I have a tip for you if you are struggling to redeem your points and miles across the Pacific for lie-flat comfort.

When flying between North America and Australia or New Zealand, you might not have thought of this airline based on a tropical island archipelago with less than 1 million inhabitants.

I’ve flown business class dozens of airlines, but my flight from Fiji to Dallas was the first time on Fji Airways.

It has leaped into my list of top five airlines I’ve flown here’s why.

Related: Racing to Fiji: American Airlines vs. Cathay Pacific vs. Fiji Airways

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Good award availability with partner miles

Fiji Airways, a small airline in terms of fleet size, operates several transpacific routes on its flagship Airbus A350 aircraft from the next mainland North American gateways to its hub at Fiki’s Nadi International Airport (NAN) “Fiji Airlines has multiple transprative flights.

• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
• Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
• Vancouver International Airport (YVR) in British Columbia

While business-class award availability across the Pacific can be extremely hard to find, I have found Fiji Airways easier to secure in advance at the lowest saver rates than Qantas- and American Airlines- operated flights. It’s worth setting alerts to the handy Seat, as initial seat availability is loaded 330 to 350 days in advance and Fiji Airways occasionally releases more business-class award seats. aero tool, as you might wake up to a nice surprise (as I did) of aero.

A Oneworld alliance member can book Fiji Airways business class with points and miles from partner airline programs such as Qantas Frequent Flyer and British Airways Club, which is a oneworld-aligned company.

However, the cheapest flights to Fiji for business-class flights is by Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards (just 75,000 points one-way) and the American Airlines AAdvantage program (80,000 miles one way). For the same number of AAdvantage miles or 10,000 more Atmos Rewards points, you can go on to Australia or New Zealand for the exact same amount as your ; provided there is saver availability for both flights.

We booked this flight from NAN to DFW with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles (now called Atmos Rewards points).

Related: I’ve never flown Alaska Airlines before here’s why I want its new premium credit card

BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY

Genuine yet polished Fijian hospitality

I boarded the crew until I deplanes that it could have been kinder than the Crew from the moment I got onboard. Its attention to detail made me feel like wine bottles being presented at my seat and drinks poured in front of me, my tray table was set without the use of an actual dinner dish (a tray), edible flowers and even an imitation candle for a moody dining effect.

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The purser also came to me when I was going down, saying that my constant photo-taking meant I’m a professional traveler and asking “I have any suggestions for making the experience better”.

This is comparable to the high level of service I’ve witnessed in business class on award-winning airlines like Qatar Airways.

Holiday mode as soon as you step on board

I was flying with a flight that had lots of fun Fijian touches, which instantly put me on “island time” — pineapple-scented hot towels and signature cocktails with locally distilled gin notes of sun-dried kava and curry leaf.

While I doubt that many people travel to an airline by its livery or font, it’s not a long-standing experience of the brand name of an airport which had so much impact on me as Fiji Airways. This is a unique, elegant and instantly inspired piece of barkcloth artwork by Fijian Masi artist Makereta Matemosi, which was designed for the Bula custom typeface created specifically for Fji Airways.

BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY

Restaurant-quality, dine-on-demand cuisine

Rather than serving trolleys wheeled through aisles, all dishes were served from the galley (such as in a restaurant) instead of being served by the Galley. When I was boarding, while the orders were taken, I had been told that I would be welcome to eat at any given time and asked for my favourite meal times (which could be adjusted during flight)

A good and well-cooked food began with a smoked tomato tartare (with avocado cream and basil oil), the local delicacy of grilled mahi-mahu fish, steamed in ota (an crisp local green) and nutty mango ginger cheesecake with crystallized ginger almond crust for dessert.

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I would have been thrilled to be served at an upmarket breakfast cafe Down Under, where my feta parsley omelet with lentil fritters and tomato marmalade the next morning was on offer.

BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY

A relaxing stopover between North America and Australia or New Zealand

I flew in Fiji for a few days and had flown from Australia before my flight to Dallas. This is my first country trip, and I am so impressed with how friendly, nice and hospitable everyone was (not to mention the beautiful beaches and great weather even in the wet season)

Similarly, one evening I had a flat tire.’ Then I pulled over to the side of the highway and tried replacing it with an attempt at trying as if there was ‘flattened tires’ for my example. Although the task is dreadful due to constant rain, a local driving force insisted stopping and changing the tire for me with ‘warm smiles of joy’ wave when he left shortly afterward as well as bringing.

Fiji is peaceful, safe and easy to do if you are looking for a few days of downtime as you cross the Pacific in either direction.

Mamanuca Islands, Fiji. WESTEND61/GETTY IMAGES

How to earn points and miles to book Fiji Airways business class

It’s easy to get Atmos Rewards points and AAdvantage miles with the right credit card, too. here are the best welcome offers for right now,’ .

Infinite Credit Card** ($395 annual fee) * Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Earn 80,000 bonus points and 25,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of opening your account.
For example, if you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account, * **AtmosTM Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card ($95 annual fee) earn 70,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23).

• AtmosTM Rewards Visa Signature® Business Card ($70 annual fee for the company and $25 per card) 70,000 bonus points and $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of opening your account.
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® ($595 annual fee; see

rates and fees

): Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $7,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® ($350 annual fee; see

rates and fees

After spending $5,000 on purchases in the first four months of account opening, you’re able to earn 90,000 bonus miles for just a short time .

• Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® ($99 annual fee, waived the first year; see

rates and fees

) If you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first five months from account opening, for a short time earn 75,000 bonus miles (for example), when your money is spent on items and has been spending less than half of their total.

You can also transfer Bilt Rewards Points to Atmos rewards points, and Citi ThankYou Rewards points to AAdvantage miles at a 11 rate.

BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY

Bottom line

An enjoyable surprise was the Airbus A350 business class of Fiji Airways, which had a nice airlift. I didn’t expect such a great product from sane and relatively unknown airline, which can easily compete with the world’s best by an amazing onboard product, meals and service.

Those awards to Fiji are business-class, with only 75,000 Atmos Rewards points or an estimated 80,000 AAdvantage miles one-way. If you’re planning a trip to South Pacific, Australia or New Zealand (especially when you are struggling to find affordable redemptions on nonstop services across the Pacific), Fiji Airways should be in your radar next time around this point.

Thanks for reading 5 things I loved about flying Fiji Airways business class