This is the most ridiculously easy international flight you can take

The airline: Fiji Airways

A Fiji Airways A350 on the ground.

• The route Nadi to Sydney flight FJ 911
• Frequency Twice daily
• Aircraft Airbus A350-900
• Class Economy, Seat 43D, aisle
• Flight time 4 hours, 17 minutes (despite a delayed departure, we arrive ahead of the scheduled 4 hours 45 minutes)

Checking in

Extra time in paradise … Sofitel Denarau lets travellers check in at the hotel.

Fiji Airways is part of a consortium that owns multiple hotels on Denarau, including the Sofitel, Sheraton and Hilton. The hotels have a unique “resort check-in” program, meaning I only have to arrive at the airport 60 minutes before my 9am flight. The downside? The check-in desk at the Sofitel closes at 4.45am so I have to get there early. The upside? I use the extra time at the resort to watch the sunrise, swim, order breakfast by the ocean, and drink fresh sugarcane juice. While other members of my group take an early shuttle, nervous about potentially missing their flight, I leave Denarau at 7.40am, making it in plenty of time to breeze through security and immigration, pick up duty-free booze, and read a chapter of my book before boarding. I love it.

Baggage

The airline’s Value Fare option allows one piece of cabin luggage up to 7kg, and one checked bag up to 30kg.

Loyalty scheme

The big news for Fiji Airways is that it became a full member airline of Oneworld in April. Additionally, with the airline’s new Nadi-Dallas route, it has also adopted the American Airlines AAdvantage travel rewards program, with redemption capabilities on both airlines.

The seat

The A350 economy cabin and its 3-3-3 configuration.

I’m travelling economy in the relatively new A350, with a 3-3-3 layout. It’s an 18-inch (45.72cm) wide seat with a 6-inch (15cm) recline and a 31-inch (78.7cm) recline. The best part? There’s an empty seat right next to me.

Entertainment + tech

The A350 has a 30-centimetre touch screen display with a decent selection of new films and TV shows, but I gravitate to the magazine section to get my fill of UK gossip rags during takeoff. I have trouble connecting to the limited free onboard Wi-Fi system; a colleague two rows behind me pays for internet access ($US7.95/$12), but it’s very patchy. So I spend most of the flight working offline, sneaking in Captain America during meal service.

Service

A handy-sized 30-centimetre touch screen display.

Staff are personable, relaxed and friendly in an authentic and unstrained way, bringing a sense of ease and relaxation to the flight.

Food

Fiji Airways offers a full meal service on the flight between Sydney and Nadi, and while breakfast is never a great culinary feat on board any airline, the omelette with potato and sausage is decent.

Sustainability

Up in the air, Fiji Airlines’ new aircraft are 25 per cent more fuel efficient, and on the ground, the company is moving to electric instead of fossil-fuelled vehicles. On board, blankets are made from bamboo and donated to the community when retired. Single-use plastic is being phased out, but I do notice I’m served juice and water in a plastic cup. Recently, the company has also planted over 84,000 mangroves to combat coastal erosion. *

One more thing

In mid-April, Fiji Airways launched the first-ever non-stop flights between Nadi and Cairns, a four-hour service on the 737-Max 8. It’s a clever move for the airline, which now operates one of the fastest one-stop connections between Far North Queensland – home to the Great Barrier Reef – and the US.

The price

From $616 a person return.**

The verdict

Flying between Nadi and Sydney is the most ridiculously easy international flight you can take. The only disappointing thing about it is that you have to leave Fiji.

Our rating out of five

★★★★½

The writer flew as a guest of Tourism Fiji.

*For more information about air travel and sustainability, see iata.org

**Fares are based on those available for travel three months from the time of publication and subject to change.