Airline Review: Air Tahiti Nui – On the world’s friendliest flight

For most airlines, a flight tends to be about getting passengers from Point A to Point B; Air Tahiti Nui, French Polynesia’s flagship carrier, however, appears to have committed to full destination immersion from the get-go.

Some 30 minutes after I clock the blue Boeing 787-9 pulling up, heavily tattooed, at Auckland International for our 4.5-hour flight to Papeete, I board the aircraft to discover a set dresser has zjushed the space first. How else to explain the vibrant blues of the seats, designed to bring to mind the fabled island nation’s lagoons, or the joyous Polynesian music? But now I’m getting ahead of myself.

If you’re not familiar with Air Tahiti Nui, there’s little doubt you will be soon. Although the Tahitian Dreamliner has long offered direct flights to Papeete from Auckland, Paris, Los Angeles and Tokyo, it now offers direct flights from Sydney, eliminating both the dreaded Auckland stopover and, for those flying onto other islands, the mandatory Tahiti overnighter. Happily, we’re not getting any crusty leftovers either; the airline is entirely comprised of Boeing 787-9s featuring three cabin classes (Moana Economy,
Manava Premium and Poerava Business),
but also equipped with anti-turbulence sensors, quieter engines, air renewal systems and in-flight Wi-Fi.

On a recent trip to Tahiti  (my sixth), I’m happy to fly from Auckland to Papeete in Economy, but even more delighted to road test Papeete to Auckland in Premium Economy.  Sadly, I’ve yet to step foot inside Poerava Business, but I hear it’s lovely.

---

Air Tahiti Nui Moana Economy

I don’t so much as board a plane as I am ushered into a wonderland of beaming faces, each flight attendant seemingly desperate to get my thoughts on the turquoise-accented cabin which harks back to the atolls of Bora Bora (colour therapy, indeed, is a thing).

Economy has 232 seats arranged in a 3-3-3 configuration offering 79cm of room between rows and a 15cm recline. In print it’s not too shabby and in reality it’s even better because there are plenty of seats in which to stretch out and enjoy the disco light show which begins once we’re airborne (technically, it’s called Tahitian Bliss LED lighting, which is designed to fight jetlag, but side note: it also makes me want to don a sequinned jumpsuit and dance).

While I’m less fond of the colour-clashing cushions (I know, I know, they’re meant to resemble the colours of the islands, but they’re bright red, green and yellow), I’m relieved to find it has USB ports, a 30cm Panasonic eX3 entertainment system, and a comfort set which includes earphones, socks and a sleeping mask. The movie selection is decent enough, but the available music isn’t really cutting it.

Our flight to Papeete takes off on time and
is not only smooth, but incredibly pleasant – thanks largely to the comfortable seating and the satisfying meal of beef cheeks with mash and vegetables served alongside a turkey ham salad, passionfruit mousse and cheese and crackers.

Would-be Economy passengers should note that fee-based à la carte seating options are available during the booking process. My advice? Keep an eye on the Extra Comfort seats of Row 18 seats 32DEF and next to emergency exit seats 31BC and 31JK but note 18 AB, 18KL and 32DE are positioned in front of the bassinet locations. From Auckland these are 20NZD (around $16) and well worth it.

---

Air Tahiti Nui Manava Premium

First up, the good news: Premium Economy enjoys a dedicated check-in area, access to fast security checks and priority boarding, so I drop into my wide Manava Premium Z535 seat feeling relaxed (obviously a week in French Polynesia also helps).

The blue here is darker and features patterned cushions and headrests. I’m not quite sure what to do with the tiare flower that’s pressed into my palm, but I see that many other guests have already slipped it behind their ears.

I slide mine into the pocket, and once I (literally) take note of the roomy 2-3-2 configuration across five rows and check out the amenities kit (noise-reducing ear plugs, bamboo toothbrush, sleeping mask and socks), I turn my attention to my screen. This time, it’s a 33cm touchscreen, and again, features a USB port to power devices. Prices for Wi-Fi, I should point out, start from $25 for Maeva 50 Mo, which includes enough juice for emails, instant messages and social media. True, there’s an $11 package too, but it only covers instant messages.

I could natter about the cabin’s 20cm seatback recline and 96.5cm of space between each row but much of my joy on this leg comes from the service.

My flight attendant, clearly not content with ‘only’ serving a rice pudding crepe with accompaniments for breakfast, is keen to push wine every hour, on the hour. “No wine? Are you sure? Any time for wine is the right time,” he smiles as he pauses by my seat. It’s all very French and very charming, plus I feel totally pampered, almost as though I’m the only guest on board. My verdict? Economy is solid, but the upgrade to Premium Economy is worth every cent.

---