Travelers between the two Samoa are complaining about Polynesian’s fare structure.
The summer months are a usually busy travel period on the inter-Samoa route with church conferences, sports activities and family gatherings.
Lately travelers have complained that when they try to book flights with Polynesian’s office at the airport, very rarely can they get the regular fare of $160 round trip.
People have reported paying anywhere from $197 to $240 under the airline’s new online booking system where the fares vary depending on seat availability on their 12 passenger Twin Otters.
A local resident said he recently had to make a quick trip to Apia for an emergency in his family.
He made his booking in the morning and flew the same afternoon.
He said his fare was $220 round trip.
As much as he hated the high fare he said he couldn’t postpone his trip because it was an emergency.
The man who did not wish to be named said Polynesian is killing people with their ridiculously high airfares and he calls on local government leaders to do something about it.
He said the plane ride only takes half an hour from Tafuna to Fagalii and the cost of fuel has been going down.
So whatever Polynesian’s explanation is (for the high fares), it doesn’t wash.
He said, “Pure and simple, the Samoa carrier is taking advantage of travelers because they are the only carrier on the route.”
The traveler commented that rarely do Samoans just travel between the two islands just for the joy of it.
“They travel because of faalavelave and it’s those travelers that have built up Polynesian Airlines.”
He said the former managers of the airline understood this.
But the new management “seems hell bent on making a name for themselves at the mercy of Samoans…both from Samoa and American Samoa.”
According to the irate passenger, the online booking system that Polynesian is using is good for other countries but not the inter Samoa route because the majority of travelers are Samoans and their travel patterns are different.
He also questions why Polynesian doesn’t offer frequent traveler miles like other airlines.
The passenger said he can’t wait for Talofa Airways to start service and he hopes the American Samoa authorities help this second airline start up as soon as possible because “Polynesian is killing the people.”
A travel agent who books church groups to Apia also expressed the same sentiments about Polynesian’s fares.
She said people are now having to think twice about going over to Samoa for a weekend because the fare is high for such a short distance.
She agrees that the government of American Samoa needs to look into Polynesian’s fares.
