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Our First Look at Air Tahiti Nui's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Sept. 06, 2018
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2 min read
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Our First Look at Air Tahiti Nui's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
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Traditionally, flights between the US and Tahiti haven't been nearly as glamorous as the destination itself. Aside from Hawaiian's route to Honolulu (HNL), flights from Papeete (PPT) were limited to Los Angeles (LAX), operated by both Air France and Air Tahiti Nui.

Air France award space is almost nonexistent, and while Air Tahiti Nui offers better availability via its US-based partner program, American Airlines AAdvantage, the Airbus A340s it flies on the route sport angle-flat seats and a dated interior. With the airline gearing up to take delivery of its first 787-9 Dreamliner, that'll soon change.

While the first plane isn't quite ready to fly away, it did just undergo one of the final steps of the production process: a fresh coat of paint. The livery looks very slick, especially near the tail.

The interior's an enormous upgrade from those dated A340s, too, with 2-2-2 lie-flat seats in business class — the same seat model you'll find on United's Dreamliners, which will soon operate flights between San Francisco (SFO) and PPT.

Air Tahiti is also offering a premium-economy cabin, with recliners arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration.

Economy looks decent as well, with a standard 3-3-3 configuration there.

The 787-9 is scheduled to begin flying between LAX and PPT in November — the first flight I've found with availability is on November 9, and while business class isn't appearing through third-party sites on that date, you can book a seat directly through the airline.

As for award flights, your best bet is to search for your desired dates using ExpertFlyer, then call American Airlines to book.

If you are able to find space — and that's a big if — you'll need to redeem 40,000 AAdvantage miles each way in economy, or 80,000 miles each way in biz. You may come out ahead by pairing your Tahiti trip with a visit to Japan, too, since award rates are far more appealing there.

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  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.