I used expert flyer to watch for availability booking exactly 330 days out when they opened. It looked like they only released two business class seats per flight. I made the outbound 3 days before I really wanted to travel and kept moving it each day as availability came through. I was on the phone with AA at 4am to do this.

For the return I reserved about 3 days before I really wanted to return and again moved it each day finally settling on one extra day in Tahiti. With 4 nights per cruise on Moorea and 6 post cruise on Rangiora I had some flexibility.

I have flown ATN twice during the past two years. Once in business, not bad, and once in coach. Coach in ATN is one of the worst products in existence. The are rests only go up about 2/3 of the way, leg room is non existent, and the seats are hard as a rock. I spent the overnight flit standing in the aisle and swore I would never do that again. Now I am 6'4" tall so shorter people may not have an issue.

If you plan this right you can easily do 4 nights on Moorea, 4 on Bora Bora, all at the Hilton from the East Coast for less than $1,000 per person including the inter island air fare, ferry and one night as needed on Tahiti (Fare Suisse). This would include breakfast. Excursions, other meals and drinks extra.