FIJI AIRWAYS: to become a full member of OneWorld

If you have never travelled on Fiji Airways, you should. That Pacific Islander hospitality is hard to beat. In 2018, Fiji Airways was the first and only OneWorld Connect partner. The concept didn’t really seem to catch on. Now, thanks to ET, we know that OneWorld will effectively abandon the concept with the announcement that Fiji Airways will apply to become a full member of OneWorld in the third quarter of 2024.

What is/was OneWorld Connect?

This was like a junior partner of OneWorld, where passengers could access only some of the alliance benefits. You could through-chek yourself and your luggage, earn and redeem frequent flyer points and status credits sometimes, and access lounges if travelling in Business or First. You also got priority check-in and boarding. That was about it. And the application seemed a little inconsistent.

Benefits of full membership

Full membership in OneWorld will bring a whole range of benefits to Fiji Airways travellers, including codeshares, access to the OneWorld global network, extended earning and redeeming of frequent flyer points and status, access to more airport lounges, additional recognition through priority check-in and boarding, and baggage allowances.

Member when?

OneWorld is a small alliance compared to Skyteam and Star Alliance. With the addition of Oman Air, scheduled for late this year, and Fiji Airways, it will have a total of 15 members.

Small but mighty might be the description for the alliance, as it has some heavy hitters as members, including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia and JAL, Malaysia Airlines, of course, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian and SriLankan Airlines.

Where Fiji Airways flies

Fiji Airways flies between its home ports of Nadi or Suva and most Australian capital cities, including Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, and Sydney. It uses Airbus A350, A330, and Boeing 737 jets to Nadi. Fiji Airways flies to North America from Fiji, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Vancouver. It has a diverse list of destinations, including Hawaii, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Pacific islands, including Samoa, Solomons, Tonga, and Vanuatu.

2PAXfly Takeout

Fiji Airways is often overlooked despite its oodles of hospitality, extensive network, and often great pricing. Becoming a full member of OneWorld means joining the big boy team of international heavyweights.

This is great news for OneWorld travellers and should bring significant traffic to the airline.

If you haven’t been to Fiji or travelled with Fiji Airlines, then you should.