I am not sure about you, but I tend to be a little bit fussy about airlines, especially when traveling out of the country. Our trip to New Zealand earlier this year presented additional challenges. The mere thought of having to be confined 12+ non-stop hours in the cramped tourist section of an airplane (Los Angeles to Auckland) can be enough to make most sane people re-evaluate their travel plans, and we were no exception. We toyed with the idea of Business Class but, spending several thousand dollars for such a ticket seemed far too extravagant, nor did we have the necessary air miles to upgrade.

Then we discovered that Air Tahiti Nui offers service to New Zealand with a 2 hour stop in Papeete, Tahiti. The thought of being able to stretch those legs and getting some fresh air sounded appealing. Equally attractive was the airfare, almost $300 less than what any of the other carriers, such as Air New Zealand, Qantas, American, or United had to offer. This might not always be the case, so check for specials, or book through a consolidator.

A little research revealed that Air Tahiti Nui has been in business since 1998, with a fleet of Airbus 340-300s, considered 'quietest' in the sky. Based in Tahiti, their routes include Tokyo, Sydney, Auckland, L.A., and Paris, with New York expected as a new addition in July 05! The company's logo, the beautiful Tiare (Tahiti flower) shows prominently on the tail of their aircraft, and each plane carries the name of a French Polynesian island or atoll. We flew on the Bora Bora.

As it turned out, we couldn't have made a better choice! Considering the inevitable chaos at Los Angeles International Airport, checking in at Air Tahiti Nui's ticket counter was like a breath of fresh air. Warm and friendly service, with a smile, at LAX? Certainly not the norm, trust me!

Flight 101 to Tahiti/Auckland doesn't leave until 11:25 p.m. Dreading the long over-night flight, we inquired if an upgrade to Business Class (Poerava) was available and how much it would cost. $900 per person later (hey, you only live once and it was significantly less than the cost of a regular B.C. ticket), we were swiftly escorted through security and directed to the 5th floor lounge (shared with Air France), where we could relax until called for boarding. Once on board and settled in those wonderfully spacious, fully adjustable and comfortable Business Class seats, any guilt feelings for having 'splurged' were completely gone! There are 24 seats in Business Class with a 2-2-2 configuration.

The interior of Air Tahiti Nui's fleet is attractive, with a 'soft' tropical decor. It pleases the senses, at least mine, but then I am partial to anything which remotely reminds me of sun, surf, and sand!

It didn't take us long to understand why this airline's in-flight personnel has been rated #1 in the Asian-Pacific area and #4 world-wide by Skytrax Surveys as "Best Cabin Staff". The high standard of service never faltered throughout the long flight, not to mention that the cabin crew was extremely attractive and looked rather stunning in their colorful uniforms. The people of the South Pacific exude such grace and charm, and this crew was the perfect example that service with a smile goes a very long way! Passengers respond in positive ways by being much less demanding or impatient, which makes for a more pleasant journey for everyone on board.

The food was excellent! Dinner and breakfast was served on the LAX to Papeete leg, and a brunch from Papeete to Auckland, each with a variety of selections. Liquor usually flows freely in Business Class and it was no different on this flight. A Pineapple Tahitian Maitai was served as a welcome drink, and the French wines (Clos des Menuts & Bourgogne Aligote) and Champagne ( Nicolas Feuillatte - Special Reserve), were superb. But, as tempting as those were, we made sure that the majority of our 'liquid' intake was water!

Each passenger receives a 'comfort kit'. Those in Business Class contain socks, lip balm, eye shades, ear plugs, body lotion, tooth brush, and tooth paste. The ones in Economy Class are a little smaller, but still include eye shades, ear plugs, socks, a wet towelette, and ear phones. Even the blankets are 'upgraded', they are larger and much thicker than those in the back.

Since it was such a late departure, we really did not take advantage of the movie selection during the first leg of the flight. It was so wonderful to be able to stretch out and almost fully recline into a horizontal position, that we decided to take advantage of it and get some rest. Several up to date movies were offered, both in English and French, along with several music channels, news channel, as well as a variety of games, and cartoons.

The time in Tahiti passes quickly. All passengers have to deplane and, those continuing on, are required to wait in the transit lounge, First or Business Class passengers in the VIP lounge. There is no jetway in Papeete, and it's wonderful to be able take that short walk to the terminal in the warm tropical air! From Papeete it was on to Auckland, with a fresh crew.

The return flight (Flt 102) gave us a little different perspective since we were only able to upgrade on the first leg, then had to fly the long night-flight in the eh...'cattle' section. To make matters worse, there was not an empty seat in the house! Although the seats were more comfortable and offered a little more legroom than what we've experienced on various other oversea flights, it still felt cramped. Individual seat-back TV's are a nice feature. Those who can't sleep in such a sardine-can environment (like me) can keep themselves entertained all night by playing games, or watching movies! Seating configuration in Economy Class is 2-4-2, a better arrangement than on most long distance aircraft.

Economy Class service was very good but not stellar, which would almost be an unrealistic expectation on a completely full flight. I was a flight attendant myself (last life!), and I know how difficult it can be. Unlike on some European flights, where the attendants have to get so called 'mandatory' sleep-time (I've never figured that one out!), this crew stayed busy throughout the night. Food was okay but not great (after all, we were spoiled by now), and they never brought my coffee during breakfast until it was almost time to land back in L.A. No big deal, it turned out not to be fit to drink anyway. Wine, beer, and champagne were complimentary and offered generously. On a funny and rather strange note, the silverware contained real knives, but plastic spoons. Go figure!

Overall, I have to give this airline at least 4 stars, and 5 for Business Class. All flights were on-time, we had no problems with luggage, and the crews, including the flight crew who regularly kept us informed on the flight status, were above the norm (at least by today's standards).

However, there are always a few drawbacks. Nothing in life is ever perfect. Air Tahiti Nui does not offer a daily flight from Los Angeles to Auckland, so you have to work your schedule around Monday and Wednesday departures and Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday returns. Also, we were not able to reserve seats ahead of time but had to wait until check-in in L.A., another reason to show up early at the ticket counter, but a dilemma if you have a tight connection.

Even though Air Tahiti Nui partners with American and Northwest Airlines, miles can only be redeemed, not acrued, so forget about getting credit for those long distance flights.

All that considered, we would certainly choose them again. These days, all too many airlines seem to forget that they are part of a service industry and we, the customers, do have choices. GOOD service is what sets some apart from others and, well, a little comfort doesn't hurt either!









Recommended: Yes