Review of Air Tahiti flight from Papeete to Bora Bora in Economy

Hello and welcome to my first report in English. Even if it’s my first report in English, I’m not a rookie on Flight Report, I’ve been there from almost the beginning but all my reports are in French.
Let me introduce myself : I’m a 36 years old man, I’ve lived in Tahiti for 5 years (end of 2008) and nothing predisposed me to have an interest in civil aviation. I did not travel by plane when I was young with my parents : I was almost 30 when I took my first long haul flight. In 2008 when I came to Tahiti with an Air Tahiti Nui. Airbus A340, I didn’t know how to recognize it…
But when you live in an isolated island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, a plane is the only way out. So I started to have an interest for planes, airlines, frequent flyer programs… The virus was in me ! And now here I am.
First part : Flight Report
This flight is a leisure flight with my familly, to the Pearl of the Pacific : Bora Bora.
And also a special flight, my 100th flight with Air Tahiti.
Welcome to Tahiti Faa’a airport (PPT)

We arrive first at the international part of the terminal. PPT is not a busy airport, and today is a busy day : 2 flights are leaving this morning, one Air Tahiti Nui to Tokyo (NRT) and one Air France to Los Angeles (LAX) and Paris (CDG). 4 flights in total for the day.

Not so many people at the international check in

I keep walking a few meters : here are passeport and security check

Only a few meters more : here is international arrivals

Snack and restaurant

And I arrive at the domestic terminal

Flight schedule this morning. Air Tahiti is the only airline to operate domestic flights

Panoramic view of the domestic part of the terminal

Let’s go to check in

I could use self check in

But no waiting time at the counter

Boarding pass, which looks sad I think. A more colorful one would better represent Tahiti and her islands

Check in on the right, security check point on the left

I’m now airside in the only boarding area of the domestic terminal

Another snack shop at the back of the room

And 3 boarding gates, no jet bridge

Some flyers advertising for activities in the islands

My gate will be number 12

The last flight before mine is called. A clandestine passenger is trying to board

But he’s quickly spotted and ejected from the queue

Boarding is now called for me. We will walk on the tarmac and have nice view of the planes.
Wide bodies on the right, 2 Airbus A340-300 of Air Tahiti Nui and 1 Boeing B777-200ER of Air France

Air Tahiti’s planes are ATR 72 or 42

But my favorite one is the De Havilland Canada DHC6 “Twin Otter”
Air Archipels is a 100% owned subsidiary of Air Tahiti

Our plane today is an ATR72 named “Hekeani”. That means sky traveler in Tahitian

Boarding

Air Tahiti only has an economy class, and here is the seat, in dark blue leather with little recline

Seats are not assigned, free seating, and I choose to sit at the rear of the cabin on the left

The pitch with generous legroom

Air Tahiti offers an inflight magazine that offers beautiful picture of French Polynesia

Inside you can find an introduction to Air Tahiti

And the fleet, with a large part of ATR (european manufacturer of turboprops)

But something recently changed, and you will understand why I chose my seat at the rear on the left

Payload of ATR72-500 aircraft has increased by 200 kg / 440 lb and Air Tahiti has increased the seating capacity from 66 to 68. To do that you have to reduce pitch between seats. But 3 rows at the the rear on left escaped reduction and offer larger legroom (circled in red in the following picture)

With this other picture, you can see the variation of the legroom with this change

Another pic to illustrate, the plastic part between rows, standard on the right, extended on the left. 50% gain, not negligible

View through the window, the plexiglass is of poor quality and this picture is without any treatment

Air Tahiti Nui’s flight to Tokyo is taking off

Safety demonstration

and safety card in French, Tahitian and English

Take off 10 minutes late, left turn and view of PPT airport. You can see that the runway is built on the lagoon

Just after I can see the island of Moorea wich is only 12 miles away from Tahiti

Focus on Temae beach with overwater bungalows of the Sofitel Ia Ora resort in Moorea

Cook’s Bay on left, Rotui mountain in the middle, and Opunohu Bay on right (too cloudy, I’m sorry)

After that it’s time for the 2 stewards to offer a complementary drink, and the pineapple juice is like a trademark of Air Tahiti

Air Tahiti offers Buy On board

You can see the prices : 1 € is 120 CFP, so at this time 1 $ is 92 CFP

Flight is short and I already see the coast of Raiatea island

You can Raiatea airport (RFP) on left and the lagoon

Tahaa island (foreground) share the same lagoon with Raiatea island (background)

It’s now time for approach to Bora Bora

Too cloudy to see the summit of main island (Otemanu mountain)

But great view on the lagoon with luxury hotels and overwater bungalows

Now you can make out the silhouette of Otemanu mountain

The airport of Bora Bora, on a “motu” named Motu Mute (a “motu” is an island on the corral reef). It was the first airport build in French Polynesia, by US army during World War II

after passing Bora Bora, left turn to align with runway and wind

Soft landing 5 minutes late, U turn at the end of the runway, and going to the terminal

Disembarking on the tarmac

And going to the terminal that is undergoing renovation

Goind around the small boarding area

and we are in the arrivals area, greeted by hotels with flower necklaces

The « carrousel »

In BOB, the airport has 2 sides like every airport. Airside of course, but the other one is not landside but “lagoonside”

Air Tahiti provides a shuttle boat to go to Vaitape on the main island

But luxury hotels provide their own boat to go directly to the hotel

This one is for us

Only 20 minutes after landing, we leave the airport

10 minutes of navigation on the lagoon to the hotel which offer beautiful views

Second part : Hotel Report
This is my 4th journey to Bora Bora, and as a touristic bonus I offer you some pictures of hotels I frequented
First time : Sofitel Marara (november 2008)
This hotel is located on the main island, and it's a shame not to have the view of the silhouette of Otemanu mountain so characteristic of Bora Bora

But another part of the hotel, named Sofitel Motu is on a small island in the lagoon

Beach bungalows are pretty good

The Sofitel is not my favorite in Bora Bora, but I must say I have not been lucky with the weather, and it didn't help me to appreciate the magnificence of the place, though the colors can be surprising with clouds and rain

Second time : Pearl Beach Resort (august 2009)
I really liked this resort located on a beautiful motu, and according to me, it’s one of the best price values in Bora Bora

We stayed in a garden bungalow, polynesian style

The private pool and garden were very pleasant

Overwater bungalows were not for us this time

Beautiful beach and lagoon

Third time : Saint Regis resort (february 2011)
The luxury !

We stayed in an overwater bungalow, wich is not only a bungalow but a real suite, more than 1500 sq ft

Bedroom

Living room

Bathroom

and sundeck

Many pools in the resort, each one more beautiful than the last

White sand beach and lagoon looks like paradise on earth

Fourth time : Meridien (november 2013)
This is the hotel in which we stayed the journey of this flight report

Overwater bungalow one more time

This is the biggest glass bottom of overwater bungalows in French Polynesia, 6 or 7 ft long

The view from our deck

Very beautiful resort, we really enjoyed our stay

One of main attraction to the resort (for child and adults too) is the turtle center

You can also swim 15 minutes with them for free

At last, Bora Bora is a perfect honeymooner destination

All hotels can organize wedding ceremonies upon request

And this young couple, probably coming from Japan seems to appreciate it

That’s all for this long report, I hope you enjoyed it !
If you want more, you can see an old archive Flight Report (in French) of a similar flight PPT BOB with beautiful aerial pictures and no cloud : CLICK HERE
You can also find French version of the Flight Reports of this journey
PPT – BOB, VT 420 : CLICK HERE
BOB – PPT, VT 426 : CLICK HERE
Special thanks to KevinDC for his help