Today while reading the thread dear Kathy pointed me to on CC, I saw a seat map for the flights we're on for our cruise in June--on Tahiti Nui--and they are THE WORST seats ever--middle row, way in back. Until now, I'd thought the F meant one was a window. Nope. I asked my TA to get us better seats and she said they couldn't--the airplane is full. Then her boss pretty much told me that's what I get for waiting to pay on the day the final payment is due. Huh? I thought most people wait until then. It's too late tonight to call Tahiti Nui, but I'll do it in the morning. These tix were purchased from Regent as part of my cruise fare. Is this the way it's done? You can't get assigned seats until final payment? Even so, now that more than a week has gone by, I'm sure any good seats that WERE left are gone. And this is on a Monday for a Wed cruise. We're doing a pre-stay.

And, yes, Joanne, I KNOW Ngaire is the BEST. :) (that just doesn't help me now! ;) )

It never hurts to call the airline directly. I have done just so for tix booked through RSSC for other cruises.

Not to get you all hot and bothered, but I think I received seating for my PG flights before final payment.

Sue, whatever happens, it is not the end of the world. It is a very comfortable plane. You will each have your own screen with games, movies on demand etc. There is nothing to "see" on the way over.

Adults are served "adult" beverages. As a pilot, you should just chill and enjoy, after all, you are on your way to paradise.

Sue,

If you go to the ticket counter as soon as it opens, they will sell 1st class upgrades, if available, for $600 (approx). Bring your Pilot's license and maybe they can upgrade you to the cockpit!! And for Coach, it's really a comfortable plane - no worries.

On my flight over they sold biz class upgrades for $600. First come, first served. Necessary? Not really. Nice? Yes. Worth the price? For three of you ? No way....

There was also a first class section on my plane (with John and Tonya) as the only passengers.

Question. As a UA pilot couldn't you fly free on NZ?

We are also sailing in June, and like you booked directly with RSSC and made the final payment on the last day. We immediately called both Tahiti Nui and United (SFO to LAX). We had to change the UA seats, but the TN seats were OK as is. Well, we thought they were (until now). Where is that map so we can double check?

Thanks, Steve

Steve you can use to view seating charts of any planes www.seatguru.com

Thanks, all. Yeah, I know we're going to paradise, and if nothing else changes, we'll sit back and enjoy it, but it was shocking seeing the crappy seats, plus the kids will be disappointed (but we are a spoiled airline family). Yes, I can fly for (almost) free on NZ, however June is peak season for Tahiti and flying standby would be too nervewracking knowing we need to make a firm reservation for a hotle or cruise on the other end of it. Last year going to London for a cruise, I did the same thing, buying tickets. Good thing too, the planes were PACKED. And yep, I'll definitely bring my pilot's license (actually the thing is always in my wallet!) but only to try to wangle upgrades and such. To fly in that uncomfortable cockpit jumpseat for 8 hrs is an experience I do not want to contemplate!! :)

I'll try calling TN in a little bit and see what they say!

Editing to add: flying standby can be as fun as it is frustrating, sometimes the journey is so unpredictable. Recently we went standby to Orlando--it took us two days of non-stop traveling (i.e. no stopping to get a hotel, used redeyes for that). We went from Sacramento to LAX to Chicago and finally to Tampa, rented a car and drove to Disney! We had every kind of seat from crunched on "Ted" to first class. It was nuts! But kind of fun, too. But to do that preceding an expensive vacation, uh uh.

OK, what am I doing wrong? I couldn't find Tahiti Nui in the alphabeticl list. I looked under Air, Tahiti and Nui. What am I doing wrong?

We did confirm location (after the call to them) on the below site.

http://www.airtahitinui-usa.com/images/A340-300big.jpg

Steve

How'd you do on your seats, Steve? Me, not good. The plane is completely full both ways. However, I did learn something very important which has me clinging to a shred of hope:): TN reserves 30% of the seats for airport check-in. We're going to shoot for getting to LAX early and giving it a go at moving to better seats.

We got K&L going, and A&B returning (don't rememember rows (info is at home and I'm at work...playing...shame on me!) but it was in the row 13-27 vacinity (if I remember correctly).

At this point I am feeling quite lucky.

Good luck with your ability to make changes. I also understand they don't pre-assign the exit rows...1st come 1st served.

I see your are in NorCal too. We have lived in several NorCal locations over the years (Sacto, Stockton, Lodi, Clayton, Alameda, Brisbane...and have a retirement home in Lake Wildwood near Grass Valley).

Steve

Steve--We have 39DEF. Ugh! LOL. Since the flight from SFO-LAX is UAL, so I'll use my trump card to get to LAX early. I'm confident we'll get better seats.

We're out in Roseville.

By the way, your email bounced: ----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors ----- <calberryd@pacbell.net>
(reason: 553 5.3.0 <calberryd@pacbell.net>... Addressee unknown, relay=[65.109.239.137])

So, just send me an e-mail at susan@susangrant.com sometime and I'll simply reply with the info.

Now, i'd better get to work myself! Have 80 pages left to write in just a few days!!!

OK, I have revised my profile to accept emails.

I also did send you an email, and as I indicated, both my son and daughter-in-law work in Roseville...and they will probably move there when their daughter is out of school for the summer (then we can start getting the retirement house ready for us to move into it!!!)

Steve

I think you'd have no problem grabbing a jumpseat for part of the flight. The A340 has a spacious cockpit with comfy jumpseats. On our flight, the cockpit door remained open for most of the flight, even during final approach. I peaked my head in during the approach. The pilots didn't mind at all. In fact, the co-pilot invited a girl from Biz class to sit in the jumpseat during the approach.

I'm amazed (and a little bit uncomfortable) to hear Tahiti Nui has open cockpits. I was sure everyone (except maybe Taliban Air) had locked their cockpits after 9-11. But if they still do, I'll see about getting my kids up there to peek. They'd be thrilled. As for me, it'd remind me too much of work! LOL. Thanks for passing that along. You have a very pretty website--love the sky.

The Air France Concorde had open cockpits up to the end of their run in 2003 even on the approach to NY.