Tonga: Hanging out an airport for 3am flight to Auckland

My flight leaving Tonga leaves at 3am on a Saturday morning. Bizarre I know, but it's a flight Air New Zealand offers for Tonga to Auckland.

I thought I'd just do an extended day trip, then hang out until the flight leaves. The simplest idea, if a little boring, would to be grab a late dinner somewhere, then hang out at/near the airport reading until check-in time.

Anyone have any ideas on the opening hours for the international terminal building on these nights?

Does it close after the daytime flights and re-open later, or just stay open?

Any silly or entertaining comments from people who've done this 3am flight are welcome!

It's a tiny somewhat run down place I'd be surprised if anything was open in terms of service-I have been there when they opened the place for a 9 PM Auckland departure and everything was operating in slow motion.

There's the big new hotel that opened out on the highway that might be an option for you-it's all so awkward since the airport is so far from anything resembling a town it's truly a stand alone facility.

Ta.

I got the impression that it was a small place a bit stuck out on it's own... Is this hotel within walking distance or whatever?

To correct my hilarious error in the title, that's meant to be 'Hanging out at+ an airport', not 'Hanging out +an airport' ! While it's a small(ish) airport, I'm sure it's tricky to get it on the washing line.

"Is this hotel within walking distance or whatever?"
Yes a short hike.

It was under construction for years-finally opened a few years ago and I'll be damned if I can remember the name there's no helpful info on the net whatsoever but that's not surprising.

Personally I'd stay somewhere cheap and low key like Nerima and pay for a transfer-ditto the Transit lounge for the last day anyway.

Edited by: someone who never ceases to be astounded at how poorly the tourism business in Tonga is promoted.

I was just thinking that the hotel might be a place to sit in the lobby for an hour or so if the airport transit lounge was closed, as long as I didn't have to hike for miles in the dark. I could hardly afford to stay in an up-market place anyway! Quite happy to hang around in the transit lounge if it's open, it's only one evening after all and I'll probably have some crazy Pratchett novel (or whatever) to read.

Haven't been to Tonga but this is common throughout the islands. The airport in Pohnpei is a buzzing party at 2am. You might find that the people watching is as good as it gets.

"as long as I didn't have to hike for miles in the dark...."

In Tonga you always have Pigs for company-even @ night!

@5: If it's open from the day until the flight in the wee hours, I'd be quite happy to just hang out. I'm just trying to figure out if they close the place at, say, 6pm and re-open it later, or they keep it open until the late flight.

There's no point in having a room booked for that night; I just want to know if I can head to the airport earlier (say, at 10pm or 9pm or whatever) and just kill the time there.

@ 6: I thought as much myself, but would have worried more about dogs really.

Have you thought about emailing John the proprietor of Fua’amotu Transit Lodge and asking him-they're lovely people.

The net is slow there though maybe phoning him/his wife if she answers would be easier.

I think I have this sorted now, but it'd still be nice to know the opening hours for the airport.

Pity I can't find a website with this information on it.

For any others reading: you can apparently book a ride to the airport on the Teta tours bus (leaves outside the Dateline hotel), which leaves about 2.5 hours before international departures. I've been told the fare is T$13. Baggage can be left at the bus office and collected before departure.

@8: As I was saying my other thread, I know this place. Using them on the way in, doesn't tie in with my plans on the way out. The reason is a long story not worth explaining here (too damn boring for others to read!).

Matangi Tonga is a good source of news and links:

http://www.matangitonga.to/article/global_index.shtml

Also, Planet Tonga is an important link for members of the Tongan diaspora:

http://www.planet-tonga.com/

If it was me, I'd park my luggage with Teta tours (hoping that it would actually get loaded on the right bus!) and take myself to the Billfish for a good meal, a few beers and lots of loud music to fill in the evening. It would then be time to head straight for the bus and out to the airport, with much needed sleep on the flight to Auckland.

A few more Tongan on-line info links:

http://www.tongaholiday.com/

http://www.tongaatoz.com/i.html

http://www.tongaatoz.com/

Bendigo,

Just a thought, these might be better placed in the South Pacific FAQ? I'd do it myself, but I'm very rushed over here!

Find someone in Tonga and email them. President, hotel, tourist bureau. Send out a lot and ask them. Someone will tell you what the current situation is.

Planet Tonga I have found to be relatively useless-full of dumb punks talking like/pretending to be US American gangsters-and just about as bright.

It says 2am on this site: Tonga Airports Limited

It also says something about checking 2 hours before departure, so why not have a late supper in town, a beer or twelve, and then head out about 1am?

I wouldn't hang out at the airport, there is precious little to do there at the best of times. The departure lounge is severely limited, and duty free is not much chop!