Fiji Airways

Fiji Airways is the national carrier of Fiji, flying from Nadi to Australia, New Zealand and North America, with a network that leans heavily on holiday traffic. Much of the long-haul flying happens overnight, especially the runs across the Pacific to the west coast, so how well a seat sleeps matters more here than on most airlines this size. It is a oneworld member, which brings its schedules and fares into the wider alliance network.

The fleet splits three ways: widebodies for the long-haul routes, Boeing 737s for the shorter Pacific hops, and ATR turboprops flying inter-island services under the Fiji Link banner. Business class is a real cabin on every jet, from a compact front section on the 737s to a full flat bed on the flagship A350.

The A350-900 is the flagship and the aircraft to aim for on the longest routes. Its business cabin is a staggered one-two-one, so every seat reaches the aisle directly and lies flat for sleeping, and the A350's quieter, fresher cabin takes the edge off an overnight crossing. Behind it sits a three-three-three economy.

The two A330s, the -200 and the longer -300, carry business in a two-two-two arrangement with a two-four-two economy behind, where the outer window pairs are a quiet favourite for couples. The 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 share a layout: a small two-by-two business cabin at the nose and a three-by-three economy, sized for the hops to Australia and New Zealand. The ATR 72-600 is the island-hopper, a two-by-two turboprop with no middle seats at all.

On the A350, business is a proper long-haul product: a flat bed, direct aisle access from every seat and the privacy of a staggered layout, which is exactly what the overnight North America runs ask of it. The A330 business cabin is wider and more open, though the window seats step past a neighbour to reach the aisle, and the A350 remains the more private of the two.

On the 737s, business is a generously pitched recliner rather than a bed, well matched to sectors of a few hours. Economy across the widebodies is a conventional, well-kept cabin, and because so many passengers are travelling as families, the bulkhead rows with their bassinet positions are among the first to go. The ATR is a short, low-altitude hop between islands, and with a high wing above the cabin the window views are unusually clear.

On the A350, solo travellers tend to pick the window-aligned business seats for privacy, while the centre pairs suit couples. In economy on any widebody, the front of the cabin is quieter and clears faster, the bulkhead rows add legroom at the cost of under-seat stowage, and the last rows by the galleys and lavatories are the ones to avoid on a night flight. On the A330, a two-seat window pair keeps a couple clear of the centre block entirely.

Travelling with an infant, ask for the bassinet bulkheads early, and expect some foot traffic past them. On the 737s the over-wing exits are the economy legroom pick. The ATR boards and deplanes through its rear door, so the back rows, for once, are off the aircraft first.