In March, my wife and I booked a package trip to Paris through Pleasant Holidays that included roundtrip nonstop flights from Los Angeles on Air Tahiti Nui. When I would tell friends about our upcoming travel plans, by far the question I got the most was, "Since when does Air Tahiti Nui fly to Paris?"
Well, the answer is the airline has been flying this route for years. But many travelers are simply unaware of this option __ which is a shame, because we found Air Tahiti Nui to be an excellent choice.
First, I admit that we were upgraded to the airline's Poerava Business Class, which, of course, greatly improved the flight. But in terms of that level of service, we were very impressed with Air Tahiti Nui's quality.
Our seats on the Airbus A340-300 were extremely comfortable and had a wide range of settings. While not true "lie flat" seats, they reclined to 160 degrees with a pitch of 60 inches, which made sleeping on the overnight flight effortless. The seats also had easy access to electrical outlets and USB ports. And there were plenty of entertainment options available on the 12-inch, high-definition, seatback touch screen.
The quality of the food on the flight was also exceptional. The menu featured a range of choices, and the dishes managed to combine French cuisine with a touch of French Polynesian flair. I especially enjoyed the wine list that featured several selections from France.
Another perk of flying in business class is access to Air Tahiti Nui's lounges in L.A. and Paris, which provide a whole range of top-notch amenities and services.
The schedule of the flight __ leaving L.A. in the evening and arriving in Paris at dawn __ made it ideal for our short visit. On the way back, we left Paris at mid-morning and arrived in L.A. in the afternoon, with plenty of time to get ready for work the next day.
So, the next time you have clients looking to visit the City of Light, show your expertise and give them the option of Air Tahiti Nui. You'll make them feel like they're in on a secret.
