How to get to | Tonga

This is part of a series of blog entries on how to get to countries and places. Here is a link to the index. I plan to eventually cover every country and some other places. If you have a request for a particular country or place please use the email me link at top right, or leave a comment.

Tonga

Source: Chris Fleizach

Some cruise ships and freighters visit Tonga from other South Pacific islands and also Australia and New Zealand. However, most visitors to Tonga arrive by air at Nuku'alofa airport on the main island of Tongatapu. Airline options are limited to regional carriers. Note there are no flights on Sundays and Tonga is west of the international dateline (despite being in the western hemisphere) - thus almost a day ahead of USA.

• Star Alliance - Air New Zealand from Auckland and from Los Angeles via Apia (Western Samoa)
• Oneworld - none
• Sky Team - none
• Other - Air Pacific from Fiji, Virgin Blue subsidiaries from Sydney and Auckland

TIP Fares from Auckland, Fiji, Sydney and Apia are relatively cheap, except in school holidays or if there is a major event on in Tonga.

TIP Air New Zealand has through-fares from UK and USA to New Zealand and Australia that allow an en-route stopover at Cook Islands, Samoa or Tonga for little or no extra $.

TIP Awards in business class between USA and New Zealand are easier to get via the islands than on non-stop flights.

TIP On a Star Alliance round the world fare, which is distance based, it is much more efficient to fly Auckland to Tonga to Los Angeles or vice versa than doubling back via Auckland (Los Angeles to Auckland to Tonga to Auckland).