Air Tahiti Nui Economy Flight LAX to PPT: What to Expect

Are you planning a big getaway to the Islands of French Polynesia? I recently flew from LAX to PPT and back on Air Tahiti Nui. Airfare to Tahiti can be pricey, so it’s understandable to want to know what you can expect from an economy ticket. Continue reading to learn about the seating, amenities, and food I received while flying in economy class on my journey to Tahiti.

Air Tahiti Nui Airbus A340-300

Air Tahiti Nui Airbus A340-300

To and from LAX to PPT, I flew on the Air Tahiti Nui Airbus A340-300. For each flight, the passengers boarded through outdoor gates where we walked along the runway area to get onto the plane. The first 6 rows of the aircraft are Poerava Business Class and the other sections are for Moana Economy travelers. You can click here to view a map of the cabin on the Air Tahiti Nui website. I ended up being one of the first people on the plane so I got the chance to snap a few pictures before our flight.

First  Impressions

Economy Section Seating

As passengers got situated, the sounds of mellow island music played through the cabin. Our TV screens displayed images of bungalows to set the tone for the trip.

Bag of goodies

In my seat, I found a pillow, blanket, and a travel bag. The bag contained earphones, earplugs, a towelette, sleep mask, and a pair of socks. I only used the headphones, but having these goodies in the seat was a nice sentiment and furthered the “vacation vibes” of the flight.

Although there was no Wifi on the plane, I was excited to have a USB port next to my screen to keep my phone charged. I browsed through the movies (English and French selections available) and games as I settled in for the flight.

Tahitian Gardenia or Tairé flower

Once the plane reached cruising altitude, the cabin crew passed out fresh flowers to everyone. The flower is called the Tahitian Gardenia or Tairé flower and is the national flower of French Polynesia.

Seating

Economy Class Seating

I’m not the best judge on leg room, but according to my husband who is 6’1, there was insufficient leg room for him to be comfortable in the seat. The cushioning was good and I was happy with the amount that the seat reclined. Fortunately for us, our flight to Tahiti was not full and we had open seats next to us. The flight home was completely full so we were feeling cramped on the way back.

Meals

Dinner Choice 1: Fish with honey sauce

Not too far along into the flight, we were offered dinner selections of either fish or chicken. The meal was great and included a small shrimp salad with corn, a french bread roll, a slice of cheese, and a small slice of lemon cheesecake. Alcohol was complimentary so we tried the house wines. Coffee and tea were offered at the end of the meal.

Dinner choice 2: Chicken Teriyaki

Our other meal towards the end of the flight was a pasta salad with spinach and tomatoes. The meal included a small fruit salad, bread, a mini piece of brie cheese, and a dessert called budino, which was very rich and tasty.

2nd meal of the flight

For the return flight, our first meal was a chicken and rice dish and the second meal was a breakfast of either a savory crepe or a croissant. I didn’t get pictures of these meals, but overall I was very satisfied with the food on Air Tahiti Nui.

Safe Travels

I hope this has answered a few of your questions about what you can expect flying economy with Air Tahiti Nui. Please keep the date of this post in mind as some of the food selections and amenities are likely to change over time. We booked our flights with American Airlines Miles since they are partnered with Air Tahiti Nui and I’m glad that I got to fly with them. I enjoyed the Tahitian spirit of the Airline and the kindness of the flight crew. When we landed at Fa’a’ā International Airport, we were pleasantly surprised with an easy customs process and live music. We also got to watch a Polynesian dance performance in the Airport lobby!