As some of you know, I'm booked on the 10/15/05 PG cruise! I can't wait! I also booked a 4 day precruise in an OWB at the Pearl Beach BB. I booked my air and precruise through RSSC. Does anyone know what flight and what day of the week RSSC puts you on from LAX to TAhiti? I'm assuming that it will be the Tuesday before on one of the afternoon flights out of LAX? To get there late Tuesday night and stay overnight in TAhiti and then off to BB on Wednesday? I appreciate any thoughts from past PG cruisers! Thanks!

Babs

I'm pretty sure that the only time Air Tahitit Nui leaves is around 1pm arriving at 6:40pm. I believe that there is a flight that you can connect to that night.

I think you are correct. You should check the ATN website for flight details. The first "day" of the package is really a travel day...don't expect to get some rays by the pool. Tahiti is really worth it though and it is definitely worth the "decompression" time difference to go out early.

We are on the Tuesday flight for precruise for PIP The flight leaves at 4:20 from LAX and you arrive at about 10PM in the FAAAA airport for an overnight and an early flight to BB

Michael, love the new avatar.

Babs, if Kathy's on the Tuesday flight, then you probably will be too. But coming from NY, you will most likely fly out on Monday and be over-nighted in LA. But maybe not. From Toronto that's always what happens to us--but it may be easier for ATN to get you through from NY in one day, with all the flights available. If so, and if I were you, I would deviate and stay over in LA the night.

Here's the LAX/PPT schedule for that week:

LOS ANGELES (LAX) TO PAPEETE (PPT)
Flight # Days Depart Arrive
TN 1 Thu,Fri,Sat,Sun 1:00PM 6:20PM
TN201 Tue 3:05PM 8:25PM
TN 21 Wed 3:50PM 9:10PM
TN 21 Mon,Tue,Thu,Sat,Sun 4:20PM 9:40PM
TN101 Mon, Wed 11:45PM 5:05AM(+1)

The NY-PPT flight will be in service by then. Here's the schedule, but the timing doesn't look right to me, with the Monday departure:

Flights for the week starting Monday, October 10, 2005
NEW YORK (NYC) TO PAPEETE (PPT)
Flight # Days Depart Arrive
TN3 Mon, Thu, Sat 5:15PM 11:55PM

Thanks for all the advice! I forgot to say that I only booked the flights through RSSC starting with the LAX to Tahiti leg of the flight. I intend to use air miles from NYC to LAX and then some hotel points for a possible stay over night in LAX if we decide to fly in from NYC on Monday. Any money saved is more money to spend on some excursions and the expensive food on BB that I keep hearing about! I recently read that breakfast is included at PB BB with the RSSC package I booked. THere's some more money saved! I thought booking the flights through RSSC was WELL WORTH it for all the "perks" your receive. As soon as I get my air schedule from RSSC I'm booking my flights from NYC. I'm hoping to get the flight that Chatkat received. Of course, that's if hubby can get the time off! Keep your fingers crossed!

Thanks again, this is a great group.

Babs

We're booked on the 11/12 PG with a 4 night precruise at hotel Bora Bora - our out bound from Lax is ATN 21, departing at 4:20 PM arriving at 10:45 PM - O/N in Tahiti - out to BB next morning. We bought RSSC air (for the first time) and are using miles for Charleston to LAX leg. RSSC's prices for Bus. class air and stay at hotel BB seemed reasonably competitive - as a rule, we don't use Cruise line air or pre/post arrangements. Our experience has not been positive.

For pre-cruises RSSC will use the connection through LAX that NY flight the times just dont work. This way they dont need a forced overnight. They will definitely bring people in to connect with the 4.00 pm flight LAX to PPT as there is time to get them there that day. So if you want a break in the journey in LAX then you do have to do this yourself just as Babs is considering.

If you want to take the direct flight from NY for a Saturday departure then you have to pay for the hotel package in PPT to make that all work.

Right now the pricing is the same and if you buy an upgrade to business all the way from NY it may well be worth it. Much longer in that business class and it is good on ATN and does not cost any more.... now that can change of course.

Babs,

I'm on the same flight as Kathy (ChatKat). It looks like ATN keeps very regular schedules. You are going to have so much fun!!! Glad you could do the 4 day pre-cruise in Bora Bora. I'm doing that too, at the Hotel Bora Bora like hrprof. Good luck with your flight schedule.

hrprof,

We'll have to compare notes about HBB. When I get back from PIP, feel free to ask me any questions at all!! Hopefully I'll have nothing but great things to say :)

Cyndi

Will look forward to your report!

Ted