Fly to Bora Bora: Points & Miles Guide

Ever dreamed of escaping to Bora Bora? I know I have! Those picture-perfect turquoise waters and luxurious overwater bungalows are practically begging for a visit. But here’s the scoop: you can’t actually fly directly into Bora Bora. Most international journeys land you in Pape’ete, Tahiti, first. Don’t worry, though; getting there with points and miles is totally doable, and I’m here to show you how!

My Bora Bora Travel Blueprint: Key Takeaways

My journey to Bora Bora means first securing a flight to Faa’a International Airport (PPT) in Pape’ete. Then, a quick inter-island hop brings me to the paradisiacal shores of Bora Bora itself. Booking these two parts separately is key.

When I think about flying nonstop to PPT using points, my go-to airlines are Air France, Air Tahiti Nui, Hawaiian Airlines, and United Airlines.

As for the best points programs? Air France/KLM Flying Blue, American Airlines AAdvantage, ANA Mileage Club, and United MileagePlus are definitely at the top of my list for snagging award seats.

Bora Bora, nestled in French Polynesia northwest of Tahiti, is a name that conjures up images of pure bliss – white sands, calm waters, and ultimate privacy. It’s no wonder it’s become such a sought-after luxury destination.

While often compared to the Maldives, Bora Bora is a much more accessible luxury escape from the U.S. picture this: a quick 9-hour flight from the continental U.S. or an even shorter 7-hour hop from Hawaii. That’s a game-changer for those of us dreaming of pristine beaches and serene nature.

If your ideal getaway involves immaculate waters and secluded beaches, then buckle up! I’m going to walk you through the best ways to use your hard-earned points and miles to get to Bora Bora, starting with that essential first stop in Tahiti.

My Journey Begins: The Best Programs to Use to Book Flights

Since Bora Bora doesn’t have the long, flat runways needed for international flights, my adventure always starts with a stop in Pape’ete, Tahiti. All the big international planes land at Faa’a International Airport (PPT). From there, smaller turboprop planes operated by Air Tahiti whisk travelers to the various islands, including Bora Bora (BOB), which is just a scenic 45-minute flight away. This means I always book my long-haul international flights and my inter-island flights separately.

For those of us flying from the U.S., here are the awesome nonstop route options I typically consider:

• Air France: Los Angeles (LAX) – Pape’ete (PPT)
• Air Tahiti Nui: Los Angeles (LAX) – Pape’ete (PPT)
• United Airlines: San Francisco (SFO) – Pape’ete (PPT)
• French Bee: San Francisco (SFO) – Pape’ete (PPT)
• Hawaiian Airlines: Honolulu (HNL) – Pape’ete (PPT)

Now, I usually skip French Bee for award bookings because they don’t have an award chart and primarily offer economy and premium economy. When I’m looking for the best business class experience, here’s my personal ranking:

1. Air France: Their Boeing 777 offers a true lie-flat reverse herringbone business class in a spacious 1-2-1 configuration. Pure luxury!
2. Air Tahiti Nui: A fantastic option with lie-flat seats on their 787-9, configured 2-2-2. It’s a unique and comfortable ride.
3. United Airlines: Reliable lie-flat B/E Aerospace Diamond seats on their 787-8, also in a 2-2-2 layout. A solid choice.
4. Hawaiian Airlines: Great lie-flat seats on their A330-200 in a 2-2-2 setup, but remember, these flights are only from Hawaii.

Let’s dive into how I approach booking these flights with points!

Hot Tip: Dreaming of other South Pacific islands? I’ve found some great tips in guides like this one on flying to the South Pacific with points and miles.

Flying My Way: Air France/KLM Flying Blue

Air France always brings a touch of French elegance to travel, and their nonstop flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Pape’ete (PPT) on the 777-200ER is no exception. Good news for us points enthusiasts: this aircraft boasts an excellent business class product!

My favorite way to book Air France business class on this route is by using Air France/KLM Flying Blue miles. While Flying Blue uses variable award pricing, meaning business class can sometimes go for over 300,000 miles one-way (yikes!), I always hunt for that “saver” level availability, which is the lowest possible mileage cost.

Here’s what I typically see for saver award prices on that nonstop from LAX to PPT:

• Economy: 25,500 miles + ~$124 departing (~$83 returning)
• Premium Economy: 51,000 miles + ~$190 departing (~$150 returning)
• Business: 64,000–73,500 miles + ~$227 departing (~$267 returning)

You might notice two price points for business class. While 64,000 miles is the absolute lowest, I’ve found that 73,500 miles is a more realistic saver-level price for business class. Finding a 64,000-mile flight from LAX to PPT is incredibly rare, though I sometimes spot one or two from PPT to LAX. However, 73,500-mile tickets are much more common, especially from PPT to LAX, and with a bit of flexibility using the calendar search, I can often find them from LAX to PPT too. So, plan for that 73,500-mile sweet spot for business class.

Note: While Delta SkyMiles technically allows booking Air France business class on this route, it’s usually a bad deal at 100,000 SkyMiles one-way, even for those elusive 64,000 Flying Blue mile dates. Plus, Aeromexico charges a fortune. So, Air France/KLM Flying Blue truly is my best bet.

Hot Tip: For more ideas on maximizing Air France miles, I check out guides on the best ways to redeem Air France/KLM Flying Blue miles.

My Booking Steps for Air France/KLM Flying Blue

Once I’ve decided on Air France business class, here’s how I typically book:

1. I head over to the Air France/KLM Flying Blue website.
2. I select my preferred country.
3. On the homepage search box, I click “Use your miles.”
4. I log in with my Air France/KLM Flying Blue Number and Password.
5. I choose whether I want a round-trip or one-way.
6. I input Los Angeles (LAX) as my origin and Tahiti, Faa’a (PPT) as my destination.
7. I select my preferred departure and return dates.
8. Crucially, I always check the box that says “You are looking for a flight around these dates” to see more options.
9. I indicate the number of passengers.
10. I choose “Business” for my cabin class.
11. Then, I click “Find a flight.”
12. I pick the flight that works best for me.
13. Finally, I confirm the ticket and pay the necessary taxes and fees.

How I Earn Air France/KLM Flying Blue Miles

Earning Flying Blue miles is surprisingly easy, which is great because I often need a lot of them! Flying Blue is a transfer partner with a ton of popular programs, including American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, and Wells Fargo Rewards.

Amex, Capital One, Chase, and Wells Fargo all transfer to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio. Citi also transfers at 1:1 if I use a premium card, or 1:0.7 with a no-annual-fee card. Chase transfers are usually super fast, around an hour, while Capital One and Amex are almost instant. Citi takes about 2 business days. For Marriott, it’s a 3:1 ratio, and it takes about 1 business day, with an extra perk of a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points I transfer.

What I really love are the transfer bonuses! Amex and Citi often offer up to 30% bonuses, which can dramatically drop the cost of a business class flight. For instance, a 73,500-mile flight could come down to just 56,538 miles during a bonus – now that’s a deal!

My Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

I find the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to be a fantastic flexible travel card annually. It offers a great welcome offer, solid benefits, and decent perks for a reasonable annual fee. It’s perfect for racking up points on travel, dining, and even streaming services.

If I’m aiming for high-end luxury, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card is my go-to. It’s truly a top player in the premium travel credit card space, earning big on travel and dining while offering exceptional perks like airport lounge access and annual credits.

For business owners, there are also some excellent Chase business credit cards to consider.

My Recommended Citi Cards

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a solid all-around travel rewards card. It bags big rewards on everything from air travel to groceries and gas, offering flexible redemption options for a modest annual fee.

As a frequent traveler and foodie, I sometimes look into the Citi Strata Elite card, Citi’s most premium offering, for its bonus categories, perks, and annual credits.

For a no-annual-fee option that still earns Citi ThankYou Points, the Citi Strata card is pretty neat. It helps maximize spend at gas stations, supermarkets, and more.

And for everyday spending, the Citi Double Cash® Card is a long-standing favorite. It now earns Citi ThankYou Points, giving me 2% on every purchase – 1% when I buy and another 1% when I pay.

Finally, the Citi Custom Cash® Card is really inventive. It gives me 5% cash back on my highest eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to $500, with no annual fee. It automatically adjusts to my spending habits, which is super convenient.

Bottom Line: For me, using Flying Blue miles is hands down the easiest way to book Air France business class to Tahiti. With so many transfer partners, attractive saver redemption rates, an excellent business class product, and decent availability, it’s my top choice for getting to Bora Bora via Tahiti.

Chasing the Dream: American Airlines AAdvantage

Air Tahiti Nui, the French airline for French Polynesia, operates its long-haul flights from Tahiti’s Faa’a International Airport. They recently upgraded their fleet from the Airbus A340-300 to the sleek Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which is awesome! While they used to fly to places like Sydney, Osaka, and even New York City (JFK), their current routes focus on a few key destinations since their fleet consists of just four Dreamliners. These are:

• Paris (CDG) – Los Angeles (LAX) – Pape’ete (PPT)
• Tokyo-Narita (NRT) – Pape’ete (PPT)
• Auckland (AKL) – Pape’ete (PPT)

For us U.S. travelers, the Los Angeles (LAX) – Pape’ete (PPT) route is the main one. And when it comes to booking Air Tahiti Nui, I’ve found that using American Airlines AAdvantage miles is the absolute easiest path. I can book and ticket flights completely online, and the award availability on American Airlines’ portal is often the most consistent and generous.

Air Tahiti Nui partners with other frequent flyer programs like Air France/KLM Flying Blue and Delta SkyMiles, but I’ve found their award availability through those programs to be pretty limited. For instance, my attempts to find award seats through Delta SkyMiles or Flying Blue that were readily available via AAdvantage usually yielded no results.

Here’s the award chart I follow for a one-way flight on this route:

• Economy: 40,000 miles + $27 in taxes
• Premium Economy: 65,000 miles + $27 in taxes
• Business: 80,000 miles + $27 in taxes

It’s a really straightforward chart, showing that flying Air Tahiti Nui business class with miles is very achievable. And as I mentioned, the best part is that I can book these awards entirely online. Here’s how I do it:

My Booking Steps for American Airlines AAdvantage

1. I visit the American Airlines AAdvantage website.
2. On the middle-left of the page, I log in using my AAdvantage number or username, last name, and password.
3. Once logged in, I click “Plan Travel” on the top banner.
4. Then, I click “Flights.”
5. I make sure to check the box that says “Redeem miles.”
6. I select my trip type – round trip, one way, or multi-city.
7. I enter my origin and destination cities.
8. I choose my departure and return dates.
9. I specify the number of passengers.
10. Under “Options,” I change the Class to “Business” and the Airline to “All airlines” to make sure I see Air Tahiti Nui flights.
11. I click “Search.”
12. From the results, I pick the flights that work for me.
13. Finally, I continue to book, pay with my miles, and cover the taxes and fees.

How I Earn American Airlines AAdvantage Miles

Earning American Airlines AAdvantage miles is pretty simple for me. I often use my Citi co-branded American AAdvantage credit cards for everyday spending, or I transfer points from Citi ThankYou Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy to build up a large balance quickly.

Citi ThankYou points transfer to American AAdvantage at a 1:1 ratio if I have a premium credit card or 1:0.7 with a no-annual-fee card, and the transfers are almost instant. Marriott points transfer at a 3:1 ratio, which takes about 2 business days to process.

Once I’ve accumulated a good amount of AAdvantage miles, I often look for inspiration on the best ways to redeem American Airlines AAdvantage miles to get the most value for my trips.

Bottom Line: For nonstop flights to Tahiti on Air Tahiti Nui, American Airlines AAdvantage is definitely my favorite. The booking process is easy, their online search engine is user-friendly, earning miles is straightforward, and award availability is good. It’s a top contender for my Bora Bora flights.

Unlocking Creativity: ANA Mileage Club

All Nippon Airways’ (ANA) loyalty program, ANA Mileage Club, offers some truly fantastic ways to redeem miles. It’s built on a region-based award chart, with one chart for ANA flights and another for partner flights. While ANA flights have seasonality rules, partner flights don’t, which is a big plus.

One of the best features is that it allows for one stopover and one open-jaw, opening up really creative travel possibilities. ANA groups Oceania and Micronesia into a huge list of destinations, including French Polynesia, Australia, New Zealand, and many more. This allows me to craft unique trips combining Bora Bora with other incredible places.

For flights from North America to Oceania and Micronesia, here’s what I typically see in terms of redemption prices:

• Economy: 75,000 miles + variable taxes (depends on the carrier)
• Business: 145,000 miles + variable taxes (depends on the carrier)

ANA Mileage Club really lets me get creative with my travel plans. For example, if I’m happy to visit another destination in Oceania, I can get amazing value. I always look for flights that go directly into Oceania to maximize these benefits.

Here are some of the fantastic redemption examples I’ve planned:

• Chicago (ORD) – Auckland (AKL) – Pape’ete (PPT) – San Francisco (SFO) in Air New Zealand business class and United Airlines business class for 145,000 ANA miles. A multi-country adventure!
• San Francisco (SFO) – Pape’ete (PPT) – Auckland (AKL) – San Francisco (SFO) on United Airlines business class and Air New Zealand business class for 145,000 ANA miles. Another great business class loop.
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Auckland (AKL) – Pape’ete (PPT) – San Francisco (SFO) in Air New Zealand and United Airlines economy class for 75,000 ANA miles. A budget-friendly way to see multiple destinations.

My Booking Steps for ANA Mileage Club

To start booking flights with ANA miles, I follow these steps on their website:

1. I head to ANA’s homepage.
2. On the left side, I click “Award Booking.”
3. I log in with my ANA Mileage Club Number and Password.
4. If I’m booking a complex trip with a stopover or open-jaw, like the examples above, I click “Multiple cities/Mixed classes.” Otherwise, I just enter my flight details as usual.
5. I input the flight dates, origin and destination cities, number of passengers, and desired class of service.
6. I click “Search.”
7. I choose the flights that fit my itinerary.
8. Finally, I pay with my ANA miles and use my credit card for any taxes and fees.

Note: Transfers to ANA aren’t instant. Sometimes I can call ANA Mileage Club at 800-235-9262 to request an award hold, but it doesn’t always work, so keep that in mind.

How I Earn ANA Mileage Club Miles

Earning ANA miles is quite straightforward, thanks to their transfer partners. ANA Mileage Club partners with American Express Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy, which means I can rack up miles quickly with the right cards.

American Express transfers at a 1:1 ratio, while Marriott transfers at a 3:1 ratio. Marriott also offers a nice bonus: 5,000 extra miles for every 60,000 Marriott points I transfer to ANA. So, if I transfer 60,000 Marriott points, I get 25,000 ANA miles instead of 20,000.

American Express Membership Rewards transfers typically take about 3 business days, and Marriott Bonvoy transfers usually process in about 7 business days.

My Recommended American Express Cards (Personal)

The Platinum Card® from American Express truly reigns supreme for luxury travel. It offers unparalleled airport lounge access, generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status, making it my top choice for premium experiences.

For me, the American Express® Gold Card is a game-changer, especially for food lovers. It offers massive rewards at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets; it’s an incredible card for earning points on everyday dining and groceries.

If you’re a business owner, you might also want to check out my favorite Amex business credit cards.

Bottom Line: If I’m looking to combine a visit to Bora Bora with an adventure in New Zealand, ANA Mileage Club is an absolute winner. Their generous routing rules and region-based award chart make it possible. Plus, with American Express Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy as partners, earning the miles I need is easy, and I can book the whole thing online!

The United Route: United MileagePlus

United Airlines MileagePlus has definitely seen some changes over the years. The old award chart is gone, and now all award flights are variably priced. It can be a bit of a mystery how they price things, but for my Bora Bora trip, I always consider United’s nonstop flight from San Francisco (SFO) to Pape’ete (PPT).

Booking directly with MileagePlus gives me the best shot at finding award availability for this specific flight. And when I do find those saver-level awards, the cost can be surprisingly good:

• Economy: 35,000 miles + $5.60 taxes
• Business: 70,000 miles + $50 taxes

Finding the lowest-level saver awards, especially for business class, can be pretty challenging. It often requires flexibility and persistence. However, if I can snag those dates, United miles are a solid choice for several reasons:

• They offer the best award availability for United’s own flights.
• Earning United miles is super easy, especially for fellow Chase cardholders.
• The online booking process is straightforward and user-friendly.
• The taxes and fees are remarkably low.

My Booking Steps for United MileagePlus

When I’m ready to book with United, here’s my typical process:

1. I go to the United website.
2. I click “Sign in” in the top-right corner.
3. I enter my MileagePlus number and password, then click “Sign In.”
4. After logging in, I’m redirected to the homepage.
5. I choose my trip type: “Roundtrip” or “One-way.”
6. I make sure to check the box that says “Book with miles.”
7. I enter my origin and destination cities (SFO and PPT), my travel date(s), the number of passengers, and my desired class of booking.
8. I look through the flight options and choose the ones that fit my travel plans.
9. Finally, I pay with my United miles and cover any associated taxes and fees.

How I Earn United MileagePlus Miles

I find many ways to earn United miles. Primarily, United is a transfer partner with Chase Ultimate Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy. Chase points transfer instantly at a 1:1 ratio, which is incredibly convenient. Marriott points transfer within 2 business days at a 3:1 ratio, with an added bonus: 10,000 extra miles for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred. This means if I transfer 60,000 Marriott points, I get a total of 30,000 United miles.

Hot Tip: Curious about earning more Chase points? I’ve found this in-depth guide on how to earn lots of Chase points fast to be very helpful!

Additionally, I use the co-branded United credit cards from Chase to earn United miles directly through my spending. Overall, United miles are a great currency for my Bora Bora dreams.

Bottom Line: While snagging a business class award on United’s nonstop SFO to PPT route can be tough, I often use United miles for economy flights to Tahiti, which are a fantastic deal at just 35,000 miles one-way! Combined with United’s generally good award availability and easy-to-earn miles, I totally recommend United MileagePlus for this trip.

The Smart Alternative: Avianca LifeMiles

If I want to fly United Airlines’ nonstop from San Francisco (SFO) to Pape’ete (PPT) but don’t have a huge stash of United miles or Chase Ultimate Rewards, Avianca LifeMiles is an excellent workaround. Their online booking engine is generally good, allowing me to book awards completely online, even if their phone agents and customer service can be a bit challenging.

One of the biggest advantages of LifeMiles? They don’t pass on fuel surcharges, which can save a lot of money! Plus, there are so many ways to earn LifeMiles, and I always keep an eye out for their amazing redemption opportunities that offer maximum value.

Here’s what I pay for one-way flights to Pape’ete (PPT) from the U.S. using LifeMiles:

• Economy: 40,000 miles + $30.60 taxes
• Business: 80,000 miles + $30.60 taxes

My Booking Steps for Avianca LifeMiles

When I’m ready to book with LifeMiles, I follow this procedure:

1. I go to LifeMiles.com.
2. In the top-right corner, I click the circular flag icon and change the language to English.
3. Then, I click “Log in” and sign in with my LifeMiles number/username and password.
4. Once on the homepage, I click the “Fly” button on the top banner.
5. I enter my origin and destination cities, the number of passengers, and my desired cabin class.
6. I select my travel dates.
7. I choose my preferred flights.
8. Finally, I pay with LifeMiles and cover any applicable taxes and fees.

How I Earn Avianca LifeMiles

LifeMiles can sometimes be a bit more expensive than United MileagePlus miles, but it’s a close competition. What makes LifeMiles truly shine, though, are the frequent transfer bonuses. These bonuses can often make a flight even cheaper than with United MileagePlus!

LifeMiles has a fantastic network of transfer partners: it’s an airline partner with Amex, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Amex and Capital One transfers are almost instantaneous at a 1:1 ratio. Citi transfers, depending on the card, are either 1:1 or 1:0.7, and they also process nearly immediately. Marriott transfers typically complete in less than 24 hours at a 3:1 ratio.

I always look out for Amex, Citi, and Capital One transfer bonuses to Avianca LifeMiles, which can go up to 30%. These can drastically reduce the mileage cost of my flights. Plus, LifeMiles often runs promotions where I can buy miles with up to a 145% bonus, making them incredibly cost-effective to earn.

My Recommended Marriott Cards

I’ve explored many Marriott credit cards, and there are some great options for earning points that can be transferred to LifeMiles.

The Hawaii Connection: Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards

If I happen to be starting my journey in Hawaii, there’s an amazing nonstop flight from Honolulu (HNL) to Pape’ete (PPT) on Hawaiian Airlines. This shorter, approximately 6-hour medium-haul flight is a fantastic option for Hawaii residents. My preferred way to book this particular flight is with Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards.

When I fly Hawaiian Airlines business class, I get to enjoy a fully lie-flat bed. While not every seat has direct-aisle access, the Polynesian service is impeccable, the catering is vibrant, and the whole experience really gets me in the vacation mood.

Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards has a dedicated award chart for Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines flights. Here’s what I typically see:

• Honolulu (HNL) to Faaʼa (PPT): 12,500 points one-way in economy, or 30,000 points one-way in first class.

My Booking Steps for Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards

To use my Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards points for an award ticket, I follow these steps:

1. I visit the Alaska Airlines website.
2. In the top-right, I click “Sign In.”
3. I log in with my Atmos Rewards credentials.
4. On the homepage, I click the “Book” tab, then “Flights.”
5. I make sure to check “Use Points” and “One-Way” if that’s what I’m booking.
6. I enter my city pairs (HNL to PPT), travel dates, and number of passengers.
7. I click “Find Flights.”
8. I choose the flight(s) that work for me.
9. Finally, I redeem my Atmos Rewards points and pay the necessary taxes and fees.

How I Earn Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards

Earning Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards points is quite easy thanks to their co-branded credit cards that directly earn miles. I can also transfer Bilt Rewards points to Atmos Rewards at a convenient 1:1 ratio. Additionally, for Hawaiian Airlines, I can earn points through the co-branded Barclays credit cards: the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® and Hawaiian Airlines® Business Mastercard®.

The Distance Sweet Spot: Japan Airlines Mileage Bank

If I’m looking to book that Hawaiian Airlines flight from Honolulu (HNL) to Pape’ete (PPT) with the fewest points possible, Japan Airlines Mileage Bank is my absolute best bet. JAL Mileage Bank uses distance-based award charts, and their round-trip pricing is often cheaper than two one-way tickets, which is a great little hack.

I also know that there are many other fantastic ways to redeem Japan Airlines Mileage Bank miles for maximum value, so it’s a program I always keep in mind.

According to JAL’s distance calculator, the journey from Honolulu (HNL) to Pape’ete (PPT) is 2,746 miles. This puts it in the 2,001-4,000 miles distance band for one-way tickets and 4,001-6,000 miles for round-trip tickets. This means the following award chart applies for my Hawaiian Airlines flight:

• Economy: 23,000 miles (one-way); 37,000 miles (round-trip) + ~$27 taxes (one-way)
• Premium Economy: 42,000 miles (one-way); 46,000 miles (round-trip) + ~$27 taxes (one-way)
• Business: 42,000 miles (one-way); 60,000 miles (round-trip) + ~$27 taxes (one-way)

As you can see, Japan Airlines miles can definitely save me a good chunk of points compared to other airline programs.

My Booking Steps for Japan Airlines Mileage Bank

To book these flights, I follow these step-by-step instructions:

1. I visit the Japan Airlines website.
2. I choose my closest hub city and select “English.”
3. I click the button on the red banner that says “JAL Mileage Bank Login.”
4. I log in with my JAL Mileage Bank Number and 6-digit PIN.
5. After being redirected to the homepage, I click the button on the red banner that says “Award Ticket.”
6. Then, I click the smaller button at the bottom of the red banner that says “Book JMB Partner Airlines Award Ticket.”
7. I choose “round-trip” or “one-way” and select “Partner Airline.”
8. I enter my travel date(s), city pairs, class of service, and number of passengers.
9. I select my flights and click “Continue.”
10. Finally, I pay with my miles and cover any taxes and fees.

How I Earn Japan Airlines Mileage Bank Miles

Earning JAL miles involves a few key partners. Capital One is my only 1:1 transfer partner. Marriott Bonvoy points also transfer at a 3:1 ratio, and like with ANA, there’s a bonus: 5,000 extra miles for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred to Japan Airlines.

Transfers from Marriott Bonvoy to Japan Airlines usually complete within about 48 hours, or 2 business days.

Ready to Dive In? Your Bora Bora Dream Awaits!

So, there you have it! A whole host of ways to jet off from the U.S. straight to French Polynesia. While that direct flight to Bora Bora isn’t a reality, getting to Pape’ete (PPT) and hopping on an inter-island flight is a breeze with the right points strategy.

I’ve walked you through all the nonstop options, including that convenient flight from Hawaii! Whether you have points with Air France/KLM Flying Blue, American Airlines AAdvantage, ANA Mileage Club, United MileagePlus, Avianca LifeMiles, Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards, or Japan Airlines Mileage Bank, there’s a path for you.

With this detailed, step-by-step guide, you now have a fantastic roadmap for using your points and miles to experience Bora Bora via Tahiti. Stop dreaming and start planning! Imagine stepping onto those perfect sandy beaches, feeling the warm South Pacific breeze, and enjoying the tranquility you’ve earned. Your luxurious escape is closer than you think. Let’s make that Bora Bora dream a reality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I fly directly to Bora Bora from the U.S.?

No, you cannot fly directly to Bora Bora. All international flights land at Faa’a International Airport (PPT) in Pape’ete, Tahiti. From there, you take a separate inter-island flight to Bora Bora (BOB).

Which airlines offer nonstop flights to Pape’ete (PPT) from the U.S. using points?

You can fly nonstop to PPT from the U.S. on Air France, Air Tahiti Nui, Hawaiian Airlines (from Honolulu), and United Airlines, all of which have options for booking with points.

What are the best points programs to use for these flights?

Some of the most effective programs I’ve found are Air France/KLM Flying Blue, American Airlines AAdvantage, ANA Mileage Club, United MileagePlus, Avianca LifeMiles, Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards, and Japan Airlines Mileage Bank.

Do any of these programs avoid fuel surcharges?

Yes, Avianca LifeMiles is great because it doesn’t pass on fuel surcharges, which can significantly reduce the cash cost of your award tickets.

Can I include a stopover on my way to Bora Bora?

ANA Mileage Club offers generous routing rules, allowing you one stopover and one open-jaw. This means you could potentially visit another destination in Oceania, like New Zealand or Australia, on the same award ticket.

Is business class always very expensive in points?

While business class can be pricey, I often look for “saver” level availability, which offers significantly lower mileage costs. Programs like Air France/KLM Flying Blue and United MileagePlus often have these lower-priced awards if you’re flexible with your dates. Transfer bonuses from credit card programs can also make business class much more attainable.

How long is the inter-island flight from Pape’ete to Bora Bora?

The inter-island flight from Pape’ete (PPT) to Bora Bora (BOB) is a short and scenic 45-minute journey.

Which credit card points transfer to these airline programs?

Many popular flexible points programs like American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Citi ThankYou Rewards transfer to several of these airlines at a 1:1 ratio. Marriott Bonvoy is also a common transfer partner, typically at a 3:1 ratio with bonuses for larger transfers.

References

Upgraded Points: Fly to the South Pacific with Points and Miles
Upgraded Points: Best Ways to Redeem Air France/KLM Flying Blue Miles
Upgraded Points: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Upgraded Points: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
Upgraded Points: Best Chase Business Credit Cards
Upgraded Points: The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
Upgraded Points: The Citi Strata Elite card
Upgraded Points: The Citi Strata card
Upgraded Points: The Citi Double Cash® Card
Upgraded Points: The Citi Custom Cash® Card
Upgraded Points: Best Ways to Redeem American Airlines AAdvantage Miles
Upgraded Points: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Upgraded Points: The American Express® Gold Card
Upgraded Points: Best Amex Business Credit Cards
Upgraded Points: Best Way to Earn Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
Upgraded Points: Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards
Upgraded Points: Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®
Upgraded Points: Hawaiian Airlines® Business Mastercard®
Upgraded Points: Best Ways to Redeem Japan Airlines Mileage Bank Miles