What are the Flight Times to Samoa? ✈️

Last Updated: 19 September, 2025

How Long Does it Take to Fly to Samoa?

Written by Real Travellers, Not Algorithms

For most of us, getting to a country as remote and as unspoiled as Samoa takes time. Only those coming from Oceania countries like New Zealand, Australia and Fiji or across the Pacific from Hawaii are lucky enough to get to Samoa within a few hours. For the rest of us, it’s long flights with multiple connections. So whether you’re planning to add Samoa to your round-the-world trip or simply popping over from New Zealand or Australia, these are the approximate flight times to Samoa!

Side note: Our travel tips are from writers who’ve experienced Samoa firsthand – no AI-generated fluff here! Scroll down to learn more about us.

Flights to Samoa

Direct flights to Samoa are available from New Zealand, Australia, Fiji and Hawaii. If coming from elsewhere in the world, there are many connecting flights from the countries stated.

Almost all flights arrive in Samoa at Faleolo International Airport (APW) in the country’s main hub, Upolu. Some flights from American Samoa also arrive at Fagali’i Airport (FGI). Learn more about the airport in Samoa Arrival Airport: Which Airport to Fly into Samoa.

And to make sure you have all the advice you’ll need about getting to these breathtaking islands, learn more about flying to Samoa in Getting Here: How to Get to Samoa? Plus, for budgeting tips, see How to Book a Cheap Flight to Samoa.

Flight Times from Oceania to Samoa

Samoa is located on the continent of Oceania, which makes for the shortest flights to Upolu from other Oceanian countries like New Zealand, Australia, Fiji and American Samoa. These are the cities with direct flights to Samoa, along with their flight time:

Auckland to Samoa: 4 hrs 10 mins
Sydney to Samoa: 5 hrs 55 mins
Brisbane to Samoa: 4 hrs 40 mins
Nadi to Samoa: 2 hrs 5 mins
Pago Pago to Samoa: 30 mins

Learn more about direct flights in Which Airlines Fly Directly to Samoa?

Flight Times from the Americas to Samoa

Those flying from the Americas will find themselves making one or two stopovers on their way to Samoa unless coming from Hawaii, which has direct flights. Some of the best airports to fly from for faster travel times are Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Fransisco, Vancouver and Santiago de Chile. Make connections in Honolulu, Nadi or Auckland.

Note that the travel times listed don’t include layover times.

Honolulu to Samoa: 5 hrs 40 mins
Los Angeles to Samoa: 11 hrs 30 mins via Honolulu, 12 hrs 55 mins via Nadi
San Fransisco to Samoa: 10 hrs 55 mins via Honolulu, 13 hrs 5 mins via Nadi
Vancouver to Samoa: 13 hrs 55 mins via Nadi, 14 hrs 40 mins via Honolulu
Houston to Samoa: 13 hrs 20 mins via Honolulu
Chicago to Samoa: 13 hrs 45 mins via Honolulu
Santiago to Samoa: 16 hrs 45 mins via Auckland.

Flight Times from Asia to Samoa

There are no direct flights to Samoa from Asia, so at least one or two stopovers will need to be made, including in Nadi, Honolulu, Sydney or Brisbane. The flight times below are from some of Asia’s most popular airports, and their flight times to Samoa do not include layover times.

Singapore to Samoa: 12 hrs 5 mins via Nadi
Hong Kong to Samoa: 12 hrs 15 mins via Nadi
Bangkok to Samoa: 15 hrs 15 mins via Sydney
Tokyo to Samoa: 10 hrs 5 mins via Nadi, 14 hrs 5 mins via Honolulu
Manila to Samoa: 12 hrs 30 mins via Brisbane
Mumbai to Samoa: 17 hrs 35 mins via Singapore then Nadi.

Flight Times from Europe to Samoa

For flights between major European airports and Samoa, at least two or three connections will need to be made on your way to the Southern Hemisphere. Flight times from popular European locations (not including layover times) include:

London to Samoa: 22 hrs 25 mins
Frankfurt to Samoa: 24 hrs 5 mins
Amsterdam to Samoa: 21 hrs 55 mins
Dublin to Samoa: 22 hrs 30 mins
Zurich to Samoa: 23 hrs 40 mins
Copenhagen to Samoa: 22 hrs 45 mins
Oslo to Samoa: 21 hrs 45 mins

More About Flights to Samoa

That’s it for our list of flight times to Samoa. For more advice on flying to Samoa, take a look at the following guides:

Finally, get more tips for travelling around Samoa in our Samoa Transport Guide: 10 Best Ways to Get Around Samoa.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across Samoa and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Samoa Tourism Authority (General travel advice - Updated [2025])
Samoa Tourism Authority Corporate (Tourism news - Updated [2025])
Land Transport Authority (Tourist driver’s license info - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Customs & Revenue (Border restrictions advice - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries (Biosecurity advice - Updated [2025])
Samoa Meteorological Division (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2025])
Samoa Bureau of Statistics (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2025])
SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2025])
Samoa Hotels Association (Tourism trade association - Updated [2025])
Safe Travel (New Zealand travel advisory for Samoa - Updated [2025])
Smart Traveller (Australia travel advisory for Samoa - Updated [2025])
Travel.State.Gov (U.S. travel advisory for Samoa - Updated [2025])

Our editorial standards: At Samoa Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

Robin (Robini) C.

This article was reviewed and published by Robin, the co-founder of Samoa Pocket Guide. He has lived, worked and travelled across 16 different countries before settling in the South Pacific, so he knows a thing or two about planning the perfect trip in this corner of the world. Robin works and consults regularly with the Samoa Tourism Authority, a local government body representing the tourism industry. Robin is also the co-founder of several other South Pacific travel guides and is a regular host of webinars with the South Pacific Tourism Organisation.

About Robin About Our Team