• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Home  >  News  >  Air Tahiti Nui Removes First Class, Adds New Business Class Seats
News

Air Tahiti Nui Removes First Class, Adds New Business Class Seats

Matthew Klint Posted onFebruary 5, 2013December 9, 2016 5 Comments

Getting to Tahiti using your points (and in general) is not the easiest prospect. Two carriers fly from the continental US non-stop to Papeete–both from Los Angeles: Air France and Air Tahiti Nui (Hawaiian Airlines also offers once-weekly service from Honolulu). Securing award seats on either carrier in a premium cabin, while not impossible, is an arduous undertaking. With news today that Air Tahiti Nui will be rolling out an expanded business class cabin with new seats starting in April, the prospect of getting to Tahiti using your miles just got a little better.

Air Tahiti Nui will be phasing out first class on its five A340 jets and replace the current first and business class cabins with a larger business class cabin and new seats. Curiously, the carrier has opted for an angled lie-flat variant, bucking the industry trend, but I cannot blame Air Tahiti Nui for this move. The carrier has a rather captive crowd and as the only carrier with daily service to French Polynesia, it can get away with not having industry-leading seats. But these seats are an improvement to the curent non-lie-flat recliner seats and many will value the 2-2-2 layout more than (for example) United’s 180° horizontal lie-flat, but arguably claustrophobic seats (which would have been laid out 2-3-2 or even 2-4-2 on an A340).

air-tahiti-nui-new-business-class-seats-a340-01

air-tahiti-nui-new-business-class-seats-a340-02

With a 33% increase in seats (from 24 to 32 in business class) will we see increased award availability? Ostensibly yes, but it is still too early to tell. Logically, it would make sense but we’ve seen what has happened to many carriers who have a glut of business class seats (ahem Air France + KLM) yet have decided–as a policy–to heavily restrict their release to partners.

Air Tahiti Nui business and economy class tickets can be booked through both American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Delta imposes a fuel surcharge while American does not. On the flipside, Delta does allow a complimentary stopover on an award so you could theoretically use Air Tahit Nui to fly from Los Angeles to Auckland with a stopover or layover in Tahiti. 

Finally, we see another tri-cabin first class product bite the dust. With competition fierce and business class seats getting better each year, we will continue to see the scaling back of first class going forward.

(tip of the hat to Gary)

Previous Article This is the United Airlines That I Love
Next Article US Airways Call Center Humor

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • Southwest Airlines Helicopter

    Southwest Airlines Flight Nearly Collides With Helicopter

    March 22, 2023
  • Catering Improvements Move Forward On United Airlines, Despite Quarterly Loss

    March 16, 2023
  • united require vaccine

    United Airlines CEO Explains Unexpected Quarterly Loss

    March 15, 2023

5 Comments

  1. John-Paul Reply
    February 5, 2013 at 8:28 am

    Excellent news for AAdvantage customers! Minor niggle: a change from 24 to 32 business class seats equates to a 33% increase, not a 20% increase. = )

  2. Gary Leff Reply
    February 5, 2013 at 10:55 am

    For what it’s worth on the math, Air Tahiti Nui is increasing their business class seats by 33% (while removing 6 first class seats, total net increase in premium seats is 2).

    When I commented in my post about a 20% increase, that was in the total number of business class seats in the market (considering no change in the number of business class seats for Air France’s 3x weekly service).

  3. Thom Reply
    February 5, 2013 at 2:44 pm

    Was ATN really considering the sUA flatbeds in a 2-4-2 layout for their new business hard product? On an A330/A340, eight abreast is the industry standard in COACH (save for Air Asia X and a handful of EU charter outfits that squeeze in nine across on their Airbus widebodies).

    On the other hand, 2-3-2 with the sUA I could see being marketable on an 343 since it’s still one less across than in the back but personally I think 2-2-2 (or better still 1-2-1) in C is the way to go, even if it means the seats aren’t full flat (I personally have no problems sleeping on angled seats.)

  4. Jamie Osborne Reply
    February 5, 2013 at 5:02 pm

    Hawaiian Airlines also flies to Tahiti from the U.S.: from Honolulu once a week.

  5. Torsten Jacobi Reply
    December 4, 2013 at 11:09 pm

    Did you know that there is an even cheaper way using Avios and Virgin America miles (both are AMEX transfer partners with frequent bonuses)? It’s 50,000 membership rewards points in Economy. That seems to be the cheapest way to get to Tahiti currently.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Recent Posts

  • United Airlines 737-700 Business Class Review
    Review: United Airlines 737-700 Business Class March 22, 2023
  • Southwest Airlines Helicopter
    Southwest Airlines Flight Nearly Collides With Helicopter March 22, 2023
  • Copa Club Bogota Review
    Review: Copa Club Bogota (BOG) March 22, 2023
  • Biden Russian Airspace
    Biden Considers Banning Airlines Who Use Russian Airspace March 21, 2023

Categories

Popular Posts

  • American Airlines unaccompanied Minor Predator
    American Airlines Flight Attendant Freaks Out After Man Offers His First Class Seat To Child February 25, 2023
  • Kayleigh Scott United Airlines
    The Tragic Death Of A United Airlines Flight Attendant March 21, 2023
  • United Airlines Polaris Lounge Chicago Review
    Review: United Polaris Lounge Chicago (ORD) February 21, 2023
  • There’s A Pilot In My Seat! February 21, 2023

Archives

March 2023
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
« Feb    

As seen on:

live_and_lets_fly

The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles is the most beautiful of all Polaris Lounges. Stay tuned for a detailed look and many more photos on the blog tomorrow. Well done @united.
@malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire its A380 fleet. While not surprising, it is sad to see the growing list of carriers retiring this superjumbo jet. On Malaysia Airlines, I flew the #A380 once from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London (LHR) and had the entire first class cabin to myself (full review on the blog). It was a beautiful flight that I will always remember.
Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited tha Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited that a new carrier, Avelo, has launched, especially from an airport just 12 minutes from my home!
I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxairport. Hopefully this summer it will return.

.
.
.
.
#Lufthansa #FirstClass #747 #747-8 #StarAlliance #Miles #Points
I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. This is not only a lovely, all-inclusive resort, but one of the best properties to use your @hyatt World of Hyatt points.
.
.
.
.
#Hyatt #BigSur #California #WorldofHyatt #CA-1 #Points #Hotels
In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E In terms of a spacious first class product, the @Emirates suite on a 777-300ER is hard to beat. My preference is Suite 2K.

.
.
.
.
#Emirates #777 #firstclass
Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from I Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from Instagram ahead of the birth of my first child. Goodness, how time flies. While I’ve enjoyed catching up on others over the years, now it is time for me to return to Instagram. In this first post, I highlight two joys in my life, my two children, whom I trust will grow up to be prolific travelers that circumnavigate the globe as ambassadors of love and respect.

.
.
.
.
.

#travel #airplanes #airlines #miles #points #familytravel #human #integrity #honor
United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improvement over UA's current business class seat. Check out my blog at liveandletsfly.com for 70+ photos of how @united is transforming its entire business class experience starting this December!
The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben!
Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen - Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -- oh, and I love 40°F summer weather!
One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure of flying with in all my years of flying. Thank you @flysas SK940 on 11 Aug 2016
Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I a Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I assign a window seat months in advance, don't move me to a center seat "for my convenience" with no way to get my original seat back... 😞
Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be rac Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be racing the #Delta flight to JFK at the gate next to us, which also departs at 12:45p. With @onemileatatime
Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregenc Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregencycasablanca #cassablanca #hyatt
Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the i Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the inside of the @grandhyatt_shanghai ... It is 40°C outside! 😓
From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minut From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minutes flat. I ❤️ #bur #burbankairport
@malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in se @malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in service at #kul -- beautiful livery!
View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful bran View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful brand new @parkhyattguangzhou -- look for a full review coming soon on the blog #hyatt #parkhyatt #guangzhou #parkhyattguangzhou
Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, which closes tomorrow and the Queen of the Skies #747 which will be retired in 2018.
The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. If you're ever here, get up at 5am and have a walk around the city before it gets busy. You can hear the birds instead of honking horns.
Load More... Follow on Instagram
facebook twitter instagram rss

This site is for entertainment purposes only. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.

 

Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners.

 

Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.