Fiji Airways

BNE-NAN-BNE. Basically this is an airline that charges full-fare for what is in reality a low-cost business model to them at least: awful food (a revolting soggy 'sandwich' of some kind and a small plastic pot of coleslaw on both the outward and return journey) a cramped ugly and dirty cabin toilet doors that do not lock. All this is mentioned in many other reviews. No IFE apart from the one movie broadcast from overhead. I was not interested in the selection at all. On the positive side beers wines and spirits are available and the crew do try and display the well-known Fijian friendliness and cheerfulness despite working in the same dismal conditions that we are travelling in. My points are mainly for getting us there on time-nay early even- and in one piece.

I chose them simply because they were by far the cheapest. I flew LA-Nadi-Sydney this morning: although this meant a nearly 4hour layover in Fiji it was actually the same 747 which took me the whole way. Check in was quick and friendly (even Tom Bradley operated favourably for me!) and my first impression of the cabin was that I liked the colour - somewhere between lilac and purple. I had no problems with the seats (although I did have a very large person sitting next to me on the second leg who kind of spilled into me I fixed that by moving) and they seemed to recline as much as any do. Dinner was fine the coffee actually tasted better than any other airline coffee I've had. Beer was freely available. I knew that breakfast would not be great but I don't really eat breakfast anyway. I also knew the IFE was old so came prepared. But the crew were the stars - full of good humour. Air Pacific is re-branding and has 3 new planes arriving this year one in March so grumbles about the 747 will soon be redundant.

MEL-NAN-MEL - Departed and arrived on time on both legs. Cabin crew were good. IFE very limited and food for a non-budget airline was beyond a joke. Due to change in circumstances we had to change our return flight in the end it was cheaper to get a one-way ticket than amend the existing booking. There are limited carriers to Fiji therefore have few options unless you want to upgrade to business class.

PER-SYD-NAN return. Given we booked with Qantas we had not realised the SYD-NAN leg was with Air Pacific under their codeshare agreement until it was too late too change. I can only reiterate what others have said. The food is a joke the IFE barely functions and the seats are very uncomfortable. The toilets were filthy the sinks did not drain and so on. Felt very sorry for people going all the way to or from LAX.

We travelled from LAX to AKL. We found them excellent no delays fast check-in lots of leg room on the 747. The food was good the staff were friendly and the entertainment centre was old and didn't work very well - however most people wanted to sleep. I will fly with them again.

I had not been expecting much in the light of previous comments but I was pleasantly surprised by a well- organised flight. It was a late evening flight and the airport and lounge were deserted. The fairly small lounge had good canapés and drinks but only one computer and very little reading matter. The 737 appeared old and the seat rather battered. I could not make the recline controls work properly. The 8-seat business cabin was full. The beef dinner with wine was tasty. The cabin crew were friendly and efficient. IFE was satisfactory for the length of flight. The flight departed on time and arrived slightly early. Apart from the old seat a very good flight.

Sydney - Nadi return. Check in good on time flight. My issues were with the food and entertainment. For a full service airline the food was appalling and inedible. 06.30 flight food consisted of orange juice tiny yoghurt bag of sliced apple and a small piece of fruit cake! Return trip was orange juice 2 biscuits tiny tub of pasta and a tiny hotdog in a bun. It was also barely warm. Any extra food was charged for. I have been fed better on no frills airlines! Entertainment was drop down screens from ceiling that due to the seat I was in was either too far away or right above me making watching impossible. I understand the entertainment will be fixed when their new planes arrive! I will fly another airline next time.

Flight was on time - no trouble with check-in or out. We got food and headphones/movie included without charge and pillow etc. Got from A to B in good time. Staff warm and attentive. Our drop-down TV was broken but kids could move to aisle seat to see another one.

Worst experience in 30+ years of flying. Checked with airline 3 times prior to going to the airport as there had been a storm in Fiji. Told all was well and on time. Arrived at airport and stood in line for 2 hours to be told of a 12 hour delay. Got to LA far too late to catch any planes to San Francisco. Put up in a reasonable hotel but then the same thing happened in LA! Told we were booked to San Francisco to find the flight was cancelled the night before and we weren't notified. Didn't get to SFO until nearly midnight after spending a night in LA. Things happen but keep us informed and don't make people stay in airport lounges for 10-12 hours needlessly. Will never fly with them again.

My wife and I were booked on a flight from Sydney to LAX (with stop in Nadi) on Dec 9 2012. About midnight on Dec 8 I called to confirm the flight and was told the flight from Nadi to LAX had been cancelled. No attempt to notify anyone on the flight. Told Air Pacific would provide vouchers but no other assurances were made. There was a long wait in Nadi for Air Pacific to make arrangements for all the passengers. There was a minimal voucher provided that did cover the hotel cost plus one meal. The flight to LAX the next morning was on an ancient 747. In the 3 seats in which my wife and I were located and the 3 in front only 1 light worked. Two seats did not recline. None of the 6 seats had a working TV so there was no entertainment. The food was bad. When we finally arrived in LA we were told that Air Pacific would not reimburse any expenses we incurred except for providing hotel in LA. We were forced to pay the change ticket costs of our connecting flight in LA.