Fiji Airways flies as first oneworld connect partner from today

Fiji Airways starts flying as a oneworld connect partner from today (Wednesday 5 December) – as the first airline globally to link up to the world’s premier alliance via this new membership platform.

Fiji Airways is now starting to display the new oneworld connect branding on its aircraft fuselages by the main passenger doors, on signage at airports and on other many other items of stationery and marketing collateral.

The first Fiji Airways aircraft to feature the oneworld connect logo is its initial Boeing 737 MAX 8, which has just touched down at its Nadi hub after its delivery flight from the manufacturer’s Seattle base.  Four more of these state-of-the-art twinjets will follow in the year ahead as replacement for older 737s flying on the airline’s short and mediumhaul network to destinations including Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii and neighbouring Pacific Islands.  Fiji Airways is the first airline in the region to operate this modern aircraft type.

From today, customers with Emerald, Sapphire or Ruby status in any oneworld® member airline’s frequent flyer programme can use priority check-in desks, where available, when flying in any cabin class on Fiji Airways, while customers with Emerald or Sapphire status in any oneworld member airline’s frequent flyer programme will also be offered priority boarding when flying on Fiji Airways.

Additional oneworld connect customer benefits are being phased in between Fiji Airways and its four oneworld sponsors – American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways and Qantas.

Most of these additional benefits are available from today between Fiji Airways and three of its sponsors – British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas – although some elements will be phased in during the coming weeks.  For details, see the table below.

They are all expected to be available between Fiji Airways and its other sponsor, American Airlines, from late in the first quarter of 2019, on a date to be announced in due course.

oneworld’s regular range of services and benefits remain in place for customers flying with the alliance’s full member airlines and their affiliates.

oneworld connect was unveiled in June as the alliance’s first new membership platform since it was originally announced 20 years ago – with Fiji Airways revealed at the same time as oneworld connect’s debut partner.

oneworld is continuing discussions with other carriers interested in participating in the programme, from various parts of the world including the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe.  Each oneworld connect partner will need to have a minimum of three oneworld members as its sponsors to be initiated into the programme.

1. Benefits are only available when travelling on flights that are both operated and marketed by Fiji Airways and its sponsors. Flights operated and marketed by Fiji Link are excluded.
2. Benefits to customers from British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas will be phased in from 5 December 2018.
3. A date late in the first quarter of 2019 for when these benefits will be available to customers from American Airlines will be announced in due course.
4. The ability for British Airways Executive Club members to redeem Avios points on Fiji Airways and for Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Club members to earn or redeem club points or earn tier status points on Fiji Airways will be available shortly after 5 December 2018, from a date to be announced in due course by the airlines concerned.
5. For detailed frequent flyer accrual and redemption rules, visit American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and/or Qantas websites.
6. Benefits are only available when travelling on flights that are both operated and marketed by American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific or Qantas and where lounge access is offered.
7. For lounge access policy details and a list of eligible lounges, visit British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, American Airlines and/or Fiji Airways websites.

oneworld CEO Rob Gurney added: “oneworld is very pleased to welcome Fiji Airways on board as our first oneworld connect partner, making it easier and more rewarding than ever for South Pacific islanders to reach virtually anywhere globally – and for visitors from all around the world to travel to this enchanting and captivating region.  The addition of another high quality airline to our alliance builds further on oneworld’s position of alliance leadership across the Pacific.”

Fiji Airways CEO Andre Viljoen stated: “Fiji Airways is thrilled and honoured to be the first oneworld connect partner globally.  We are delighted to link Fiji and the South Pacific to the world’s premier airline alliance and further deepen our relationships in particular with Qantas, American Airlines, British Airways and Cathay Pacific.  This important step for our airline enables us to offer more services and benefits to our own customers along with the others in the oneworld family, to achieve a greater presence for our airline internationally and to build on the in-bound tourism that is so vital to our home nation and our region.”