Wednesday newsletters all the time function a lodge or flight evaluate.
In summer season 2022, I loved an unbelievable vacation in French Polynesia (Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora). Learn my journey stories right here:
Right now: Air Tahiti Nui Boeing 787 Dreamliner Enterprise Class from Los Angeles to Paris
Final September, I flew with Air Tahi Nui from Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris to Faa’a Worldwide Airport in Tahiti with a stopover in Los Angeles. That is my evaluate of the final leg of my return flight with French Polynesia’s flag provider (Los Angeles to Paris). I’ve already printed a number of detailed opinions about Air Tahiti Nui’s arduous and mushy product right here (flight from Paris to Los Angeles), right here (flight from Los Angeles to Tahiti) and right here (flight from Tahiti to Los Angeles). So, that’s why I made a decision to jot down this journey report in a considerably completely different format, summarizing my flight expertise from begin to finish, illustrated by dozens of pictures. Let me know what kind of format for flight journey stories you favor.
- Journey: Los Angeles (LAX) to Paris (CDG)
- Airline: Air Tahiti Nui
- Plane kind: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
- Plane registration quantity: F-OMUA (named Fakarava)
- Departure: 2:30 pm (on time)
- Arrival: 8:30 am (+1 day; on time)
- Miles: 5650 miles (9090 km)
- Flight time: 10 hours
- Seat: 1A
- Class: Enterprise Class
I made a YouTube video with my impressions through the flight, which you watch right here:
Upon arrival at Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) with the Air Tahiti Nui flight originating from Papeete, I needed to clear immigration and TSA (Transportation Safety Administration) in a devoted room proper subsequent to the gate, which made for simple identification and stream. Your complete course of took lower than 10 minutes since I used to be one of many first passengers to deplane. My carry-one baggage needed to be taken with me throughout transit, whereas checked baggage stayed on the aircraft.
After clearing immigration and TSA, I attempted to search out the Enterprise Class lounge at LAX’ Midfield Satellite tv for pc Concourse however sadly, I couldn’t discover it. Signalling within the terminal was complicated and insufficient, and I ended up on a flooring the place a number of lounges had been being constructed however none was open but. I gave up after some time since there was solely little time left earlier than the scheduled boarding time of my flight.
The flight to Paris was operated by the identical plane that flew us from Tahiti to Los Angeles (plane registration quantity F-OMUA; named Fakarava).
As a Enterprise Class passenger, I used to be allowed precedence boarding, which allowed me to take some pictures earlier than the opposite passengers took their seats. I entered the aircraft through the principle galley, which featured a shocking floor-to-ceiling photograph of Bora Bora island, evoking a tropical ambiance.
Enterprise Class was positioned in a single cabin within the Dreamliner’s entrance part. The 30 lie flat seats had been organized in a six-abreast (2-2-2) structure; whereas not a leading edge arduous product, this configuration is smart, on condition that most individuals touring with Air Tahiti Nui are {couples}.
The seats featured marine blue materials and mushy picket finishes, making a coloration palette that evoked the white sand seashores and turquoise water of the Polynesian lagoons. A Tiare motif was printed within the leather-based headrests of every seat, subtly reinforcing the visible model id of Air Tahiti Nui.
Every seat featured its personal 16 inch HD touchscreen TV, which may be managed by a handset nestled within the armrest. Under the TV monitor was a drawer (giant sufficient to retailer a laptop computer) and a footrest (which turned a part of the flatbed as soon as the seat is absolutely reclined). The scale of this footrest was variable: the bulkhead seats in row 1 supplied a a lot bigger ottoman as in comparison with the opposite Enterprise Class seats (so be sure that to decide on a seat within the first row if you happen to can); additionally, the aisle seats had a bigger foot relaxation in comparison with window seats.
The middle armrest featured a small shared desk (for drinks & snacks), a management panel for the seat positions, and a distant handset for the inflight leisure system.
The middle armrest additionally held a reasonably sized fold-out tray desk.
Subsequent to the seat, behind the headrest, was a small, considerably tough to achieve storage compartment with a magnetic adaptor for the headphones.
An amenity package – designed as a beige toiletry bag – was ready on every seat.
It contained merchandise manufactured from recyclable supplies (cornstarch toothbrush, bamboo fiber sock, natural cotton masks) and a spread of beauty merchandise made in Polynesia (face and fingers cream fingers and a lip balm) from the model “Heiva”.
Noise-cancelling headphones had been offered as effectively.
A welcome drink and a sizzling towel had been supplied throughout boarding.
Following a brief taxi, we took off from runway 24L/6R in a westerly route over the Pacific Ocean. 5 minutes after lift-off, the aircraft turned east, and the good climate allowed for some gorgeous views after takeoff.
Meals service began shortly thereafter. A menu was handed out to every passenger.
The wine record on this flight was fairly spectacular.
An aperitif was served with an amuse bouche of candy potato wrapped in a slice of smoked duck breast
The land/sea starter consisted of marinated shrimp with citrus & fennel, and heirloom tomato with burrata, arugula salad & pesto. The starter was served with a salad and cheese choice.
As a essential course, I select the meat stew, which was cooked in a aromatic broth with seasonal greens and served with a ravigote sauce. The dish tasted wonderful and its presentation was fairly good too.
The meal service ended with a trio of desserts: Mont Blanc cream, mango bavarois cake, seasonal fruit salad.
After dinner, it was time to discover the inflight leisure. It featured the most recent era system from Panasonic, and supplied a good (albeit relatively restricted) choice of leisure, with 16 films, 40 music albums, 15 video video games and several other devoted TV reveals & documentaries channel.
A spotlight of the inflight leisure was Tiare TV, a singular channel dedicated to the islands of French Polynesia. Amongst others, Tiara TV featured a documentary about The Brando, one of many world’s most unique personal island resorts and former house of the late actor Marlon Brando.
As we began our crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, I made a decision to have some relaxation. Every Enterprise Class passenger obtained a thick pillow and a heat blanket.
The Enterprise Class seat went absolutely flat (180 levels recline) and the window armrest may very well be lowered to reinforce the sleeping consolation.
Ninety minutes previous to touchdown, breakfast was served. All breakfast gadgets had been introduced on one tray they usually comprised the next choice: Bircher muesli made with a mix of oatmeal, almonds, chia seeds and pear; recent fruit wedges; and pumpkin and ricotta omelet, rooster sausage, roasted potatoes, and tomatoes.
Following an uneventful, easy flight (wherein the seatbelt signal was not turned on as soon as), we landed at Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport. The magic factor about house is that it feels good to go away, and it feels even higher to return again.
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