AOMlover From France, joined Jul 2001, 1281 posts, RR: 15 Posted (2 years 6 months 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 17613 times:
Ia Orana everybody,
Over the last two years, I've had the chance to fly on uncommon airlines. After Uzbekistan Airways and Jeju Air, here's a trip report about Air Tahiti Nui. My father lives in Tahiti, and I've spent 2 years there when I was a kid. French Polynesia is a very, very special place to me. Unfortunately I can't go there very often, as the air fares are shockingly expensive. This time, I spent 6 months in Tahiti for an internship.
First of all, let me warn you that I took those flights in 2007, and the service provided by Air Tahiti Nui has changed a bit since then. The uniforms and tableware have been modified recently, and the network has been drastically reduced. Air Tahiti Nui is renowned for two things: the excellent quality of service provided by its cabin crew and, unfortunately, its abysmal losses. The future of the Air Tahiti Nui looks uncertain, but as long as the French & French Polynesian governments are here to support the airline, the tiare will keep flying...
Air Tahiti Nui operates a fleet of 5 Airbus A340-300s all named after Polynesian islands: Bora Bora, Mangareva, Rangiroa, Moorea and Nuku Hiva. Now, they're only flying from Tahiti to Los Angeles, Paris, Tokyo and Auckland. A few months back they were also flying to Sydney, Osaka and New York. Those routes are now history, but the airline kept its 5 planes.
I'm sorry I can't comment a lot about those flights, as they happened 2 years ago. However I remember the service was friendly and attentive, the food was good, and the IFE ok. There's no AVOD on Air Tahiti Nui, and passengers were offered a choice of 12 movies (if my memory is right) + games, air show and a few audio channels. Good point: the legroom and seat recline were EXCELLENT, and I love the 2-4-2 configuration of the A340. In addition, there was no one seating next to me between CDG and PPT. If passengers get hungry during the flight, they can get some sandwiches and tons of Oreos in the galleys. To be honnest I've spent the whole flight eating Oreos...My flights were delayed in both directions, but there's such a long distance to fly that we managed to catch up with the delay.
CDG-LAX-PPT is a very long flight, close to 22 hours (12 hours to LAX, 2 hours transit and 8 hours to PPT). The transit in LAX is boring as can be, but as all passengers (even transiting passengers) have to go through immigration, in the end the wait is not too long.
Two things that I love about TN's inflight service:
- upon boarding, the flight attendant standing at the gate hands out a fresh Tiare Tahiti flower to every passenger,
- after take-off, female f/as put on traditional purutu dresses. UTA f/as were the first to do that, and Air France f/as kept this tradition on the PPT flight after the UTA takeover.
On the return flight, the check-in agent assigned me seat in the exit row when he saw how tall I was, without me asking.
Enjoy the pictures...and mauru'uru roa for reading my report.
Flight 1
20th June 2007
Route: Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) - Los Angeles Intl (LAX)
Flight number: TN22
Aircraft type: A340-300
Registration: F-OSEA "Rangiroa"
This flight took off in the late morning, and we arrived in LAX in the afternoon on the same day.
Check-in at CDG
CDG 2A public area
My plane ! What a gorgeous livery.
This aircraft is named after Rangiroa, a wondeful atoll in the Tuamotu archipelago.
Making my way to my seat.
Very comfy seat.
Excellent legroom
In the seatpocket: duty-free catalogue, safety card and the Reva Tahiti inflight magazine.
Welcome message in English and Tahitian. Manureva means airplane (if I'm right, "manu" means "bird" and "reva" means "leaving").
Ammenity kit. Not bad for passengers in Y !
The emblem of Air Tahiti Nui, the Tiare Tahiti flower.
Taxiing past CDG1, aka the "camembert".
Main menu on the IFE. The IFE is available in French, English and Japanese.
Paris Air Show 2007 !
Climbing over the French countryside
Leaving metropolitan France...
US immigration & customs forms.
Over England
Lunch service
Inflight snack: Smoked trout sandwich.
Cabin with window shades down.
The power of flight !
Shortly before the second meal service, and right after the f/as asked us to rise the window shades, this message was displayed on the PTVs. It means "ladies and gentlemen, we hope you had a good rest. In a few moments we will be serving a meal".
Second meal service
Getting closer...
No doubt, we're in the USA.
Transit lounge in LAX TBIT.
Flight 2
20th June 2007
Route: Los Angeles Intl (LAX) - Tahiti Faa'a (PPT)
Flight number: TN22
Aircraft type: A340-300
Registration: F-OSEA "Rangiroa"
After a 2-hours layover, it was time to go back to my plane. Some passengers disembarked in LAX, and some LAX-originating passengers joined us on board.
Rangiroa again. At times there is a plane change at LAX, even though the flight number remains the same.
Still a long way to go.
The Pacific Ocean at last.
Avalon island ?
Drink service
First meal service.
I didn't take pictures after dinner, as night quickly came and I was very tired. I was awaken by the smell of hot food filling the cabin.
Second meal service.
Almost there !
Seconds before landing.
My flight was scheduled to land in PPT around 11:30PM, but we arrived a bit later.
After 6 great months in Tahiti, it was time to go back to France. I left French Polynesia in a full summer mode, and was greeted in Paris by a depressing winter light.
Flight 3
17th December 2007
Route: Tahiti Faa'a (PPT) - Los Angeles Intl (LAX)
Flight number: TN21
Aircraft type: A340-300
Registration: F-OSUN "Moorea"
I had hoped to fly on F-OLOV, TN's latest A340 delivered in 2005 and which features a different interior, but Moorea showed up on the apron. Moorea and Rangiroa were both delivered in 2003. Originally they were ordered by AOM, but never taken up so TN got them. We left with a 2 hours delay as one of TN's aircraft went tech, and the whole flight programme had to be modified.
Check-in at PPT.
My plane, just arrived from LAX and getting ready to go back there again.
Boarding mess
Exit row seat !
After boarding I was soooo tired that I slept immediately. I guess we had two meal services during the flight, but I forgot to take pictures of them.
Parked at LAX TBIT.
Flight 4
18th December 2007
Route: Los Angeles Intl (LAX) - Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
Flight number: TN21
Aircraft type: A340-300
Registration: F-OSUN "Moorea"
Walking back to the plane after 1 hour in the transit lounge.
Fresh cabin, relaxing colors.
Gorgeous uniforms. Too bad they changed them, I don't like the new one. The turquoise color and the scarf were very distinctive.
Check the nice pattern on the bulkhead.
The best legroom one can get on board in Y class !
Gauguin painting in the back of the cabin.
I moved to the back of the cabin to take some pictures and check the legroom of non-bulkhead seats.
Drink & snack before the first meal service.
f/as on duty
Winter Wonderland...my beloved tropical islands are far behind.
First meal service.
Getting ready for my second night on board. I decided to stay at the back of the plane, as I was closer to the galley which was full of Oreos...
GVAJFKflyer From Switzerland, joined Aug 2009, 82 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (2 years 6 months 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 17616 times:
Hi AOMlover. I especially enjoyed your TR about Air Tahiti Nui, as I am planning to fly to PPT next year. My hesitation in that respect is: Air France or Air Tahiti Nui ? (usual dilemma and question several times discussed on various forums).
It looks to me from your report that Air Tahiti is superior to Air France in terms of service, and I would tend to fly with the "Tiare Airline". But from your comments, I was asking myself: will they still be around next year?
MadameConcorde From San Marino, joined Feb 2007, 8698 posts, RR: 50 Reply 2, posted (2 years 6 months 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 17620 times:
What struck me most at PPT airport is the Tahitian dancers and drums in the airport terminal greeting arriving passengers from the Air Tahiti Nui flights.
The Air New Zealand flights don't get them and I am not sure about passengers arriving on Air France.
The drums make a lot of noise and the dancers are amazing.
The other thing that struck me inside PPT airport land side are the huge sand crabs that go around freely in the termial building during the night. A lot of backpackers happen to sleep on the floor while waiting until morning for their flight connections to other remote islands.
The PPT terminal is a difficult place to sleep really as there is so much activity going around. You can run into the Tahitian mamas from the outer islands with their beautiful flowered hats.
The Tahitians wear very colorful clothing comparing with us Europeans. The PPT market by itself is worth a stopover. Not talking about beautiful Moorea island just a short hop away on a TwinOtter or even by ferry.
French Polynesia is so wonderful. The only backside is the high cost of the French Pacifiic Franc and the high cost of living on the Islands. The Cook Islands are much cheaper, so are Western Samoa and Tonga.
Thank you for reminding me of my stays in FP with your trip report. You should post some island pictures. Those lagoons and motus are out of this world.
Ardian From Netherlands, joined Oct 2000, 483 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (2 years 6 months 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 16191 times:
Oh wow, it is always a dream for me to visit French Polynesia some day! I couldn't think of a better place to have your internship.
Nice report from this carrier. I love the color scheme on the Air Tahiti Nui planes; it looks so elegant on the A340 and reflects Tahiti excellent imo.
CrimsonNL From Netherlands, joined Dec 2007, 1340 posts, RR: 44 Reply 4, posted (2 years 6 months 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 16133 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW CHAT OPERATOR
Hi AOM, great read! Nice to see something about this airline. I must say the pictures make the airline look rather relaxing, or fresh, as you mentioned yourself. Its one long trip that's for sure! Thanks for sharing!
Boeingforever From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 211 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (2 years 6 months 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 16022 times:
great trip report...i wish u snagged some shots of the premium classes..i always wonder if they are full on those flights
AOMlover From France, joined Jul 2001, 1281 posts, RR: 15 Reply 6, posted (2 years 6 months 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 15960 times:
Hello again, and thanks for your comments !
Quoting GVAJFKflyer (Reply 1):
It looks to me from your report that Air Tahiti is superior to Air France in terms of service, and I would tend to fly with the "Tiare Airline". But from your comments, I was asking myself: will they still be around next year?
GVAJFKflyer, they will be around next year. French Polynesia can't afford to lose ATN. 70% of its passengers are tourists. No one will let ATN go bust, the consequences on the Polynesian economy will be disastrous.
Why don't you take both ATN and AF ? Since recently, they've become codeshare partners. They used to operate codeshare flights in the past, but it didn't last very long. My father is coming to France next week. He booked his tickets through AF (as always), but his PPT-LAX flight is operated by ATN. AF offers a superior IFE, but I prefer the 2-3-2 configuration of the A340 over the 3-3-3 config of the 777. Plus the A340 is quieter, and ATN is a much more "exotic" airline.
I must add that AF has f/as based in PPT, therefore even if you fly AF you will have a Polynesian welcome on board.
Quoting MadameConcorde (Reply 2): What struck me most at PPT airport is the Tahitian dancers and drums in the airport terminal greeting arriving passengers from the Air Tahiti Nui flights.
That's right ! I got them as well, see the picture below. I took this picture in 2006 when I flew in with AF, but ATN pax also get that kind of musical welcome.
And now, here are some destination pictures, mostly taken in 2006 and some of them in 2007.
GVAJFKflyer From Switzerland, joined Aug 2009, 82 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (2 years 6 months 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 15457 times:
Thanks for your reply AOMlover. I think I will book on TN then: just as you, I would tend to put more emphasis on cabin configuration and quietness than on IFE. Depending on the schedules, I may also book a combined ticket TN/AF, as you suggest. Can't wait to see French Polynesia. And your wonderful pictures made me wonder: why wait until next year to go? I should go now, and possibly book a one-way ticket
Kurt From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 324 posts, RR: 1 Reply 10, posted (2 years 6 months 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 15263 times:
Excellent report, AOMlover, especially the photos of lovely Tahiti. I would love to visit someday when the time is right.
BTW, it's not "Avalon Island," but Santa Catalina Island. Avalon is the main town located on Catalina, as it's commonly called, one of the Channel Islands, of which there are eight. Four are the "north" islands: Anacapa, San Miguel, Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa. The other four are the "south" islands: San Clemente, San Nicolas, Santa Barbara and Santa Catalina. Worth visiting if you have time!
PlaneHunter From Germany, joined Mar 2006, 5122 posts, RR: 80 Reply 12, posted (2 years 6 months 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 14094 times:
Great report, AOMlover. The pictures from Tahiti are simply stunning.
TN's product looks nice in general, especially the seats, but the food couldn't impress me. Anyway, I hope the airline will continue to operate for a long time.
Legacyins From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 1388 posts, RR: 1 Reply 14, posted (2 years 6 months 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 13789 times:
Quoting AlexEU (Reply 13): If I don´t have US visa, would I be able to take the route and ´´transit´´ in LAX like you did?
As a Malaysian citizen, you still need a visa, even to transit the U.S.. The poster was exempt going through the long Immigration lines at TIBT but there are Officers in the transit lounge to process the passengers through Immigration proceedures.
IH8BY From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2005, 1077 posts, RR: 3 Reply 16, posted (2 years 6 months 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 13553 times:
I really did enjoy this trip report and the additional pictures you posted of the destination. I could almost feel the sunshine!
TN looks like a very pleasant carrier - even the standard Y legroom looked pretty generous and the bright colours of the cabin a refreshing change from the over-corporate looks of many mainstream international airlines (without being too garish). The food offering appears to be quite generous and of a decent enough quality. I was certainly curious about the airline having seen one of their aircraft at LAX last year.
You look for your dreams in heaven, but what the hell are you supposed to do when they come true?
Directorguy From Egypt, joined Jul 2008, 1546 posts, RR: 12 Reply 17, posted (2 years 6 months 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 13529 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW CHAT OPERATOR
Amazing TR! They've always seemed to be a good airline, and this TR just confirms it.
And the pics were just stunning. I bet it was a amazing to be there. Of all those exotic getaway islands, Tahiti seems to be the best.
Question-would travelling to French Polynesia be considered domestic? I know it's a DOM so technically you don't need passports to travel between France and Tahiti-or do you? I also noticed the a/c you flew on bore an 'F' registration.
Thank you for sharing an incredible TR! Chapeau, m'sieur
Semsem From Israel, joined Jul 2005, 1779 posts, RR: 4 Reply 18, posted (2 years 6 months 22 hours ago) and read 13339 times:
I went in 1987 on Continental DC-10 and the service was the pits. The flight originated in New York and stopped in LAX and Honolulu. They stopped flying to Papeete.
Have you been to Rangiroa? Did not go there. And the Marquise Islands look interesting. It was very expensive and the food was not good. But pretty.
AOMlover From France, joined Jul 2001, 1281 posts, RR: 15 Reply 19, posted (2 years 6 months 21 hours ago) and read 13307 times:
Many thanks for your kind comments !
Quoting Kurt (Reply 10): BTW, it's not "Avalon Island," but Santa Catalina Island.
Thanks for correcting me, you learn something everyday.
Quoting AlexEU (Reply 13):
If I don´t have US visa, would I be able to take the route and ´´transit´´ in LAX like you did?
No, you will need to have a visa, unless your nationality entitles you to the visa waiver program. I had to go through immigration before entering the transit room, and my passport got stamped.
Quoting Directorguy (Reply 17): Question-would travelling to French Polynesia be considered domestic? I know it's a DOM so technically you don't need passports to travel between France and Tahiti-or do you? I also noticed the a/c you flew on bore an 'F' registration.
It's a bit complicated. Even though French Polynesia is technically part of France, and people who are born there hold the French citizenship, it's not a DOM. A DOM (Département d'Outre Mer), like Martinique, Guadeloupe, Guyane, La Reunion island and Mayotte, is supposed to have the same status as any other département on the mainland.
French Polynesia used to be a TOM (territoire d'outre-mer), but the status of the territory has evolved recently into becoming a POM (Pays d'Outre-mer, Overseas Country). To make it short, French Polynesia is much more independent from the Mainland than the DOMs. I'd say if a direct nonstop CDG-PPT flight existed, then it would be considered a domestic flight. But as of now it's not the case as the flight stops in LAX.
Quoting Semsem (Reply 18): Have you been to Rangiroa? Did not go there. And the Marquise Islands look interesting. It was very expensive and the food was not good. But pretty.
Yes, I've been there. It's very nice. Actually, picture 49 to 77 were all taken in Rangiroa. Life in FP is still INSANELY expensive. That's one of the reason why the tourism industry has been suffering so much recently.
SCCutler From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 4794 posts, RR: 33 Reply 21, posted (2 years 5 months 4 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 12978 times:
Ah, memories.
My family and I also visited French Polynesia a few years back, on TN; his may be the only viable reason to set foot in Los Angeles!
We were very pleased with the service on TN, but our flight was completely full. How full was it, you ask?
We sat near the aft galley (maybe 2 rows from the back), and several times during the 8-hour flight, I got up to use the lavatory back there, and saw a young lady sitting in the jump seat on the right side - the one which is *directly* across from the lav door (what- 1.5M away?). Near the end of the flight, as I waited in line to use the loo, I casually mentioned to her that "...non-revenue flying has its sacrifices..."- she looked at me with a sour face, and told me, "I am NOT non-revenue!" Ouch.
Don't know what the story was, but I bet it started with something about overbooking, and ended with "I gotta be there!"
Eight hours on a bulkhead folding seat. Yikes.
---
As for FP itself, we were charmed, but discovered that we need not have brought much in the way of clothes in our bags, as dress is very casual there; rather, we should have filled our suitcases with cash, because we needed all we could bring, and all we could imagine as well.
Nonetheless, I'd go back in a heartbeat, and I'd certainly fly Air Tahiti Nui again, as I found their service to be very good.
...three miles from BRONS, clear for the ILS one five approach...
Jawed From United States of America, joined Sep 2006, 477 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (2 years 5 months 4 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 12858 times:
Wow, this is an incredible trip report! If you don't mind me asking, what kind of internship did you do in Tahiti for 6 months? I would also like to visit Tahiti for an extended period, but I need a good excuse/occupation.... I'm in a technical field myself.
Your pictures remind me of this quote from the movie Mutiny on the Bounty:
The island of Tahiti - a destination so far away that one couldn't go farther without starting to come home
AlexEU From Serbia, joined Oct 2007, 1772 posts, RR: 3 Reply 23, posted (2 years 5 months 4 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 12836 times:
Quoting Legacyins (Reply 14): As a Malaysian citizen, you still need a visa, even to transit the U.S.. The poster was exempt going through the long Immigration lines at TIBT but there are Officers in the transit lounge to process the passengers through Immigration proceedures.
I am not a Malaysian citizen, but I still think it is weird that people that just transit in USA (airport) need a visa or need to clear customs and immigration.
Quoting AOMlover (Reply 19): I'd say if a direct nonstop CDG-PPT flight existed, then it would be considered a domestic flight. But as of now it's not the case as the flight stops in LAX.
Actually even flights to Guadaloupe, Martinique and Reunion are from international terminal because they are not part of Schengen.
AOMlover From France, joined Jul 2001, 1281 posts, RR: 15 Reply 25, posted (2 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 11543 times:
Quoting SCCutler (Reply 21):
We were very pleased with the service on TN, but our flight was completely full. How full was it, you ask?
Maybe 75% full in both directions, which is quite surprising because I flew during the high season.
Quoting SCCutler (Reply 21): rather, we should have filled our suitcases with cash, because we needed all we could bring, and all we could imagine as well.
Life in FP is way, way too expensive. That's one of the reasons why the local tourism industry has been collapsing constantly over the last few years.
Quoting Jawed (Reply 22): If you don't mind me asking, what kind of internship did you do in Tahiti for 6 months? I would also like to visit Tahiti for an extended period, but I need a good excuse/occupation.... I'm in a technical field myself.
I'm a business school student, and I was working in the Marketing & Communication department of a big Polynesian company. It was an unpaid internship. It's very hard to get an internship in Tahiti, unless you know someone who lives there. Accomodation is hard to find, and it's very expensive. In order to live comfortably in Tahiti, you should earn at least 2000€ monthly. 2000€ is a minimum.
Av8rDAL From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 435 posts, RR: 2 Reply 26, posted (2 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 11494 times:
Magnifique!
I was hoping for some pics of Tahiti itself in addition to the flight. Wish granted.
Excellent report.
Maintain thine airspeed, lest the Earth rise up and smite thee.
Legacyins From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 1388 posts, RR: 1 Reply 27, posted (2 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 11330 times:
Quoting AlexEU (Reply 23): I am not a Malaysian citizen, but I still think it is weird that people that just transit in USA (airport) need a visa or need to clear customs and immigration.
Sorry, I thought I saw a Malaysian flag somewhere. As a Citizen of Brunei, you can enter/Transit the U.S. under the Visa Waiver program.
After 9/11, The TWOV (Transit without Visa) program was suspended and passengers in general were required to go through Immigration procedures. Yes, it is a bit odd as compared to most Asian/Euopean airport policies but that is the Government of the U.S. for you.
Sponsor Message: 
From France, joined Jul 2001, 1281 posts, 
From Switzerland, joined Aug 2009, 82 posts, 
From San Marino, joined Feb 2007, 8698 posts, 
From Netherlands, joined Oct 2000, 483 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 211 posts, 
From Sweden, joined May 2007, 15840 posts, 
From Germany, joined Mar 2006, 5122 posts, 
From Serbia, joined Oct 2007, 1772 posts, 
From Australia, joined Oct 2004, 1482 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2005, 1077 posts, 
From Egypt, joined Jul 2008, 1546 posts, 
From Israel, joined Jul 2005, 1779 posts, 
From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 22465 posts, 
Sponsor Message: 
Printer friendly format
