Cheap flights to Tahiti in 2023/24 
from US, Canada, Australia, Europe, and Asia

The cheapest time to fly to Tahiti

Tahiti is situated in the southern hemisphere near the equator and it experiences only two seasons: summer from November to April and winter from May to October. The temperature in Tahiti remains relatively constant year-round, so you’re likely to have warm and sunny weather – regardless of what time of year you travel to Tahiti.

The summer is the low season in Tahiti – November to April (excluding days around Christmas and New Year) is then the cheapest time to fly to the island. The weather is hotter and more humid than in winter, but you will be rewarded with the lowest airfares. Resorts in Tahiti also reduce their prices for the off-season.

The high tourist season in Tahit starts in May and lasts until the end of October. These are the busiest months when the weather is dryer, there is less humidity in the air, and water temperatures are cooler. Get ready for tourist crowds and sky-high prices for flights and hotels. If you plan to visit Tahiti during these months, it is essential to book well ahead (at least 9 months in advance).

Island hopping in French Polynesia

French Polynesia, located in the Pacific Ocean, covers an area as large as Western Europe and consists of 118 islands spread across 5 distinct island groups. Due to the considerable distance between islands, flying is the most efficient way of island hopping. The aerial views from the plane are sure to be some of the most stunning you’ll ever experience!

Tahiti and Bora Bora islands lie among the Society Islands group. The islands nearby are easiest to get to and provide more accommodation choices – so the other Society Islands such as Moorea, Raiatea, Tahaa, Maupiti, and Huahine are great choices for quick island hopping. The Tuamotu Archipelago, located further out, boasts scenic islands such as Tikehau, Fakarava, and Rangiro. The Marquesas, Gambier, and Austral island groups are even more remote, offering a more secluded experience for those seeking less tourist activity. You’ll likely have these untouched islands all to yourself.

Air Tahiti is the only inter-island carrier connecting the island groups in French Polynesia. Flights depart from Bora Bora Airport and Faa’a Airport in the capital of Papeete on Tahiti. 47 islands are accessible, with popular destinations having flights 3-5 times a week and less frequent service to more remote islands. Flight times range from 1 hour to 3 hours, with the shortest flights serving the Tuamotu Atolls and the longest reaching the Marquesas Islands.

Get Multi-Island Pass to save on flights

Air Tahiti offers Multi-Island Passes for travelers who wish to explore multiple islands within the same archipelago, offering special, discounted fares.

For example, Bora Bora Pass allows flying to the islands of Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Bora Bora, and Maupiti and costs €434.90/€469.30 (low season/high season).

All Passes cover routes that start and finish in Tahiti and are valid for 28 days.

Know your time zone

When checking flights and airport transfer times, ensure you know the local time zones. The departure/arrival times on your plane ticket and boarding pass are based on the time zone of the departure/arrival airport – this also applies to the connecting (layover) airports.

French Polynesia spans across the Pacific Ocean and includes multiple islands, each with its own unique geography and longitude. To accommodate this, this French overseas territory uses three separate time zones to reflect the local time on each island accurately: Tahiti Time Zone (UTC-10), Marquesas Islands Time Zone (UTC-9:30) and Gambier Islands Time Zone (UTC-9). These time zones do not have an associated daylight saving time.

Tahiti observes Tahiti Time Zone (UTC-10) all year. As a result, clocks in Tahiti are 21 hours behind Sydney, 10 hours behind London and 5 hours behind New York.

When you board the plane, adjust your watch to the local time of the destination – subconsciously orienting yourself to the new time will help you to reduce the jetlag a bit.

Exploring Tahiti and Pacific Islands

The Pacific Islands can be divided into three main groups based on physical geography and cultural significance:

• Polynesia (“many islands”): This large triangular area of the east-central Pacific Ocean includes Tahiti and French Polynesia, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Easter Island, Hawaiian Islands, Line Islands, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Wallis and Futuna.
• Micronesia (“small islands”). Located north of Papua New Guinea. It includes the Federated States of Micronesia (the Caroline Islands), Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Northern Mariana Islands, and Palau.
• Melanesia (“black islands”). Anchored north of Australia and bordering Indonesia to the east, this region includes Fiji, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.

Tahiti, Hawaii, Fiji, and Easter Island are the most well-connected Pacific Islands and act as hubs when flying from the USA, Australasia, and Asia (especially Korea, Taiwan, and Japan). The poorly connected island countries like Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, or Tuvalu are best visited via these main hubs.

Keep in mind that traveling throughout the region can be costly, with Tahiti being one of the most expensive destinations. Once you get there, costs can quickly add up to well above that in your home country, especially if you require comforts and imported products. The large tourist numbers and inflated costs of shipping goods the Tahiti island mean that the prices are almost uniformly high.

Long waiting times when calling the helpline?

Social media is usually a faster way to reach the airline when a problem arises. Use Twitter or Facebook Messenger to contact the airline customer service and get a response and solution within minutes (see detailed guides for Air New Zealand, Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar, and others).

When it comes to Twitter there’s one more trick to get in touch with the airline faster: mention the airline in a tweet about your issue (add “@airline_handle”, for example: “@AirTahitiNuiUS” if contacting Air Tahiti Nui). The social media team will often notice it immediately, ask you for a direct message, and respond privately.

How to book SuperDeals?

At the Air Traveler Club, our go-to solution for finding cheap airfares to Tahiti is Google Flights. Every time we send SuperDeals to our 110,000 members (see some examples), we include links to Google Flights so that each deal can be booked immediately.

Google Flights then showcases various options for booking the deal: you can almost always book directly with the airline (by cutting out the middleman) or – alternatively – with an OTA that offers the same flight at a similar price. Once you have chosen your booking option, you will be redirected to the external website where you can finalize your ticket purchase.

One of Google Flights’ standout features is a color-coded bar that appears underneath the booking options. It provides a visual representation of the price in comparison to the typical fare (for the same route, class, and airline) – indicating whether it is lower, average, or higher.

If the marker falls within the green zone (“price is low”) don’t hesitate to secure this deal as it is significantly – 40% to 80% – cheaper than average and unlikely to drop further.

For more details on how to book deals on Google Flights, check out this video:

If you are not Air Traveler Club subscriber yet, you’re missing out on SuperDeals (we often send deals to Tahiti). Signup now to start saving 40–80% on flights. It’s free!

Last-minute flights to Tahiti. The real cost of convenience.

Last-minute flights are often touted as a great way to save money, but the reality is far from it. Booking last-minute flights to Tahiti almost always never works out. The convenience of being able to book a flight on the fly is a dangerous game of chance, and you will most likely end up paying significantly higher than booking in advance.

The common perception may be that airlines decrease ticket prices to fill empty seats as the departure date approaches. However, the truth is that airfares depend on demand. Based on years of research and current customer data, the airlines know what people are willing to pay for specific flights and dates. They are also well aware that people are willing to pay a premium for flights they need to take immediately. To make the most money, the airline will sell its cheapest fares first and then increase the prices right before the flight to take advantage of business travelers and others who are willing to pay the premium price for late booking.

Occasionally, airlines can put some seats on sale to fill the remaining seats, but these are for unusual times and unpopular places. Popular destinations and dates around peak travel times tend to sell out quickly.

Planning ahead is key to securing a good deal on your flight. Last-minute flight deals are hard to come by, so as soon as you have a tentative travel timeline, book your flight. The earlier you book, the more likely you are to save money. If you are looking for a good deal, the best time to book your flight to Tahiti is around 60-90 days before the departure date.

Get cheaper business class by bidding on airline upgrades

A growing number of airlines are auctioning upgrades to their business class seats. Once you book your economy ticket to Tahiti, you can offer to pay a bit more in an attempt to get a premium seat. 2-3 days before your flight, visit the airline website and place a “blind” bid for an upgrade by providing your Booking Reference number.

There’s usually a minimum bid amount. If you win the auction, you’ll be informed by email, and your seat will be upgraded.

Among the airlines that allow bidding for seat upgrades are: Air Canada (AC Bid), Air New Zealand (OneUp), Cathay Pacific (Upgrade Bid), Etihad Airways (Bid To Upgrade), Fiji Airways (Bula Bid), Garuda Indonesia (BidUpgrade), Hawaiian Airlines (Bid Up), LATAM (Cabin Upgrade),  Lufthansa (Bid Upgrade), Royal Jordanian (Go Crown), Qantas (Bid Now), SAS (SAS Upgrade), Singapore Airlines (mySQupgrade), SriLankan Airlines, and Virgin Australia (UpgradeMe).

Why should you book an early morning flight to Tahiti

It is a seemingly simple but often overlooked strategy: fly at dawn for smoother travel and cheaper tickets. Booking an early morning flight to Tahiti can pay off in numerous ways:

1. Cheaper airfares. Early morning flights – between 4 am and 8 am – are usually cheaper than other day schedules. Airlines often offer discounts on their first flight of the morning (up to 15-20%) simply because of lower demand – most people are not willing to go to the airport so early.
2. Lower chance of delay. The thin traffic in the morning leads to fewer delays – all the flights from the night before have already landed, and there is no other air traffic to contend with. Air traffic and delays get worse throughout the day – starting around 8-10 am and reaching a peak at 4-6 pm. If you are flying to Tahiti with a connecting flight, arriving on time at your layover airport may be critical to catching your next flight!
3. Fewer crowds at the airport. By heading to the airport before rush hour, you can at least halve the time spent in city traffic. With fewer travelers at the airport, there will be no long lines at the check-in and security, and waiting areas will be less crowded.

   

4. Less turbulence. Early morning flights offer a smoother ride, with less turbulence. Thunderstorms and unstable air, which can cause turbulence (including its worst kind – convective turbulence) are more likely to occur in the afternoon.
5. Fresher crew. You’ll be flying with a crew that has had a good night’s sleep and is mentally ready to provide better service and ensure a safer flight experience.
6. Cleaner plane. On its first flight of the day, your aircraft will be as sanitary as possible. Airlines generally take extra care to thoroughly clean planes between flights, but boarding that morning flight gives you the greatest chance of a spotless plane.

Looking for the best deals for Tahiti? Check different departure airports.

Airlines often have varying prices for flights to Tahiti from different airports – even if they are in close proximity to one another. So don’t limit yourself to just your nearest airport. The neighboring cities may have lower-priced flights that include a layover at Tahiti, or may even have direct flights that are more budget-friendly.

For example, if you’re looking to fly from Paris to Tahiti, it may be worth checking prices for flights departing from London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, or Rome. Yes, you may have to fly a few hundred kilometers to these hubs, but domestic low-cost airlines like EasyJet, RyanAir, or WizzAir will happily take you there for less than €100.

The same goes for long-haul flights to Tahiti from anywhere in the world. By broadening your search to include neighboring airports, you may discover lower-priced options that can save you hundreds of euros!

Fly now, pay later

Book Now Pay Later (BNPL) plans for flights have become a popular trend in the travel industry, allowing travelers to book flights and pay in installments. Among the airlines that offer this option are American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Qantas, Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines. They partner with external financial companies to offer their loan services on the checkout page.

The BNPL plans come with varying terms and fees. Some may be interest-free but have fees for late-payments and require forced autoplay on your bank account, while others may have high annual percentage rates (up to 30-40% APR).

When considering BNPL financing for your flight to Tahiti, it’s crucial to carefully evaluate the pros and cons, and thoroughly review the terms and conditions.

Proof of onward travel – a simple hack

Travelers who go on long trips often don’t have a set itinerary and fly on one-way tickets. The problem? For many APAC countries, proof of onward travel is a legal requirement. If you arrive at the airport without an onward ticket (from French Polynesia to another country), you’ll either be forced to buy one online or forbidden from boarding the plane altogether.

The cheapest solution? Renting an onward ticket! Use the websites such as OneWayFly or OnwardTicket to get a flight reservation for a limited amount of time (usually 2 to 14 days). They work by actually booking you on a real flight out of French Polynesia and giving you a confirmable flight reservation with a PNR (Passenger Name Record) under your name. After the time limit, your spot on the flight is automatically canceled. Such “temporary tickets” tend to cost anywhere from $10 to $20.

Lost luggage prevention: Essential tips

Every year, airlines handle millions of bags, and a small percentage of these bags never make it to their final destinations. Globally, airlines mishandle around 0.7% of bags checked in, which translates to seven bags out of every 1,000. Losing the luggage on your trip to Tahiti can be a frustrating and stressful experience, but there are steps you can take to minimize the risk of this happening to you.

1. Use GPS-Trackers. A luggage tracking device such as Apple AirTag or Samsung Galaxy SmartTag comes with a smartphone app and is an excellent way to locate your bag if it goes missing.

   

2. Label your luggage with your name, address, phone number and the name of your destination airport in Tahiti. Put these details inside the case as well.
3. Remove old tags. Tags are printed with a barcode for identification and tracking, so the old tags from previous flights can confuse baggage handlers and conveyor belt scanners.
4. Avoid tight layovers. Give yourself and your luggage time to get aboard the next plane by picking a flight to Tahiti with a longer layover.
5. Don’t overstuff your suitcase. Heavy bags are more likely to get damaged and stuck on the belts, causing the bag to be misdirected.
6. Make your bag stand out. After arrival at Tahiti airport, most people just want to grab their luggage and get out of the airport as soon as possible. In their haste, a case of mistaken identity can sometimes occur.
7. Take a picture of your bag and the contents, and keep it on your phone. This can be helpful if you need to make a claim for lost or damaged items.
8. Use a TSA-approved luggage lock. This will secure your bags and will help deter theft.
9. Keep your valuables in your hand luggage. The airline liability is notoriously low (around €1,000 in most cases) and it usually doesn’t reflect the actual value of the baggage content.
10. Consider purchasing travel insurance. It can act as a safety net as it can often cover the full value of your luggage. Travel insurance may also reimburse you for any emergency purchases you need to make while you wait.

Hidden-city ticketing hack

Hidden-city ticketing is a less-known money-saving tactic where you buy a plane ticket with a layover, with the intention to get off at the layover rather than the final destination. For example, a flight from New York to Tokyo might be $600, but a similar flight from New York to Singapore with a layover in Tokyo might be only $350. Choosing the latter and ending the trip in Tokyo would save you $250.

It seems counterintuitive that a fare from A to C via B could possibly be cheaper than a simple fare on a shorter route from A to B. However, airlines use dynamic, computer-driven price models calculated with little human intervention, and such deals happen quite often.

Booking a hidden city ticket isn’t as easy as booking a standard itinerary. There are some things to be aware of: (1) don’t check baggage — bring only hand luggage that can fit under the seat or an overhead compartment; a large checked bag will end up in the final destination C; (2) don’t use it for return flights — airlines often void any subsequent tickets if any segment of the first ticket is missed; (3) Do not overuse this tactic with the same airline — hidden-city ticketing is legal but airlines don’t like it and may try to punish you; (4) Don’t associate your frequent flyer account — the airline might invalidate any miles you’ve accrued with them.

How to find hidden-city tickets? The easiest way is to use Skiplagged website, which was designed for unearthing hidden-city deals — give them a try for your flight to Tahiti.