Summary

  • Fiji Airways partners with American Airlines for a unified frequent flyer program, offering additional benefits and redemption options.
  • AAdvantage members gain perks when traveling on Fiji Airways, enhancing their travel experience.
  • The partnership expands Fiji Airways’ network, potentially increasing visitor arrivals to Fiji and contributing to the nation’s tourism industry.

Fiji’s national airline has announced that it will partner with American Airlines for a unified frequent flyer program. Fiji Airways, set to join the oneworld alliance next year, is adopting founding member American Airlines’ loyalty program in the coming year to provide travelers with additional benefits and redemption options.

All in on AAdvantage

The partnership provides AAdvantage members with elite status additional perks when traveling on Fiji Airways, including priority check-in, priority boarding, complimentary baggage allowance, preferred seats, and enhanced award redemption.

The announcement followed last month’s reveal that Fiji Airways will become the 15th full member of the oneworld alliance in 2025. The airline is currently the alliance’s only “Connect” partner and the upgrade was widely welcomed by other airlines in the alliance as Fiji Airways provides a unique and organic space for the alliance to grow.

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Anmol Bhargava, Vice President of Partnerships at American Airlines, commented on how exciting this development is for travelers looking to gain additional travel options:

“We are taking our partnership with Fiji Airways one step further by offering our mutual customers the opportunity to unlock more destinations and travel experiences through the AAdvantage® program.

“We look forward to welcoming Fiji Airways customers into the AAdvantage® program so they can experience all the ways we deliver on our commitment that travel is better as an AAdvantage® member.”

Fiji Airways Joins American Airlines' AAdvantage Program

Photo: Fiji Airways

American’s AAdvantage program is the longest-running travel loyalty program in the world. It was founded in 1981 to reward frequent flyers and gradually expanded. The program has experienced several updates over the past few years, including the introduction of a new lower tier, changes on how to earn and use miles, and additional benefits.

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The program has a decades-old history.

Fiji Airways Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Andre Viljoen expressed excitement that the two airlines had to come together on a solution that will benefit the end customer:

“This loyalty partnership marks a significant milestone, bringing together two renowned carriers to offer new benefits to millions of travelers. We are excited about the positive impact this collaboration will have on both our airlines and our guests who will benefit from the exclusive perks.”

A Fiji Airways Airbus A330

The program is set to replace an existing loyalty program called Tabua Club, which offers point accumulation on American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Qantas flights. The new program is expected to capitalize on the fact that travel through Fiji can often be infrequent, thus allowing passengers additional earning opportunities across the American and broader oneworld network.

Where can you go?

This will facilitate redemptions for passengers in the US or with an AAdvantage account on the South Pacific airline, which serves 26 destinations in 15 countries and territories. From its hub at Nadi International Airport (NAN), Fiji Airways flies directly to Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO).

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While more connection options will likely appear over the next year as the airline begins transitioning to a full oneworld member, the airline already operates codeshares across a range of US flights with American Airlines. From Los Angeles, passengers can seamlessly connect to the following destinations on a single ticket:

  • Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Charlotte-Douglas, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Fresno, Honolulu/Oahu, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, London-Heathrow, Miami, Nashville, New York, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Reno, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, St. Louis, Tucson, and Washington Dulles.

There are another seven cities reachable on codeshare flights departing from San Francisco:

  • Charlotte-Douglas, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and Phoenix.

However, the real benefit for North American and oneworld travelers comes with Fiji Airways’s extensive network across the South Pacific. This is augmented by the airline’s robust complimentary stopover program, which allows travelers to spend several days in Fiji en route to their final destinations.

This author previously utilized the program on a flight from Los Angeles to Syndey prior to working for Simple Flying and found it to be a delightful and worthwhile detour.

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Fiji is a lush stopover option for passengers traveling from the US to Australia and other Pacific destinations.

Fiji Airways CEO Viljoen further noted how the new partnership will expand upon existing agreements to provide more options for North American travelers:

“With this partnership, Fiji Airways is set to gain access to a vast network of American travelers, potentially increasing visitor arrivals to the enchanting destination of Fiji.

“The allure of Fiji’s pristine beaches, vibrant culture and warm hospitality is expected to attract a growing number of American tourists, contributing to the nation’s thriving tourism industry.”

American Airlines and Fiji Airways codeshare route map
Photo: Fiji Airlines

Elsewhere there have been other indications of frequent flyer program consolidation. Finnair recently adopted the Avios as its loyalty program currency, joining Qatar Airways in maintaining existing programs but employing the transferrable currency, which can be used across a range of oneworld and additional network partner programs.

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