Fiji Airways responds to concerns over airfare pricing

Fiji Airways says its pricing system is transparent and consistent with global airline standards, amid growing customer complaints over airfare costs and online booking information.

The airline has rejected allegations of fare inflation and misleading booking practices, saying its pricing model follows established industry norms as customer dissatisfaction gains traction on social media.

Several customers have claimed Fiji Airways imposed unfair fare hikes and displayed misleading booking information, raising concerns about pricing transparency.

Some travellers also alleged the airline’s online booking system encouraged higher payments through limited-seat warnings and inconsistent pricing.

One customer who recently travelled to Labasa said the booking platform indicated only two seats were remaining at the time of purchase, prompting him to book both seats at $450 one way.

He claimed the return fare later increased to $600 per person.

Despite the limited-seat warning, the traveller alleged the aircraft was far from full, with numerous empty seats observed during the flight, raising questions about the transparency of the airline’s pricing and booking practices.

Other travellers have reported similar experiences, alleging inconsistent pricing, poor communication and delayed responses from customer service.

In response, a Fiji Airways spokesperson said the airline operates under globally accepted pricing practices and uses a dynamic pricing model.

The spokesperson said airfares are determined by several factors, including demand, time of booking, travel dates, seasonality and the availability of different fare categories.

Addressing claims of empty seats, the spokesperson said the information shown on the online booking platform reflects availability within a specific fare category, rather than the total number of seats on an aircraft.

The spokesperson said as lower fare categories sell out, prices may increase closer to departure due to higher demand and reduced availability.

The airline also noted that flights to Labasa are subject to operational limits.

The spokesperson said passenger numbers on Labasa flights are restricted due to runway pavement weight limitations set by Fiji Airports, which are necessary to ensure safe take-off and landing.

On customer service concerns, the spokesperson acknowledged challenges during peak periods and said Fiji Airways continues to invest in customer service systems, staff training and resources to improve response times and overall service delivery.

Fiji Airways urged customers with concerns to contact its customer care team, reaffirming its commitment to providing safe, reliable and transparent air services.