Air Tahiti Nui Business Class to Paris Review
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When you think of Air Tahiti Nui business class, or Tahiti in general, you’re probably dreaming of turquoise waters, overwater bungalows, and that laid-back island vibe. While I can’t wait for the day I take that vacation, they also offer lovely flights from the U.S. to Paris.
I recently tested out this unique route on a 10-hour journey from LAX to CDG in Air Tahiti Nui’s business class on the B787, and happy to share my experience—from a rocky start at the lounge to a pretty solid flight in the end
Air Tahiti Nui Business Class Review
Lounge Access: 0/10
Our trip didn’t start off particularly well. Air Tahiti Nui is supposed to give you access to the Star Alliance lounge. However, we were denied access to the lounge because we had booked via American Airlines, and apparently, this puts you on a “do not allow” list that they had not notified us about ahead of time.
It was a frustrating start, and fortunately my Centurion Lounge access through my Amex Platinum saved us, otherwise I would have been pretty bummed out (but the Centurion lounge at LAX is lovely). So heads up—if you’re counting on lounge access, you’ll want a card that gives it to you because this business-class ticket won’t.
Seats: 7/10
The seats in business class on an Air Tahiti Nui B787 are an old school 2-2-2 layout, which means if you’re at the window, you’ll have to fully straddle and climb over your seat mate to get out when the seat is fully reclined. I’m guessing most people taking this flight are couples, so it’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s worth knowing if you’re solo or on a work trip. Despite the configuration, the seats were comfortable, with a great, thick comforter and pillow that made sleeping pretty easy. The footwells are a bit snug, but I still managed to get some rest in the fully lie-flat seat.
Food & Drinks: 7/10
The service began with a choice of champagne or a Mai Tai—a lovely touch, nodding to the tropical vibes Air Tahiti Nui is known for. To be honest, the food was alright. We started with a duck-wrapped sweet potato “mise en bouche,” which sounded more impressive than it tasted (and I love duck). The shrimp and burrata salad appetizer, however, was actually refreshing, which is a trait I love in airplane food.
I opted for the beef stew as my main, which was tender but desperately needed a proper sauce. There was a ravigote sauce on the side, but it didn’t quite cut it, and I ended up leaving it unfinished. On the plus side, the dessert trio was a winner, especially the Mont-Blanc, which I guarded from my boyfriend when he tried to steal it.
Oddly, for drinks, there was no dedicated wine or cocktail menu, just a cart with some lovely wines and standard well cocktails.
Service: 9/10
The flight attendants were kind, attentive, and overall made the flight enjoyable. They were always there when needed, and the airline offered thoughtful touches like 10MB of free WiFi for Business Class passengers—a small but appreciated perk, especially since many airlines don’t offer complimentary WiFi at all.
Entertainment: 8/10
I’m pretty easygoing when it comes to entertainment, so I was happy, but my film-loving boyfriend thought the selection was limited. I watched “Challengers” through my fingers (for obvious reasons) and loved it (for other obvious reasons), but if you’re picky or planning a movie marathon, you might want to download some favorites before you board.
How to Book Air Tahiti Nui Business Class on Points
This flight normally costs ~$6,500 – so just a little out of my budget.
Fortunately, you can book it using points. I booked this flight using just 57.5k American Airlines miles, which I transferred from Bilt (which I earned paying rent – I love that reward. You can learn more about Bilt here). My favorite thing about booking mileage flights with American is that they’ll hold your itinerary for up to 5 days for no fee. That’s a pretty exceptional way to reserve a flight while you wait for your points to transfer or look for a better option.
Unfortunately, Bilt no longer has a partnership with American Airlines, but if you want to rack up some AA miles, you can still do so with cards like the Citi AAdvantage.
TL;DR Score: 7/10
- Lounge Access: 0/10 – Denied access because it was a mileage flight booked via American Airlines; Fortunately my Centurion Lounge access thanks to my Amex Platinum saved me.
Seats: 7/10 – Old 2-2-2 layout; good for couples but awkward for solo travelers. Comfortable with a solid lie-flat experience despite small footwells.
Food & Drinks: 7/10 – Nice start with drinks and a decent salad, but the main course fell short. Dessert was the highlight.
Service: 9/10 – Attentive and friendly, with thoughtful touches like complimentary WiFi that made the journey better.
Entertainment: 8/10 – Limited selection but enough to keep you entertained; download your favorites ahead of time if you’re a movie buff.
Overall: Is Air Tahiti Nui business class the best business class I’ve flown? No, but it’s still a lovely way to spend 10 hours en route to Paris, especially since they put you in that island state of mind. Would I do it again? Definitely, especially if I’m heading to Tahiti. For Paris, there are other options I love (like Air France), but it’s still a solid choice. Mostly, I’d say don’t overthink it. Flying for 10 hours in business class is a lovely way to travel. Do it.
Cheers to your next adventure ✈️🥂
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
