Let’s Get Pacific with Savings up to 53% to Tempting Tahiti

November 2022
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Marlon Brando had it right, but now you can go to Tahiti without paying crazy Hollywood prices

As many travelers continue breaking out from their Lockdown Funk and the weather starts to cool off, perhaps it’s time to think about something warm and tropical. Many warm weather travelers love to replay the Hawaiian option, time and time again. But farther afield than the usual holiday haunt there’s the shining jewel of the Pacific, Tahiti. Ever considered it? While many have quickly been put off by price, now might be the time.

The Pineapple Bowl: Hawaii vs Tahiti

Hawaii fares in Business Class generally range from about $1,000 to $2,250 from Los Angeles and $1,800 to $3,035 from New York, for example.

The Pacific, however, is one big ocean with plenty to explore. Just ask the early Polynesian seafarers who sailed many thousands of miles in their double-hull canoes, navigating by the stars. Delta has a handful of dates with low fares on their new nonstop from Los Angeles to Papeete in Business Class for $3,079, or $2,657 if you are an Amex Platinum or Centurion cardholder, thanks to Amex’s International Airline Program (IAP), as you can see below. New Yorkers can also fly via Los Angeles to Papeete for $4,689 or $4,161 with the IAP discount.

Los Angeles to Papeete $3,079

Amex’s International Airline Program (IAP) Fare $2,657
FYI: these flights are only three hours longer than those to Hawaii.

That, plus opportunities to use your miles with discount award availability to the Island, mean it is time for us to give Tahiti more serious consideration. Twist our arm!

Tahiti On Miles

While the FCF team were dreamily looking at beachy pics of Tahiti, they spotted some nice discount award availability on many dates for up to four travelers, as you can see here on Air Tahiti Nui And United Airlines:

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*United Upgrades: Note that United has similar space available for mileage upgrades (earn elite credit) as it does for award tickets on the San Francisco-Papeete route.

No miles? No problem.

Just transfer points or buy them to fly Business Class. The transfer options first:

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Or Buy ‘Em Via Amex

Amex sells points at 2.5 cents each that transfer into All Nippon miles.

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Buy ‘Em Direct From the Airlines

Buy miles from American or United when they’re on sale at about 1.8 cents each. That equates to some serious savings as the chart below shows–up to $3,056 / 53% off.

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[aside headline="TAHITI FUN FACTS" alignment="aligncenter" width="big" headline_size="default"]? Want some peace and quiet? Tahiti gets fewer tourists in a year than Hawaii gets in a day.

? Overwater bungalows were first introduced in Tahiti.

? There are no poisonous snakes or insects in Tahiti.

? The Tahitian alphabet only has 13 letters.

? Marlon Brando owned an island near Tahiti called Tetiaroa.

? Tahiti and its islands span an area as large as Europe.[/aside]

[["\nOperating Carrier","\nTo Papeete From","\nPartner Mileage Program","Round-trip Business Class Mileage","Outbound","#colspan#","#colspan#","Outbound","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month"],["\n\n\nAir Tahiti Nui","Los Angeles","\n\n\nAmerican","\n\n\n160,000","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Dec.,</span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">March, May, Sept.</span>","","","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan., Sept.</span>","",""],["#rowspan#","Seattle","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">March, Sept.</span>","","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Dec., Jan.,</span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Sept.</span>","",""],["United","San Francisco","United","140,000","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Dec.</span>","","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan., Feb.</span>","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Dec.</span>"]]
<small>Months in black at least one seat available; in <span style="color: #6699cc;"><u>blue</u></span> at least two seats; in <span style="color: #009966;"><u>green</u></span> at least four seats. Remember to use the data as a guide since availability can be volatile...</small>
[["Operating Carrier","To Papeete From","Loyalty Miles to Use","Mileage Cost R/T","Transfer Points From"],["Air Tahiti Nui","Los Angeles and Seattle","American","160,000","Citi"],["\n\n\n\nUnited","\n\n\n\nSan Francisco","Air Canada","110,000","Amex, Capital One, Chase"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","All Nippon","120,000","Amex"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","LifeMiles","160,000","Amex, Capital One, Citi"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","United","140,000","Chase"]]
[["Operating Carrier","To Papeete From","Transfer Amex Miles to","Mileage Cost","Cost To Buy Miles at 2.5 Cents Each","Normal Published Fare","Savings","#colspan#"],["United","San Francisco","All Nippon","120,000","$3,000","$5,316","$2,316","44%"]]
[["Operating Carrier","To Papeete From","Buy Miles From","Mileage Cost","Cost To Buy Miles When on Sale at 1.8 Cents Each","Normal Published Fare","Savings","#colspan#"],["\n\nAir Tahiti Nui","Los Angeles","\n\nAmerican","\n\n160,000","\n\n$2,880","$5,936","$3,056","51%"],["#rowspan#","Seattle","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$5,612","$2,732","49%"],["United","San Francisco","United","140,000","$2,520","$5,316","$2,796","53%"]]