Our flight from Bora Bora to Papeete arrived shortly before 8PM, while our United flight was departing at 10:40PM, leaving us over 2.5 hours to make our connection.
The domestic and international terminals are just a short walk apart, so we collected our bags at baggage claim (which took 10 minutes), and then immediately headed to international check-in.
While Papeete Airport has an increasing number of international airlines, only a few depart at a time, so we had no trouble finding the United check-in desk. It looked like the other flights this evening were on Hawaiian to Honolulu, and on Air Tahiti Nui to Los Angeles.
Papeete Airport check-in hall
At United check-in we were asked security questions, and within a few minutes were issued boarding passes and lounge invitations. Our boarding passes indicated that boarding would start at 9:50PM.
We headed towards immigration and security. Interestingly there’s a separate immigration checkpoint for each flight (even though all flights were US-bound), and we were lucky that the United counter had the shortest line of the three.
Unfortunately there’s just a single security line, with no priority option. So we had to wait in line for about 20 minutes before we were through.
The Papeete Airport airside was quite small. There was a fair amount of seating, but if you have a few flights departing around the same time, the terminal is going to be really crowded.
Papeete Airport terminal seating
The terminal has a limited number of concessions, though it does have a small outdoor area with some grass.
Papeete Airport terminal
Papeete Airport terminal
Towards the end of the terminal and to the right we saw a staircase with signage indicating the lounge was in that direction, so we headed that way.
Air Tahiti Nui Lounge stairs Papeete Airport
The second floor of the terminal seems to be a well kept secret. In addition to the lounge, there’s a lot more public seating. Unlike downstairs, this area was wide open, so seems a lot more comfortable for waiting before your flight.
Papeete Airport second floor seating
The Air Tahiti Nui Lounge is the only lounge at the airport, so it serves premium passengers on all airlines departing from here, including Air Calin, Air France, Air New Zealand, Air Tahiti Nui, Hawaiian, Qantas, and United. On top of that, it’s also available to credit cardholders with airport lounge benefits, thanks to being a member of Priority Pass.
Air Tahiti Nui Lounge entrance
Air Tahiti Nui Lounge signage
The Air Tahiti Nui isn’t particularly big. It’s sufficient when one or two flights are departing at the same time, but with three flights plus the growing number of Priority Pass members, the lounge was quite crowded at first.
The lounge consists of one main room. There are rows of seats along the windows.
Air Tahiti Nui Lounge seating
Air Tahiti Nui Lounge seating
Then there are more rows of seats along the center of the lounge, as well as some booths along the other wall.
Air Tahiti Nui Lounge seating
Air Tahiti Nui Lounge seating
Air Tahiti Nui Lounge seating
There’s also some high-top seating, with one section having computers.
Air Tahiti Nui Lounge seating
Air Tahiti Nui Lounge business center
Then along the interior of the lounge is more seating, though this lacks any views.
Air Tahiti Nui Lounge seating
Air Tahiti Nui Lounge seating
Air Tahiti Nui Lounge seating
The buffet is back towards entrance of the lounge, and is fairly basic. The selection was basic to begin with, but people in the lounge seemed to be really hungry and thirsty, so the buffet was constantly depleted. I guess that’s not too surprising, since I imagine many people were coming off domestic flights, so hadn’t eaten in a while.
Air Tahiti Nui Lounge buffet
The selection included sweets, fruit, packaged snacks, cold cuts, cheese, and some small warm nibbles.
Air Tahiti Nui Lounge food
Air Tahiti Nui Lounge food
Air Tahiti Nui Lounge food
Air Tahiti Nui Lounge snacks
In terms of drinks, there was self serve water, juice, coffee, tea, beer, wine, champagne, etc.
Air Tahiti Nui Lounge drinks
Air Tahiti Nui Lounge liquor
Air Tahiti Nui Lounge wine
Air Tahiti Nui Lounge drinks
Air Tahiti Nui Lounge coffee & tea
There was also a selection of reading materials.
Air Tahiti Nui Lounge magazines & newspapers
The bathrooms were behind the buffet. While well maintained, it didn’t seem like there were enough bathrooms for the number of guests. There was also a shower in the lounge, though it was occupied when we were there.
Air Tahiti Nui Lounge bathroom
The lounge does have views of the apron, and while we were in the lounge we saw our United 787 arriving from San Francisco. There was also a Hawaiian Airlines A330.
United 787 in Tahiti
Hawaiian A330 in Tahiti
The lounge had Wi-Fi, which was quite slow, so I ended up tethering off my phone. On the plus side, the lounge had functioning air conditioning, which was such a nice amenity to have after being at Bora Bora’s swelteringly hot airport, and then being on a hot Air Tahiti plane, and then going through open-air Papeete Airport.
We headed to our departure gate at around 9:40PM, 10 minutes ahead of scheduled boarding.
United boarding gate Papeete Airport
Sure enough, boarding was called at exactly 9:50PM, and off we were.
United boarding gate Papeete Airport
Air Tahiti Nui Lounge bottom line
While the Air Tahiti Nui Lounge Papeete Airport can get busy, it’s air conditioned, has nice views of the apron, and is a good place to have a drink before getting on an international flight from Tahiti.
It’s not worth arriving early to use this lounge — the food isn’t great, the Wi-Fi is slow, and it can get quite crowded — but then again, it often makes sense to arrive early. Many people are taking same day flights from other airports, so you want to leave a long enough connection so you make your flight.
If you’ve used Air Tahiti Nui’s lounge, what was your experience like?
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