Wednesday newsletters at all times function a lodge or flight overview.
I lately loved an unbelievable vacation in French Polynesia (Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora). You can learn my journey reviews right here:
- Review: Air Tahiti Nui Boeing 787 Dreamliner Business Class from Paris to Los Angeles
- Review: Air Tahiti Nui Boeing 787 Dreamliner Business Class from Los Angeles to Papeete (at this time)
- Review: The Brando
- Review: InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa
- Review: Air Tahiti ATR 72 Economy Class (Tahiti to Bora Bora)
- Review: InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa
- Review: St Regis Bora Bora
- Review: Four Seasons Bora Bora
- Review: Air Tahiti Nui Boeing 787 Dreamliner Business Class from Papeete to Paris
Today: Air Tahiti Nui Boeing 787 Dreamliner Business Class from Los Angeles to Tahiti
Last September, I flew with Air Tahi Nui from Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris to Faa’a International Airport in Tahiti, with a brief stopover in Los Angeles. This is my overview of the second flight leg (Los Angeles to Tahiti). One of the nice issues about flying with Air Tahiti Nui is the tropical ambiance of its Boeing 787 plane, which immerses you within the “mana” of the Tahitian island as quickly as you step onboard. For instance, a shocking floor-to-ceiling photograph of Bora Bora island takes middle stage within the airplane’s entry galley, a reminder that the airplane is about to go to French Polynesia, one of many world’s most stunning paradises. Upon coming into the airplane, the historically dressed and at all times smiling cabin crew additionally arms out Tiare flowers, the nationwide flower of the islands of Tahiti. It all evokes a way of vacation, which helps to go away behind the annoyances and stress of attending to and thru the airport. The onboard expertise was nice as nicely (particularly the meals), as you’ll be able to learn under.
On a facet be aware, this flight was an enormous problem for me as I’m a really nervous flyer, particularly when flying over the ocean. Flight time from Los Angeles to Tahiti is 7 hours and half-hour, and the complete route goes over the Pacific Ocean (there are not any islands or land plenty alongside the best way). The Pacific is the most important and deepest of the world’s oceans, so if an issue happens over this infinite pond of water, the closest diversion airport is likely to be hours away. Therefore, aircraft working over the Pacific Ocean (or every other ocean) have to be ETOPS licensed, which stands for Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards. ETOPS certification requires a set of requirements: it should be demonstrated that flying with one engine is secure, and that the airline has hight coaching & upkeep requirements. Air Tahiti Nui can function beneath ETOPS 225 requirements, which signifies that its ETOPS-certified plane can fly on routes which might be 225 minutes from appropriate alternate airports (e.g. Hawaii), a press release to the provider’s impeccable security fame.
Have you ever flown with Air Tahiti Nui? If so, what was your expertise? Leave a remark.
- Trip: Los Angeles (LAX) to Papeete (PPT)
- Airline: Air Tahiti Nui
- Aircraft kind: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
- Aircraft registration quantity: F-OVAA (named Bora Bora)
- On time departure: sure (4:30 pm)
- On time arrival: (sure 9 pm)
- Miles: 4110 miles (6610 km)
- Flight time: 7 hours and half-hour
- Seat: 5A
- Class: Business Class
In this overview (extra data & photographs under my YouTube video):
- About Air Tahiti Nui
- Transit in LAX
- Business Class cabin
- Business Class seat (+ greatest & worst seats)
- Amenities & bedding
- Meals
- Entertainment
- Onboard web
- Other inflight experiences
- My verdict (rating)
1. ABOUT AIR TAHITI NUI
In 1996, Air Tahiti Nui was based to attach the world to one of many world’s most paradisiacal locations, the islands of Tahiti. The Government of French Polynesia – an abroad collectivity of France – is the airline’s main shareholder together with different native buyers. IN 2019, Air Tahiti Nui completely renewed its fleet – then consisting of 5 Airbus A340-300 plane – by 4 Boeing 787-9s, which it proudly calls its “Tahitian Dreamliners”.
In 2018, in anticipation of its new fleet of Boeing 787-9s, Air Tahiti Nui launched its redesigned brandmark and up to date typography. The redesigned emblem is a joint collaboration between Future Brand and Polynesian up to date artist Alexander Lee. The re-drawn emblem represents a tiare flower, the airline’s emblem from the beginning of its historical past, depicted in a two-thirds view, with the profile of ‘vahine (woman, in Tahitian) in its pistil, a nod to Tahiti’s fame for stunning ladies and flowers within the South Seas.
Air Tahiti Nui supplies service to Tahiti from Paris, Los Angeles, Seattle, Auckland and Tokyo. Through partnerships and code share agreements, the airways provides connections from 30+ different locations, together with Sydney, Beijing and New York.
2. TRANSIT IN LAX
Air Tahiti Nui operates its flights from Paris to Tahiti with a stopover in both Los Angeles or Seattle. At Los Angeles International airport (LAX), the switch is a exceptional easy and simple course of. Air Tahiti Nui operates from the Midfield Satellite Concourse (MSC) terminal, a brand new extension linked to the primary Tom Bradley terminal through an underground pedestrian tunnel. After touchdown from Paris (or Tahiti), transit passengers need to clear immigration and TSA (Transportation Security Administration) in a devoted room proper subsequent to the gate, which makes for simple identification and movement. The course of takes lower than half-hour, therefore why Air Tahiti Nui has a stop-over in LAX of lower than 2 hours on the best way from Paris to Tahiti. Carry-one baggage needs to be taken with you through the transit, whereas checked baggage stays on the airplane.
3. BUSINESS CLASS CABIN
The Business Class cabin onboard the Tahitian Dreamliner options 30 Rockwell Collins Diamond flatbed seats. These seats are configured in 5 rows on a six-abreast (2-2-2) association. Air Tahiti Nui select for a 2-2-2 structure within the premium cabin of its new Boeing 787s since most of the airline’s Business Class vacationers are {couples} on their honeymoons or wedding ceremony anniversaries. Unfortunately, this additionally signifies that passengers seated in a window seat is not going to have direct aisle entry, which might be relatively uncomfortable when you’re not touring with a associate.
All seats face ahead, with the seats on the facet barely angled in direction of the home windows, away from the aisle. Paired seats are staggered by a few inches (cm); along with a small partition, this creates some privateness in case you might be seated subsequent to a stranger (though the seats and cabin are very open) and on the similar time permits sufficient interplay when you’re touring with a companion.
The Business Class cabin incorporates a great, refreshing and unique design, impressed by the spectacular great thing about the islands of Tahiti. The seat’s marine blue materials and delicate picket finishes mirror French Polynesia’s pure parts and create a vivid coloration palette that evokes the white sand seashores and turquoise water of the Polynesian lagoons. A Tiare motif is printed within the leather-based headrests of every seat, subtly reinforcing the visible model picture of Air Tahiti Nui. The wall on the again of the cabin can be adorned by a colourful portray of Polynesian ladies, which appears like a reprint of a portray of Paul Gaugain, the well-known post-impressist artist who fell in love with French Polynesia.
The Tahitian Dreamliner’s Business Class structure is similar one which you additionally discover on different airways, resembling KLM’s A330s, Qatar Airlines’ A330s, and Ethiopian Airlines B787s.
4. BUSINESS CLASS SEAT (+ BEST & WORST SEATS)
Air Tahiti Nui’s Business Class seat is nice, though it doesn’t provide a lot privateness and the consolation of the flat-bed will largely rely on the seat that you simply select (extra on that under). The delicate cushioned seat has a pitch of 78 inches (195 cm), which is outlined because the area between one level on a seat and the identical level on the seat in entrance of it. The seat width is 21 inches (53 cm) – outlined because the area between the arm rests – which is comfy however not among the many widest within the trade.
Each seat options its personal 16 inch HD touchscreen TV, which will also be managed by a handset nestled within the armrest. Below the TV monitor is a drawer (which is giant sufficient to retailer a laptop computer) and a footrest (which turns into a part of the flatbed as soon as the seat is absolutely reclined). The dimension of this footrest is variable: the bulkhead seats in row 1 provide a a lot bigger ottoman as in comparison with the opposite Business Class seats (so ensure that to decide on a seat within the first row when you can); additionally, the aisle seats have a bigger foot relaxation in comparison with window seats.
The middle armrest – which is shared between paired seats – incorporates a small shared desk (for drinks & snacks), a management panel for the seat positions, and a distant handset for the inflight leisure system. It additionally holds a reasonably sized fold-out tray desk. Next to the seat, behind the headrest, is a small, considerably tough to achieve storage compartment with a magnetic adaptor for the headphones. Each seat can be outfitted with a typical common energy outlet and two USB ports
The seat goes absolutely flat (180 levels recline), however your sleep consolation would possibly rely on the seat you select: apart from the bulkhead seats in row 1 (which include giant ottomans), the footrests are relatively slender and this may increasingly considerably hamper a very good evening’s relaxation.
What are the greatest Business Class seats
- All seats within the cabin are glorious for these touring with a companion due to the 2-2-2 structure.
- The bulkhead seats in row 1 function a a lot bigger footrest as in comparison with all different seats, so these are the seats you wish to fly (and sleep) in, though proximity to the galley and toilet might trigger some gentle noise disturbance once in a while.
What are the worst Business Class seats
- The 2-2-2 Business Class structure doesn’t make the cabin very engaging for solo vacationers, since you’ll at all times find yourself sitting subsequent to a stranger. There is a small display although between adjoining seats that are additionally staggered by a few inches, creating some further ranges of privateness (albeit not sufficient).
- Window seats don’t provide direct aisle entry.
- The window seats within the 4th row are missing a window and are greatest prevented.
Click right here for a seat map of the Tahitian Dreamliner.
5. AMENITIES & BEDDING
Air Tahiti Nui supplies the next facilities to its Business Class passengers:
- A Poerava Business consolation equipment, which comes within the type of a beige toiletry bag. It comprises not solely merchandise manufactured from recyclable supplies (cornstarch toothbrush, bamboo fiber sock, natural cotton masks) but in addition a spread of recent beauty merchandise made in Polynesia (face and arms cream arms and a lip balm) from the model “Heiva”.
- A decently sized pillow (adorned with stunning Tahitian motifs)
- A cushty, heat and opulent blanket
- Air Tahiti Nui branded noise cancelling headphones, that are of wonderful high quality
6. MEALS
On this flight, a 3 course lunch (after takeoff) and lightweight dinner (previous to touchdown) had been served. The (late) lunch service began with good contact: the crew handed out white Taire flowers (the emblematic flower of the islands of Tahiti), adopted by a welcome drink, a scorching towel, and a scrumptious amuse bouche of smoked salmon blinis. I select the next choice from the menu (there was a alternative of three primary programs):
- Land & sea starter: roasted duck with farro salad + seared ahi tuna with Tahitian sauce, child greens and citrus
- Main course: sole filet with almonds, parsnip purée and sauted chard, served with a brown butter sauce
- Trio of desserts: pecan pie, vanilla cheesecake, seasonal fruit salad
All dishes tasted glorious and the meals was fantastically offered.
Ninety minutes previous to touchdown, whereas approaching the French Polynesian archipelago, a lightweight dinner was supplied:
7. ENTERTAINMENT
Each Business Class seat is supplied with an interactive touchscreen which provides superior HD decision. The inflight leisure options the most recent era system from Panasonic, and provides a good (albeit relatively restricted) collection of leisure, with 16 films, 40 music albums, 15 video video games and a number of other devoted TV reveals & documentaries channel. A spotlight of the inflight leisure is Tiare TV, a distinctive channel dedicated to the islands of French Polynesia. Among others, Tiara TV incorporates a documentary about The Brando, one of many world’s most unique non-public island resorts and former residence of the late actor Marlon Brando.
8. ONBOARD INTERNET
Air Tahiti Nui provides highspeed Wi-Fi on their 787s. Business Class passengers get a voucher with 10MB of free information (one per flight leg), which doesn’t precisely final a very long time. After these date are used, one of many following packages might be chosen:
- Package MAEVA (10 MB for $9 USD) – Send and obtain emails with some small attachments
- Package IAORA (20 MB for $15 USD) – Send and obtain emails, restricted web shopping, add and obtain a number of photographs
- Package FENUA (50 MB for $29 USD) – Send and obtain emails, browse the web, add and obtain photographs
- Package NUI (200 MB for $49 USD) – Send and obtain emails, browse the web, add and obtain photographs, stream audio content material
9. OTHER INFLIGHT EXPERIENCES
# CREW: The service on this flight was each attentive and unassuming (and similar to the service I loved on the Paris to Los Angeles leg). The cabin crew did no matter it took to make passengers really feel relaxed, comfy and glad. They additionally modified from modern metropolis uniforms to elegant and comfy Tahitian apparel shortly after take-off. The crew’s colourful clothes and shirts mirrored the allure, magnificence and heat which might be typical of the French Polynesian islands. The pilot even launched herself in individual to the Business Class passengers throughout boarding (a a lot appreciated gesture).
# LAVATORY: There are three toilets for the 30 Business Class passengers. One is situated behind the cockpit and two are situated within the galley between the Business and Premium Economy Class cabin. Calming Tahitian music is performed contained in the toilets.
10. MY VERDICT
- Seat consolation (upright): 8/10
- Seat consolation (mattress place): 7/10
- Food (high quality): 9/10
- Food (amount): 9/10
- Inflight leisure : 8/10
- WiFi: 8/10 (however costly)
- Service: 9/10
- Cabin design: 8/10
- Overall expertise: superb: 8/10
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