Fiji Airways Airbus A350 Economy, Nadi-Dallas

Dallas is Fiji Airways’ latest addition to its transpacific route map. Featuring the airline’s modern Airbus A350s, the journey has all the trimmings of a full-service airline, even in Economy.

On the way to the airport, I see that some rows of seats in the ‘Bula Space’ section are still unoccupied. With a simple request at check-in, they shift me to seat 35C which has extra legroom – and onboard, the row remains empty! It’s a great start to this 12-hour journey, where Fiji Airways’ warm service shines bright.

Check-in, lounge and boarding

Check-in for this flight technically opens at 6:15pm, but when I arrive earlier for my Chef’s Table reservation, the desks are already welcoming passengers. After quickly browsing the Pure Fiji products at duty free, I head to the Fiji Airways Premier Lounge for dinner.

Lounge access isn’t part of this Economy ticket, so it’s not part of our score. However, if you have access via Priority Pass, I highly recommend stopping by before the flight.

Boarding is done by group numbers. If you have Qantas Gold status or higher, feel free to hop onboard after the Business Class passengers.

Cabin and seat layout

Fiji Airways has 301 Economy seats in a standard 3-3-3 layout on its Airbus A350. Rows 31 to 35 are marked as ‘Bula Space’, offering at least 34″ (86.4cm) of pitch compared to the standard 32″ (81.3cm) in the other rows. Apart from that, all seats have the same 6″ recline, 18″ (45.7cm) width and a crystal-clear 12″ touchscreen.

Bula Space brings a notable improvement to legroom, as seen in the photos below. But to be fair, I also feel reasonably comfortable in a standard seat. Keep in mind the extra space does come with a hefty fee of up to A$275 on the cheaper Economy tickets – unless you ask at check-in to swap for free, like I did.

I can’t fault the seat design overall. Between the storage nook under the screen and the large seatback pockets, there’s enough space to stash my in-flight essentials, such as an eye mask, earplugs, and my Bose noise-cancelling earbuds.

With a USB port at each seat, keeping devices topped up is easy (I don’t know the exact output, but it revives my phone back to 100% in under two hours). There are also two AC power points between each group of three seats. How about seat comfort? It’s two ticks for thick cushioning and an adjustable headrest.

As the eye-catching mood lighting shifts into dusky hues, I settle in for a few hours of sleep with the provided pillow and blanket. Surprisingly, I can’t get settled across a row of three seats as my legs don’t have space to straighten up. Sitting upright and reclining seems to be more comfortable in the long run.

Food and beverage

Fiji Airways’ inflight catering is an area with more room for improvement. The food’s not bad – far from it – but the servings and variety are noticeably smaller than those of similar airlines.

After take-off, the crew starts a drinks run with Fiji Water, soft drinks, beers, wines, and spirits. I spot two entry-level wines from Berton Vineyard’s Outback Jack range, including a Semillon Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz Cabernet. The glass of red goes down well with my light dinner: a Mexican chicken panini with tomato, red onion and mayo.

Generously filled and accompanied by a tiny side salad, it’s the perfect post-lounge supper. However, passengers who might not have eaten at the airport may crave more after this.

During the bulk of the flight, snacks and more Fiji Water are available in the rear galley. Of course, you can also ask the crew for other drinks anytime – it’s always served with a smile.

When it’s eventually time for breakfast, the options are somewhat different.

Instead of the delicious-sounding mushroom and corn casserole printed on the menu, the replacement is a ham and cheese croissant. I love croissants so this isn’t a huge issue, but it’s not the most filling breakfast for the end of a long flight. I’d also like to see more sides on the tray, such as a fruit salad.

Amenities and service

Satellite internet is available throughout the whole Fiji Airways flight. Pleasingly, the basic Chat plan is free for all passengers. This enables text messaging on apps such as WhatsApp and Messenger. For general browsing, social media, and more, the standard web connection only costs US$9.95 (~A$15.85) for the entire flight.

That’s fabulous value – though maybe it’s too good of a deal (if that can be a problem!) At its peak, I spot 56 active users. Consequently, the speeds slow to a stutter with my tests measuring 0.18 Mbps downstream and 0.16 Mbps up. More bandwidth would be ideal here.

The inflight entertainment screen is crisp and easy to use. I love gazing at the mounted cameras during take-off and landing. The system has plenty of new-release movies and TV shows, though most seasons have five episodes rather than the box set. There’s also music and games to keep you busy.

Service on this flight is exemplary with plenty of bulas as we head onboard. I feel like the crew genuinely enjoy their jobs, which translates to the excellent onboard service.

How to book Fiji Airways Economy with points

Of the popular points programs available to Australians, Qantas Points comes out on top with redeeming this flight. You’ll need 37,600 pts + FJ$317 (~A$220) for a one-way seat in Economy. With Cathay Asia Miles, this reward would cost 40,000 miles + HK 1,075 (also ~A$220), per person.

Seats are generally available throughout the year with good availability. Note that from 5 August 2025, this flight will require 43,200 Qantas Points + fees and taxes.

Our verdict: Fiji Airways Economy

As a relatively small carrier, Fiji Airways’ long-haul Economy on the Airbus A350 gives the larger airlines a run for their money. Seats are spacious even down the back, the service is cheerfully warm and the food is tasty – even though the tray portions could be beefed up. The Wi-Fi speeds are also sluggish during peak periods.

From a points perspective, this flight is quite good value (particularly in Business Class, which I review on the way back). When Fiji Airways eventually joins oneworld as a full member, the increased availability of this flight will be a helpful option to those planning a ’round-the-world’ itinerary with Qantas Points.

Photography and words by Brandon Loo, who travelled as a guest of Fiji Airways. All opinions are his own.