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Air Tahiti Nui currently better-than-average availability for two passengers in business class from Los Angeles to Tahiti. Most of the departures for two passengers are Sundays to Wednesdays, but the good news is that it is fairly widely available through the end of the schedule.
The Deal
- Award space for two passengers in business class on Air Tahiti Nui between Los Angeles and Pepeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia
- Search and book awards at AA.com
Key Details
- Taxes & fees are $5.60 leaving the US and $50.25 leaving Tahiti
- Most availability is from Sundays to Wednesdays
- Use the “Advanced / Multi-city search” to see the old style calendar as shown in screen shots below
Quick Thoughts
As noted at the top, availability is quite good — not quite “wide open”, but well above average. Here’s a look at December and January.
That availability continues through the end of the schedule. For families looking to fly to paradise, it may be particularly useful that there is a lot of availability during US school holidays in May, June, and July.
Keep in mind that if you have your heart set on Bora Bora, that involves a flight on a separate carrier (Air Tahiti Nui operates transoceanic flights while Air Tahiti operates domestic flights). The round trip from Papeete to Bora Bora runs around $420 per person and is available to book via portals like the Chase travel portal. Tickets are slightly less expensive when purchased from within French Polynesia, so if you’re very adventurous you could wait until you arrive and hope that your chosen flights aren’t yet sold out.
I spent 8 nights in Bora Bora recently. I spent the first 3 nights at the Conrad Bora Bora:
I followed that up with 5 nights at the St. Regis Bora Bora, booked before the price increased earlier this year (so I was able to book 5 nights for 240K Marriott points).
I compared the two properties here.
Needless to say, it was paradise. Some travelers dub it “boring boring” due to a lack of local activity in the vicinity of the hotels. In my opinion, if the views above are boring, feel free to bore me to tears, please. Of course I enjoy many types of vacations and Bora Bora wouldn’t be my pick every time, but I’m certainly happy to relax on a gorgeous beach now and again.
On the other hand, getting to Moorea is much less expensive as it is accessible by boat from Tahiti. I did not get there, but there are a number of chain properties available there as well.
One tip: if you’re looking at staying for more than a few days, look into the multi-island tickets offered by Air Tahiti (find more about those here). I could have visited a handful of islands for just a hair more had I realized they offered these tickets.
Of course, you could also stay in Tahiti. I believe the InterContinental is your only chain property on the island if memory serves me correctly. Other accommodation can be had quite inexpensively. I only got a brief glimpse of Tahiti as I stayed one night on either end of my trip. While not as stunningly beautiful or well manicured as Bora Bora, we enjoyed a couple of nice beaches and warm hospitality from the locals, and the price tag was certainly much more reasonable. That said, I’d probably not return only for Tahiti but rather to explore another part of Tahiti and also go to Bora Bora or Moorea.
Bottom line
If you’re looking to get to Tahiti and/or to Bora Bora or Moorea, there is excellent business class award availability from Los Angeles to Papeete through the end of the schedule. AA charges 80K miles one-way between the US and Tahiti, so you can also connect to/from Los Angeles to your home airport if you can find saver availability. This kind of availability comes and goes, but we don’t always see quite so much of it. Remember that American Airlines will allow you to put an award on hold for 5 days if you’d like some time to think about it.
H/T: Reader Q.
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“Tickets are slightly less expensive when purchased from within French Polynesia”
Do you buy this at the ticketing counter at the airport? Or travel agent or online?
Thanks.
You probably could at the airport I guess? You definitely can online from a French Polynesia IP address (like on your own computer from a wifi network while in-country; I’m not aware of any VPNs with a FP server). As for a travel agent, I didn’t personally think to try emailing a local one in advance.
Yeah – I can’t get much to show either.
And red-eye both ways! Fantastic!
Great catch on availability. Just an FYI on Nov/Dec weather in the French Poly, it rains/pours often and yet all resorts get sold out. Buy duty free alcohol (not much Tequila though) at the airport on arrival – cheapest. Renting a car is good (Hawaii-like driving) if you like to see as much as possible – stick shift is the norm and Avis has great deals.
Yes Nick’s Rich Yacht Club in Jan. is the same way as in Monsoon season . The way I was going to do it United(TK.15krt)-ORD>HNL then Hawaiian airlines points (50krt) HNL>PPT .. Remember if it’s raining the run off turns into Brown or Black water for days .I was in Crete unreal weather BUT u couldn’t see 10ft down in the water 3 days after bad weather.
CHEERs
Your post must have caused AA’s site to crash. I keep getting “Our system is having trouble…..” and “This trip can’t be booked online…..” messages when I search!