Fly to Bora Bora: Points & Miles Guide

The turquoise waters and overwater bungalows of Bora Bora have long captured my imagination. If you dream of visiting this paradise, I have some insights for you. While you can’t fly directly there, reaching Bora Bora is entirely possible, especially using points and miles. The journey always begins with a flight to Pape’ete, Tahiti, followed by a short hop to Bora Bora.

Your Bora Bora Travel Plan

My travel strategy involves securing a flight to Faa’a International Airport (PPT) in Pape’ete first. From there, a quick inter-island flight connects me to Bora Bora. Booking these two flights separately is the key to a smooth trip.

When I’m looking to use points for the international flight to Pape’ete, I often consider Air France, Air Tahiti Nui, United Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines.

For the best redemption options, I rely on programs like Air France/KLM Flying Blue, American Airlines AAdvantage, ANA Mileage Club, and United MileagePlus.

Bora Bora, located northwest of Tahiti, is famous for its stunning beauty. It’s a place of white sandy beaches and calm, clear waters.

Compared to destinations like the Maldives, Bora Bora offers a more accessible luxury experience from North America. Flights from the continental U.S. are around 9 hours, and from Hawaii, they are even shorter.

If pristine waters and peaceful beaches are calling you, I’ll guide you through using your points and miles to reach this South Pacific gem, starting with your arrival in Tahiti.

Choosing the Right Airlines and Programs

Bora Bora lacks the long runways needed for international aircraft, so my flights always start in Pape’ete, Tahiti. Faa’a International Airport (PPT) is where the major international carriers land. Air Tahiti, a local airline, operates smaller planes that take travelers to Bora Bora (BOB), a scenic 45-minute flight away. This means I always book my international and inter-island flights as separate reservations.

For travelers coming from the U.S., here are the nonstop flight options I usually consider:

Air France: Los Angeles (LAX) to Pape’ete (PPT)

Air Tahiti Nui: Los Angeles (LAX) to Pape’ete (PPT)

United Airlines: San Francisco (SFO) to Pape’ete (PPT)

Hawaiian Airlines: Honolulu (HNL) to Pape’ete (PPT)

I tend to skip French Bee for award travel because they don’t publish an award chart and focus mainly on economy and premium economy. When I seek the best business class experience, my preferences are:

1. Air France: Their Boeing 777 offers a luxurious lie-flat business class in a comfortable 1-2-1 layout.

2. Air Tahiti Nui: These flights feature lie-flat seats on their 787-9 in a 2-2-2 configuration, making for a unique and pleasant journey.

3. United Airlines: They offer reliable lie-flat B/E Aerospace Diamond seats on their 787-8, also in a 2-2-2 arrangement. This is a dependable choice.

4. Hawaiian Airlines: Known for comfortable lie-flat seats on their A330-200 in a 2-2-2 setup. This option is only available from Hawaii.

Let’s explore how I book these flights using points!

Using Air France/KLM Flying Blue Miles

Air France brings a touch of elegance to travel, and their nonstop business class flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Pape’ete (PPT) on the 777-200ER is a prime example. Using Air France/KLM Flying Blue miles is my preferred method for booking this route. Flying Blue has dynamic pricing, meaning award costs can vary greatly. However, I always look for the lowest mileage cost, often referred to as “saver” availability.

Here’s what I typically find for saver award prices on the LAX to PPT route:

Economy: 25,500 miles plus approximate taxes and fees.

Premium Economy: 51,000 miles plus approximate taxes and fees.

Business: Around 64,000 to 73,500 miles plus approximate taxes and fees.

The lowest price of 64,000 miles is rare. The 73,500-mile option is more common, especially for return flights from Tahiti. With a bit of searching on the calendar, I can often find this rate for flights heading to Tahiti as well. So, I budget around 73,500 miles for a business class saver award.

Although Delta SkyMiles can book Air France flights, the cost of 100,000 SkyMiles one-way is usually too high to be worthwhile. Therefore, Air France/KLM Flying Blue is my most recommended option.

My Booking Process with Flying Blue

Once I decide on Air France business class, I follow these steps:

1. I navigate to the Air France/KLM Flying Blue website.
2. I select my region.
3. I choose the “Use your miles” option on the homepage search.
4. I log in to my Flying Blue account.
5. I specify round-trip or one-way travel.
6. I enter Los Angeles (LAX) as the origin and Pape’ete (PPT) as the destination.
7. I select my desired travel dates.
8. Crucially, I enable the “around these dates” search feature for more options.
9. I input the number of passengers.
10. I select “Business” as the cabin class.
11. I click “Find a flight.”
12. I review the results and choose the best option.
13. Finally, I confirm the booking and pay the taxes and fees.

Earning Flying Blue Miles

Collecting Flying Blue miles is quite accessible. Flying Blue partners with many major rewards programs, making it easy to accumulate miles through credit card spending. Key transfer partners include American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.

American Express, Capital One, Chase, and Wells Fargo offer a 1:1 transfer ratio. Citi’s ratio varies based on the card. Chase transfers are usually swift, often completed within an hour. Amex and Capital One transfers are nearly instant. Marriott transfers occur at a 3:1 ratio and typically finish within one business day, often with a bonus for larger transfers.

I always watch for transfer bonuses from Amex and Citi, which can sometimes be as high as 30%. These bonuses can significantly reduce the number of miles needed for a flight. For example, a flight that would normally cost 73,500 miles might only require around 56,538 miles during a bonus period.

My Go-To Chase Cards

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a versatile card for travel rewards. It offers a good welcome bonus and valuable perks for its annual fee, earning bonus points on travel and dining.

For a more premium travel experience, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card is excellent. It provides excellent earning rates on travel and dining, along with benefits like airport lounge access.

There are also strong Chase business credit cards available for business owners.

My Recommended Citi Cards

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a solid choice for earning flexible Citi ThankYou Points on various spending categories, including travel, groceries, and gas.

The Citi Strata Elite card offers enhanced rewards and benefits for frequent travelers and premium cardholders.

For a no-annual-fee card that earns Citi ThankYou Points, the Citi Strata card rewards everyday purchases effectively.

The Citi Double Cash® Card is a long-standing favorite, now offering 2% cash back on all purchases, which can be converted to Citi ThankYou Points.

The Citi Custom Cash® Card provides 5% cash back in your top eligible spending category each billing cycle, up to a limit, making it incredibly adaptable to my spending habits.

Booking Air Tahiti Nui with American Airlines AAdvantage

Air Tahiti Nui operates flights between Tahiti’s Faa’a International Airport and other destinations, including Los Angeles. They have updated their fleet to the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, enhancing the passenger experience. For U.S. travelers, the Los Angeles (LAX) to Pape’ete (PPT) route is the most relevant.

Using American Airlines AAdvantage miles is, in my experience, the simplest way to book Air Tahiti Nui flights. I find that award seats are readily available on the American Airlines website, and the booking process is entirely online.

While Air Tahiti Nui partners with other programs like Flying Blue and Delta SkyMiles, I’ve found award availability through those partners to be very limited compared to AAdvantage.

Here is the award chart I typically see for a one-way flight:

Economy: 40,000 miles plus minimal taxes.

Premium Economy: 65,000 miles plus minimal taxes.

Business: 80,000 miles plus minimal taxes.

This straightforward chart makes booking business class with miles quite attainable. The best part is the seamless online booking process. Here’s how I do it:

My Booking Process with AAdvantage

1. I go to the American Airlines AAdvantage website.
2. I log in to my account.
3. I select “Plan Travel,” then “Flights.”
4. I make sure the “Redeem miles” box is checked.
5. I choose my trip type and enter my origin and destination cities.
6. I select my travel dates and the number of passengers.
7. Under “Options,” I set the Class to “Business” and “All airlines” to ensure I see Air Tahiti Nui availability.
8. I click “Search.”
9. I pick the flights that best suit my itinerary.
10. I complete the booking and pay the associated taxes and fees.

Earning AAdvantage Miles

Earning AAdvantage miles is convenient. I often use my American Airlines co-branded credit cards for daily expenses. I can also transfer points from Citi ThankYou Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.

Citi ThankYou points transfer to AAdvantage at a 1:1 ratio (for premium cards), and the process is nearly instant. Marriott points transfer at a 3:1 ratio and take approximately two business days.

My Top Recommendation for AAdvantage: American Airlines AAdvantage is my preferred program for booking nonstop flights to Tahiti on Air Tahiti Nui. The ease of online booking, user-friendly search, and good award availability make it a standout choice.

Leveraging ANA Mileage Club

All Nippon Airways’ (ANA) Mileage Club program offers excellent redemption opportunities, especially through its region-based award chart. A significant advantage is its allowance of one stopover and one open-jaw on award bookings, which permits creative itineraries.

For flights between North America and Oceania/Micronesia (which includes French Polynesia), here are the typical award costs:

Economy: 75,000 miles plus variable taxes.

Business: 145,000 miles plus variable taxes.

This program allows for impressive value, particularly when combining multiple destinations. For instance, I can arrange unique trips that include Bora Bora alongside other Pacific destinations.

Here are some examples of itineraries I’ve considered:

A multi-city business class trip from Chicago to Auckland, then to Pape’ete, and finally returning from San Francisco, using Air New Zealand and United Airlines for 145,000 ANA miles.

A similar business class loop starting in San Francisco, going to Pape’ete, then Auckland, and returning to San Francisco, also for 145,000 ANA miles.

An economy class option from Los Angeles to Auckland, then Pape’ete, and back from San Francisco, costing 75,000 ANA miles.

My Booking Process with ANA

I use the following steps to book award flights with ANA miles:

1. I visit ANA’s website.
2. On the left side, I click “Award Booking.”
3. I log in with my ANA Mileage Club credentials.
4. If I need a complex itinerary with stopovers, I select “Multiple cities/Mixed classes.”
5. I input my travel dates, origin and destination cities, number of passengers, and desired cabin class.
6. I click “Search.”
7. I choose my preferred flights.
8. I finalize the booking and pay with my ANA miles and any applicable taxes.

Earning ANA Miles

Earning ANA miles is straightforward through their partners. American Express Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy points are the primary sources. American Express points transfer at a 1:1 ratio, and Marriott points transfer at a 3:1 ratio. Marriott also offers a bonus: 5,000 extra miles for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred.

Amex transfers usually take about 3 business days, while Marriott transfers can take up to 7 business days.

My Top Amex Cards for Earning Miles

The Platinum Card® from American Express is exceptional for luxury travel, offering extensive lounge access and valuable credits.

The American Express® Gold Card is fantastic for earning on dining and groceries worldwide, making it a staple for my everyday spending.

Business owners might also find value in Amex business credit cards.

My Recommendation for ANA: If I want to combine a Bora Bora trip with other destinations in the region, ANA Mileage Club is an excellent choice due to its flexible routing rules and distance-based award chart. Earning miles through Amex and Marriott makes obtaining them quite manageable.

Exploring United Airlines MileagePlus

United Airlines offers a nonstop flight from San Francisco (SFO) to Pape’ete (PPT). While their award pricing is dynamic, there are times when booking with United MileagePlus miles can be very cost-effective.

Finding saver-level award seats, especially in business class, can be challenging but rewarding. Here’s what I typically find for saver awards:

Economy: 35,000 miles plus very low taxes.

Business: 70,000 miles plus low taxes.

The low taxes and fees are a significant benefit. United miles are a strong option due to several factors:

• They offer the best access to awards on United’s own flights.
• Earning United miles is easy, particularly for Chase cardholders.
• The online booking experience is straightforward.
• The associated taxes and fees are remarkably low.

My Booking Process with United

1. I visit the United website.
2. I sign in to my MileagePlus account.
3. I select “Book with miles.”
4. I enter my origin (SFO) and destination (PPT), travel dates, and number of passengers.
5. I choose my desired cabin class.
6. I review the available flight options.
7. I finalize the booking with my miles and pay the taxes and fees.

Earning United Miles

United Airlines is a partner with Chase Ultimate Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy. Chase points transfer instantly at a 1:1 ratio, which is highly convenient. Marriott points transfer at a 3:1 ratio, with a bonus of 10,000 extra miles for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred, effectively boosting the earning rate.

My United MileagePlus Tip: For economy flights to Tahiti, 35,000 United miles one-way is an excellent value. The ease of earning miles through Chase makes it an attractive option for many travelers.

Considering Avianca LifeMiles

Avianca LifeMiles offers a great alternative for booking United’s nonstop flight from San Francisco (SFO) to Pape’ete (PPT), especially if you don’t have a lot of United miles. A major advantage of LifeMiles is that they do not pass on fuel surcharges, which can lead to significant savings on award tickets.

Here’s what I typically pay for one-way flights to Pape’ete (PPT) using LifeMiles:

Economy: 40,000 miles plus around $30.60 in taxes.

Business: 80,000 miles plus around $30.60 in taxes.

My Booking Process with LifeMiles

1. I navigate to LifeMiles.com.
2. I ensure the language is set to English.
3. I log in to my LifeMiles account.
4. I click “Fly” and enter my origin and destination cities, number of passengers, and desired cabin class.
5. I select my travel dates.
6. I choose my preferred flights.
7. I complete the booking with LifeMiles and pay any applicable taxes and fees.

Earning LifeMiles

LifeMiles are easy to earn through several transfer partners: American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Marriott Bonvoy. Amex and Capital One transfer at a 1:1 ratio and are nearly instantaneous. Citi transfers are also quick. Marriott transfers occur at a 3:1 ratio and typically complete within 24 hours.

I always look for transfer bonuses from Amex, Citi, and Capital One to LifeMiles, as these can make redemptions even more valuable. LifeMiles also frequently offers promotions to buy miles at a significant discount, making them a very cost-effective option.

The Hawaii Flight with Alaska Airlines

If your journey starts in Hawaii, the nonstop flight from Honolulu (HNL) to Pape’ete (PPT) on Hawaiian Airlines is an excellent choice. I find that using Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles is the best way to book this flight.

Flying Hawaiian Airlines business class offers a lie-flat seat and exceptional Polynesian service, setting a wonderful tone for a tropical vacation. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan has a specific award chart for Hawaiian Airlines flights:

Honolulu (HNL) to Faa’a (PPT): 12,500 miles one-way in economy, or 30,000 miles one-way in first class.

My Booking Process with Alaska Airlines

1. I visit the Alaska Airlines website.
2. I sign in to my Mileage Plan account.
3. I click on “Book,” then “Flights.”
4. I select “Use Points” and choose “One-Way” if applicable.
5. I enter my city pairs (HNL to PPT), travel dates, and number of passengers.
6. I click “Find Flights.”
7. I select my preferred flights.
8. I redeem my Mileage Plan miles and pay the necessary taxes and fees.

Earning Alaska Airlines Miles

Alaska Airlines miles can be earned through their co-branded credit cards. Bilt Rewards points also transfer to Mileage Plan at a 1:1 ratio. Additionally, Hawaiian Airlines offers co-branded credit cards that earn miles redeemable for these flights.

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank for Value

For the absolute lowest number of points on the Hawaiian Airlines flight from Honolulu (HNL) to Pape’ete (PPT), Japan Airlines Mileage Bank is my top choice. JAL’s distance-based award chart often yields better redemption rates, especially for round trips.

The distance from HNL to PPT is approximately 2,746 miles. This falls within their award chart categories for both one-way and round-trip bookings:

Economy: 23,000 miles (one-way); 37,000 miles (round-trip) plus taxes.

Business: 42,000 miles (one-way); 60,000 miles (round-trip) plus taxes.

These rates offer significant savings compared to other programs.

My Booking Process with JAL

1. I go to the Japan Airlines website.
2. I select my language and log in to JAL Mileage Bank.
3. I click on “Award Ticket” and then “Book JMB Partner Airlines Award Ticket.”
4. I choose my trip type and select “Partner Airline.”
5. I enter my travel dates, city pairs, class of service, and number of passengers.
6. I select my flights and proceed to book.
7. I pay with my JAL miles and any applicable taxes and fees.

Earning JAL Miles

Earning JAL miles is primarily done through Capital One, which offers a 1:1 transfer ratio. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio, with a bonus of 5,000 extra miles for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred. These transfers usually take about two business days.

Your Bora Bora Adventure Awaits!

Reaching the stunning shores of Bora Bora from the U.S. is absolutely achievable, even without a direct flight. Your gateway is Pape’ete, Tahiti, and from there, a short connecting flight takes you to paradise. Whether you’re using Air France/KLM Flying Blue, American Airlines AAdvantage, ANA Mileage Club, United MileagePlus, Avianca LifeMiles, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, or Japan Airlines Mileage Bank, there’s a pathway for you.

With the strategies I’ve outlined, you now have a solid plan for using your strategically earned points and miles to experience Bora Bora via Tahiti. Stop dreaming and start planning! Imagine yourself on those pristine beaches, feeling the gentle tropical breeze, and savoring the tranquility. Your luxurious escape is within reach. Let’s make your Bora Bora dream a reality!

Answers to Common Questions

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

No, international flights arrive in Pape’ete, Tahiti (PPT). You will need to take a separate inter-island flight to Bora Bora (BOB).

Which airlines offer nonstop flights to Pape’ete (PPT) from the U.S. for award bookings?

Air France, Air Tahiti Nui, and United Airlines offer nonstop flights from the mainland U.S., while Hawaiian Airlines flies nonstop from Honolulu, Hawaii. All have award flight options.

What are the most effective points programs for these routes?

I’ve found Air France/KLM Flying Blue, American Airlines AAdvantage, ANA Mileage Club, United MileagePlus, Avianca LifeMiles, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, and Japan Airlines Mileage Bank to be excellent choices.

Are there programs that avoid fuel surcharges?

Yes, Avianca LifeMiles is known for not passing on fuel surcharges, which can significantly lower the cash cost of award tickets.

Can I add a stopover to my itinerary with these programs?

ANA Mileage Club is particularly generous, allowing one stopover and one open-jaw on award bookings, which can be used to visit other destinations in the region.

Is business class always extremely expensive using points?

While business class can be costly, searching for “saver” level availability often reveals much lower mileage costs. Flexibility with dates is key. Transfer bonuses from credit card rewards programs can also make business class more accessible.

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

The inter-island flight is a quick and scenic 45 minutes.

Which credit card points transfer to these airline programs?

Many 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.