June 4, 2003 -- The island paradise of Fiji is available at a startling discount this summer, thanks to a sale from Air Pacific, Fiji's international carrier. Nonstop flights from Los Angeles to Fiji -- as long as you depart and return on Fridays -- are a mere $747 (plus tax) roundtrip, a savings of up to $619 off their regular roundtrip fare.
It's winter in the South Pacific, but that's actually a good thing: high temperatures are a balmy 83 degrees and you avoid the hurricanes of summer. We've got a full guide to Fiji online at www.frommers.com/destinations/fiji.
Air Pacific only flies nonstop to LA, but this deal isn't just for Angelenos. The Fijian airline offers add-on fares using major carriers from most US destinations. East Coasters could probably find fares lower than these on their own, but if you book yourself rather than going with an add-on, you're left unprotected if your flight to LA is delayed and you miss your flight to Fiji. It's up to you how much risk you want to take for how much savings. Roundtrip add-on prices include:
- New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, Atlanta: $455
- Chicago, Cincinnati, Baton Rouge: $430
- Oregon airports: $310
- Seattle: $300
- Phoenix, Reno, Las Vegas: $135
The 10-hour flight from LA to Fiji is overnight, but insomniacs will enjoy Air Pacific's new in-flight entertainment system, which offers seat-back video screens, a choice of movies and video games on every seat of their new Boeing 747-400 planes. Economy-class legroom, at 32 inches, is just average, but hopefully you'll be either snoozing or enthralled.
To get these low fares, purchase by June 30 for departures between June 27 and September 30. There's a 7-day minimum stay and 30-day maximum stay, and you must depart from LA and return from Nadi, Fiji on Fridays. Call Air Pacific at 800/227-4446 to book.
