venicegal

Has anyone flown Air France from LAX - PPT and earned NWA miles?

I can either pay an extra $58 per person for Air France tickets to fly red-eye to PPT, and daytime flight return to LAX, and earn 8190 per person, or fly Air Tahiti Nui daytime flight there, and red-eye flight return to LAX (with all Sunday to recover), and earn no miles, b/c the ticket is B class thru a travel agent, and doesn't earn AA miles. But people seem to like Air Tahiti Nui more?

DAYflier

I've flown both (albeit earning DL miles on the inbound) and can say that I found the difference between the two on that route in Y to be negligible. For $58 a head, I'd do Air France (but get to the flight early!).

app47

AF's systems can handle WP numbers and do recognize elite status for preferential seating, etc. I flew this route last year on AF and got WP credit. There was such a paltry difference between the discounted economy and discounted Y fare that I bought the higher fare and reaped a lot more EQMs.

As for inflight experience, the world is that Air Tahiti Nui may have once been a lot nicer, but I've heard the service is perfunctory (as with AF) and the planes are not as well kept.

Unless you are ending your trip in PPT, I would strongly advise red-eye LAX-PPT to avoid the gloomy forced overnight in the city and twice as much time in the depressing third-world airport. Last year AF was arriving PPT at 2200 so there was no such option. I figured the layover would prove relaxing, but it just doubled the amount of in transit time, with little upside.

venicegal

Unfortunately, we either have to spend our last night in Tahiti, w/AF's early morning flight on Sunday, or our first night in Tahiti, w/ATN's afternoon flight to Tahiti on the way there on a Thursday, due to pricing and availability on the specific flights. And my husband is 6'6" so he hates red-eyes regardless.

Unfortunately, although I do have AA Gold status, I do not have any elite status with NWA, so I'm guessing it won't help for preferential seating on AF? Do they save their exit rows for elite members, can you reserve those in advance, or is it an option to try to get them upon check-in? Maybe they'll take pity on my husband?

The fare earns 100% miles, and the next fare up in economy is $$$ than biz class!

mith

AF used to be very nice about offering exit seats to tall people (I was always lucky), but I haven't tried since they introduced the 50 EUR fee per international leg for preferred seating (waved only for elite plus). Well, you can still ask for it at the gate...

venicegal

Well, if we could reserve exit rows in advance, it might be worth the $$, as my husband is 6'6" (or more). I tried to research this and it isn't clear if it is for all int'l flights or just to Europe, and when I tried calling AF they had me on hold too long. Ugh.

jrmsp

Air Tahiti Nui will no longer accrue AA miles after 11/1, so I hope your trip is coming up soon. FYI, it's your "B" fare that doesn't qualify; it doesn't matter whether you purchased it through a travel agent or not. consolidator perhaps, but not travel agent.

venicegal

Yes, that is the issue, it is B b/c I'm purchasing through at TA for TN, vs. at T fare on AF through AF. Yes, my trip is soon, although I'd only get 1/2 the miles on TN b/c I'm returning after 11/1, which I was aware of.

I think now the decision is coming down to exit row availability/options. I like the schedule better with TN, although AF would save me a vacation day.

thepointsguy

I've emailed AF before for preferential seating assignments with good success. I can never seem to get anyone on the phone so thats been my only experience!

LucWise

I flew LAX-PPT roundtrip on Air Tahiti Nui. Nothing terrible but nothing special. Packed flights both directions. Personally, I'd pay the extra $58 to get miles and save the vacation day.

FlyTheFriendlyMonkey

For a moment, I thought you were referring to LAX

Cheapskate Travels

They weren't?