Flying to Bora Bora
Aug 21, 2012 | 10:01 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: NYC
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Posts: 170
Flying to Bora Bora
Not sure if this is the right forum, please move if not.
I'm looking for honeymoon spots for early-mid November and Bora Bora/Tahiti came up pretty high on my search. We were thinking of going to Madagascar and/or Seychelles but the flights there were too long for a week-long trip.
Anyway, we wanted to get there on *A but United.com doesn't show anything, is there a way to get there on United or *A? Would highly prefer it either to earn miles and/or use upgrade certs. Thanks!
I'm looking for honeymoon spots for early-mid November and Bora Bora/Tahiti came up pretty high on my search. We were thinking of going to Madagascar and/or Seychelles but the flights there were too long for a week-long trip.
Anyway, we wanted to get there on *A but United.com doesn't show anything, is there a way to get there on United or *A? Would highly prefer it either to earn miles and/or use upgrade certs. Thanks!
Aug 21, 2012 | 10:06 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond, UA 1K MM, SPG Plat For Life, Marriott Plat, Nexus/GlobalEntry
Posts: 9,198
Not sure if this is the right forum, please move if not.
I'm looking for honeymoon spots for early-mid November and Bora Bora/Tahiti came up pretty high on my search. We were thinking of going to Madagascar and/or Seychelles but the flights there were too long for a week-long trip.
Anyway, we wanted to get there on *A but United.com doesn't show anything, is there a way to get there on United or *A? Would highly prefer it either to earn miles and/or use upgrade certs. Thanks!
I'm looking for honeymoon spots for early-mid November and Bora Bora/Tahiti came up pretty high on my search. We were thinking of going to Madagascar and/or Seychelles but the flights there were too long for a week-long trip.
Anyway, we wanted to get there on *A but United.com doesn't show anything, is there a way to get there on United or *A? Would highly prefer it either to earn miles and/or use upgrade certs. Thanks!
Aug 21, 2012 | 10:06 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
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Posts: 5,218
Not sure if this is the right forum, please move if not.
I'm looking for honeymoon spots for early-mid November and Bora Bora/Tahiti came up pretty high on my search. We were thinking of going to Madagascar and/or Seychelles but the flights there were too long for a week-long trip.
Anyway, we wanted to get there on *A but United.com doesn't show anything, is there a way to get there on United or *A? Would highly prefer it either to earn miles and/or use upgrade certs. Thanks!
I'm looking for honeymoon spots for early-mid November and Bora Bora/Tahiti came up pretty high on my search. We were thinking of going to Madagascar and/or Seychelles but the flights there were too long for a week-long trip.
Anyway, we wanted to get there on *A but United.com doesn't show anything, is there a way to get there on United or *A? Would highly prefer it either to earn miles and/or use upgrade certs. Thanks!
Go to the Seychelles & stay at the Four Seasons. After the Maldives you won't find a nicer spot
Aug 21, 2012 | 10:11 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NCL
Programs: UA 1MM/*G. DL Gold for one more year.
Posts: 5,356
Or take the weekly NZ flight LAX-RAR. Rarotonga has its own considerable charm and beauty, and you could hop on a local flight from there to Aitutaki. I've never been to Bora Bora but if Aitutaki is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places on Earth - and much cheaper to stay and eat in than French Polynesia as well. Watch your booking class though if earning miles is important to you - NZ doesn't give you miles for anything below T.
Aug 21, 2012 | 10:21 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Illinois-downstate
Programs: UA 1K, UA MM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 955
I've been to Aitutaki and Bora Bora both... Bora Bora is probably more beautiful, but Aitutaki is much more peaceful and relaxing and less expensive! The Cook Islands (raro included) are fabulous!
But getting there takes a l-o-o-o-n-g time....
But getting there takes a l-o-o-o-n-g time....
Aug 21, 2012 | 10:33 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2003
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Aug 21, 2012 | 4:08 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Wellington
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NZ does cover a lot of the South Pacific but you do need to connect through AKL, although RAR is different with a flight from LAX and also SYD.
For LAX-PPT NZ has a codeshare, are you able to book on that?
Aug 21, 2012 | 7:24 pm
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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Aug 22, 2012 | 12:08 am
#10
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NCL
Programs: UA 1MM/*G. DL Gold for one more year.
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But the OP wishes to earn miles, not redeem them (other than for an upgrade, if possible). I have no idea whether this is possible on the NZ codeshare LAX-PPT operated by TN, but my gut feeling is it isn't. Maybe if the thread hadn't been moved from the UA forum somebody would have been able to answer.
Aug 22, 2012 | 12:19 am
#11
Join Date: Apr 2010
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OP, the only way to get to PPT is via AKL on NZ. No other way with *A and then you have to pay for the expensive Air Tahiti flight from PPT to BOB. The cheaper option if you choose this route is to fly to PPT and take a boat to Moorea, also a beautiful island with overwater bungalows.
Seychelles is accessible from JFK via Turkish through IST with a connection Ethiopian in ADD- takes the same time to get there as flying all the way to AKL and back (fyi AKL-PPT is 6 hours).
Seychelles is accessible from JFK via Turkish through IST with a connection Ethiopian in ADD- takes the same time to get there as flying all the way to AKL and back (fyi AKL-PPT is 6 hours).
Aug 22, 2012 | 12:31 am
#12
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NCL
Programs: UA 1MM/*G. DL Gold for one more year.
Posts: 5,356
I suspect that if the OP suggests to his/her fiance(e) to book an itinerary with changes in IST and ADD, the wedding will be off.
Aug 22, 2012 | 8:19 am
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: NYC
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Posts: 170
There is a codeshare LAX-PPT on Air Tahiti through NZ but I'm not sure if it earns on UA. Usually UA credits based on operating carrier, which would mean I'm out of luck.
I really do like the idea of SEZ but if we're going all the way out there we want to do something else as well, potentially Madagascar (we've been to Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe together already...we can continue visiting Africa :-) ).
Aug 22, 2012 | 9:13 am
#14
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NCL
Programs: UA 1MM/*G. DL Gold for one more year.
Posts: 5,356
The *A is very weak in the south Pacific... UA does not fly there on its own metal and other options would require you to fly to Auckland first. It's probably not a realistic option if you want to upgrade or use miles. However.. there are tons of beautiful tiny islands in Micronesia where UA does fly out of its hub in Guam. You might check out those options instead.
Aug 22, 2012 | 4:01 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2006
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Ok for mileage earning on MileagePlus.
Fly to PPT on Hawaiian, it gets you points but not Premium Qualifying Miles IIRC.
Book at Paul Gauguin cruise on United Cruises and Vacations.
Also note the PG can go to/from Cook Islands so you can get NZ RAR-LAX.
Oh congratulations on the upcoming nuptials Yobz it is all worthi it and FP is a gorgeous place to visit.
Fly to PPT on Hawaiian, it gets you points but not Premium Qualifying Miles IIRC.
Book at Paul Gauguin cruise on United Cruises and Vacations.
Also note the PG can go to/from Cook Islands so you can get NZ RAR-LAX.
Oh congratulations on the upcoming nuptials Yobz it is all worthi it and FP is a gorgeous place to visit.