Fiji Airways to become full oneworld member and adopt AAdvantage program

[Mwenenzi]

Fiji Airlines to become full OW member 01 Apr 2025
Source :- a roundtable discussion with the CEO of oneworld, Nat Pieper,
Oneworld’s CEO on new members, a digital platform and interest in Indian and Latin American markets – Business Traveller

A growing membership
At the time of writing, the alliance counts 13 members: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian and SriLankan Airlines. (Note that S7 remains suspended).

Forum users will be glad to hear that Fiji Airways will become the alliance’s 14th full member by the end of the first quarter of 2025.

When confirming this, Pieper also revealed it will “probably [mark] the sunset of the oneworld connect programme”, of which Fiji Airways has been a member since late 2018. “The benefits don’t justify having something separate that, frankly, we can’t explain why we have it anyway,” he added.

Indeed, remarking on his time at Alaska Airlines, he said: “I didn’t understand the benefits [of oneworld connect] in the sense of that size airline. If we want to participate, we want a seat at the table.”

Fiji Airways is also joining American Airlines’ AAdvantage loyalty programme, which Pieper said will “create great demand and, with that common currency, make it even easier for travellers to go to Fiji and help the economy prosper… The airline is core to the success of the nation. Tourism is the number one industry.”

Oman Air, which announced its intentions to join the alliance in 2022, will also be fully onboard by the end of the second quarter of 2025.
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[SYD]

QF codeshare can access the F lounge but for now, FJ code cannot. In fact, unless the FJ is booked in J, there’s no lounge access at all.

Unfortunately, the rules state that the QF code PAX can only guest someone flying on a QF, JQ, EK or OW flight number (not including FJ).

Qantas Lounge Access Eligibility | Qantas

Find out more on Qantas Lounge access eligibility whether your traveling in First, Business; are a Qantas Frequent Flyer, Qantas Club or oneworld member.

www.qantas.com

The QF website hasn’t been updated (still excludes “OW connect” flight numbers ie FJ), but as mentioned in another thread QF are now allowing WP flying FJ into the SYD F lounge (and I assume SG/QP into the J lounge). Hopefully, the new policy also applies to MEL, BNE. I don’t know if that’s been extended to AKL, LAX etc.

 

[Mwenenzi]

To me 31 March / 01 April is firming up when FJ become a full OW member and start using AAdvantage. Would expect both changes on the same day.
FJ loyality link---> https://www.fijiairways.com/en-au/tabua/classic

Our Tabua Club Program for new member registrations has been suspended until 31st March 2025 as we look to launch a refreshed program. For now, we are only accepting month by month renewals for existing members. Please join our new American Airlines AAdvantage® Travel Rewards Program to enhance your travel experience

Also may be tied to the IATA seasons when schedules change.
Calendar of Coordination Activities

Start Of Season. 27-Oct-24. 30-Mar-25. 26-Oct-25. *Trial for NW24/25, S25, NW25/26 seasons. Aug 2024 update.

 

[QF_Flyer]

Had a chat with the people at the Flounge in MEL, confirmed that QF, AA & BA elites can now access lounges based on status, as the original sponsor airlines (no mention of CX, may have been an oversight) in advance of FJ joining OW, so that confirms what others have said (DP was from last week).

They scanned my FJ boarding pass and it beeped and a green light came on, so the system is clearly setup for it too (QF WP, with my FF# on the booking on a J ticket). Had prepared myself for a walk of shame to the dungeon, so was a pleasant surprise.