A great way to cross the Pacific to the USA

When The Mole was invited to pitch for going to California to the launch of the new Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage at Disneyland Resort California, the prospect of finding one of the most famous tropical fish in the world was very compelling indeed, as was flying via Tahiti on one of the newest ways to fly to the US from Australia, by trying Air Tahiti Nui to Los Angeles via Papeete

With 650 journos from around the world, including over 20 from Australia, ultimately invited to go, The Mole was delighted to have been selected and was also really excited at meeting Nemo, flying Air Tahiti Nui and also visiting Tahiti.

The traditional way to fly between Aus and the US and what also appear to be the routes over which there are most battles for market share, are the highly competitive  non-stop Sydney to Los Angeles or Sydney to San Francisco routes, with Los Angeles being the hot one. 

Also reputedly the Sydney – Los Angeles route is Qantas’ most profitable, providing a very high percentage of its profits, hence the flying kangaroo’s not surprising determination to keep other carriers off the route.

We have also all heard about Virgin Blue’s plans to launch a new international carrier on the route and also Singapore Airline’s attempts to get a slice of this highly profitable cake, but some will not have heard of being able to fly to Los Angeles and New York via Tahiti with Air Tahiti Nui and from The Mole’s experience last week, it is a very pleasurable and efficient way indeed to undertake this very long trans Pacific trip.

The Mole spoke with Tony Harrington, Air Tahiti Nui’s PR representative in Australia and he said that the key message from Air Tahiti Nui is that the airline offers quite a different product to other carriers, namely a combination of Tahiti and the USA and while as Tahiti’s international national carrier, Tahiti is their main focus, it’s not their only one.

Tony added that as Air Tahiti Nui approaches the second anniversary of its Australian services, having only started on 8 July, 2005, the airline is focusing very heavily on the US West Coast, with the unique offering of a stopover in Tahiti on the way there, or on the way home, which The Mole has to say is a great way to cross the Pacific, with even one night in Tahiti a perfect break in what can be a nightmare and often over 15hr trans Pacific crossing.

On the way to Los Angeles The Mole transited straight through Papeete but took the opportunity of stopping off on the way back and staying at the very smart, recently extensively refurbished and very Tahitian Sofitel Tahiti Resort, located right on the beach, with stunning views of Moorea and only 5 minutes away from the airport.

The Mole has to say that a week or so or even longer in Tahiti would have been hugely better, but The Mole will talk about the amazing Tahiti in another article – in the meantime, back to Air Tahiti Nui!

Tony also said that Air Tahiti Nui will be working with key wholesale partners to develop Tahiti/West Coast/Disney products shortly and this will make flying via Tahiti a great way to travel with a family to Disneyland, breaking that long and journey one or both ways and making the whole experience all that more pleasurable for parents and children!  Both the Sydney – Papeete and Papeete Los Angeles sectors are about 8 hrs.

The thing that struck me about Air Tahiti Nui and this was confirmed by Tony is that they are working hard to highlight their in flight service and while we do have to remember that they are a tourist airline, rather like Hawaiian and Air Pacific, they can’t be far off the mark as for past four years they have won the coveted title of Best Pacific airline in the global Skytrax Awards for airline excellence.

Tony also says that one thing Air Tahiti Nui does is ensure that the service on board is both very Tahitian and very understated, so that passengers receive quality attention at the times they require it, whether in Business or Economy Class and The Mole can vouch for that, with when you board an Air Tahiti Nui aircraft, you can expect to feel that are actually in Tahiti, with the holiday actually starting on the aircraft.

What does this mean, well the flight attendants are all Tahitian and can appear a little aloof at times but that is part of their nature, being rather shy and once you start a discussion, that amazing Tahitian smile breaks through – by the way girls, the guys working on Air Tahiti Nui are real islanders and absolutely stunning and guys, so are the girls, fresh from Tahiti and loving their jobs – I expected them to break into song at any moment!!

Also as is the norm in any laid back Pacific island, the transfer in Papeete is not like Chicago O’Hare [thank goodness], but very Tahitian, with in our case a little confusion about our onward bookings, but in the nicest possible and laid back Tahitian and French style, the best thing to do is go with the island flow, with the issue sorted, although they did at one point allocate a colleague a seat that did not exist on the aircraft, but hey this is the place to chill out and it all seems to work in the end!

Air Tahiti Nui operates the only non-stop service between Australia and Tahiti increasing from end of October from three to four weekly departures, with two non stop Sydney-Papeete flights and two going via Auckland, with their partner Qantas operating trans-Tasman flights and Air Tahiti Nui flying Auckland – Papeete.

They also offer two daily flights from Papeete to Los Angeles so that plugs in very well indeed with stopping over in Tahiti – a must do!  They also have services to New York.

The A340 aircraft has three classes with the east pitch in economy on the tight side, but no tighter than any other airline in economy, with the seats comfortable and fitted with seat back videos and a full range of movies and games.  The Business Class seats are good and the more traditional Business Class seat rather than a sky bed, but they are comfortable and well equipped.  There only six seats in First Class with again no sky beds but a traditional first class seat.

Would The Mole recommend travelling Air Tahiti Nui to Los Angels via Tahiti? 

Yes indeed, without any hesitation, but it is probably more for the leisure traveller or the business traveller with a little time to spare rather than the traditional trans Pacific business traveller who wants to go non-stop. 

Most certainly for a taste of Tahiti in the sky and an amazing stop over opportunity in Tahiti, Air Tahiti Nui is a very good option indeed.

A Special Report by The Mole.

The Mole was a guest of Air Tahiti Nui.

TravelMole protects and values editorial integrity.