Solomon Airlines Business Class Review

3 MINUTE READ

With a scheduled flying time of approximately three hours and fifteen minutes, we travelled in business class, seated in 2C aboard a thirteen-year-old Airbus A320, understood to have previously flown with Air New Zealand. Auckland’s fog affected the departure, and after boarding we remained on the aircraft for approximately two and a half hours before finally taking off. It was an unremarkable inconvenience rather than a defining feature of the journey, and once airborne the flight settled into a comfortable rhythm. The aircraft may not be the newest in the fleet, but first impressions were generally reassuring. The cabin was clean and the service began with the sort of straightforward courtesy experienced travellers appreciate. There was, however, one small disappointment on boarding. Sparkling wine was unavailable, although both red and white wine were offered as alternatives.

Starting in the Strata Lounge

As business class passengers, we had access to Auckland Airport’s Strata Lounge. At that time of the morning, it was pleasantly quiet, with ample seating and none of the usual airport-lounge scramble for a chair near a power point. The lounge offered a broad selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as a barista service. There was also a substantial buffet, with hot and cold dishes designed to cover most preferences. It is the kind of facility that makes an early departure considerably more civilised, particularly when the airport is busy or the weather is uncooperative.

A serviceable onboard experience

Once airborne, the cabin crew wasted little time in beginning the inflight service. Breakfast arrived at what was now closer to lunchtime, consisting of an omelette, spinach and a pork sausage with cheese sauce. A bread roll, crackers, cheese and a raspberry brownie completed the tray. It sounds rather more functional than glamorous, but the meal was better than the description might suggest. The omelette was enjoyable, and the combination worked well enough for a short regional flight. The wine selection included a Jacob’s Creek Chardonnay and a Hawke’s Bay red labelled Thirteen Forty Five. A full range of spirits was also available.

Breakfast served in Solomon Airlines business class.

For those hoping to be entertained, there was no seatback entertainment system, although the inflight magazine, flysolomons, provided something to browse. It was an interesting publication and offered a useful sense of the airline’s region and identity. Inflight Wi-Fi was advertised for this aircraft, although I have not been able to establish precisely what that meant in practice. On this A320, it appeared that Wi-Fi might not actually have been available, or at least not in a form that was immediately apparent to passengers. That was a minor irritation rather than a serious failing on a flight of just over three hours, but clearer communication would be welcome.

Attentive throughout the flight

The most impressive aspect of the flight was the service. The cabin crew were attentive without becoming intrusive, and there was a genuine sense that passengers were being looked after rather than simply processed. The crew also appeared to be entirely female, including both the Captain and First Officer. That is not in itself a measure of service quality, of course, but it was pleasing to see women represented across the full operational and cabin team.

The Seasoned Traveller’s Verdict

Solomon Airlines’ Auckland to Port Vila service offered a pleasantly old-fashioned style of regional travel. The aircraft was not new, the entertainment provision was limited and the Wi-Fi information could have been clearer. Nevertheless, the experience was comfortable, the meal was perfectly respectable and the crew were notably attentive. The Strata Lounge was a worthwhile benefit before departure, particularly given the additional time spent at the airport. Business class is best suited to travellers who value personal service, a little extra space and a more composed airport experience. For many seasoned travellers, that remains a respectable definition of a good journey.