Getting there...

Press, 24 April 1979, Page 22

Getting there...

Fiji is three hours away by air from Auckland: or for those who prefer a more leisurely pace, two days and a half by sea.

Two airlines, Air New Zealand and Air Pacific, provide daily services at fares ranging from $267 return (ex-Auckland) for an advance purchase epic ticket to $576 for the champagne, caviar, and comfort of firstclass travel. Only Air New Zealand offers a first-class service; Air Pacific flights are all one class. The regular economy fare (ex-Auckland) on both airlines is $384 return. Passengers flying from Christchurch have to pay an additional $l2B on both first-c Tass and economy fares, but are entitled to a special discounted rate of $lO3 if they are travelling to Fiji on an epic ticket. From May 2, Air Pacific will be flying direct services to Nandi from Auckland on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, and to Suva direct on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. The airline will also have additional flights to Suva, via Tonga, on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, but the fares on these flights will be slightly higher than those applying to the direct services. The airline will announce soon that travellers flying on the epic rate will be able to enter Fiji through Suva and depart from Nandi, or vice versa. Air New Zealand flies solely to Nandi with DC 10s and Boeing 7375, Air Pacific maintains its links with Rolls Royce powered BAC 1-1 Is. Travel agents offer a wide variety of packaged tours ranging from about $460 for an eight-day “stay put” holiday to $670 and more for 10 days at several hotels. . A sea voyage to Suva depends mainly on the availability of cabins on cruise ships and passages for those not wishing to complete the cruise are usually difficult to come by.