FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - [Primer] Using Points for French Polynesia
Old Jul 1, 2013 | 10:51 am
  #154  
stupidzbu
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: BOS .. but soon SFO
Programs: UA PLAT, TK GLD, Hilton Diamond, IC PLAT, SPG GLD, Marriott GLD
Posts: 1,528
Originally Posted by BarbiJKM
How long it takes to get through immigration/customs/baggage claim in PPT depends on where you are on the flight. The line gets pretty long when people deplane, so the closer you are to the exit door, the sooner you will get through immigration. I would say the average is no longer than 30-45 minutes for immigration (have your forms filled out and passport and return res handy), baggage claim, and then customs (Stay to the LEFT on the "nothing to declare" line with your passport in your hand, and they will usually just wave you through; don't get on the "red" line with the Xray machines even if people are lining up there like sheep!)

Air Tahiti will allow you to change to a later flight at no charge, assuming there are available seats. That sometimes can mean the next day -- best to check with them and make changes before you leave, as others are likely to be in the same situation as you are. (The only exception is for a multi-island AirPass, where a change in one flight might force you to rebook the entire itinerary.)
I went ahead and send them an email through their web form.

Our flight was leaving at 7:30 ... but I changed it to the 8 am flight.

The 10 am is sold out and I don't want to waste 3 hours waiting for the 10:45 flight.

I figure 1.5 hours to get through should be enough, considering we aren't planning on checking in any luggage.
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