but you might end up with less than 2 hours there.

If you are on the one ticket eg. BNE/LAX, you will get both boarding passes at BNE check in, so you could return to airport as little as 45 mins before onward flight departure.

The website (at the link I already posted and quoted) says otherwise.

I haven't done an I->I connection at NAN, and I did put a ? next to screening because I wasn't sure. But their official website says there is security screening in transit, even if you don't enter Fiji.

transiting in NAN few dozen times in last decade from both SYD & BNE going to LAX & SFO.

There is very basic bag check, just before you enter the aircraft, but it very quick & no xrays or metl detectors, just a quick look inside any carry on bags.

When you land in NAN, there's usually someone saying

"going to USA this way"

but if you do you get stuck in transit. Many people especially on arriving BNE flights with 4 hours plus, enter Fiji & go across the rd. to a hotel, have a swim etc. Some get a room etc. before heading back to airport.

Thanks for the responses everyone. Ended up finding a SYD-MEL (Friday evening), MEL-NAN (Saturday), NAN-MEL-SYD (Sunday), in business saver for $1,220 return. Flying A330 on the Saturday leg and decided to put up with the B737 on the return to avoid any potential issues! Booked just in time for the DSC.