Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in Volume III of B.H. Magazine. For access to future issues, subscribe here.
As of April 1, 2025, Fiji Airways is a fully fledged member of the Oneworld Alliance. Ahead of this formal integration, back in February, I flew the new A350 business class seat of the Pacific Island’s flag carrier for B.H. Magazine. Given its timely relevance, we’ve published this article digitally on Boss Hunting earlier than planned to get you up to speed.
Alright, give us the lowdown…
Fiji Airways’ state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 has arrived at the South Pacific hub of Fiji, flying from Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland to Vancouver, San Francisco, and Los Angeles by way of Nadi. With it, a sleek new Business Class.
A two-hop trip across the Pacific – why on Earth?
Unless you’re travelling to Fiji, the country’s national airline is likely a second-tier choice for those moving between Australia and North America. Why would anyone make the 14-hour journey even longer with a stopover on the way? Firstly, with airfares soaring on direct routes, trans-Pacific travel has become expensive AF. Secondly, Fiji Airways is about to become a fully-fledged member of the Oneworld alliance. And finally, the A350 Business Class seat that I’m about to tell you about.
What does Oneworld membership mean exactly?
Fiji Airways has been at arm’s length of the alliance (as a Connect partner) for half a decade, however in 2025, the carrier gets a permanent seat at the table. This means travellers will be able to earn and redeem miles, accrue status points, use priority check-in and boarding lanes, and gain access to nearly 700 coveted Oneworld lounges around the globe. It is particularly pleasing news for Qantas status holders, who can soon access the Qantas First and Business Class lounges on the eastern seaboard when flying on an FJ-ticketed flight. We’ve been told it takes roughly 12 months for the Oneworld onboarding process to be completed, and it was announced in June 2024.
Tell us about the new A350 business class then…
The 33 seats at the pointy end are based on the Collins Super Diamond configuration – also favoured by product-leading A350s flown in Qatar and British Airways liveries. Although the Fiji Airways seat doesn’t feature the same sliding doors, thus less privacy. The design is clean and functional, with a number of storage compartments, namely in the armrest, that house AC and USB outlets to keep your electronics close and fully charged. The retractable table stows under the screen in front, rather than pulling from the armrest, which is excellent, and the lie-flat bed is 2.2 metres long with a roomy footwell – perfect for tall people.
That all sounds great, but how’s the service?
Everyone loves a laid-back island vibe, but I’m happy to confirm that island time remains in Nadi once the forward doors are closed. Every warm smile is balanced with an attentive check-in to ensure things are as close to perfect where possible. To my surprise, the presentation of the food was on par with the exceptional services I’ve enjoyed previously on big-league Middle Eastern carriers. The caramelised banana pancakes on the breakfast menu – a meal that I prefer to avoid on long-haul flights – were particularly enjoyable.
Any highlights or quirks to look out for?
The key feature that stood out to me was the responsiveness of the seatback screen. It’s one of the most efficient I’ve ever come across in J-class, and, thanks to Fiji Airways’ partnership with Disney and HBO, it’s stocked with all the titles to match a Oneworld flyer’s expectations. You’ll also be pleased to know that WiFi is free for Business Class travellers for the duration of the flight, albeit a tad sluggish. Lastly, the lounge in Nadi is palatable for a 2-3 hour layover, but the windowless space deep inside the terminal is not somewhere you’d want to spend any serious amount of time.
Anything else I should know before booking?
There are only four A350s currently flying in Fijian colours, which means you’ll have to be extra diligent when booking to select the right aircraft to enjoy this seat. If, for some ungodly reason, you find yourself about to board an A330 or 737, head straight to the Qantas First Class lounge (thanks, Oneworld) to drown your sorrows with half a dozen glasses of Lallier beforehand.
If you’ve enjoyed this feature story, consider a few of our other travel favourites from the pages of B.H. Magazine:
Fred Finn: A Conversation With The World’s Most Travelled Man
Daikoku: A Window Into The Soul Of Japan’s Mythical Car Scene
Finding Neverland: A Review Of Nimmo Bay Resort
