Getting to the Solomons?

[BDSC]

I will be going on the Bilikiki next May and the window to book my flights will open up in another few weeks. My plan is to arrive a day early into Honiara and spend the night before boarding the boat. I am looking at booking with Delta/Virgin Australia out of LAX. (Virgin Australia operates that flight). The flight would be a nonstop from LAX to BNE (Brisbane) and then on to Honiara (HIR) with Solomon Airlines.

I have been told that because there is no code share between VA and Solomon Airlines, I will need to clear customs in Brisbane, claim my bags, and recheck with Solomon Airlines. According to the current flight schedules, I would have 3:20 minutes to do so.

Does anyone know if this is doable?

Thanks.

 

[WillHartNZ]

From my experience in Brisbane airport I would think you might be cutting it a little close. 4/5 times you’d probably ok but the 5th you’d be cutting it a little close. Depends on what your cut off time for check in would be.

If the 3:20 is until the latest time you can check in then disregard the above, you’ll be fine.

 

[BDSC]

The 3:20 is the time between scheduled arrival into BNE and the actual departure time from BNE on the Solomons airline flight.

I was thinking if I could clear customs and claim my bags in about 2 hours, I'd still have over an hour to check in with Solomon airlines and get to the gate.

 

[WillHartNZ]

That’s probably a little bit too shorter gap in my opinion.

Have you looked at qantas? I believe they do flights to Honiara so you could probably book right through from LAX with them.

 

[BDSC]

American/Quantas is another option. Quantas operates the flight from LAX to BNE and they have a code share with Solomon Airlines. I just like the plane that Virgin Australia uses from LAX to BNE. The seats in coach are 2 inches wider than the seats on the Quantas flight. I also have enough miles with Delta to book the trip.

 

[95devils]

I used Fiji Airways last year. LAX to NAN in Fiji. 6 or 7 hour layover, then to HIR. This year we are doing SFO to NAN then to HIR a day later. This is also on Fiji Airways.

 

[BDSC]

I have looked at Fiji Airways but they can't get you in a day early. They can get you in the day the boat is scheduled to leave the dock. I always like to arrive for liveaboards at least one day early.

 

[BDSC]

I have been reading several reports this morning that said that you can typically clear customs in Brisbane in less than an hour. If that's the case then I think 3:20 would be OK assuming you arrival flight isn't late. I will continue to investigate but appreciate any feedback.

 

[BDSC]

Update.

I have absolutely no idea what I was looking at when I first posted. The flight on Delta/Virgin Australia will leave LAX and get you into Brisbane at 5:30am. The Solomon Airline flight leaves BNE at 10:30am. So that would give me 5 hours which should be more than enough time to go thru customs and recheck on another airline.

 

[gwklein]

According to their webpage, Virgin Australia still flies to Honoria from Brisbane on Tuesdays and Thursdays.