(Rick’s take on our trip to Tonga)
We were ecstatic when we got the news we were going to be let back into Tonga where our Sailing Vessel Cool Change has been awaiting our return since we left her in October of 2019.
Just how we came to be allowed back in with the borders to Tonga still closed is another story that Cindy will cover but what I want to now share is about just one of the complications that affected us as we planned and undertook this journey.
Domestic and international airlines all have their own rules and limits regarding the baggage you are allowed to bring on their planes. For us, it was important that we were able to carry the maximum allowed weight of baggage so that we could bring the spares and other things needed to put Cool Change back in the water and get her to Fiji. Tonga, though it is a very beautiful place, has none of the boat parts and pieces that we would need so it was important we brought everything we could anticipate that we would need along with us.
Back at home we had over 200 pounds of things we had designated to bring back to Tonga. Most of the items had been put aside since 2019. Our original plan had been to return to Tonga at the end of cyclone season in April 2020. Then of course Covid changed all that.
Because we would now be going back into Tonga on a special repatriation flight, to be safe we had to immediately trim 68 pounds off of our baggage. We were going to be flying to Fiji on Fiji Airlines which left out of LAX in California. To get there, we would be flying United from Sacramento to LAX.
On Fiji Airlines we were allowed to bring 30 kilos or 66 pounds each. If we wanted to bring an extra bag it would cost $175.00 for an allowed 50 pounds. Aside from being expensive, we had no assurance we would be able to get that extra bag to our destination. Additionally we were each allowed a carry on that could weigh no more than 7 kg (or 15 pounds). So we could bring a maximum of 162 pounds on our trans pacific flight in two checked bags and two carry on’s of 15 pounds each.
On the first flight, United to LAX we were allowed 1 checked bag each at a maximum of 50 pounds each and a carry on that had to comply with a size, but had no weight restriction.
So for our first leg of the trip from Sacramento to LAX we stuffed two duffels with 50 pounds each and then paid for an extra bag that weighed about 25 pounds. We loaded up our carry on’s to the limit of 7 kg that would be the limit for the carry on out of LAX. United charged us $45.00 for the extra bag but that seemed to be pretty reasonable.
When we got to LAX, we had about 12 hours to kill so we had plenty of time. We had originally booked a flight that would get us into LAX with just a 5 hour layover but the Airlines had been cancelling so many flights that we did not want to take a chance of getting our flight cancelled and not having time to book another in time for our Fiji Air flight. If for any reason we did not get to Fiji in time to get on the repatriation flight to Tonga it could be as long as 8 weeks until there was another. Luckily we had 2 United Lounge passes so we had a comfy place to wait out our layover. The lounge though was in the domestic terminal we arrived at and we did not want to go to baggage claim too early because we would not have been able to check our bags through to Fiji until about 4 hours before our flight. So we went into the lounge and asked the concierge to contact the baggage dept and have them hold our bags for us which thankfully they did.
After several hours in the lounge we made our way out of the terminal and down to the baggage claim office to retrieve our baggage. We put everything on a luggage cart and set out for the 15 minute walk to the international terminal. We could have taken an airport bus but we thought the bags were too heavy and awkward to lug on and off of the bus so we did the walk which was outside, and felt good after sitting around for so long.
When we got to the international terminal we found a place where we could sit and rearrange our baggage. We had brought a hand held digital scale which was crucial to have all through this trip. So while there, we took the items from our third bag and distributed them between our other two so that we ended up with two 66 pound bags again and two carry ons of 15 pounds each. Somehow we ended up with a few extra pounds so I wore a coat around my waist and stuffed the pockets with a few items from my overweight carry on!
We checked our bags and proceeded to the terminal for our 11:55 pm flight to Fiji.
Cindy had gone to the trouble of picking two isle seats as we wanted to be comfy on this long 14 hour flight but when we got our seat assignments they had ignored that we had chosen our seats. The agent asked for proof of the payment so we had to search it out and show the person who then said something to the effect of “Well we have to allow for families so we cant give you those seats” She also could not issue a refund, but she did say that she would be at the gate and try to find seats that worked once she was there at the last minute while boarding. We had no idea how that was going to work.
As it turned out, we could not sit together but we each agreed that the flight was very comfortable and done very well. Cindy took a window seat and I took an aile. It was a large Airbus with three rows of three across the aircraft. The plane was very new and clean and the staff did a great job feeding everyone both a late night dinner and breakfast. The in flight entertainment choices were pretty good too.
When we arrived in Fiji we did not need to go through customs because we were continuing on to Tonga so we never even got to touch our bags there. That was fortunate because the weight limits, if we were checking bags in Fiji would have undoubtably been more restrictive. We were concerned about our carry on for this hop as it would be on a very small plane but we were not challenged in security or at the gate.
Arriving in Tonga we picked up our bags and made our way to customs. To our surprise they announced they would not be inspecting any ones bags due to Covid. Instead, they had us surrender our passports and arrival cards into a large bin at the exit and bring our bags outside where they were loaded onto one of two busses that would be taking us to our quarantine quarters. Once the two busses were loaded with all passengers from the repatriation flight we set off with a police escort out in front with lights and sirens running the whole way.
We would need to spend 3 days in quarantine and then as long as we tested negative we would be allowed to clear customs and leave. In the meantime, while we were in quarantine we had some time to figure out how we were going to get to our final destination, the Vava’u island group 193 miles to the North. We had a choice of taking the Ferry which takes 24 hours or possibly catching a flight. We called a number the embassy had given us for Fiji air booking in Nukua’lofa and we found that we could catch a flight on Tuesday, a day after our quarantine ends. This would be on another small plane and the baggage limit is 23Kg per bag and 2,2Kg carryon each! Out comes the scale and the third bag again and we loaded up so that we have 3 bags of 23Kg along with our two now very light carry on’s.
At this time, we still have not got word that our Covid tests are clear but when we do we expect to go through customs at the hotel, get or passports back and move to a cute little bed and breakfast that is very close by. Once there, we will be free to walk around and take in some sights. In the morning we will to be on our way to the airport for our last flight to get us to Nieafu in Vava’u.