Jan 2, 2013, 4:02 am
Last edit by: Prospero
Air Tahiti Nui (TN) is a non-oneworld airline partner of AA. AAdvantage members may use AA miles for awards on TN; members earn miles on TN only if flying TN as an AA marketed / codeshare. AA and TN have expanded codesharing to include CDG, AKL. It is also possible to earn AA miles flying as a Qantas codeshare due to an exclusion from the normal oneworld rule of earning on a oneworld codeshare only if operated by another oneworld airline.
You can now search for TN award availability on aa.com. But you may have to call AA due to some aa.com anomalous behavior. You may also use tools such as ExpertFlyer to find availability, or use Qantas as described in The High Life here.
NOTE: Air Tahiti Nui is “skipping” the USA with the exception of 4-5 flights weekly as of mid-March 2020 and initially through 7 April due to the novel Coronavirus and flying PPT-CDG without stopping at LAX. Link to TN travel policy page.
For AAdvantage awards, remember there must be an unconstructed fare offered by TN - as the most significant carrier - from one's origin - it may not be so likely you'll find an unconstructed fare from FAR or JAX to PPT, more likely from DFW. Otherwise, you may need to get yourself to an OK origin airport with a separate award or paid ticket.
See mercruiser's TN Business award booking process here.
NOTE: AA Agents may have difficulty finding the award space themselves, but:
See the aa.com page on award redemption charts, including the South Pacific, here. From March 22, 2016 on, here.
See post #1 for information on the TN 787 and illustrations, including seat chartand post #2 for information on the A340-343s retiring in 2019.
TN does not belong to any alliance at this time, though they do offer some codeshares and accept awards booked by a number of airlines (including AA). TN offers a "QF3826" PPT-AKL, but as pointed out by JonNYC elsewhere, though ExpertFlyer displays it as a prime flight, it's a codeshare operated by TN and not available for an award. (N.B. ExpertFlyer will show TN award seats accurately.)
- Exit and Bulkhead seats can only be assigned at the airport.
- On the A340 a Business seat or pair may be reserved for the pilot not flying.
- TN, 2019 (Note TN easily gives away predilect seats to “friends and family”, so if you lose your exit row or other favored seat don’t be surprised.)
You can not upgrade TN flights with AA miles, but they offer paid counter upgrades (availability based, Feb 2016 $1,000 Y to J, first come first served, so arrive early at check-in, and they may decline to upgrade paid codeshare flights). See http://borabora.airtahitinui-usa.com...es-charges.asp.
We don’t know if an upgrade from Moana Coach can be purchased to Premium Economy (on the 787-9) as yet.
Link to summary information about PPT Airport.
Link to Papeete Faa’a / PPT very useful page at SleepingInAirports.net.
Air Tahiti Nui was established on 31 October 1996 and commenced flight operations on 20 November 1998. The government of French Polynesia is the major shareholder (84.4%) along with other local investors. (Wikipedia)
Fleet
Seat selection and On Line Check In:
But:
Note: Flights within French Polynesia, e.g. to Bora Bora / BOB, are operated by Air Tahiti / VT (not oneworld nor AA partner) can be acquired with TYP, Barclays etc. travelcard points, but not with AA miles.
Other airline services to PPT include LA via SCL-IPC and AF. HA also offers once a week flights (Saturdays at this time) to PPT via HNL. AA flyers to SYD and AKL; this offers other award opportunities via AA and TN. LA flys SCL-IPC-PPT as well.
Websites: www.airtahitinui.com and www.airtahitinui-usa.com
Link to Archive if 2014-2017 posts from this thread.
You can now search for TN award availability on aa.com. But you may have to call AA due to some aa.com anomalous behavior. You may also use tools such as ExpertFlyer to find availability, or use Qantas as described in The High Life here.
NOTE: Air Tahiti Nui is “skipping” the USA with the exception of 4-5 flights weekly as of mid-March 2020 and initially through 7 April due to the novel Coronavirus and flying PPT-CDG without stopping at LAX. Link to TN travel policy page.
For AAdvantage awards, remember there must be an unconstructed fare offered by TN - as the most significant carrier - from one's origin - it may not be so likely you'll find an unconstructed fare from FAR or JAX to PPT, more likely from DFW. Otherwise, you may need to get yourself to an OK origin airport with a separate award or paid ticket.
Award classes you are looking for on TN (updated Dec 2017 by dkc192) are:
See FleyeSkyHigh’s post #599
- TN awards on AA need to have an "AP" or Another Partner award code.
- NOTE: ]F is J award
- U is Y award
- Z has been J upgrade
- There is no longer First Class on TN
- Moana Premium Economy is not available as an award booking yet
See FleyeSkyHigh’s post #599
First, the basics. The should search for available inventory with the following criteria:
Promo Box- leave empty
Carrier Code Box- TN
Inventory Box- ADV
That's pretty much true for all award searches so if the rep didn't know how to find the carrier code of TN your best bet is going to be to HUCA. Assuming you get that far the next gotcha is the way the type of award code that is used. Often times the agent will simply search for a American or OneWorld award code. That will not work. They need to search using an "AP" award code which basically means "Another Partner Award Code."
...Air Tahiti Nui decided to change their business class award booking codes from I to F back in July of 2017. Much of AA's documentation has not been updated. I think they may have changed the letter codes of Economy awards also...they now come from bucket code U. It's helpful to remind the AA agents of the inventory code you are looking to book. I can tell you they are searching for I or U for business or X or T for economy they have not got the right "AP" award code for the search.
Lastly, I have found it helpful to ask them to go to their other screen and try a "direct access" search for the F or U award inventory directly with TN. This last step in my experience has set off the light bulb for most agents to get it done. I used to have a 10% success rate booking TN awards with AA but once I followed all the steps about I am at 80% plus (meaning I only have to HUCA 1 out of every 5 times).
Promo Box- leave empty
Carrier Code Box- TN
Inventory Box- ADV
That's pretty much true for all award searches so if the rep didn't know how to find the carrier code of TN your best bet is going to be to HUCA. Assuming you get that far the next gotcha is the way the type of award code that is used. Often times the agent will simply search for a American or OneWorld award code. That will not work. They need to search using an "AP" award code which basically means "Another Partner Award Code."
...Air Tahiti Nui decided to change their business class award booking codes from I to F back in July of 2017. Much of AA's documentation has not been updated. I think they may have changed the letter codes of Economy awards also...they now come from bucket code U. It's helpful to remind the AA agents of the inventory code you are looking to book. I can tell you they are searching for I or U for business or X or T for economy they have not got the right "AP" award code for the search.
Lastly, I have found it helpful to ask them to go to their other screen and try a "direct access" search for the F or U award inventory directly with TN. This last step in my experience has set off the light bulb for most agents to get it done. I used to have a 10% success rate booking TN awards with AA but once I followed all the steps about I am at 80% plus (meaning I only have to HUCA 1 out of every 5 times).
NOTE: AA Agents may have difficulty finding the award space themselves, but:
See the aa.com page on award redemption charts, including the South Pacific, here. From March 22, 2016 on, here.
See post #1 for information on the TN 787 and illustrations, including seat chartand post #2 for information on the A340-343s retiring in 2019.
TN does not belong to any alliance at this time, though they do offer some codeshares and accept awards booked by a number of airlines (including AA). TN offers a "QF3826" PPT-AKL, but as pointed out by JonNYC elsewhere, though ExpertFlyer displays it as a prime flight, it's a codeshare operated by TN and not available for an award. (N.B. ExpertFlyer will show TN award seats accurately.)
Since TN introduced 'seat à la carte' on 1 Sept 2019, you can do seat selection online under the condition your booking was ticketed. You need the TN reservation code (PNR):
- Go to manage booking, enter your details (PNR - last name), open reservation
- Go to manage booking, modify traveler details. ENTER CONTACT INFORMATION. THIS IS THE KEY TO BEING ABLE TO SEE SERVICES/SEAT SELECTION. Then select 'continue'.
- Go to Additional Services with the meals sign
- Go to the Seating and pick your seats (free for business, preference or extra comfort seats in Economy at a fee)
”To request seat assignments, please contact our Air Tahiti Nui reservation office at least 72 hours prior to departure. However, we recommend requesting your seat assignments as soon as you confirm and ticket your reservations, so that more seat options will be available. Please be advised, exit and bulkhead rows can only be assigned at the airport.
Air Tahiti Nui aims to honor advance-seating requests. However, we cannot guarantee any particular seat even if the booking is confirmed. Air Tahiti Nui reserves the right to reassign seats at any time, even after boarding of the aircraft, for operational, safety or security reasons. Please accept our apologies if your preferred seat is not available at departure.”
Air Tahiti Nui aims to honor advance-seating requests. However, we cannot guarantee any particular seat even if the booking is confirmed. Air Tahiti Nui reserves the right to reassign seats at any time, even after boarding of the aircraft, for operational, safety or security reasons. Please accept our apologies if your preferred seat is not available at departure.”
- On the A340 a Business seat or pair may be reserved for the pilot not flying.
- TN, 2019 (Note TN easily gives away predilect seats to “friends and family”, so if you lose your exit row or other favored seat don’t be surprised.)
You can not upgrade TN flights with AA miles, but they offer paid counter upgrades (availability based, Feb 2016 $1,000 Y to J, first come first served, so arrive early at check-in, and they may decline to upgrade paid codeshare flights). See http://borabora.airtahitinui-usa.com...es-charges.asp.
We don’t know if an upgrade from Moana Coach can be purchased to Premium Economy (on the 787-9) as yet.
Link to summary information about PPT Airport.
Link to Papeete Faa’a / PPT very useful page at SleepingInAirports.net.
Air Tahiti Nui was established on 31 October 1996 and commenced flight operations on 20 November 1998. The government of French Polynesia is the major shareholder (84.4%) along with other local investors. (Wikipedia)
Fleet
NOTE: TN began flying their Boeing 787-9 “Tahitian Dreamliner” (with GE engines, two purchased, two leased) LAX-PPT etc.18 November, 2018. See Air Tahiti Nui / TN to launch 787-9 Dreamliner 7 November 2018 for more information, including a link to the PDF seat chart. ALL five A340-343s will be replaced by four 787-9s by October 2019.
Boeing 787-9 “Tahitian Dreamliner “ (4 to be in fleet, all by October 2019) link to,TN 787-9 page.
These 787-9s have 30J - 32W - 232Y in a three class configuration . They also offer Panasonic Ku band internet connectivity via WiFi and eX3 IFE.
Boeing 787-9 “Tahitian Dreamliner” seating
C30 (Poerava Business) 2-2-2 Rockwell Collins (née B/E Aerospace) Parallel Diamond (similar to J in the AA A321T or J on QR 777-200LR)
W32 (Moana Premium) 2-3-2 Zodiac Aerospace Z535 Premium Economy class seats.
Y232 (Moana Economy) 3-3-3 in two cabins, with Zodiac Aerospace Z300 Economy class seats
for a total of 294 seats
See post #1 for a current 789 seat chart or SeatGuru here.
Seats in Poerava First are AB, DE, KL
Seats in Moana Premium are AB, DEF, KL
Seats in Moana Premium are ABC, DEF, JKL
“Woven together our fleet names have a hidden meaning: The warrior (TOA) going forward (MUA) in the great (NUI) canoe (VAA)!” The 787-9s will be / are:
F-OMUA “Fakarava”
F-ONUI “Tupaia “
F-OVAA “Bora Bora”
F-OTOA “Tetiaroa”
These 787-9s have 30J - 32W - 232Y in a three class configuration . They also offer Panasonic Ku band internet connectivity via WiFi and eX3 IFE.
Boeing 787-9 “Tahitian Dreamliner” seating
C30 (Poerava Business) 2-2-2 Rockwell Collins (née B/E Aerospace) Parallel Diamond (similar to J in the AA A321T or J on QR 777-200LR)
W32 (Moana Premium) 2-3-2 Zodiac Aerospace Z535 Premium Economy class seats.
Y232 (Moana Economy) 3-3-3 in two cabins, with Zodiac Aerospace Z300 Economy class seats
for a total of 294 seats
See post #1 for a current 789 seat chart or SeatGuru here.
Seats in Poerava First are AB, DE, KL
Seats in Moana Premium are AB, DEF, KL
Seats in Moana Premium are ABC, DEF, JKL
“Woven together our fleet names have a hidden meaning: The warrior (TOA) going forward (MUA) in the great (NUI) canoe (VAA)!” The 787-9s will be / are:
F-OMUA “Fakarava”
F-ONUI “Tupaia “
F-OVAA “Bora Bora”
F-OTOA “Tetiaroa”
Airbus A340-343 (four of five remain in service 1/1/2019; the remainder will be phased out by October 2019)
Four A340s have undergone a CIP (Cabin Improvement Program), one (F-OJTN "Bora Bora") has, and will, not be refurbished. Though "Bora Bora" is more likely to be used on South Pacific - Asia flights, it still visits LAX periodically. Perhaps it will be the first A340 to be retired?
TN have eliminated Poerava First and only offer Poerava Business and Moana Economy classes on the A340, and have added Moana Premium (Premium Economy) on the 789. (See below.) A thread on selecting seats with AA awards and codeshares can be read here. The A340 Poerava Business seats are shell angled lie flat seats; Moana Economy seats presumably have 33” seat pitch, but feels tighter; bulkhead and exit row seating can only be assigned at airport check-in.
As seat charts are the same for all five A340s, it's difficult to know which configuration you will be on.
Link to seat chart.
Four A340s have undergone a CIP (Cabin Improvement Program), one (F-OJTN "Bora Bora") has, and will, not be refurbished. Though "Bora Bora" is more likely to be used on South Pacific - Asia flights, it still visits LAX periodically. Perhaps it will be the first A340 to be retired?
TN have eliminated Poerava First and only offer Poerava Business and Moana Economy classes on the A340, and have added Moana Premium (Premium Economy) on the 789. (See below.) A thread on selecting seats with AA awards and codeshares can be read here. The A340 Poerava Business seats are shell angled lie flat seats; Moana Economy seats presumably have 33” seat pitch, but feels tighter; bulkhead and exit row seating can only be assigned at airport check-in.
As seat charts are the same for all five A340s, it's difficult to know which configuration you will be on.
Link to seat chart.
At this time, online check-in and online seat selection are not available.
To request seat assignments, please contact our Air Tahiti Nui Reservations Office at least 72 hours prior to departure at (877) 824-4846. However, we recommend requesting your seat assignments as soon as you confirm and ticket your reservations, so that more seat options will be available. Please be advised, exit and bulkhead rows can only be assigned at the airport.
Air Tahiti Nui aims to honor advance-seating requests. However, we cannot guarantee any particular seat even if the booking is confirmed. Air Tahiti Nui reserves the right to reassign seats at any time, even after boarding of the aircraft, for operational, safety or security reasons. Please accept our apologies if your preferred seat is not available at departure.
To request seat assignments, please contact our Air Tahiti Nui Reservations Office at least 72 hours prior to departure at (877) 824-4846. However, we recommend requesting your seat assignments as soon as you confirm and ticket your reservations, so that more seat options will be available. Please be advised, exit and bulkhead rows can only be assigned at the airport.
Air Tahiti Nui aims to honor advance-seating requests. However, we cannot guarantee any particular seat even if the booking is confirmed. Air Tahiti Nui reserves the right to reassign seats at any time, even after boarding of the aircraft, for operational, safety or security reasons. Please accept our apologies if your preferred seat is not available at departure.
Lounges
Only TN Poerava Business flyers get lounge access (AA codeshare flyers have been denied) TN are not oneworld, so oneworld status does not apply.
At AKL, NRT, and SYD TN use Qantas Business lounge.
At CDG, TN use the Cathay Pacific Business lounge.
At LAX, TN uses the 'International Lounge' in the Tom Bradley International Terminal for business passengers, shared with Air Fiji, El Al and Philippine Airlines; at other times, they will use the Korean Airlines lounge.
At PPT, TN offer their own Salon Manuhiri International lounge (also Diners, Airport Angel and Priority Pass may be used, though TN ticket counter employees may incorrectly tell you they don't accept those cards - in this writer's personal experience, they do.) airside, second floor via stairs or lift, open 150 minutes prior to departures.
Only TN Poerava Business flyers get lounge access (AA codeshare flyers have been denied) TN are not oneworld, so oneworld status does not apply.
At AKL, NRT, and SYD TN use Qantas Business lounge.
At CDG, TN use the Cathay Pacific Business lounge.
At LAX, TN uses the 'International Lounge' in the Tom Bradley International Terminal for business passengers, shared with Air Fiji, El Al and Philippine Airlines; at other times, they will use the Korean Airlines lounge.
At PPT, TN offer their own Salon Manuhiri International lounge (also Diners, Airport Angel and Priority Pass may be used, though TN ticket counter employees may incorrectly tell you they don't accept those cards - in this writer's personal experience, they do.) airside, second floor via stairs or lift, open 150 minutes prior to departures.
Other airline services to PPT include LA via SCL-IPC and AF. HA also offers once a week flights (Saturdays at this time) to PPT via HNL. AA flyers to SYD and AKL; this offers other award opportunities via AA and TN. LA flys SCL-IPC-PPT as well.
Websites: www.airtahitinui.com and www.airtahitinui-usa.com
nsuring Responsiveness to Our Customers’ Complaints
If a passenger has an unsatisfactory experience on one of our flights or while interacting with one of our employees, they may file a formal complaint to our Customer Relations Department. Every customer complaint will be read and acknowledged in writing within 30 days of our receipt of the complaint. If this initial communication does not fully address the concerns raised, we will send a substantive written response to the customer within 60 days.
Customer Relations can be reached immediately by clicking on the following link:
www.airtahitinui-usa.com/complaints
Or by calling 1(855) 835-9286
Or by writing through the U.S. Mail, and should be sent to:
Air Tahiti Nui - Customer Service
1970 E. Grand Ave, suite 100
El Segundo, CA 90245
Any written communication should contain the following information:
If a passenger has an unsatisfactory experience on one of our flights or while interacting with one of our employees, they may file a formal complaint to our Customer Relations Department. Every customer complaint will be read and acknowledged in writing within 30 days of our receipt of the complaint. If this initial communication does not fully address the concerns raised, we will send a substantive written response to the customer within 60 days.
Customer Relations can be reached immediately by clicking on the following link:
www.airtahitinui-usa.com/complaints
Or by calling 1(855) 835-9286
Or by writing through the U.S. Mail, and should be sent to:
Air Tahiti Nui - Customer Service
1970 E. Grand Ave, suite 100
El Segundo, CA 90245
Any written communication should contain the following information:
- The name of the passenger concerned;
- The ticket number;
- The date and flight # concerning the complaint;[
- If not a complaint onboard the aircraft, the date and location of the event; and
- The nature of the event
A few French Polynesian words make your travel friendlier
Ia ora na - hello (EE-ah o-RAH-na
E - yes (eh)
Aita- no (EYE-tah)
Mauruuru - thank you (may-ooh-ROO-oo-roo)
Cheers - manuia (mon-oo-EE-ah)
Haere maru - take it easy (hah-EH-reh MAH-roo)
Nana- goodbye (NA-na)
Pronunciation:
Bora Bora - POra POra (yes, "B" is pronounced as "P")
Faa'a - faah ah
Papeete - pa-pay-EH-tay
N.B. French is the official language; speaking French is very useful in PF.
Ia ora na - hello (EE-ah o-RAH-na
E - yes (eh)
Aita- no (EYE-tah)
Mauruuru - thank you (may-ooh-ROO-oo-roo)
Cheers - manuia (mon-oo-EE-ah)
Haere maru - take it easy (hah-EH-reh MAH-roo)
Nana- goodbye (NA-na)
Pronunciation:
Bora Bora - POra POra (yes, "B" is pronounced as "P")
Faa'a - faah ah
Papeete - pa-pay-EH-tay
N.B. French is the official language; speaking French is very useful in PF.
AA Miles Award: TN / Air Tahiti Nui award redemptions (master thread)
May 16, 2019, 5:39 pm
#183
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: DCA/IAD & BUF
Posts: 1,400
Business Award Question on Partner Airline to PPT
Today I started looking into AA's Award program. I haven't used any of my miles in at least a decade and decided in the past couple weeks its time to start making judicious use of the ~ 400K miles just sitting there, while I'm still generally mobile enough to travel longer distances. Not so certain that'll be the case five years from now.
Initially am looking at awards in Business/First to PPT, from IAD or LAX, in the September 2019 or February/March 2020 time frame. It doesn't appear the Business/First awards are released more than a month out, at least on Air Tahiti Nui from either IAD or LAX, based on what's available now. So just to become more familiar I started playing around with the $80K (one way) Business/First miles saver dates showing available in the next 2-4 weeks.
My specific question is, the Air Tahiti Nui 789 metal. The description on their website identifies three cabin classes, (Economy, Preminum Economy, and Business). But Premium Economy appears to be a separate business cabin by any other name, with Business seeming a first class cabin. When I put the award ticket through as though to book on AA's site, the flight details come up a booking code F, Class Business. Based on the Partner Award Chart descriptions, and the not precise verbiage classifications on Air Tahiti Nui's website, I'm not certain which cabin class the $80K miles saver actually maps into. The Premium Economy cabin or the Business Cabin. I am thinking it's probably only the Premium Economy class, or would be $110K miles? But since it is specifically coming up as a milessaver award, maybe not?
Arrgh. Any clarification on this is much appreciated, thanks! And thanks in advance for the other questions I will surely end up having also. The Partner Award process seems like a Black Hole.
Initially am looking at awards in Business/First to PPT, from IAD or LAX, in the September 2019 or February/March 2020 time frame. It doesn't appear the Business/First awards are released more than a month out, at least on Air Tahiti Nui from either IAD or LAX, based on what's available now. So just to become more familiar I started playing around with the $80K (one way) Business/First miles saver dates showing available in the next 2-4 weeks.
My specific question is, the Air Tahiti Nui 789 metal. The description on their website identifies three cabin classes, (Economy, Preminum Economy, and Business). But Premium Economy appears to be a separate business cabin by any other name, with Business seeming a first class cabin. When I put the award ticket through as though to book on AA's site, the flight details come up a booking code F, Class Business. Based on the Partner Award Chart descriptions, and the not precise verbiage classifications on Air Tahiti Nui's website, I'm not certain which cabin class the $80K miles saver actually maps into. The Premium Economy cabin or the Business Cabin. I am thinking it's probably only the Premium Economy class, or would be $110K miles? But since it is specifically coming up as a milessaver award, maybe not?
Arrgh. Any clarification on this is much appreciated, thanks! And thanks in advance for the other questions I will surely end up having also. The Partner Award process seems like a Black Hole.
May 16, 2019, 5:49 pm
#184
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,597
Today I started looking into AA's Award program. I haven't used any of my miles in at least a decade and decided in the past couple weeks its time to start making judicious use of the ~ 400K miles just sitting there, while I'm still generally mobile enough to travel longer distances. Not so certain that'll be the case five years from now.
Initially am looking at awards in Business/First to PPT, from IAD or LAX, in the September 2019 or February/March 2020 time frame. It doesn't appear the Business/First awards are released more than a month out, at least on Air Tahiti Nui from either IAD or LAX, based on what's available now. So just to become more familiar I started playing around with the $80K (one way) Business/First miles saver dates showing available in the next 2-4 weeks.
My specific question is, the Air Tahiti Nui 789 metal. The description on their website identifies three cabin classes, (Economy, Preminum Economy, and Business). But Premium Economy appears to be a separate business cabin by any other name, with Business seeming a first class cabin. When I put the award ticket through as though to book on AA's site, the flight details come up a booking code F, Class Business. Based on the Partner Award Chart descriptions, and the not precise verbiage classifications on Air Tahiti Nui's website, I'm not certain which cabin class the $80K miles saver actually maps into. The Premium Economy cabin or the Business Cabin. I am thinking it's probably only the Premium Economy class, or would be $110K miles? But since it is specifically coming up as a milessaver award, maybe not?
Arrgh. Any clarification on this is much appreciated, thanks! And thanks in advance for the other questions I will surely end up having also. The Partner Award process seems like a Black Hole.
Initially am looking at awards in Business/First to PPT, from IAD or LAX, in the September 2019 or February/March 2020 time frame. It doesn't appear the Business/First awards are released more than a month out, at least on Air Tahiti Nui from either IAD or LAX, based on what's available now. So just to become more familiar I started playing around with the $80K (one way) Business/First miles saver dates showing available in the next 2-4 weeks.
My specific question is, the Air Tahiti Nui 789 metal. The description on their website identifies three cabin classes, (Economy, Preminum Economy, and Business). But Premium Economy appears to be a separate business cabin by any other name, with Business seeming a first class cabin. When I put the award ticket through as though to book on AA's site, the flight details come up a booking code F, Class Business. Based on the Partner Award Chart descriptions, and the not precise verbiage classifications on Air Tahiti Nui's website, I'm not certain which cabin class the $80K miles saver actually maps into. The Premium Economy cabin or the Business Cabin. I am thinking it's probably only the Premium Economy class, or would be $110K miles? But since it is specifically coming up as a milessaver award, maybe not?
Arrgh. Any clarification on this is much appreciated, thanks! And thanks in advance for the other questions I will surely end up having also. The Partner Award process seems like a Black Hole.
Not sure why you have a dollar sign before the mileage amounts in your post. It's 80K AA miles from the U.S. Mainland to the South Pacific in Business, not "$80K" miles.
May 16, 2019, 5:59 pm
#185
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Today I started looking into AA's Award program. I haven't used any of my miles in at least a decade and decided in the past couple weeks its time to start making judicious use of the ~ 400K miles just sitting there, while I'm still generally mobile enough to travel longer distances. Not so certain that'll be the case five years from now.
Initially am looking at awards in Business/First to PPT, from IAD or LAX, in the September 2019 or February/March 2020 time frame. It doesn't appear the Business/First awards are released more than a month out, at least on Air Tahiti Nui from either IAD or LAX, based on what's available now. So just to become more familiar I started playing around with the$80K (one way) Business/First miles saver dates showing available in the next 2-4 weeks.
My specific question is, the Air Tahiti Nui 789 metal. The description on their website identifies three cabin classes, (Economy, Preminum Economy, and Business). But Premium Economy appears to be a separate business cabin by any other name, with Business seeming a first class cabin. When I put the award ticket through as though to book on AA's site, the flight details come up a booking code F, Class Business. Based on the Partner Award Chart descriptions, and the not precise verbiage classifications on Air Tahiti Nui's website, I'm not certain which cabin class the $80K miles saver actually maps into. The Premium Economy cabin or the Business Cabin. I am thinking it's probably only the Premium Economy class, or would be$110K miles? But since it is specifically coming up as a milessaver award, maybe not?
Arrgh. Any clarification on this is much appreciated, thanks! And thanks in advance for the other questions I will surely end up having also. The Partner Award process seems like a Black Hole.
Initially am looking at awards in Business/First to PPT, from IAD or LAX, in the September 2019 or February/March 2020 time frame. It doesn't appear the Business/First awards are released more than a month out, at least on Air Tahiti Nui from either IAD or LAX, based on what's available now. So just to become more familiar I started playing around with the
My specific question is, the Air Tahiti Nui 789 metal. The description on their website identifies three cabin classes, (Economy, Preminum Economy, and Business). But Premium Economy appears to be a separate business cabin by any other name, with Business seeming a first class cabin. When I put the award ticket through as though to book on AA's site, the flight details come up a booking code F, Class Business. Based on the Partner Award Chart descriptions, and the not precise verbiage classifications on Air Tahiti Nui's website, I'm not certain which cabin class the $80K miles saver actually maps into. The Premium Economy cabin or the Business Cabin. I am thinking it's probably only the Premium Economy class, or would be
Arrgh. Any clarification on this is much appreciated, thanks! And thanks in advance for the other questions I will surely end up having also. The Partner Award process seems like a Black Hole.
TN doesn’t fly from IAD, only from LAX. You have to position to LAX, or find an award that includes an IAD-DCA-BWI etc. LAX segment.
You can only book MileSAAver awards on AA partners; AAnytime awards can only be booked on AA marketed and operated flights. Using AAdvantage miles one can not book Premium Economy on any partner airlines at this time, so your options are limited to Moana Economy or Poerava Business. Trust me, Premium Economy is just that, and Poerava Business with its Rockwell Collins Diamond parallel lie flat seats is not First Class. (TN did away with Poerava First some years ago.) But peculiarly, because of how TN code their flights, Business awards are in TN “F” fare class. (Again, read the Wikipost.)
Also see: HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver award questions, assistance
and AA oneworld & Other Airline Partner Award information, rules (master thd).
May 16, 2019, 6:14 pm
#186
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: DCA/IAD & BUF
Posts: 1,400
Thanks JDIVER. I didn't realize there was a devoted thread to this topic already. Also much appreciate the tidbit that Poerava Business is not what would normally be though of as First Class. I will read the Wiki.
May 16, 2019, 6:30 pm
#187
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
I just updated the Wikipost with minor further information. Good luck securing some seats to PPT. (We have gone a few times to cruise or / and enjoy Moorea.)
Jul 12, 2019, 5:14 pm
#190
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 337
I am looking at TN space between LAX and PPT. Expertflyer doesn't show any business class award for this route but Qantas showing even 3 seats! Is that phantom space that Qantas is showing?? And of course it is not on AA website either as I don't know if AA website would show J seats for this route.
I also found J seats on AA.com for NRT - PPT on TN but expertflyer is showing zero seats. So i am not sure what is correct.
I also found J seats on AA.com for NRT - PPT on TN but expertflyer is showing zero seats. So i am not sure what is correct.
Last edited by frenchie2; Jul 12, 2019 at 5:37 pm
Jul 12, 2019, 7:35 pm
#191
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,030
I am looking at TN space between LAX and PPT. Expertflyer doesn't show any business class award for this route but Qantas showing even 3 seats! Is that phantom space that Qantas is showing?? And of course it is not on AA website either as I don't know if AA website would show J seats for this route.
I also found J seats on AA.com for NRT - PPT on TN but expertflyer is showing zero seats. So I am not sure what is correct.
I also found J seats on AA.com for NRT - PPT on TN but expertflyer is showing zero seats. So I am not sure what is correct.
What fare booking class are you looking at?
Jul 12, 2019, 9:40 pm
#192
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 337
Oh sorry. by "J" I was referring to business class award seats. I don't know what the booking code is, but AA is showing business class seats available while Expertflyer showing none.
Jul 12, 2019, 10:16 pm
#193
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 120
Hi there...so interesting post!
I just wanted to find award tickets for a short flight i.e. PPT/BOB or PPT/MOZ because the cost of those tickets are very expensive.
The thing is that I can't find a single award ticket between these airports on AA website.
They open award spaces close to the flight date or looong away like 10 months before the flight date?
thanks for sharing
regards
I just wanted to find award tickets for a short flight i.e. PPT/BOB or PPT/MOZ because the cost of those tickets are very expensive.
The thing is that I can't find a single award ticket between these airports on AA website.
They open award spaces close to the flight date or looong away like 10 months before the flight date?
thanks for sharing
regards
Jul 12, 2019, 10:21 pm
#194
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: AA Plat Pro
Posts: 105
Hi there...so interesting post!
I just wanted to find award tickets for a short flight i.e. PPT/BOB or PPT/MOZ because the cost of those tickets are very expensive.
The thing is that I can't find a single award ticket between these airports on AA website.
They open award spaces close to the flight date or looong away like 10 months before the flight date?
thanks for sharing
regards
I just wanted to find award tickets for a short flight i.e. PPT/BOB or PPT/MOZ because the cost of those tickets are very expensive.
The thing is that I can't find a single award ticket between these airports on AA website.
They open award spaces close to the flight date or looong away like 10 months before the flight date?
thanks for sharing
regards