Fiji Airways Premier Lounge – Nadi (NAN)

In the previous installment, I talked about how I enjoyed my short layover in Fiji, staying at the Hilton Fiji Beach Resort and Spa. It was a gorgeous property and reasonably priced — I would recommend that and spend at least a couple of days.

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Around 10 AM, the driver came to pick me up at the hotel and took me to the airport. Nadi Airport was modern, yet it felt tropical.

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In this series:

• Introduction: New Year 2020 In The South Pacific
• Turkish Airlines Business Class 777-300ER Los Angeles to Istanbul
• Turkish Airlines Business Class 777-300ER Istanbul to Manila
• Malaysia Airlines Business Class 737-800 Manila to Singapore via Kuala Lumpur
• Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge Satellite Terminal – Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL)
• Jewel Changi Airport
• Qantas International First Lounge – Singapore Changi (SIN)
• Qantas First Class A380 Singapore to Melbourne
• Qantas International First Lounge – Melbourne (MEL)
• Qantas Business Class 737-800 Melbourne to Christchurch
• Doubletree Chateau on the Park – Christchurch, New Zealand
• Christchurch Botanic Gardens and Tour Around the City
• Getting Lost in the Countryside: Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
• Air New Zealand Domestic Lounge – Christchurch (CHC)
• Air New Zealand (Premium) Economy 787-9 Christchurch to Auckland
• My First Impression of Auckland, New Zealand
• Adina Apartment Hotel Auckland Britomart, New Zealand
• The North Island Must Do: Hobbiton and Rotorua
• Fiji Airways Business Class A350-900XWB Auckland to Nadi
• Hilton Fiji Beach Resort and Spa – Nadi, Fiji
• Fiji Airways Premier Lounge – Nadi (NAN)
• Fiji Airways Business Class A330-200 Nadi to Singapore
• Malaysia Airlines Business Class 737-800 Singapore to Kuala Lumpur
• Malindo Air Business Class 737-900 Kuala Lumpur to Kathmandu
• Shopping Spree in Thamel – Kathmandu, Nepal
• Cathay Dragon Business Class A330-300 Kathmandu to Hong Kong
• 16-Hour Delay on my American Airlines, with a Happy Ending
• Cathay Pacific First Class 777-300ER Hong Kong to Los Angeles
• Fin: Final Flights and My Closure with American Airlines – It was Good While It Lasted

There was a separate check-in for premium passengers. Within minutes, the friendly check-in agent gave me my boarding pass and lounge invitation.

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Initially, I wasn’t going to check my luggage, but later, I found out that security screening at Nadi Airport was a pain in the neck. The experience mirrored with the security checkpoint at London Heathrow — Absolutely nothing outside an itty-bitty clear plastic bag. Heck, I didn’t have one — the lady told me the plastic bag could be purchased at the souvenir store 🙄. Instead, I went back to the check-in counter, and the lovely agent gave me a couple. I also decided to check my carry-on bag because the six amenity kits from the previous flights would not fit in the plastic bag. 😉

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Once that got squared away, I decided to shop more at the souvenir store and find out everything was cheaper. So lesson learned — don’t waste your time shopping for souvenirs in the city, instead of shopping at the airport store. Not only was it cheaper, but it seemed like there was more variety there.

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Fast forward, I made it through the security and walked past the escalators towards the Departure Level. My first impression of the lounge was that the decor reminds me of Amex Centurion Lounges — I wasn’t sure if these were fake or real plants on the wall. Nonetheless, I think it looked beautiful!

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There were multiple lounge sections, such as the sitting areas, dining room, buffet stations, and the bar.

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The hot buffet was decently good — there weren’t many options, but they were delicious.

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Since I didn’t have much time, I decided to sample some of the buffet offerings and ordered a cup of cappuccino, which was quite good!

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Conclusions

Fiji Airport was modern, clean, and sleek. But what annoyed me was the security checkpoint. If you’ve ever passed through the security checkpoint at London Heathrow, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

As I mentioned, don’t worry about shopping in the city. Instead, get your souvenirs at the airport, because not only was it cheaper, but it was a lot more convenient. The best thing is that you get to spend your time wisely, enjoying the beach and your vacation.

And last but not least, Fiji Airways Premier Lounge exceeded my expectation. The lounge had a cute interior design, which reminds me of the Amex Centurion Lounges. While the selections were limited, I think the food was delicious, especially the cappuccino.