Air Vanuatu

Customer Reviews

No Skytrax Rating
Food & Beverages 12345
Inflight Entertainment 12345
Seat Comfort 12345
Staff Service 12345
Value for Money 12345
Customer rating from 65 reviews
5/10
No Skytrax Rating
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1/10

"lack of service from attendants"

(Australia)

Trip Verified | Sydney to Port Vila. The flight takes more than 4.5 hours. The drinks trolley came through once for lukewarm water, had to request more when it wasn’t offered again. With how hot the plane was and how dehydrated we were becoming from the air conditioning, water should have been cold and offered more frequently. Bottles of water would have been better than small cups that were only half full. The plane was at the most half full, and yet passengers were seated were all put at the front of the cabin next to one another. This seemed to be a common complaint among other passengers as families were split up to make this arrangement happen. At first, I assumed this plane was old and didn’t have reclining adjustment seats. It was only after 3 hours into the flight that I needed to take a walk because my legs were cramping, that I noticed that most other seats had this feature that I wasn’t provided in the seats that I was given. As previously mentioned these seats were mostly empty (complete rows empty). I assumed that because we were in front of the exit that our seat didn’t have the reclining feature but common sense should have prevailed and these seats should be left empty when other seats are available. The practice of turning off the entertainment half an hour before touchdown seemed extreme, when other airlines keep the systems going until terminal. In summary the lack of service from your attendants and check in staff, has put a blight on our journey which will make us reconsider ever going to Vanuatu again.
Type Of TravellerCouple Leisure
Seat TypeEconomy Class
RouteSydney to Port Vila
Date FlownOctober 2019
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Food & Beverages 12345
Inflight Entertainment 12345
Ground Service 12345
Wifi & Connectivity 12345
Value For Money 12345
no
1/10

"useless services"

(Australia)

Not Verified | Port Vila to Melbourne. What a complete joke. Tried to book extra luggage online, but it wouldn’t let me. So I ring them and they said they can’t do it over the phone and I have to go into the office. So I go into the Port-Vila office and the lady said they can’t do it from there and can’t even give me a price or information because she has no information (yes that’s right no information available in their office) and tells me I have to ring the main office. So I go home and ring the main office, to be put through and hung up or disconnected or dialled an extension to be told no one is available and to leave a message, then told message box was full. I rang this airline 8 times! Finally, get through to be told you can’t book extra luggage beforehand and have to pay 1,200vt per kilo ($15 Australian dollars per kilo) at check-in for extra luggage. Every other airline in the whole wide world you can book extra luggage in advance to get it cheaper. Took me all day to get this useless information! Just warning anyone who ever wants to use Air Vanuatu’s useless services not too. Better off going with Virgin or a better airline (any other airline) which I will be doing next time! Never Again!
Type Of TravellerFamily Leisure
Seat TypeEconomy Class
RoutePort Vila to Melbourne
Date FlownJuly 2019
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Food & Beverages 12345
Ground Service 12345
Value For Money 12345
no
1/10

"Communication was terrible"

(Australia)

Trip Verified | We just had the worst experience ever travelling with flying Air Vanuatu. It started with a delay from Sydney and then us being bumped off our internal connection to Santo meaning we had to spend a night in Port Villa. Communication was terrible and it was a stressful way to start the holiday. We went into having a lovely holiday and was looking forward to a quick direct flight from Santo to Brisbane and then a domestic flight to Sydney. We were due to depart at 4.25pm on the Sunday and there was delay after delay and poor communication. The plane couldn’t land due to a fire truck being broken so the plane landed in Port Villa. We were then at 7pm flown to Port Villa (although not everyone got on flight as plane was smaller). After further delays checking in at Port Villa, the visa system crashed and at 9pm we were informed the flight was cancelled. About 9.30pm they finally listened to our pleas for food and water (everything was shut at airport) and they brought off meals from the plane and we sat on floor and ate these. At about 11.30pm we arrived at the hotel, ongoing poor communication resulting in us all getting up early for a 7.30am pick up and then being told it was 9am. Boarded plane late, stuck in a hot plane for over 30mins due to a missing passenger. Finally got back to Brisbane 2.20pm on the Monday and back to Sydney 9pm (22hrs after the expected arrival) some were not so fortunate and had to wait until Tuesday to get a connecting flight. I have never written such a poor review but our experience was terrible and the customer service was awful.
Type Of TravellerCouple Leisure
Seat TypeEconomy Class
RouteSydney to Luganville via Port Villa
Date FlownApril 2019
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Ground Service 12345
Value For Money 12345
no
2/10

"Stay away from them!"

(Australia)

Trip Verified | Air Vanuatu is the worst experience I had as a traveler. Booked 2 flights with them (a domestic and an international one). Due to weather conditions (cyclone) the flight from Port Vila to Luganville got cancelled, I've been notified with a phone call. They didn't mention when there will be a new flight, they simply said 'we'll let you know', fair enough. The next day I called and they said 'no flights, but keep calling us'. I called again after 2 days, still nothing. On day 3 after the cancellation I checked the flight schedule and saw that there was a flight going to Luganville, so I called them and they said 'oh yeah we have flights now'. So if I didn't call, they wouldn't even bother telling me. They booked me on a flight for the day after. 1 day later I had a flight from Luganville (Espiritu Santo) to Brisbane and then a connection to Sydney. While we were at our hotel, I received an email from the hotel manager not the airline telling us that the flight might be cancelled. No updates until night and then at dinner time we are told that the flight is still a 'maybe' but we should go to the airport anyway and they'll make a call there. We go to the airport at 10.30pm (flight was at midnight), at the check-in they tell us that the flight is still going from Brisbane to Port Vila and they didn't know if it would come to Luganville, and if it would, it would not be before 2am. We get asked to wait, at around 12.30am we are told the flight is cancelled. Now, you might not know, but the Luganville airport is literally in the middle of nowhere, no taxis, no info point, no internet connection, nothing! The check in girl says 'just go back to your hotel'. Being unable to talk to the hotel, we (all passengers) complain and they finally arrange a van to take us to the closest hotel. In the meanwhile, the hotel where we originally were, sent someone to pick us up. Got back to the hotel for the night, but still, not an email, not a message nor a phone call from Air Vanuatu. Next day, we are told (still by the hotel) we are on the 5.30pm flight (not scheduled), I call Air Vanuatu mentioning we lost the connection to Sydney, the operator says 'is there a flight to Brisbane today?' I had no words we go to the airport at 4pm. Flight is on, and when I mention about the connection, the girl goes to their office (taking my phone with her) and comes back saying you can check in at Brisbane airport at 3AM. (we were going to land at 8pm). I ask to change it to a human hour so we could sleep in hotel, since there is a flight every hour to Sydney, but nothing, we catch the flight and when landed, I tried to call support, but clearly, they close at 5pm. So I then booked a flight myself for 8am, just to add an extra expense as if it wasn't enough. Now I'm trying to reach out to them to get a letter for the insurance, but still nothing. I understand there are no options sometimes because some locations are only connected by them, but if you can, book with another airline. Air Vanuatu is way far from being an acceptable airline when it comes to assisting clients. Stay away from them!
AircraftBoeing 737
Type Of TravellerCouple Leisure
Seat TypeEconomy Class
RouteEspiritu Santo to Brisbane
Date FlownFebruary 2019
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Food & Beverages 12345
Inflight Entertainment 12345
Ground Service 12345
Wifi & Connectivity 12345
Value For Money 12345
no
1/10

"warn other users through reviews"

(Vanuatu)

Trip Verified | Port Vila to Auckland. Booked a fully refundable fare and read through every piece of terms and conditions found online regarding the fare and refund policies. Nowhere did it mention a refund fee but they still said the only way I can refund my "fully refundable" fare is by paying the $50 fee and became quite abrupt on the phone when I attempted to point out that the fee was not disclosed at the time of booking. They did confirm that the fee was not disclosed on the website but they had full rights to charge it and what other option do I have if I want to refund my "fully refundable" fair? I don't want to bother with filing a complaint, just want to warn other users through reviews.
Type Of TravellerSolo Leisure
Seat TypeEconomy Class
RoutePort Vila to Auckland
Date FlownJanuary 2019
Value For Money 12345
no
8/10

"cabin crew were cheerful"

(United Kingdom)

Trip Verified | Air Vanuatu is a small airline which is essential for "Local" flights, meaning fairly long distances between scattered islands. As such they largely use ATR 72 aircraft and Twin Otters but they do have a very new B 737-800. I flew from Noumea, New Caledonia to Port Villa, Vanuatu and a few days later from Port Villa Vanuatu to Tanna, Vanuatu and back. There were no problems with schedules, checking-in and boarding. The cabin crew were cheerful and given the short duration of the flights there was not much on offer. On the whole a small but good airline. It is difficult to rate a small, short-haul airline with the big airlines but I will fly them again!
AircraftATR 72-600
Type Of TravellerSolo Leisure
Seat TypeEconomy Class
RouteNoumea to Port Villa
Date FlownOctober 2018
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Ground Service 12345
Value For Money 12345
yes
2/10

"Staff generally very unhelpful"

(Australia)

Trip Verified | Nadi to Port Vila. Due to fly out on Saturday at 3.00pm. Was first to register at airport counter when it opened at 12.30. Went upstairs and sat in Nadi Lounge and as 3.00pm loomed noticed no counter staff evident. Asked about this and was told plane had left PV but had mechanical trouble and returned to PV. Were advised it was now due at 4.30, In short it did not arrive after a second apparent attempt to fly. We were told at around 6.15 the flight was cancelled and we would be advised shortly of when the next flight would be put on as indeed there was no scheduled alternative for two days. Our time in PV was two days. After receiving no notifications and spending 24 hours in the Nalagi Hotel courtesy of Air Vanuatu we had heard nothing and as it appeared no flights were forthcoming we had to make other arrangements to get home. No staff at the airport when we left at 6.30 huge disruption to the end of a short break and 36 hours sitting in a hotel room on the outskirts of Nadi was not what we had in mind. Was told mechanical problems then operational problems. Still dont know what the problem was and no reply to my request for a refund. Other issue was this was a Fiji Airways booked flight and when I rang them they said they could not help at all. Staff at Fiji Airport were generally very unhelpful with a few exceptions. I did not fly so cannot comment on the service in the air so ignore any comments about this.
Type Of TravellerCouple Leisure
Seat TypeEconomy Class
RouteNadi to Port Vila
Date FlownAugust 2018
Ground Service 12345
Value For Money 12345
no
1/10

"Two very bad experiences"

(Norway)

Trip Verified | Two very bad experiences with Air Vanuatu. At arrival in Port Vila the Air Vanuatu agent was forcing me to pay for a second return flight (as he could not find my reservation which I made through Fiji Airways). The member of staff was very unrespectful at many instances. I quote one of them "stop wasting my time I would like to go home now so buy this ticket". When finally I managed to find my ticket number and he finds my booking, he did not apologise for the 2h down the drain and the free humiliating time he has been giving me. Our flight from Norsup to Craig Cove planed at 11:40 (originally planned at a different time but we had received an email to notify us of the change) departed at 11:10 without us. Due to a mechanical problem our driver couldn't take us 2h before the flight to the airport. However despite having given them our local number, Air Vanuatu did not bother calling us as we were missing on the passenger list (in an 18 seater I must point out!). Waiting for the scheduled time and depart on time (not 30 minutes earlier than scheduled) is not for Air Vanuatu common practice of passengers are missing. You are just expected to pay them and have 0 service in return. I'm not usually complaining but here I think something needs to change. It's ok we were on holiday and we found a work around (Air Vanuatu didn't not apologise in any way shape or form, we were just told we were supposed to be at the airport 2h before) we had to find our own solution ourselves. I'm very sorry for people in Vanuatu who have to deal with this on a daily basis however. All we ask to an airline is to be courteous with its passengers and respect its schedule!
Type Of TravellerSolo Leisure
Seat TypeEconomy Class
RouteNorsup to Craig Cove
Date FlownAugust 2018
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Ground Service 12345
Value For Money 12345
no
7/10

"friendly service"

(Australia)

Flew from Sydney to Port Vila with Air Vanuatu. Friendly service, standard economy quality food as well as a very easy to use inflight entertainment system which has a very large variety or tv shows and movies. The new Boeing 737-800 recently new to the Air Vanuatu fleet was very clean, quiet and comfortable. Overall a very good experience.
AircraftBoeing 737-800
Type Of TravellerFamily Leisure
Seat TypeEconomy Class
RouteSYD to VLI
Date FlownApril 2016
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Food & Beverages 12345
Inflight Entertainment 12345
Ground Service 12345
Value For Money 12345
yes
4/10

"lack of friendliness"

(Australia)

Vanuatu is one of my favourite places and a big part of that is the friendly people. It's a pity that my critism of Air Vanuatu stems from the lack of friendliness of the staff. They weren't exactly rude, but they were just there. The food service was painful. Basically the hostees spent the entire filght mucking aroud with trolleys in the aisle. They were there so long people started getting up to go to the toilet and they had to keep shuffling trolleys up and down the aisle. They were simply unprofessional and unfriendly. I think the lack of competition on this route has made them a slack.
Type Of TravellerCouple Leisure
Seat TypeEconomy Class
RouteSydney to Port Vila
Date FlownOctober 2015
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Food & Beverages 12345
Inflight Entertainment 12345
Ground Service 12345
Value For Money 12345
no