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   A story from www.heimsreisa.is - Click HERE for full story
 Another Fiji Airways story, this time from www.truthforfiji.com
I was in the reception at 6 o'clock after having had my smoked salmon and oats in my room. I ran in to a guy and his 2 daughters, they were going to Tonga as well and it turned out that they will be in my group for the humpback whale swim. We were waiting for the free shuttle bus and we loaded our luggage and we left the hotel quarter past 6. Took 3 minutes to get to the International departure hall. And we were impressed by Nadi International Airport. Looked to be brand new and it was well organised. We checked in and passing immigration and security was done in a jiff. I looked for Fiji Airways lounge and I had a bottle of water while looking at my bird pictures from yesterday. Time turned quick and I was soon on my way to gate 9 for Fiji Airways flight FJ 275 to Vava'u International Airport.  Fiji Airways taking off over the hotel
 Shuttle bus arriving
 Nadi International Airport
 Nadi International Airport
 Nadi International Airport
 Nadi International Airport
 I was VERY happy to discover a proper size airplane at gate 9
 I was VERY happy to discover a proper size airplane at gate 9
Boarding at gate 9 and I was very happy to discover a proper size airplane at gate 9. I was a wee bit worried as I had paid 550 US Dollars extra for a business class ticket. And they had confirmed that they had business class eats, bigger and more space for the legs. And they had sent me an e-mail with an offer to upgrade my ticket. Enjoy all the amenities business Class has to offer. Get upgraded with Bula Bid today! Enjoy More Pre-Flight: Relax and enjoy dedicated baggage allowance, express airport lanes, and complimentary food and beverages before Enjoy More In Flight: During your flight, enjoy more room to relax and a three course fine dining experience. With individual screens, you can select from a full range of in-flight entertainment.  I had my doubts, it was a short flight, 2 hours, but they confirmed that it was bigger seats so I upgraded. And when I saw the plane I was very happy, I will sit like a king. I turned cartwheels down the platform and as soon as I was close to the plane I discovered that the entrance was blocked and we had to walk to the stairs taking us down to the tarmac. I saw the plane that had been covered by the big plane and I was not happy.  Our plane was covered by the big plane
  Ducking A!
 Ducking A!
During your flight, enjoy more room to relax and a three course fine dining experience.
 Ducking A!
During your flight, enjoy more room to relax and a three course fine dining experience.
Yeah, Fiji Airways is running a nice little scam. It was exactly the same seats as in the economy class. Same plan as my domestic flight on Borneo, but on board MASexpress you had your own seat and it was the two last rows in the back of the plane. Exit and entry through the back door and Fiji Airways are having the BIZ up front. Now I have heard so much bad things about Fiji Airways, and after this scam I believe everything I have heard. An airline to avoid, at least I have a very hard time believing I will ever set foot on boar done of their flights again. After returning to Fiji that is. ...relax and a three course fine dining experience. Isn't things like this against the law? And you're not allowed to say things like this, but I cannot help wondering if the guy at the check-in was retarded. Seriously! - Can I have an aisle seat? - Is there so I can sit alone? He give me a window seat next to another guy. The first row is empty, 4 pax and 8 seats, and he puts me at the window next to another guy. I took seat 1 A and I got some leg room as it was at an emergency exit. It was time for the safety instructions and we could leave Nadi, Fiji for Vava'u on Tonga on Fiji Airways business class service. Ducking impressive and again, what a scam they are running here.
  Finally, we can take off
 Flying over Fiji
 Flying over Fiji
 I take the time to fill up the arrival card
 We reach the east coast of Fiji
 Flying over something that looks nice
 Flying over an island
 Flying over something that looks nice
 Flying over something that looks nice
 Flying over something that looks nice
 Flying over something that looks nice
 Approaching Vava'u
 Approaching Vava'u
 Approaching Vava'u
2 hours, it was OK, time passed quite quickly, especially after Fiji when I kept an eye out for atolls or whatever they call it. We flew across Fiji and when I come back we will cross Fiji in a taxi and I have done if from the ground and from above. Anyway, it was nice when we landed at Vava'u International. And as I suspected, we came off last and thus we were last in the immigration. But no need to wait for our luggage. We could see them bringing the luggage and my bag was waiting for me when I was through the immigration. I had oatmeal in my bag and I had declared food on my arrival card. The immigration girl put a green circle and the custom interrogated me. Well, I told them that I had oatmeal and he wrote oatmeal on the card and I left the arrival hall.  Finally, we can get off the plane
   Yes, we're the last through the immigration
  Luggage is coming
  Immigration and luggage handling
 Immigration and luggage handling
 Vava'u TAX FREE shop
Vava'u International was a very small airport and it was kind of crowded with the arriving passengers outside looking for their rides to their respective hotels. I found a guy and he was here to pick us up. 2 vans as we were 8 pax. The first van took off and we left 5 to 10 minutes later. And we had 2 passengers in the van that was going to another place. And they needed to change money so we got a BONUS stop in the town. I went to the ATM and then I crossed the street and I went in to a shop to look for a SIM card. The SIM card was not working, but I got some water and I looked around to see what they had in the shop, not much.     We make a stop in the town
 We make a stop in the town
 Polynesian wattled honeyeater or eastern wattled honeyeater
First bird picture on Tonga
We arrived to the hotel and I crossed the road and I spotted a Polynesian wattled honeyeater first thing, a good start. Well, our rooms was not ready so we had to sit around waiting for the rooms to be ready. I had agreed with the taxi driver that brought us here to pick me up at 3 o'clock for some afternoon birding. They showed me to my tent and i was not happy with the tent. Well, it was not the same standard as the tents I lived in when I was in Africa. When they asked if I could have a tent instead of a room I told them that it was OK, as long as there were power, bathroom and a desk. Here was no power so I didn't want the tent. The showed me to a room and, well, they had power but the room stank. The mattress was on the floor and the shower, well, it was only a few drops of water coming out from the shower head. A real disappointment, I have been scammed and I had paid 1200 US extra for my own room. What a scam! Well, 3 o'clock and I'm off for some bird watching on Vava'u. Click HERE to find out if I found any birds here on Vava'u.     
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To www.aladdin.st since December 2005
Visitors from different countries since 26th of September 2011
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