On October 31, the first flight from Japan (TN87), commemorative gifts and a photo service were distributed in front of the boarding gate, and after arrival, local people performed live music and Tahitian dance at the airport in Tahiti.
To mark the resumption of operations, Tahiti Tourism Board CEO Jean-Marc Moselin and other government officials visited Japan on October 30 on the first flight from Tahiti (TN88) and held a briefing session for Japanese travel agencies and the media. Mr. Mosulan said, “Japan is a very important market for Tahiti,” and promoted Air Tahiti Nui, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.
Even after the easing of immigration restrictions in Tahiti in May 2022, the resumption of this route was postponed twice due to factors in Tahiti and abroad, and now the twice-weekly round-trip service has finally been restored.
Tahiti belongs to French Polynesia and consists of 118 islands of various sizes in the South Pacific, including Tahiti Island, where the capital Papeete is located, Bora Bora, famous for its floating bungalows, and Moorea Island. It takes about 11 hours to reach Faa’a International Airport in Tahiti by this direct flight.
On October 30, Air Tahiti Nui resumed service on its Japan route (Narita-Tahiti) for the first time in approximately three years and seven months, having suspended service due to the new Corona and other factors.
In order to participate in the local press tour organized by the Tahiti Tourism Board, the reporter flew premium economy on the outbound trip and business class on the return trip (a report on the local experience will be presented in a separate article).
The cabin entrance is decorated with artwork depicting the ocean, mountains, and palm trees, and the wall behind the seats is decorated with a panel of the famous painting “Woman of Tahiti (On the Beach)” left by the French artist Gauguin when he visited Tahiti.
It has three classes of seating: business class (30 seats), premium economy (32 seats), and economy class (232 seats), with a total of 294 seats. The cabin is designed to resemble a beautiful lagoon, with emerald green and blue as its base colors.
When boarding, the CA hands each passenger a fresh Tiare flower. The flight is about 11 hours long, but the welcome flowers, with their sweet and refreshing fragrance, are a little bit soothing and worrisome.
The aircraft used on the Narita – Tahiti route is a Boeing 787-9, commonly known as the “Tahitian Dreamliner. The “Tiare” flower, which is the symbol of Tahiti, is painted on the tail and is the logo of Air Tahiti Nui.
The aircraft is a Boeing 787-9. The aircraft is a Boeing 787-9!
I flew Air Tahiti Nui’s “Business Class” and “Premium Economy”!
Let’s start with Premium Economy on the outbound flight to Tahiti (codeshare with JAL). The Premium Economy cabin is located in the center of the aircraft, with five rows of seven seats (2-3-2) per row. The cushions on each seat are brightly colored like tropical flowers and fruits.
Seats are approximately 52 cm wide, with a seat pitch of approximately 96.5 cm (79 cm in Economy), and recline of approximately 20 cm (15 cm in Economy), and are equipped with a footrest and legrest. The seats are slightly more spacious than economy class seats, allowing passengers to stretch out or cross their legs without feeling cramped, and to change into a more comfortable position.
Each seat is equipped with a 13-inch personal monitor to enjoy content such as videos introducing tourist information about Tahiti, the latest movies, music, and games. One universal AC power supply and one USB are provided, so you can charge your smartphone or camera.
Pockets in the front are provided for personal items and drinks, and the table that pulls out from the armrests is large enough for working on a PC.
In-flight Wi-Fi is available on a pay-as-you-go basis, with five levels of packages ranging from 20MB ($8) for sending small social networking text messages to unlimited ($68). The user can choose from the connection screen and pay by credit card.
Amenities include socks, eye mask, earplugs, toothbrush set, paper hand towel, and earphones in an original pouch. Blankets and bottled water are also provided in advance at each seat.
Since flight TN87 departs from Narita at 20:00, the first meal is a little late. About two hours after takeoff, the meal is served, and passengers can choose from three main meals: chicken and rice, beef and rice, or pasta. Each comes with hot vegetables, salad, dessert, and miso soup.
The second meal is a light meal served approximately two hours prior to arrival. The main meal is eggs benedict or waffles. Each of these meals also comes with fruit and other items.
Bread was served with each meal on the return flight, and as one would expect from a French airline, it was delicious and a far cry from the round bread served with most in-flight meals. The bread was served in a basket with a choice of croissants, buckets, walnut bread, etc. The dough was warm and fluffy, as if it had just been baked.
In addition, passengers can order soft drinks such as water, fruit juice, and tea, as well as beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages of their choice on board. For those who are hungry or need more food, cup noodles and snacks are also available.
Next is the Business Class used on the return flight back to Japan (code-share flight with Korean Air). Business Class is located at the front of the aircraft, with five rows of seven seats (2-3-2) per row. The seats are approximately 53 cm wide, with a seat pitch of approximately 152 cm, and are fully flat at 180 degrees. There is enough space to feel the seat in front of you, and you can freely control the reclining and leg rests with the panel at hand.
For a 165cm-tall reporter, even at takeoff with the seatbelt installed, the space in the front was quite roomy, and when the seatbelt is unbuckled and the seat is fully flat, it is almost as open as sleeping in a bed. On this day, the tall and stout Westerner sitting next to me seemed to be relaxing, stretching his legs out firmly and turning over in his sleep.
The personal monitor is 16 inches larger than the Pre-Eco, and can be operated by remote control or touch screen. There is also space for personal items under the monitor, under the feet, and behind the seat, and a side table for drinks and hand towels.
In addition, AC power and USB are available at each seat. The table that pulls out from the armrests can be opened and closed in two positions and moved back and forth, making it easy to use even when the seat is reclined.
The amenity kit comes in a luxurious pouch with a zipper and includes socks, eye mask, earplugs, hairbrush, toothpaste set, mouthwash, eyeglass wipe, ballpoint pen, and basic cosmetics such as lip balm, hand cream, face cream, and shifting towel.
This is an original Air Tahiti Nui product, which is appreciated in the dry cabin environment, and face cream and body mist are always available in the lavatories of each cabin.
In addition, each business class seat was equipped with slippers, pillows, blankets, headphones, bottled water, and disinfectant spray.
Two meals were served on the return flight as well. In business class, a welcome drink of wine was served first to relax before takeoff. The first meal was served about two hours after departure from Tahiti at 08:35. It consists of yogurt, appetizers, main course, seasonal fruits, and bread, and is a slightly luxurious brunch.
Appetizers include smoked chicken rillettes, cheese platter, celery salad, and turkey breast. For the main course, you can choose from Western (omelette with bacon, potatoes, and tomatoes) or Japanese (teriyaki salmon with hot vegetables, marinated daikon radish, and rice), and you can also get miso soup if you wish.
For the second meal, a full-course French dinner will be served approximately two hours prior to arrival in Japan. The menu includes appetizers, starters, main course, cheese plate, and dessert. This also includes a carefully selected wine list and warm bread, which can be ordered and tasted at your leisure.
Appetizers include a fancy foie gras macaroon, tuna tartare and papaya salad for appetizers, a choice of Western (Tahitian shrimp and carrot velouté sauce/ lamb filet) or vegetarian Japanese (sautéed thick tofu) for the main course, and a banana and pistachio tart for dessert. tart with banana and pistachios for dessert.
What was particularly surprising on the round-trip flight was that all of the food was carefully prepared, incorporating Tahitian ingredients, local cuisine, and French-derived food culture. Regardless of the round-trip or boarding class, I enjoyed the high quality of the meals.
In addition, the new Tahitian Dreamliner aircraft, which is being introduced in 2019, has a higher interior humidity level to prevent dryness of the eyes, throat, and skin. In addition, the latest air purification system, air pressure control technology, and LED lighting have been adopted to provide a stable flight with less strain on the body.
And are you having trouble? Do you need water? Are you cold? The attentive service is also appealing. Families with small children and those who do not speak English or French can feel at ease.
© Source travel watch
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