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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, 1:53 pm
  #91  
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Originally Posted by stimpy
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.
CBP has a very limited experimental program under which international transit pax do not need to retrieve their checked bags. I believe this program is only in place at MIA and IAH. As already noted, passengers still must clear US immigration.
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 2:05 pm
  #92  
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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.
CDG-FSP-PPT would allow the route to remain "domestic", but FSP can't handle B777s.

(FSP = Saint-Pierre airport, Saint Pierre and Miquelon)

Originally Posted by usbusinesstraveller
I believe NZ has something similar for its AKL-LAX-LHR connections at LAX, though they're segregated from general pax and have to use a "holding area".
That changed after NZ moved from T2 to TBIT. Nowadays NZ1/NZ2 transfer passengers go through special CBP processing and are then allowed into the general departure area.
Connecting at Los Angeles (Air NZ webpage)

On arrival at LAX, transit customers holding an onward boarding pass and continuing on the same aircraft to Auckland or London Heathrow will be issued a transit card (example above) and directed by ground staff to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) processing.

Passengers will then be directed to a designated transit location for security screening by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Once screened, passengers will be directed back into the central terminal area where they will have complete access to the departure area, including the 150,000 square feet of retail and dining space in TBIT's Great Hall.

For those eligible (Business Premier, Star Alliance Gold & other eligible customers), transiting passengers will also have access to the Star Alliance lounge. Passengers must retain their boarding passes at all times. There is no requirement to complete any arrival forms and checked baggage will remain onboard during transit time.

Last edited by DoTheBartMan; Dec 13, 2017 at 2:29 pm
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 2:26 pm
  #93  
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Bora Bora here I come! Time to use up all my IHG points at the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort Thalasso Spa
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 3:05 pm
  #94  
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I just tried a dummy booking and the date after 11/18 were grayed out. Still loading fares?
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 3:09 pm
  #95  
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interesting addition. i guess UA has more data than me, but i would've expected to see something else before this.
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 3:14 pm
  #96  
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Originally Posted by seat38a
Bora Bora here I come! Time to use up all my IHG points at the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort Thalasso Spa
I'm thinking the same thing. And if I can use a UA GPU to fly flat it will finally make sense.
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 3:27 pm
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Originally Posted by stimpy
I'm thinking the same thing. And if I can use a UA GPU to fly flat it will finally make sense.
I do wonder what GPU success will be like. Given how high-cost French Polynesia is, I could see a decent amount of paid J on this route.
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 3:29 pm
  #98  
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Originally Posted by milepig
I just tried a dummy booking and the date after 11/18 were grayed out. Still loading fares?
UA only allows bookings about ~335 days in advance.
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 3:38 pm
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Originally Posted by DoTheBartMan
CDG-FSP-PPT would allow the route to remain "domestic", but FSP can't handle B777s.

(FSP = Saint-Pierre airport, Saint Pierre and Miquelon)
They can always operate CDG-PTP-PPT (Pointe-a-Pitre) which can handle a 777.

I do hope that R space opens up, similar to how all the R space available when they announced IAH-SYD.
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 3:58 pm
  #100  
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Originally Posted by hirohito888
I do hope that R space opens up, similar to how all the R space available when they announced IAH-SYD.
Me too. But that's a mistake when it happens. The algorithm mistakes an empty cabin for lack of demand.
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 4:02 pm
  #101  
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Originally Posted by jsloan
UA only allows bookings about ~335 days in advance.
Doh. I always translate that into 365 in my brain.
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 4:58 pm
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Originally Posted by seat38a
Bora Bora here I come! Time to use up all my IHG points at the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort Thalasso Spa
Finally!! I've been waiting years for this. Now my 1M+ IHG points will be out to good use -- if only I could ever string together 7-10 reward nights at Thalasso.
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 4:58 pm
  #103  
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So I ran a dummy booking in November and found a $4383.56 R/T business fare that earns 0 PQD. Wow.
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 6:38 pm
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Originally Posted by SFO_FT
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.
Cancelling a 3x/week flight to a vacation destination isn't going to be good for reputation. However, I can see them holding departure for delayed EU-SFO arrivals. A 2-hour CDG-SFO delay does not trigger 261 compensation, but missing onward SFO-PPT will.
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Old Dec 13, 2017, 8:07 pm
  #105  
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Originally Posted by DoTheBartMan
CDG-FSP-PPT would allow the route to remain "domestic", but FSP can't handle B777s.

(FSP = Saint-Pierre airport, Saint Pierre and Miquelon)
Originally Posted by hirohito888
They can always operate CDG-PTP-PPT (Pointe-a-Pitre) which can handle a 777.
I think there are three options...

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