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Old Dec 13, 2017, 6:16 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Related thread inOceania (Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific) forum
Any COVID updates for French Polynesia/Tahiti?
United Airlines Launches Inaugural Flight Between San Francisco and Tahiti, Announces it will Extend to Year-Round Service

United launches the only nonstop service to the Islands of Tahiti by a U.S. carrier from the mainland United States


SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines today started the only nonstop service by a U.S. carrier to the Islands of Tahiti. The airline launched its first flight between San Francisco and Pape'ete, the capital of Tahiti. As part of its inaugural celebration, United also announced it is extending its Tahiti schedule to year-round service from San Francisco.

"We are thrilled to extend this exciting flight to a year-round schedule," said Janet Lamkin. "For Californians and our customers connecting through San Francisco, this route offers an escape to a little corner of paradise."

United's newest international flight offers customers a convenient gateway to the islands of French Polynesia including Mo'orea, Bora Bora, the Marquesas and Rangiroa. Starting today, United's service to Tahiti departs San Francisco International Airport on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Beginning March 30, 2019, United will begin year-round service on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. United will operate the route with Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft throughout the year. Tickets are available for purchase on united.com.
Flight City Pair Depart Arrive
UA 115 San Francisco - Tahiti 2:45 p.m. 9:25 p.m.
UA 114 Tahiti - San Francisco 11:45 p.m. 9:50 a.m. next day

United and United Express operate more than 250 daily flights between San Francisco and 90 destinations throughout North America, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean. From San Francisco, United will continue to operate nonstop seasonal summer service to Zurich in 2019 and recently announced it will be the only U.S. carrier to offer daily, year-round nonstop service to Amsterdam beginning March 30, 2019.

Originally Posted by JOSECONLSCREW28
It's SFO-PPT 788 starts October 30 2018.


United Airlines adds the South Pacific's Most Stunning Tropical Paradise to its Growing List of New Routes

Tahiti becomes the 13th international route announced by the airline in 2017
United's new nonstop flight from SFO to Tahiti connects customers to beautiful beaches, overwater bungalows, coral atolls and forested volcanoes

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 13, 2017 -- United Airlines (UAL), the leading carrier in the San Francisco Bay Area, today announced it will begin service between San Francisco and Pape'ete, the capital of Tahiti, the South Pacific's gateway to more than 118 islands in French Polynesia including Bora Bora, Moorea, the Marquesas and Raiatea. United is the only U.S. carrier offering nonstop service to Tahiti from the mainland United States. Tickets are now available for purchase.

"We are excited to announce Tahiti as our 13th new international route this year, and we are even more thrilled about offering our customers a whole new world of vacation opportunities," said Patrick Quayle, United's vice president of International Network. "We know our customers want more destinations to choose from to escape the winter weather, and we look forward to being the airline that connects them to this corner of paradise.

"United's service from San Francisco will connect customers to the South Pacific's most pristine waters, white sand beaches, stunning turquoise lagoons, coral atolls and volcanic mountain peaks. Visitors to the islands experience a tropical paradise and countless spaces to relax and reconnect in natural beauty and authentic French Polynesian island culture.

United will operate nonstop service, three times weekly with Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft between its San Francisco hub and Fa'a'ā International Airport (PPT), beginning Oct. 30, 2018, through March 28, 2019, subject to government approval.
Winter 2018 schedule – Subject to government approval
UA 115 SFO – PPT Tues/Thurs/Sun 2:45 p.m. - 9:25 p.m
UA 114 PPT – SFO Tues/Thurs/Sun 11:45 p.m. - 9:50 a.m. next day
*Flight Times Subject to Change

United's Long History Connecting Customers to the Pacific Islands
United's love affair with the Pacific islands started more than 70 years ago and continues today. It began in 1947 with United's first flight across the Pacific from San Francisco to Honolulu, making the Hawaiian Islands an easily accessible destination for tourism and business. Today, United offers more flights between the mainland and the Hawaiian Islands than any other U.S. carrier.

In 1968, United expanded its Pacific network linking the Hawaiian Islands, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Guam. Today, nearly half a century later, United's Island Hopper - Flight 155 - departs Guam in the morning and makes a series of five, one-hour flights to the islands of Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae; Kwajalein and Majuro. In addition to the airline's popular Island Hopper service, United connects customers from Guam to other island destinations including Palau, Yap and the Philippines.

In 1986, United began nonstop service from its West Coast hubs in the U.S. to Sydney and Melbourne, Australia. Today, United is the largest U.S. carrier to serve Australia, offering the most seats to Sydney and Melbourne with its daily nonstop service from San Francisco and Los Angeles.Building its powerful Pacific network, last year United began nonstop service from San Francisco to Auckland, New Zealand, becoming the largest mainland U.S. carrier to serve the City of Sails.

United's San Francisco Hub
United and United Express operate more than 250 daily flights between San Francisco and 90 destinations throughout North America, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean. Beginning in June 2018, United will start nonstop seasonal summer service between San Francisco and Zurich.
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 10:46 am
  #76  
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Originally Posted by EWR764
UA115 SFO-PPT 1445 2025 788 247
UA114 PPT-SFO 2345 1050+1 788 247

So a relatively quick turn, daylight southbound and redeye return, 3 days per week, 788 service. ~8h. Unclear if seasonal. Bookable now on United.com, but no discount revenue fares or award buckets available yet.

Connects neatly with SFO-CDG, <2h layovers in both directions, also 788, possible same plane service on the days SFO-PPT operates (not that it really matters).

UA990 SFO-CDG 1450 0935+1 788
UA984 CDG-SFO 0910 1250 788
https://hub.united.com/united-tahiti...516709280.html

We will operate nonstop service, three-times weekly with Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft between San Francisco and Fa'a'ā International Airport (PPT), beginning on October 30, 2018 through March 28, 2019. (Subject to government approval.)
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 11:08 am
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The SFO departure timing makes sense given the availability of gates at that time and, importantly, when an Asia departure goes mechanical, the PPT aircraft will instead be used and the PPT flight will get delayed/cancelled.
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 11:20 am
  #78  
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Originally Posted by halls120
This is about responding to competition...
Do you think they're that anxious to kill French Blue on SFO-PAR 2x weekly? It's a small fraction of what AF is putting into the market (daily 380 and 777 in July). I can't see United (previously) really caring about competition on SFO-PPT.
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 11:29 am
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Originally Posted by 3Cforme
Do you think they're that anxious to kill French Blue on SFO-PAR 2x weekly? It's a small fraction of what AF is putting into the market (daily 380 and 777 in July). I can't see United (previously) really caring about competition on SFO-PPT.
Yes, because United will need to compete with lower fares from French Blue in the SFO-PAR market, depressing yields on the existing flights.
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 11:32 am
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Seasonal SFO-PPT beginning Oct 2018

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Old Dec 13, 2017, 12:15 pm
  #81  
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Originally Posted by EWR764
The complicating factor, as it is with the existing CDG-LAX-PPT flights, is that transit pax must clear US customs on the intermediate stop, despite CDG-PPT being technically a domestic route. Geography is such that there really are no other, more favorable routing options.
I know that used to be the case, but is it still true? I flew BA from LHR to MIA recently and onboard they said that anyone continuing on an AA flight to south or central America did not have to clear customs at MIA.

And will UA be required to have French speaking FA's on this route? I know all the Tahiti Nui staff I've met are bi-lingual.
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 12:31 pm
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Originally Posted by stimpy
I know that used to be the case, but is it still true? I flew BA from LHR to MIA recently and onboard they said that anyone continuing on an AA flight to south or central America did not have to clear customs at MIA.

And will UA be required to have French speaking FA's on this route? I know all the Tahiti Nui staff I've met are bi-lingual.
Not sure about the BA/AA arrangement at MIA but passengers still need to enter the USA and re-clear security before boarding connecting flights. Bags are probably transferred directly, similar to the IAH program.

There is no requirement for French-speaking flight attendants on any routes, but UA will staff language-qualified crewmembers on certain international routes for customer service reasons. I suspect SFOPPT will have French speakers.
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 12:33 pm
  #83  
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Originally Posted by stimpy
And will UA be required to have French speaking FA's on this route? I know all the Tahiti Nui staff I've met are bi-lingual.
Should be fairly easy to accomplish if so since they are already running the 788 on IAD / SFO - CDG so they likely have French speaking FAs on those routes that can (happily I'm sure) pick up the PPT flight.
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 12:37 pm
  #84  
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I'm very curious to see how the route does... even a 788 feels very premium-heavy for the demand profile. I do note, however, that SFO-PPT is shorter than ORD-HNL so this is presumably in range for a 77G instead.
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 1:09 pm
  #85  
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The initial fare I am seeing in business class is around $4,400 round trip. I doubt there will be many takers at that price.
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 1:10 pm
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Lot's of PN space on every flight for those fortunate GS members...
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 1:23 pm
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No saver awards loaded. Business Everyday is 175k and Economy is at 80k.
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 1:25 pm
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Originally Posted by RichardInSF
The initial fare I am seeing in business class is around $4,400 round trip. I doubt there will be many takers at that price.
Why is that? It doesn't seem that extreme UA is one of only two lie-flat options in the market and they are the only lie-flat option if you don't have an easy LAX connection to get the Air France flight.

Playing around with random dates they look exactly in line with the AA/TN and DL/AF flight options in J. SFO - PPT on UA J direct is only $200 more than SFO - LAX - PPT on AF/DL, seems like a small premium for a direct ex-SFO vs. having to connect via LAX.
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 1:34 pm
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Originally Posted by jmanirish
Lot's of PN space on every flight for those fortunate GS members...
And T space.

T->XN + GPU = biz award.
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 1:38 pm
  #90  
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Originally Posted by Duke787
Why is that? It doesn't seem that extreme UA is one of only two lie-flat options in the market and they are the only lie-flat option if you don't have an easy LAX connection to get the Air France flight.

Playing around with random dates they look exactly in line with the AA/TN and DL/AF flight options in J. SFO - PPT on UA J direct is only $200 more than SFO - LAX - PPT on AF/DL, seems like a small premium for a direct ex-SFO vs. having to connect via LAX.
Also, keep in mind that, except when UA makes a mistake and accidentally includes all fare classes, they normally don't open discount fares when a flight is first added to the schedule, and certainly not when it's 300+ days away.

If nobody likes it at $4400, there's plenty of time to discount it.
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