The Ins and Outs of Flights to Samoa

The Samoan Islands are a perfect vacation getaway in the tropical South Pacific Islands. Gorgeous beaches, lush rainforest, and an authentic Samoan community welcome you to an unforgettable experience. While the remoteness of the islands will give you a chance to fully relax, a fair bit of planning is needed when scheduling your flights to Samoa. Use the following guide to help with route and airfare planning, plus tips for scheduling your Samoa vacation.

See More: Our Top 9 Places to Visit in Samoa

The Basics of Flights to Samoa

Samoa’s international airports is located on the north coast of the island of Upolu. The other main island, Savai’i, does not have an airport. Faleolo International Airport (APW) is 45 minutes to the west of the capital Apia.

See More: Travel Guide to Apia, Samoa

There are a few different routes through the Pacific that arrive in Samoa. Commuter flights to and from American Samoa arrive multiple times each day.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through the links, we receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases, but purchases will never cost you extra.

Flights from New Zealand and Australia

There are daily flights between Auckland, New Zealand; Sydney or Brisbane, Australia and Apia. From the major hubs of Auckland or Sydney, there are connections for world wide travel. Flights depart to Asia, North America, South America, and London. Access to smaller Pacific Island nations such as the Cook Island and New Caledonia will require a connection in Auckland.

When searching for cheap flights to Samoa, you’ll find a lot of multiple layover itineraries with stops in either Auckland or Sydney. While the prices are lower, the extra flight times adds up quickly. The Auckland-Apia flight time is 4 hours, while the Sydney-Apia flight time is 6.5 hours.

Flights from Fiji

There are multiple flights each week between Nadi International Airport (NAN) in Fiji and Apia, Samoa. From Nadi, there are connections to Australia/New Zealand (Auckland, Sydney, Brisbane), Asia (Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore), Hawaii, and the mainland United States (Los Angeles, San Francisco).

Itineraries flying through Nadi often avoid the extra time of traveling south to New Zealand/Australia, but not always. The worst itineraries we’ve seen while looking for inexpensive flights to Samoa had connections at both Nadi and Auckland. Check before you purchase! Flight time between Nadi and Apia is 2 hours.

Flights from Tonga

Both Real Tonga and Talofa Airways have service between Faleolo Airport and Fua’amotu International Airport (TBU) in Tonga. Service is limited each week, and uses smaller propeller planes. From Tonga, Air New Zealand has service to and from Auckland. Flight time between Samoa and Tonga is just under 2 hours.

Flights from American Samoa

The two nations of Samoa and American Samoa lie along the same archipelago, with just the International Date Line in between! Both Samoa Airlines (formerly Polynesian Airlines) and Talofa Airways have multiple daily flights between Pago Pago, American Samoa (PPG) and Faleolo. Flight times between the two is 30-40 minutes, depending on which airline you choose.

For more details about flying between the two Samoas, including time saving tips see: The Ins and Outs of Flights to American Samoa

Flights from Hawaii

Fiji Airways offers weekly direct service between Apia and Honolulu (HNL), with Honolulu being a major hub to North American and Asian destinations. Non direct routes between Hawaii and Samoa add quite a lot of time to your itinerary. Either Air New Zealand through Auckland, or Hawaiian Airlines through American Samoa. These longer options only make sense if you are trying to visit more than one destination during your trip.

Fare Hunt Directly with Airlines

We find the cheapest flights to Samoa and beyond are when we book directly with the airlines. If you don’t mind the extra email and can plan your trip in advance, sign up for the airlines e-news to watch out for sale fares. Taking advantage of these sales has helped us save quite a bit!

Check fares and sales directly with Air New Zealand, Fiji Airways, Virgin Australia, and Qantas Airways. These airlines fly between Samoa and New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and Asia. For the smaller flights between American Samoa, Tonga, and Samoa, direct booking with Samoa Airlines, Talofa Airways, and Real Tonga are the only options. Booking services such as Orbitz, etc. do not offer these routes.

Logistics of Your Samoa Vacation

• Samoa Currency is the Samoan Tala (WST). Credit cards are becoming more widely accepted in Apia. Plan to be paying for most things with cash outside of Apia, except for hotels. ATMs are common in Apia.
• There are two pre-paid local SIM card options in Samoa; BlueSky and Digicel. Data pricing depends on how many days of service you need. Make sure to bring your unlocked cell phone to take advantage of local SIMs.
• Electricity Adapter: If you plan on plugging in or charging any devices while in Samoa, bring an adapter if your devices are not 220-240V. We bring our Conair Adapter for convenient conversion with US devices.
• For complete Samoa Visa and Entry Permit requirements, visit the Samoa Immigration Office for information specific to your country of residence and travel details.
• The time zone in Samoa is UTC+14.

Samoa Weather

Samoa temperatures are stable, with small variations throughout the year due to the proximity to the equator. The hottest months are between December and April when average highs are 88 F, with the rest of year averaging 84 F. Lows remain at an average of a balmy 77 F throughout the year.

The islands receive frequent rains, but also plenty of sunshine. The trade winds blow nearly constantly from April to November, making the humid temperatures much more comfortable. The still air from December to April puts the ‘real feel’ temperature well into the 90’s during the day.

When planning your flights to Samoa, keep in mind that cyclone season is between November and March. While cyclones are not frequent, they do pass through the islands every 5-10 years on average. Tropical disturbances and depressions will pass close to the islands a few times each winter, bringing winds and days of heavy rain without the direct hit of a cyclone.

Ready to Book Your Flight to Samoa?

Hopefully the routes and flights to Samoa are clear and obvious! Have you visited Samoa or have a trip planned? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Like This Article? Pin It!