

Pacific islands are open to international tourism
Most countries in the Pacific Islands region (Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia) are open to general tourism. The governments resumed the issuance of tourist visas, and airlines reopened their international routes to such popular destinations as Bora Bora, Hawaii, Tahiti, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Samoa.
Cook Islands, New Caledonia, Niue, and Vanuatu have lifted all travel restrictions for arrivals. There is no mandatory quarantine or health testing for all visitors – regardless of their vaccination status. French Polynesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Solomon Islands, and Tonga may still require proof of vaccination and/or a negative Covid test result to be presented on arrival.
However, the regulations may change at short notice, depending on the situation – always check the official websites before booking a flight to Pacific Islands.
Book cheaper flights to Pacific Islands

Not happy with flight prices to Pacific Islands? Join our club to save 40% — 80% on every flight (!)
Finding great deals on flights can be a daunting task. If you don’t want to pay prices dictated by the airlines, consider joining our club. It’s the place where we share hacker fares and hidden deals to the top destinations in the Asia Pacific — including Pacific Islands.
- Weekly hacker fares found by our air travel experts
- 40% to 80% cheaper than regular fares
- Including business class seats at the economy prices
Join 110,000+ travelers — It’s free:
You can opt out anytime. Learn more.
Arriving in Pacific Islands
- If you are flying to Pacific Islands from abroad, you will most likely land at one of its biggest international airportsits main international airport — Pago Pago
PPG
(Tafuna in American Samoa), RaratongaRAR
(Avarua in Cook Islands), DiliDIL
(East Timor), Faa'aPPT
(Papeete in French Polynesia), GuamGUM
(Hagatna in Guam), TontoutaNOU
(Paita in New Caledonia), Norfolk IslandNLK
, PalauROR
(Koror in Palau), Fua'amotuTBU
(Nuku'alofa in Tonga), FunafutiFUN
(in Tuvalu), and BauerfieldVLI
(Port Vila in Vanuatu).
These are also the best (and the cheapest) airports to fly into Pacific Islands. As they are used by many airlines serving the same routes, the competition for passengers is fierce – with decreased airfare as a result.
- Once in Pacific Islands, take advantage of frequent flights between the major cities via domestic airlines such as Aircalin, Air Calédonie, Air Kiribati, Air Rarotonga, Air Vanuatu, Air Marshall Islands, Blue Micronesia Airlines, and Solomon Airlines. To check flight schedules/prices and to book the tickets, visit their official websites — OTAs and flight search engines often don’t have access to the flight repository of smaller local airlines. They also often fail to update prices in the event of short-lived sales and promotions that airlines run from time to time. To not miss out on these great offers, visit Promo Radar which aggregates current promotions run by popular airlines.
- Planning to explore the region? Popular destinations near Pacific Islands can be easily reached with low-cost regional airlines (LCCs) by the likes of Aircalin, Air Chathams, Jetstar Airways, Jin Air, Jeju Air, Palau Express Airlines, Southern Airways Express, and T'Way Air.
These budget carriers offer flights from Pago Pago, Raratonga, Guam, Papeete, Paita, Niue, Norfolk Island, Palau, Saipan, Fua'amotu, Funafuti, and Port Vila at lower prices than full-service airlines, and they often fly to smaller airports that big players do not cover. However, the “no-frills” airlines may not provide free checked baggage allowance, complimentary food, in-flight entertainment systems, and fast customer support; you may not even get to choose your seats (unless you pay extra). With that in mind, they are a great option to save money if you have a stopover in Pacific Islands and then fly only a short distance to one of its neighboring countries.

PPG
in American Samoa, Papeete PPT
on Tahiti in French Polynesia; Raratonga RAR
in the Cook Islands, Tontouta NOU
in New Caledonia, Bauerfield VLI
in Port Vila in Vanuatu, and Tongatapu TBU
on the main island in Tonga.
Airlines flying to Pacific Islands | Aircalin, Air Caraibes, Air Chathams, Air France, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Air New Zealand, Air Raratonga, Air Tahiti, Air Tahiti Nui, Air Vanuatu, Asiana Airlines, Asia Pacific Airlines, China Airlines, Coulson Aviation, Delta Air Lines, Fiji Airways, French Bee, Frontier Airlines, Jetstar Airways, Jin Air, Jeju Air, KLM, Korean Air, Norse Atlantic Airlines, Palau Express Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Southern Airways Express, T'Way Air, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic |
---|---|
Airlines of Pacific Islands | Fiji Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, Aircalin, Air Vanuatu, Polynesian Airlines, Solomon Airlines, Pacific Blue, Air Nauru, Air Rarotonga, Air Tahiti, Air Calédonie, Samoa Airways |
Main airports in Pacific Islands | Pago Pago International Airport (PPG) — Tafuna, American Samoa Cocos Islands Airport (CCK) — Cocos (Keeling) Islands Rarotonga International Airport (RAR) — Avarua, Cook Islands Mataveri International Airport (IPC) — Hanga Roa, Easter Island Nicolau Lobato International Airport / Dili Airport — Dili, East Timor Pohnpei International Airport (PNI) — Pohnpei island, Federated States of Micronesia Nadi International Airport (NAN) — Viti Levu, Fiji Faa'a International Airport (PPT) — Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia A.B. Won Pat International Airport (GUM) — Hagatna, Guam Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) — Honolulu Bonriki International Airport (TRW) — South Tarawa, Kiribati Amata Kabua International Airport (MAJ) — Rairok island, Marshall Islands Nauru International Airport (INU) — Yaren, Nauru Tontouta International Airport (NOU) — Paita, New Caledonia Niue International Airport (IUE) — Alofi, Niue Norfolk Island Airport (NLK) — Norfolk Island Saipan International Airport (SPN) — Saipan island, Northern Mariana Islands Roman Tmetuchl International Airport (ROR) — Koror, Palau Faleolo International Airport (APW) — Apia, Samoa Honiara International Airport (HIR) — Honiara, Solomon Islands Fuaʻamotu International Airport (TBU) — Nukuʻalofa, Tonga Funafuti International Airport (FUN) — Funafuti, Tuvalu Bauerfield International Airport (VLI) — Port Vila, Vanuatu Hihifo Airport (WLS) — Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna Islands |
Regular price (roundtrip) | ✈ €1100 – €1600 (from Europe) ✈ $650 – $1100 (from USA) |
Flight hacks | 40% — 80% off regular fare |
Airline promotions | See ticket sales & promos available for flights departing from February to April |
Traveling to Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia
The Pacific Islands can be divided into three main groups based on physical geography and cultural significance:
- Micronesia (“small-islands”). Located north of Papua New Guinea. It includes Federated States of Micronesia (the Caroline Islands), Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Northern Mariana Islands, and Palau.
- Melanesia (“black-islands”). Anchored north of Australia, and bordering Indonesia to the east, this region includes Fiji, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
- Polynesia (“many-islands”): This large triangular area of the east-central Pacific Ocean includes American Samoa, Cook Islands, Easter Island, French Polynesia, Hawaiian Islands, Line Islands, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Wallis and Futuna.
Hawaii, Fiji, French Polynesia, and Easter Island are the most well-connected Pacific Islands and act as hubs when flying from Asia (especially Korea, Taiwan, and Japan), Australasia and the USA. The poorly connected island countries like Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, or Tuvalu are best visited via these main hubs.

Please note that the whole region is expensive to get around. Once you get there, costs can quickly add up to well above that in your home country, especially if you require comforts and imported products (on islands everything comes by plane or by ship).
South Pacific time travel (the international date line)
The international date line (IDL) is an imaginary line on the Earth’s surface that stretches from the North Pole to the South Pole, running through the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It roughly follows a 180-degree longitude and defines the border between one day and the next.

IDL is not a straight line, though. It zig-zags back and forth across the Pacific Ocean, so it is not always at the same longitude. Starting from the north, it passes west of the Hawaiian Islands and east of the Marshall Islands. As it moves further south, it reaches the Pacific island nation of Kiribati and makes a major deviation east to encompass the Kiribati and Line Islands. Then it passes between Samoa and American Samoa, keeping the former west and the latter east of the IDL. It then stays parallel to the meridian, keeping to the east of the line so that Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand are all west of the IDL.
When you cross the ID westward, you gain a day, and if you are traveling eastward, you lose a day. It may seem like you are moving forward or backward in time, but obviously, you’re just adjusting to a different time zone.
Flights to Pacific Islands fromUnited States and Canada
- There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Pacific Islands. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Pacific Islands, as do some larger airports in the Middle East – your journey will have at least one stop. There are direct flights from the US to some popular destinations in Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melansia: to Tahiti in French Polynesia, to Raratonga in Cook Islands, to Pago Pago in American Samoa, to Majuro in Marshall Islands, to Kiritimati in Kiribati, to Nadi in Fiji, and to Apia in Samoa. Currently, Canada has only non-stop flights to Nadi.
- Pacific Islands is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Pacific Islands with one layover depart from most major North American airports, including Atlanta
ATL
, DallasDFW
, DenverDEN
, ChicagoORD
, Los AngelesLAX
, Las VegasDFW
, MiamiMIA
, SeattleSEA
, HoustonIAH
, New YorkJFK
, and San FranciscoSFO
in the United States and TorontoYYZ
, VancouverYVR
, CalgaryLAS
, and MontrealYUL
in Canada. - The best airlines to fly to Pacific Islands from the US and Canada are: American Airlines, Air France, Delta Air Lines, Air Tahiti Nui, Fiji Airways, Qantas, United Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic. They are top full-service carriers, offering exceptional customer service, in-flight comfort, a generous checked baggage allowance, and reliable customer support channels – all included in the ticket price.
- For long-haul flights, the type of aircraft you choose can make a huge difference to your overall comfort on board – especially if you’re flying economy. The best aircraft have comfier seats with more legroom, WiFi, superior entertainment systems, and a better passenger experience in every cabin in general. When booking a flight to Pacific Islands, look for the airlines that use wide-body planes designed for long-haul flights, such as Airbus A350 (best choice), A380, A320neo, or Boeing 767, 777, and 787 Dreamliner.
Pacific Islands from US & Canada
plane ticket prices in 2023/24
Real-time economy class airfares to Pacific Islands from the US and Canada. Shown are the top three deals for flights departing in the coming months (February to October).
Flight hacking
Hacker faresto Pacific Islands
Superdeals airlines don't want you to see:
Earn and redeem Qantas Points on Fiji Airways flights
Both Fiji Airways and Qantas have a robust network out of Australia and New Zealand to the Pacific islands, providing direct flights to Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
It’s good to know that Fiji Airways is a Qantas partner – it means that the members of Qantas Frequent Flyer Program can earn Qantas Points and even Status Credits on Fiji Airways codeshare flights (look for the ‘QF’ flight number rather than ‘FJ’).
The Qantas Points can also be redeemed on Fiji Airways flights. The number of points needed to book a Fiji Airways flight is the same as to book a Qantas flight of the same route length – for example, to book a Fiji Airways flight from Brisbane or Sydney to Nadi, you’ll need 18,000 Qantas Points for the Economy Class or 41,500 Qantas Points for the Business Class.
To earn or redeem your Qantas Points on Fiji Airways flights, visit the Qantas website, and include your frequent flyer number during the booking.
Long waiting times when calling the helpline?
Social media is usually a faster way to reach the airline when a problem arises. Use Twitter or Facebook Messenger to contact the airline customer service and get a response and solution within minutes (see detailed guides for Qantas, Air New Zealand, American Airlines, and others.
When it comes to Twitter, there’s one more trick to get in touch with the airline faster: mention the airline in a tweet about your issue (add “@airline_handle”, for example: @AirTahitiNui” if contacting Air Tahiti Nui). The social media team will often notice it immediately, ask you for a direct message, and respond privately.
The cheapest time to fly to Pacific Islands
The cheapest time to fly to Pacific Islands is during the low (off-peak) tourist season – between November and April. It is also the wet season when the weather is humid and sticky. The wettest months typically start in October (for Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tahiti, and Solomon Islands), and in November the rainy season spreads to Fiji, Vanuatu, and Tonga. The period from December to April not only brings heavy rains to the islands but also the cyclone season.
The wet weather keeps most tourists from visiting the Pacific Islands – because prices are dictated by supply and demand, November to April is the best time to find some great deals on airline tickets and accommodation.
Flights to Pacific Islands with stopover
Direct flights to Pacific Islands are, of course, much less hassle than flights that require one or more connections. However, they tend to be more expensive. In a trade-off between convenience and cost, the best option is often to opt for a flight with one layover.
So if you’re looking at a long-haul trip with at least one connection, rather than simply transiting an airport, why not take this opportunity to plan a longer stopover? A stopover is a prolonged layover — more than 24 hours — and it won’t only break up your long journey but will also become a legitimate part of your vacation. If you’re prone to severe jet lag, a one or two-day stopover would help minimize its adverse effects.
When booking flights, many airlines allow you to include a free stopover en route to your final destination in Pacific Islands. Those flights are usually cheaper than non-stop (direct) flights, and you can often choose your stopover at no additional cost — just by looking for multi-city flights with longer layovers.
Some airlines openly advertise stopovers and offer significant discounts and travel perks for passengers to break up their trips: free luxury hotel stays, complimentary domestic flights, or exclusive rates for activities. Start checking for stopover deals to Pacific Islands with government-owned airlines (as they are looking to attract tourists to give the country economic benefits) — such as Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Malaysia Airlines. Almost every airline’s website has multi-city search functionality, often hidden inside the one-way/return/multi-city switch.
A well-chosen stopover will not only turn one vacation into many but also save you several hundred dollars in airfare. The available stopovers to Pacific Islands will depend on your initial destination (Europe, North America, Asia, etc) and the airline you are flying with. For most airlines, the best free stopover offer will be at their main hub.
Flights to Pacific Islands from UK, Germany, France, Netherlands and other countries in Europe
- There are no direct flights from Europe to Pacific Islands — you’ll need to get a connecting flight from elsewhere in the Middle East or in Asia. The offer of direct flights from Europe to the Pacific islands (Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia) is limited to non-stop flights from Paris to Tahiti in French Polynesia by Air France. You'll need at least one stopover if flying from other European cities.
- Airlines that frequently fly from the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries to Pacific Islands include Air France, Air New Zealand, Fiji Airways, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, and United Airlines.
- Consider departure airports in neighboring countries to increase your chance of spotting the best deal. Especially look for large airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines. For example, if you live in Western Europe, check air tickets to Pacific Islands from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Use European low-cost airlines such as RyanAir, EasyJet, and Eurowings to fly to the hub, then save hundreds of euros by taking a cheaper long-haul flight to your final destination.
We recommend checking prices for flights to Pacific Islands from these European airport hubs: LondonLHR
and ManchesterMAN
in the United Kingdom, FrankfurtFRA
and MunichMUC
in Germany, ParisCDG
and NiceNCE
in France, AmsterdamAMS
in the Netherlands, MadridMAD
and BarcelonaBCN
in Spain, RomeFCO
and MilanoMXP
in Italy, BrusselsBRU
in Belgium, CopenhagenOSL
in Denmark, OsloOSL
in Norway, StockholmARN
in Sweden, ZurichZRH
in Switzerland, LisbonLIS
in Portugal, ViennaVIE
in Austria, WarsawWAW
in Poland, PraguePRG
in Czech Republic, and DublinDUB
in Ireland.
European airports with the cheapest flights to Pacific Islands
Find the lowest prices for flights to Pago Pago, Raratonga, Guam, Papeete, Paita, Niue, Norfolk Island, Palau, Saipan, Fua'amotu, Funafuti, and Port Vila in Pacific Islands from the major airports in Europe — London, Dublin, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Lyon, Barcelona, Athens, Istanbul, Stockholm, Geneva, Helsinki, Zurich, and others.
Flight hacking
Can't finda good deal?
Get 40% – 80% off airfares from Europe to Pacific Islands:
Check different departure airports
Consider neighboring cities when choosing the departure airport – especially look for larger cities with airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines.
For example, if you live in West Europe, check prices for flights departing from Paris, London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Rome, or Vienna. In 9 out of 10 cases, the cheapest flight to Pacific Islands will depart from one of these hubs, and it may be €500 less or more than your first choice. Yes, you may have to fly a few hundred kilometers to this hub, but low-cost airlines like EasyJet, RyanAir, or WizzAir will happily take you there for €50 – €100.
Use a similar tactic if you depart from the US or another region. It’s one of the best ways to save hundreds on trips.

Last-minute flights to Pacific Islands. The real cost of convenience.
Last-minute flights are often touted as a great way to save money, but the reality is far from it. Booking last-minute flights to Pacific Islands almost always never works out. The convenience of being able to book a flight on the fly is a dangerous game of chance, and you will most likely end up paying significantly higher than booking in advance.
The common perception may be that airlines decrease ticket prices to fill empty seats as the departure date approaches. However, the truth is that airfares depend on demand. Based on years of research and current customer data, the airlines know what people are willing to pay for specific flights and dates. They are also well aware that people are willing to pay a premium for flights they need to take immediately. To make the most money, the airline will sell its cheapest fares first and then increase the prices right before the flight to take advantage of business travelers and others who are willing to pay the premium price for late booking.

Occasionally, airlines can put some seats on sale to fill the remaining seats, but these are for unusual times and unpopular places. Popular destinations and dates around peak travel times tend to sell out quickly.
Planning ahead is key to securing a good deal on your flight. Last-minute flight deals are hard to come by, so as soon as you have a tentative travel timeline, book your flight. The earlier you book, the more likely you are to save money. If you are looking for a good deal, the best time to book your flight to Pacific Islands is around 60-90 days before the departure date.
“Hot seats” on long-haul flights
Those days seat selection is considered an optional, extra paid service – seats with extra legroom (front and exit rows) are usually priced higher. However, if you’re about to take a long-haul flight to Pacific Islands, those “hot seats” are worth considering – expect to pay $50-$100, which is much less than upgrading to Premium Economy.
If you want to choose your seats, do this early (ideally during the booking) for a more extensive selection of available options.

Lost baggage prevention
Avoid lost luggage nightmares by removing old tags on your suitcases. Tags are printed with a barcode for identification and tracking, so the old tags can confuse baggage handlers and the conveyor belt scanners. They are one of the reasons so many bags miss their flight or get misrouted.
Domestic air travel from Pacific Islands
Most domestic routes in are operated by local airlines. When traveling to popular tourist destinations such as Fiji, French Polynesia, Hawaii, Samoa, Cook Islands, Guam, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu from Pago Pago, Raratonga, Guam, Papeete, Paita, Niue, Norfolk Island, Palau, Saipan, Fua'amotu, Funafuti, and Port Vila, you’ll be flying with one of these domestic air transport companies: Aircalin, Air Calédonie, Air Kiribati, Air Rarotonga, Air Vanuatu, Air Marshall Islands, Blue Micronesia Airlines, and Solomon Airlines. In most cases, it is the best (the fastest, the most convenient, and the cheapest) way to travel around the country.
If you plan to fly domestically from Pacific Islands check the latest prices here, then book your flight ticket online.
Flights to Pacific Islands from Australia and New Zealand
- Australia and New Zealand are well-connected with popular Asian destinations, including Pacific Islands. In addition to domestic airlines – Qantas, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, and Air New Zealand – routes from Australia/New Zealand to Asia are operated by large regional carriers such as ANA, Emirates, Etihad, Fiji Airways, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines.
Direct flights and flights with one layover to Pacific Islands are available from all major airports in Australia – SydneySYD
, BrisbaneBNE
, MelbourneMEL
, PerthPER
, AdelaideADL
, CairnsCNS
, Gold CoastOOL
, CanberraCBR
, and in New Zealand – AucklandAKL
, WellingtonWLG
, ChristchurchCHC
, QueenstownZQN
, DunedinDUD
. - In terms of cost-savings, we recommend flying from Australia and New Zealand to a major Asian hub and then booking a flight to your final destination in Pacific Islands with a regional budget airline. Among the low-cost airlines that fly into Pacific Islands are Aircalin, Air Chathams, Jetstar Airways, Jin Air, Jeju Air, Palau Express Airlines, Southern Airways Express, and T'Way Air.
Currently, there are no direct flights from Australia or New Zealand to Pacific Islands. You’ll need a layover in one of the major hubs in Asia. Every year thousands of Australians and New Zealanders visit the islands of Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia - this is reflected in a wide choice of direct flights to countries in the Pacific Ocean. You can fly non-stop from Australia or from New Zealand to Raratonga in the Cook Islands, Tahiti in French Polynesia, Nukuʻalofa in Tonga, Alofi in Niue, Port Villa in Vanuatu, Honiara in Solomon Islands, and Noumea in New Caledonia. Among the airlines that operate those flights are Air New Zealand, Jetstar Airways, Qantas, United Airlines, Virgin Australia, Aircalin, Air Tahiti Nui, Air Vanuatu, and Solomon Airlines.
Prices of flights to Pacific Islands from Australia and New Zealand
Real-time economy class fares to Pacific Islands from major airports in Australasia — from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide in Australia, and from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch in New Zealand.
Prices in Australian Dollar.
Flight hacking
Curated dealsfrom flight experts
Fly half-price (or less!) from Australia and New Zealand to Pacific Islands:
“Book Flights Now, Pay Later” — is it worth it?
Booking a flight and paying for it later has recently become a popular trend in the travel industry, with many airlines offering delayed payment plans. They will allow you to make flight reservation to Pacific Islands now and then pay the bill in installments. But should you take advantage?
Book Now Pay Later (BNPL) plans are essentially short-term personal loans. By partnering with financial companies such as Affirm, Afterpay, PayPal Credit, Postpay, and Uplift, airlines can offer their loan services on the checkout page. When you book the flight with the BNPL option, the company pays the airline, and you repay the loan in installments over a set period (usually up to 24 months), with a set interest rate.
BNPL providers have varying terms and fees. Some may offer interest-free loans but have fees for late payments and require forced autoplay on your bank account, while others may have high annual percentage rates (up to 30-40% APR). There may also be transaction fees, down payment requirements, and many companies even run a credit check on the traveler.
Among the airlines that offer a “fly now, pay later” option are American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Qantas, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Southwest, and Virgin Atlantic.
Is BNPL financing worth it? If paid off on time, interest-free delayed payment on your flight ticket to Pacific Islands can be a great way to free up your cash flow. However, there may be safer alternatives available – such as taking advantage of an introductory 0% interest offer on a credit card or using flight price “freezing” services like Hopper.
Hidden-city ticketing hack
Hidden-city ticketing is a less-known money-saving tactic where you buy a plane ticket with a layover, with the intention to get off at the layover rather than the final destination. For example, a flight from New York to Tokyo might be $600, but a similar flight from New York to Singapore with a layover in Tokyo might be only $350. Choosing the latter and ending the trip in Tokyo would save you $250.
It seems counterintuitive that a fare from A to C via B could possibly be cheaper than a simple fare on a shorter route from A to B. However, airlines use dynamic, computer-driven price models calculated with little human intervention, and such deals happen quite often.

Booking a hidden city ticket isn’t as easy as booking a standard itinerary. There are some things to be aware of: (1) don’t check baggage — bring only hand luggage that can fit under the seat or an overhead compartment; a large checked bag will end up in the final destination C; (2) don’t use it for return flights — airlines often void any subsequent tickets if any segment of the first ticket is missed; (3) Do not overuse this tactic with the same airline — hidden-city ticketing is legal but airlines don’t like it and may try to punish you; (4) Don’t associate your frequent flyer account — the airline might invalidate any miles you’ve accrued with them.
How to find hidden-city tickets? The easiest way is to use Skiplagged website, which was designed for unearthing hidden-city deals — give them a try for your flight to Pacific Islands.
Get cheaper business class by bidding on airline upgrades
A growing number of airlines are auctioning upgrades to their business class seats. Once you book your economy ticket to Pacific Islands, you can offer to pay a bit more in an attempt to get a premium seat. 2-3 days before your flight, an airline will send you an email with a link to their website where you can place a “blind” bid. There’s usually a minimum bid amount. If you win the auction, you’ll be informed, and your seat will be upgraded.
How to choose the right bid amount? Just check the airline website for the regular cost of a business class seat to Pacific Islands, then subtract what you paid for the economy fare. Place your bid for around 10% to 30% of that price. The alternative strategy is to bid slightly above the competition. If, for example, the minimum bid is $500, try to bid $550-$600, as most people will offer the baseline amount required.
The more available business class seats the airline has on your flight, the lower bid can be successfully used. Check the airline’s daily schedule for flights to Pacific Islands – if there is more than one flight on your chosen route (more available seats), you can safely bid close to the minimum required amount.
Among the airlines that allow bidding for seat upgrades are: Air Canada (AC Bid), Air New Zealand (OneUp™), Cathay Pacific, Etihad Airways, Fiji Airways (Bula Bid), Garuda Indonesia (BidUpgrade), Qantas, Singapore Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, and Virgin Australia (UpgradeMe).

Fly early in the morning
Early morning flights (6 am or earlier) are usually cheaper than other day schedules. It’s because of lower demand – most people are not willing to go to the airport so early. Use it to your advantage.
Moreover, airports are also less crowded, and there tend to be fewer delays if you fly early in the morning. Due to increasing air traffic, delays get worse throughout the day – starting around 8-10 am and reaching a peak at 4-6 pm. If you are flying to Pacific Islands with a connecting flight, arriving on time at your layover airport may be critical to catching your next flight!
Flights to Pacific Islands from Bali, Bangkok, Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, and other major hubs in Asia
- Asia is probably the best continent for short-haul and mid-haul flying. The sheer scale of this most populous region on Earth is reflected in the type of aircraft operating many shorter routes: intra-Asia flyers benefit from comfortable, wide-bodied aircraft by the likes of Boeing 777, 787 or Airbus A350, A330, and A380. When booking your flight to Pacific Islands look for these bigger planes as they will almost always give you the best experience in every cabin, including better seat pitches, higher ceilings, and larger overhead bin space.
- Asia is also home to most of the world’s best airlines. There are only ten airlines that received the prestigious 5-star mark of quality from Skytrax, and all of them are from Asia: ANA, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines. Choosing one of these airlines for your trip to Pacific Islands will guarantee a pleasant journey – delicious meals served during the flight, great in-flight entertainment, and above-average airline customer service.
- Asia is extremely well served by low-cost regional airlines. If you are visiting Pacific Islands and want to see several other countries on a tight budget, they often have great sales with rock-bottom prices, while still offering a relatively comfortable flight experience. Among the best Asian budget airlines you can book without hesitation are AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Citilink, FlyDubai, Indigo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, SpiceJet, and VietJet Air. The cons? Being no-frills airlines they may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight meals, or onboard entertainment. The departure times may also be quite inconvenient as they try to save money by flying at off-peak hours.
Asian airports with the cheapest flights to Pacific Islands in 2023/24
Find the lowest prices for flights to Pacific Islands from the largest airports in Asia — Changi (Singapore), Dubai (UAE), Hong Kong (China), Incheon (Seoul, South Korea), Indira Gandhi (New Delhi, India), KLIA (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Narita (Tokyo, Japan), Denpasar (Bali, Indonesia), Soekarno–Hatta (Jakarta, Indonesia), Ninoy Aquino (Manila, Philippines), Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok, Thailand), Taoyuan (Taipei, Taiwan), and others.
Flight hacking
Fly half-price(or less!)
Get curated deals to Pacific Islands from our flight experts:
Take advantage of loyalty programs
Choose an airline that suits you the best, then stick to it. By becoming a ‘regular’, you will be able to use its loyalty program and earn “miles” (or points) – not only for flying but also for everyday expenses (if your card is affiliated with an airline).
Points earned this way often add up over time and are extremely helpful in flying at reduced fares. Airlines offer not only ticket discounts for their frequent flyers, but also special travel perks such as cabin class upgrades, increased checked baggage allowance, or access to their airport lounges so you can relax during long layovers.
If you often fly with Emirates, opt for Skywards, with Qantas – for Qantas Frequent Flyer, with Singapore Airlines – for KrisFlyer, etc.
Proof of onward travel – a simple hack
Travelers who go on long trips often don’t have a set itinerary and fly on one-way tickets. The problem? For many APAC countries, proof of onward travel is a legal requirement. If you arrive at the airport without an onward ticket (from Pacific Islands to another country), you’ll either be forced to buy one online or forbidden from boarding the plane altogether.
The cheapest solution? Renting an onward ticket! Use the websites such as OneWayFly or OnwardTicket to get a flight reservation for a limited amount of time (usually 2 to 14 days). They work by actually booking you on a real flight out of Pacific Islands and giving you a confirmable flight reservation with a PNR (Passenger Name Record) under your name. After the time limit, your spot on the flight is automatically canceled. Such “temporary tickets” tend to cost anywhere from $10 to $20.

How to book a superdeal to Pacific Islands?
Every superdeal you receive from Air Traveler Club includes a link you can use to book a flight. It always directs you to the website that offers the lowest price. Sometimes it’s an airline website; in other cases, Google Flights or a similar flight booking platform.
This video explains how to use Google Flights to book a plane ticket.

Dealing with the jet lag
Jet lag affects people differently depending on age, physical fitness, and genetics. The most accepted rule suggests that you should allow one full day to recover from jet lag for every time zone (hour gained) you traveled east and a number of days equal to half the time zones crossed when you traveled west.
The most effective natural jet lag remedy is to force your body into its new routine. You can begin before getting off the plane: set your watch to the time in Pacific Islands, then do your best to sleep and eat based on the new time zone. Close the window shade when it’s time to simulate darkness. During your first day on the ground in Pacific Islands, get outdoors, stay physically active during the day, and absorb sunlight.
FAQ: Flying to Pacific Islands
Q: Which Pacific islands have international airports?
A: Cook Islands (Rarotonga Airport), Easter Island (Mataveri Airport), East Timor (Dili Airport), French Polynesia (Faa'a Airport), Guam (A.B. Won Pat Airport), Kiribati (Bonriki Airport), Marshall Islands (Amata Kabua), Micronesia (Pohnpei Airport), Nauru (Nauru Airport), New Caledonia (Tontouta Airport), Niue (Niue Airport), Palau (Roman Tmetuchl Airport), Solomon Islands (Honiara), Tonga (Fuaʻamotu), Tuvalu (Funafuti Airport), and Vanuatu (Bauerfield Airport).
Q: Where does Air NZ fly to in the Pacific?
A: Air New Zealand operates flights to the Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Hawaii, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Tahiti and Tonga.
Q: Can you fly between Pacific Islands?
A: Flying between the South Pacific Islands can be complicated – options for island hopping are limited. The routes available on airlines' schedules change frequently, and some smaller island nations are not directly connected at all. Hawaii, Fiji, French Polynesia, and Easter Island are the most well-connected Pacific Islands and act as hubs when flying to other, less popular Pacific countries like Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, or Tuvalu.
Q: Why are flights to Pacific Islands so expensive?
A: The flight prices to Pacific Islands depend primarily on (1) which part of the world you are flying from and the airline you're flying with. Low-cost airlines such as Jetstar tend to have fairly priced medium-haul flights in the region, while premium carriers (Fiji Airways, Air New Zealand, or Qantas) offer much better comfort at higher prices. Return flight tickets to the Cook Islands with Jetstar can be booked for as low as 500 AUD (~350 USD).
(2) The time of booking. High demand + low supply = higher fares. Seasonality plays a big part here: if you travel during the peak season (high demand) and book a last-minute flight (low supply - not many tickets left), your flight to Pacific Islands will be costly. Air tickets for dates around school holidays can be even 2-3 times more expensive (!) than in the off-season.
A big contributor to higher fares on planes are (3) oil prices and the fact that airfares are pegged to the US dollar. These factors are passed on to travelers, making your flight ticket even more expensive.
The various (4) taxes imposed on foreigners and tourists by the governments have been a big part of the price increase in the last few years. You may never notice them directly, as they are often worked into airline tickets or the bill you pay at your hotel.
Last but to least, (5) business travelers can influence ticket prices for other passengers. The number of expensive Business Class tickets sold on a flight affects how much money the airline makes and, therefore, how much they charge for Economy Class seats.
Q: What is the cheapest Pacific island to visit?
A: The least expensive Pacific Island countries to visit are currently Cook Islands (500 AUD / 350 USD return flight ticket from Auckland), Tonga (600 AUD / 410 USD from Auckland), Vanuatu (550 AUD / 380 USD from Brisbane), and Solomon Islands (800 AUD / $550 from Cairns).
Q: What airlines are currently flying to Tahiti?
A: Currently, you can fly to Tahiti's main airport in Papeete with Air Tahiti, Air Tahiti Nui, Air New Zealand, Aircalin, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, LATAM, Air France, and French Bee.
Q: Can you fly direct from Australia to Cook Islands?
A: Yes, there are direct flights to the Cook Islands from Sydney operated by Australian low-cost airline Jetstar Airways. The non-stop flight to Rarotonga (the largest island in the Cook Islands) is 5 hours 30 min long and the return ticket costs around 700 AUD.
Q: When is the best time to book flights to Pacific Islands?
A: Plane tickets usually don’t get cheaper closer to the departure date. Even these reasonably priced flights in the low season sell out quite far ahead of the date of travel. It pays to book your ticket well in advance, as it will give you a good range of flight times and seat selection choices.
The best time to book flights to Pacific Islands can vary among airlines, but the golden time usually falls between 2 and 6 months before the departure. So, January is the best time to book flights if you want to visit Pacific Islands during the summer.
User Review
4.8 (882 votes)Flights to Pacific Islands
Whether on a vacation of a lifetime or a business trip, flying to Pacific Islands is not as easy as booking local travel.
Most likely you are looking at a long-haul trip — and every layover will add a few more hours if you choose not to take a direct flight. Choose your airline wisely, by reading the online reviews left by passengers who have already taken a similar route. Always look for their in-flight experience: seats (are they comfy and spacious?), menu (was it delicious with plenty of choices for different tastes and diets?), and the entertainment options available onboard (the quality of screens and headphones, the range of movie/music/tv channels on offer, etc).
If you have specific travel dates, it's worth booking as soon as possible. Leave it too late and you might have to pay almost double the price, especially if you want to fly during school holidays and popular times like New Year's Eve. If you're not yet an Air Traveler Club subscriber, sign up now — we'll send you lots of discounted offers for free. Our members often save $500 or more on flights to Pacific Islands!
Pros
- Plenty of airlines flying to Pacific Islands
- Cheap tickets available
- Flight hacks available
Cons
- Long-haul flights can be expensive