Conrad Bora Bora {PYF} (formerly Hilton)
#91
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 31
I know it's pure speculation but do people think the vaccine requirement will drop once enough of the local population gets vaccinated or is it likely to stay for the long term? I find it hard to believe that it won't eventually switch to an either be vaccinated or have a Covid test 72 hours prior. I could be wrong but the current restrictions seem far to extreme to maintain for a prolonged period of time...
#92
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 222
The only option for departure testing is at the Papette International airport on main island Tahiti. The operating hours were from 11am to 6pm in early February but now they are saying tests will be provided from 3pm to 7pm on any date there is an evening departure for to the United States (TN via LAX and UA via SFO). The airport tests are antigen tests (which are accepted by U.S. CDC for entry to the states and provide instant results). I went through the process in early February (just before the shutdown) and the way it worked is that you couldn't get into the International departure hall until after you submitted a test and the machine indicated negative. Interestingly there were a number of false positives in which the first test was positive and then a few minutes later a second test was administered and would come back negative and the passenger was allowed to proceed to the departure gate.
So the question is what about the early morning Air France and French Bee flights to the U.S.? The French Bee flights have been cancelled until early June for a while and as of yesterday Air France just cancelled all of their flights to the U.S. also through June 1st. How this whole reopening goes over the month of May I think will dictate what happens with whether or not Air France or French Bee resume in June.
FYI: The self administered PCR tests that tourists take on day four of their visit are all sent to Papette for processing and only positives are notified.
#93
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SEA, YVR
Programs: Alaska MVPG, Flying Blue Gold, BA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 568
The Conrad does not offer any type of COVID-19 return testing. In addition, I have searched high and low throughout all of Bora Bora (all of the resorts and in the settled areas of Viatape, Matira, and Fa'anui) and nowhere offers testing on the island of Bora Bora but for government sponsored testing programs for locals which are not even available on request.
The only option for departure testing is at the Papette International airport on main island Tahiti. The operating hours were from 11am to 6pm in early February but now they are saying tests will be provided from 3pm to 7pm on any date there is an evening departure for to the United States (TN via LAX and UA via SFO). The airport tests are antigen tests (which are accepted by U.S. CDC for entry to the states and provide instant results). I went through the process in early February (just before the shutdown) and the way it worked is that you couldn't get into the International departure hall until after you submitted a test and the machine indicated negative. Interestingly there were a number of false positives in which the first test was positive and then a few minutes later a second test was administered and would come back negative and the passenger was allowed to proceed to the departure gate.
So the question is what about the early morning Air France and French Bee flights to the U.S.? The French Bee flights have been cancelled until early June for a while and as of yesterday Air France just cancelled all of their flights to the U.S. also through June 1st. How this whole reopening goes over the month of May I think will dictate what happens with whether or not Air France or French Bee resume in June.
FYI: The self administered PCR tests that tourists take on day four of their visit are all sent to Papette for processing and only positives are notified.
The only option for departure testing is at the Papette International airport on main island Tahiti. The operating hours were from 11am to 6pm in early February but now they are saying tests will be provided from 3pm to 7pm on any date there is an evening departure for to the United States (TN via LAX and UA via SFO). The airport tests are antigen tests (which are accepted by U.S. CDC for entry to the states and provide instant results). I went through the process in early February (just before the shutdown) and the way it worked is that you couldn't get into the International departure hall until after you submitted a test and the machine indicated negative. Interestingly there were a number of false positives in which the first test was positive and then a few minutes later a second test was administered and would come back negative and the passenger was allowed to proceed to the departure gate.
So the question is what about the early morning Air France and French Bee flights to the U.S.? The French Bee flights have been cancelled until early June for a while and as of yesterday Air France just cancelled all of their flights to the U.S. also through June 1st. How this whole reopening goes over the month of May I think will dictate what happens with whether or not Air France or French Bee resume in June.
FYI: The self administered PCR tests that tourists take on day four of their visit are all sent to Papette for processing and only positives are notified.
#94
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,257
I know it's pure speculation but do people think the vaccine requirement will drop once enough of the local population gets vaccinated or is it likely to stay for the long term? I find it hard to believe that it won't eventually switch to an either be vaccinated or have a Covid test 72 hours prior. I could be wrong but the current restrictions seem far to extreme to maintain for a prolonged period of time...
#96
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,306
#97
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 222
Although it would be relatively easy for them just to do the LAX to PPT and back rotation they would normally not do so for a multitude of reasons (maintenance, crew, ground ops, ect). So for them to operate LAX to PPT they actually then have to operate twice as many CDG-LAX which puts them way over capacity between Paris and Los Angeles. So there is little business upside for them to operate to Tahiti just for the U.S. market. That said break even (as opposed to at a loss) is usually reason enough for an airline to operate these days (esp for AF for which the French government owns more than 15% of the total share). Also, if they operate LAX-PPT solely for the U.S. market an argument could be made that it would be operating a fifth freedom route which is another whole can of worms especially as it pertains to their agreements with Delta. The next issue is operations.... Air France would have to significantly change their ground operations in Papeete to support compliance of COVD-19 US entrance testing requirements among other nuances. Air France will have to make a decision by May 10th for their flights scheduled for June 1st. I am not optimistic.
If French Polynesia is reopened to French tourists then I definitely think they will operate. If not, I think it's a less than 50% chance they run PPT-LAX flights by start of June. If the U.S. drops the COVID-19 testing requirement for entry or if the U.S. removes the ban on European passengers entering/transiting I think the changes might slightly increase.
#98
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SEA, YVR
Programs: Alaska MVPG, Flying Blue Gold, BA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 568
. Air France will have to make a decision by May 10th for their flights scheduled for June 1st. I am not optimistic.
If French Polynesia is reopened to French tourists then I definitely think they will operate. If not, I think it's a less than 50% chance they run PPT-LAX flights by start of June. If the U.S. drops the COVID-19 testing requirement for entry or if the U.S. removes the ban on European passengers entering/transiting I think the changes might slightly increase.
If French Polynesia is reopened to French tourists then I definitely think they will operate. If not, I think it's a less than 50% chance they run PPT-LAX flights by start of June. If the U.S. drops the COVID-19 testing requirement for entry or if the U.S. removes the ban on European passengers entering/transiting I think the changes might slightly increase.
#100
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 222
I know you probably do not want to hear this but I believe AF just decided to cancel LAX-PPT and PPT-LAX through mid-June. They are going to route their flights through Canada for those days.
#101
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,306
Thanks
TD
#102
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 222
I think the way the company is looking at it these days is that despite the high bookings most of it was old revenue (ie passengers that have been cancelled and had re-booked using old ticket credit accumulated since the start of the pandemic). So they really are not making new revenue and to cancel and reduce frequency by re-routing via Vancouver (out of necessity to operate once or twice a week back to the Metropolis ie AF065/066) they are not really losing any new revenue yet they are saving operational costs by scaling back. Albeit they are not beginning to dig out of the backlog hole of travel credit either which isn't going away. Poor business in my eyes but I believe the reason they don't add a dedicated LAX-PPT-LAX rotation is that it would be operationally challenging and they have a lot of planes still stored right now.
FYI: AF bookings are MUCH lighter for the mid-June time frame so sadly I would not count on your LAX-PPT AF076 on June 15th operating unless something major changes (FP opens to the French AND the U.S. allows foreign tourists to enter/transit). That said, if you have miles to burn on AA or DL take a look at TN111 for the same date. It's wide open right now in J (only two seats booked), PE and Y and mileage awards available in all classes.
#103
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SEA, YVR
Programs: Alaska MVPG, Flying Blue Gold, BA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 568
sooo looks like i'll be giving up my June 7-12 booking if anyone wants to jump on those nights! I also saw June 2-6 is available on the calendar.
will try again later this year...will be another adventure trying to line up the nights and flights
#104
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 222
I definitely didn't want to hear that but thank you for the heads up! I don't see the LAX-PPT on the schedule anymore but I also don't see the flight routing through canada - I think historically it was CDG-YVR-PPT?
sooo looks like i'll be giving up my June 7-12 booking if anyone wants to jump on those nights! I also saw June 2-6 is available on the calendar.
will try again later this year...will be another adventure trying to line up the nights and flights
sooo looks like i'll be giving up my June 7-12 booking if anyone wants to jump on those nights! I also saw June 2-6 is available on the calendar.
will try again later this year...will be another adventure trying to line up the nights and flights
#105
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 65
I saw some mention upthread about having the hotel change the dates on an award booking
I am quite certain they have the ability to do that (although maybe only a manager would know how)
as i helped someone do this at the waldorf maldives when he needed another night after his stay but it wasn't available on points for standard rewards so he booked a random date and switched it to the date he needed.
I also have done this myself at a W in Florida
So although both data points happened on property during the stay it still proves its technically possible . The challenge would be getting them to do it beforehand .
I was thinking they may be more inclined if you already paid for some kind of upgraded room but if anyone has any other ideas I'd love to hear
I am quite certain they have the ability to do that (although maybe only a manager would know how)
as i helped someone do this at the waldorf maldives when he needed another night after his stay but it wasn't available on points for standard rewards so he booked a random date and switched it to the date he needed.
I also have done this myself at a W in Florida
So although both data points happened on property during the stay it still proves its technically possible . The challenge would be getting them to do it beforehand .
I was thinking they may be more inclined if you already paid for some kind of upgraded room but if anyone has any other ideas I'd love to hear