#69798 - 01/29/08 08:02 AM
Check in time needed at Papeete Airport?
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JAT
Junior Member
Registered: 01/29/08
Posts: 2
Loc: Kansas City, MO
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I apologize if this question has already been asked and answered...I did a search and didn't find this question. Right now I'm scheduled to depart BB at 7:15 pm arriving in Papeete a little after 8pm. Do you think this will give us enough time to check in for a 10pm ATN flight? Thanks for your help.
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#69799 - 01/29/08 08:13 AM
Re: Check in time needed at Papeete Airport?
[Re: JAT]
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DenverJoe
Expert Advisor
Registered: 09/10/02
Posts: 1849
Loc: Denver, Co.
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They won't leave without you. That being said, last year we arrived at 7:15 PM for a 10 PM flight. We finally got in the aircraft at 11 PM. It took almost 4 hours of standing in line to get checked in.
As a possible mitigating factor in all this was that all the cruisers from the Tahitian Princess were checking in for the same flight home. And they had tons of luggage.
It seems like it's getting to be habit for ATN to be late leaving LAX and PPT. We were an hour late departing both places. So it's best to plan your connecting flights accordingly.
_________________________
Nothing better than a Hinano in hand and toes in the sand.
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#69810 - 01/29/08 12:41 PM
Re: Check in time needed at Papeete Airport?
[Re: DenverJoe]
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JAT
Junior Member
Registered: 01/29/08
Posts: 2
Loc: Kansas City, MO
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Thanks for the response DenverJoe. I would think the flight would leave without someone if they were late getting to the gate, but maybe it's different at an island airport vs. a big city airport. When I was in FP a couple of years ago, I remember standing in some long lines in Papeete but we had given ourselves more than a couple hours at the airport. Thanks again
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#69811 - 01/29/08 12:48 PM
Re: Check in time needed at Papeete Airport?
[Re: JAT]
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DenverJoe
Expert Advisor
Registered: 09/10/02
Posts: 1849
Loc: Denver, Co.
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They don't start check-in until 3 hours prior to departure. Since the flights depart at night, people are usually in line early. Last Nov. the line went back and forth in front of check-in twice. Then you go to the DisneyLand rope barriers, back and forth. I've never had it take so long to check-in an aircraft full of people.
_________________________
Nothing better than a Hinano in hand and toes in the sand.
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#69837 - 01/30/08 08:00 AM
Re: Check in time needed at Papeete Airport?
[Re: DenverJoe]
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Zoe
Senior Advisor
Registered: 12/14/03
Posts: 801
Loc: Walnut Creek, CA
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There must be SOME point at which they'll leave without you, but we haven't discovered it yet ;) Especially when there is more than one ATN flight out, the line is insane. And slow. And long. And hot. I usually try really, really hard not to think about that part of the trip-- it's the one part that really makes Mexico look like paradise.
We had a snafu once where our transfer didn't pick us up at the IC; the wonderful concierge there shovelled us into a taxi (no charge and didn't take our transfer vouchers) and got us to the airport two hours before the flight was supposed to leave. We basically got in line and kept on moving; we were in the departure lounge at precisely when our plane was supposed to leave... so it took two hours to negotiate half a line (since we were so late), customs, etc. On the other hand, there were at least fifty people behind us-- and they waited for all of them, too :)
I'd never do two hours again (granted, it was accidental). Three is perfect: enough time to hop in line, do some souvenir shopping at the place that sells all the bath salts and flowers, and then pick up cigarettes in the Duty Free. If that Bora Bora flight is late... or delayed.... and I've seen it happen.... you are going to be spending the night in Papeete unless they can squeeze you onto a later ATN flight (in which case, you might wish you were in Papeete since I can guarantee that you will get the cr*p seats then).
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#69853 - 01/30/08 02:36 PM
Re: Check in time needed at Papeete Airport?
[Re: Zoe]
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Pacific Andy
Supreme Advisor
Registered: 10/16/01
Posts: 4278
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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Ahh the good old days when Air Tahiti Nui had one plane and they really really cared about you. I use to check in three hours in advance with just a few people in line, go to dinner and then walk thru customs and board the flight. I had it down, perfectly. Not anymore. I also remember having dinner with the old CEO of ATN on the night I was departing to LA nd when we noticed it was about 1/2 hour before the flights departure he made a call and held the flight until I boarded. About 1/2 late. That was the good old days.
_________________________
Once You Go You Get It
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#70088 - 02/05/08 08:14 PM
Re: Check in time needed at Papeete Airport?
[Re: Pacific Andy]
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YosemiteGirl2
Member
Registered: 09/17/07
Posts: 335
Loc: California
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The others are right, the lines are gigantic but you will probably have no issue.
Then again, if worrying about this will spoil your vacation or just stress you out, book a later flight and bring a good book to read in the airport after you're done with mandatory duty-free shopping. A few hours of boredom is a fair trade for a worry-free final day in FP.
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