Review: Air Tahiti Nui Business Class A340 Los Angeles To Paris

When I saw "Beluga" on the the menu, it was once connected to a thought "caviar in business", but obviously not LOL.

Nice review, Ben. I was immediately attracted to the colorful decor but also would have been disappointed by the lumpy pillow and seat. Your reviews always make me feel as though I were also there ... I can't wait to see where "we're" staying in Paris!

Please note that the ATN planes are named after islands in French Polynesia NOT regions

I was on various islands of Tahiti for about 10 days and found the people to be not particularly friendly.

Makes me fondly remember an awesome flight on Air New Zealand to Tahiti from SFO - literally best food I've ever had on a plane (rack of lamb!) - only time I've asked for seconds. Nearly empty 747 on Xmas Day. Crew were outstanding and were giving out bottles of champagne and Grand Marnier. Puts Air Tahiti to utter shame.

I'm surprised TN doesn't greet J pax with a Tiare flower anymore. There used to be 2 pillows waiting at every seat. The amenity kit is more practical now, the old cardboard boxes were a puzzling choice. Too bad L'Occitane products were axed. Vintage Champagnes gone with the wind it seems. Menu used to be offered on the IFE. Any embroidered napkins anymore? TN's starter tend to be surf-and-turf varieties. By French standards the cheese selection is considered pedestrian. Too bad cost-cutting downgraded the service flair.

Hope this doesn't mean you're skipping your laos/Cambodia trip report. Very excited to read about your time there.

For someone who travels so much some of your comments sound like someone who has never traveled more than thirty miles from their city of birth. I mean I can't quite believe that you were surprised that the crew of a South Pacific airiline had visible tattoos. Clearly you haven't ventured far from the American five star resorts on your visits to the South Pacific or indeed far out of Queenstown/Auckland on your NZ visits.

Secondly it's hardly surprising the Air France links given that when TN was established in 1996 they recruited from the AF Tahiti base and, no doubt, continue to do so.

Thirdly, not sure what TN could do about the weather on arrival at CDG. Hate to break it to you but it would have been cold and rainy had youarrived on AF onto a remote stand (which is possible).

It's a shame that a lot of your reports focus on aspects that are out of the airlines control (weather on arrival, time to clear security/customs on arrival etc) as it distracts from the genuine comments you make. It's also inteesresting to note that you often 'moan' about transfer/security times at non US airprots but never at US airports which in my experience can be horrendous (and yes clearing security twice does happen in the US as well).

@bob
That time of the month for the bitchy queen!

Need a hug, Bob?

I flew Air Tahiti Nui on 24 November 2016 in Business from PPT-LAX and it is by far the least impressive Business Class product I have flown on in quite some time; here is just a bit of my experience.

- I was booked on the day of departure by my company in American Airlines ticket stock as an American Airlines Code Share flight.

- Because of that, when I called Air Tahiti Nui during the day in Tahiti I was told they would only assign me a seat at the airport because it was a 'code share flight'

- When I got to the airport I was assigned an aisle in the middle section which is what I wanted. However, you are not 'permitted' in the lounge because this is a 'code share' with American Airlines and American Airlines customers on code share Business Class tickets are not permitted in the lounge. ( It gets better, keep reading )

- I paid for this ticket, my AMEX statement certainly shows a J fare on TN 102 24 NOV PPT-LAX. Interesting, no lounge access.

- After settling into my 'working' seat at 4D and given a very spartan like amenity kit and the only English magazine on the cart, the door was closed and I noticed the Flight Attendants were playing musical chairs with customers and non-rev's in Business. This was a bit odd, but it did not impact me, I was flying solo and had a seat open next to me and was all set for the flight to LAX with a working seat and screen....

- Then it happened. 10 minutes after take-off. The French accented female flight attendant steps up to my seat with a couple next to her, carry on bags in hand, from 5A and 5B. 'Meissur, would you mind moving to 5A and 5B one of their seats is broken but the other is working you still have a whole row and they just want to sleep, here, I'll help you move." No opportunity for me to say no. No opportunity for me to check out what I was in for next. The FA forced me to me to move after being settled in.

- I'm in 5A, the 'working' seat now. The light is uncontrollably flickering at me and the screen keeps going back to 'info' mode. Seat 5B does not work.

- The FA comes by and switches out the monitor several times and apologizes and says 'but you agrees' and said no I did not 'agrees' I was forced and you never told me the AVOD was broken. 'Meissur, if I knew it was broken I would have told you, I am most sorry.

- Now a male Flight Attendant comes over and askes for my amenity kit because he says I'm traveling alone and must have been given 2. Thinking the previous couple did not take theirs. They did and he took mine. So now I have no AVOD, no amenity kit and they are out of blankets now too.

- The FA comes by and says 'It must be the movie you are trying to watch. 'There this movie works - she puts on an R movie I had no intention of watching and walks away. 2 mins and 43 seconds into the movie it feeezes on that for the next 7 hours of the flight. And only a fake with attitude apology.

- An hour before landing, the FA sees me upset still, as I watch the couple watching movies and all comfortable on my seat. The FA says there is another seat I can move you too, why don't you collect your things and we can see if he will move his items and you can sit there.

-I told her I was not going to be as rude and unprofessional as she was in manipulation and manhandling another person to experience the real fake service of Air Tahiti Nui so I said no, I'll stay here, one upset passenger is enough, don't you think?

- I demanded the station manager on arrival. Of course a guy with a wheelchair was there at the jetbridge at LAX. I found a nice lady, but she listened and told me to write into the airline and they would listen. If they listen the way they took care of me on board then they will kick me to the waste basket.

Bottom line. Air Tahiti Nui shows what you can expect from Tahiti, a well below par experience for more money than it's worth. Best bet is to take Air France or Air New Zealand, you will have a much better experience and will be treated with dignity and respect.

When I visit again, it will be on Air France or via New Zealand on Air New Zealand. At all cost, I cannot see how anyone would want to use this airline. Air France flies nonstop from LAX to PPT and LAX to CDG.

Thank you Ben! @ Bob: Wish you wouldn't pollute the blog with you anger.
After 4 flights on Air Tahiti Nui, I now avoid them like the plague. They truly seem to have this terrible blend of French bureaucrat contempt towards the consumer with lackadaisical Tahitian attachment to schedules.
I have been accused of eating stuff that would gag a maggot, and to me, the food on flights that originate in Tahiti is literally inedible. The service is extremely poor at PPT. It is truly the only airline I have ever flown that I will never fly again if at all possible, and I have logged over 4M miles in the last 20 years. They take advantage of their monopoly. It is a shame, as I love French Polynesia.

The "Snack du Jour" trail mix bags are made by a company called Delyse, run by a French woman living here in the US. Delyse does quite a bit of business with Amtrak, mostly dry goods like what you received there (I deal with their staff and the owner frequently). The trail mix is popular with airlines as it is peanut-free and made in a peanut-free facility - not something you tend to see a lot of as most facilities make both with thorough cleaning between products. Delyse also does a lot of international airlines' economy class catering (including TN) plus Hawaiian airlines' economy class meals. It not always much to look at but the food is actually comprised of high quality and often organic ingredients. I believe starting in January they are also going to start doing the American Eagle first class cold meals.

Wow they're serving Charles Heidsieck Rose. It's almost twice as expensive as the Brut Reserve, so that explains why the serving was small. It was intended that way, so you can savour the flavours. They could have provided some canapes with it, just like what Emirates did with their Dom Perignon Rose in first class.

Took Air Tahiti Nui to Tahiti last year on the way to Bora Bora. After reading so many terrible reviews about the airline, I though it wasn't that bad. Sure, it's not great, but it's definitely not as awful as most people made it out to be. People takes it because its one of the only two option for flight from LA to Papeete. It's an airline that caters specifically to vacationers/honeymooners and not businessmen, on the plus side, they have decent kitesurfboard/surfbaord & scuba equipment luggage allowance policy, almost on part with Qantas (though Virgin Atlantic still has the most generous kitesurfboard/surfboard luggage policy).

We considered a stopover in Tahiti en route to Oz a few years back and I remember feeling underwhelmed by the prospect of angled seats. You basically validated that we made the right choice to fly on direct from LAX. But on the plus side, top marks for what can only be described as 'happy' interiors that are on-brand - even if the seats were a little shoddy.

That's a long flight not to have a circa 2016 business-class seat, however, I doubt one could really sleep given the departure time out of Los Angeles. At the most, you'd be lucky to get a decent nap of two hours given the rather crummy flight time.

Hawaiian Air is always an option to Papeete if you don't mind the connection in Honolulu. They are in the midst of installing lie-flat sleeper seats in their fleet, although not all of their planes have been completed.

I flew this Business class in June, my first Business class ever so I thought it was great and got lots of sleep and champagne. Was definitely an improvement from the coach section where our friends were and got no sleep. I will be looking forward to better business class experiences this summer to South Africa on KLM and Air France. Thanks for your review.

You nailed it ! I have flown air Tahiti 6 times to and from Tahiti most recent 7/31/17 unfortunately economy but all of your review hit the nail on the head. And we will only fly business in the further economy is torture.

"Mainly it’s the service that disappointed me. The flight attendants weren’t rude, though they didn’t act like they were happy to be there."

Spot on, Lucky! I've flown Air Tahiti Nui and AirCalin sixteen times, and I must say they are the only airlines where cabin crew NEVER smiled and act so dour, at least on my 16 flights with them. Since 2012, I've flown on average twice a week, every week - internationally and domestically - with dozens of carriers in economy and business on every continent (except Antarctica!) And for sheer attitude and grumpiness, Air Tahiti Nui and AirCalin take the cake. Dare I say it in these politically correct times - maybe, just maybe its the French influence?

taking Air Tahiti to Paris is like taking the bus, you know what you are getting - a seat. For the end of March 2018 RT from LAX is $850 and on Air France is $400 more (economy). So if you are paying cash, you need to ask yourself how much that fresh baked French bread is worth.

Great report. It looks like Air Tahiti Nui offered a decent, Business Class product. The food/beverages served all looked to be nice - but perhaps a bit underwhelming as opposed to other airlines' offerings.

Thank you for sharing!

Nice review, you forget to add a picture of the seat in a reclined position all the way, to compare it to a flat bed on other Airlines.
Thank you