Air Tahiti NUI Baggage Policy

French Polynesia’s flag carrier, Air Tahiti Nui, has an extensive network that connects you across the globe through direct flights. On its long-haul routes, the airline connects major Northern Hemisphere cities, including Tokyo, Paris, and Los Angeles. 

This article focuses on Air Tahiti Nui’s baggage policy. We will cover every aspect for your convenience, including cabin and checked baggage allowance, rules for carrying personal items, policies for sports equipment, and more. Read on for more details. 

Know Everything About Air Tahiti Nui’s Baggage Policy

Before we get into the details, let us clear up a few terms. Checked baggage is luggage you hand over to the airline agent to store in the aircraft’s cargo hold. Carry-on baggage is baggage you bring with you on the plane. A personal item is a small item or bag that also goes on the plane but must fit in the space between your feet. 

Now let us look at the checked and carry-on allowances in detail. 

What is Air Tahiti Nui’s Checked Baggage Allowance?

The allowance depends on your travel class. When you have booked directly with the airline, your e-ticket shows your baggage limits. 

Overall, the dimensions shouldn’t exceed 152 cm (62.2 inches) in total (length, width, and height combined), including handles, pockets, and wheels. The weight shouldn’t exceed 32 kg (70.5 pounds) on average. The numbers vary by travel class, though. Take a look at the table below: 

Travel class	Number of bags	Weight in kg
Moana Economy	1	23 (50.7 pounds)
Mānava Premium	2	23 (50.7 pounds)
Poerava Business	2	32 kg (70.5 pounds)

For Gold and Club Tiare Silver Members: Can bring in an additional bag.

Checked Baggage Allowance For Infants

Check the table to learn more about the baggage allowance for infants aged 0 to 24 months traveling without a reservation.

Travel Class	Number of bags	Weight in kg
All	1	10 (22 pounds) including one cane stroller / baby cot/ car seat
The baggage allowance doesn’t apply to Gold and Club Tiare Silver Members

Air Tahiti Nui’s Cabin Baggage Allowance

Handbag dimensions must be limited to 115 cm or 45 inches, including the sum of all three dimensions. Check the table for a detailed analysis of the hand baggage allowance. 

Travel class	Number of bags	Weight in kg
Moana Economy	1	10 (22 pounds)
Mānava Premium	1	10 (22 pounds)
Poerava Business	1	12 (26.6 pounds)
Infants without any seat reservation can carry a personal item weighing not more than 3 kg (6.6 pounds).

Rules For Personal Items

The weight varies by travel class. The table below gives a clearer insight. 

Travel class	Number of personal items	Weight in kg
Moana Economy	1	3 (6.6 pounds)
Mānava Premium	1	3 (6.6 pounds)
Poerava Business	1	3 (6.6 pounds)

What Personal Items Can You Carry On Board?

Each passenger may bring one personal item besides their hand baggage. Here is a list of objects counted as personal items. 

• Handbag or shoulder bag or backpack
• Briefcase
• Laptop bag
• Coat/jacket or any other clothing that you wear
• Umbrella
• Duty-free items that you have purchased at the airport or onboard
• Kid’s accessories such as a diaper bag or car seat
• Medical equipment like crutches or a foldable wheelchair 

The item must fit well beneath your seat. If your seat is near the emergency exit, store your baggage in the compartment above. 

Air Tahiti’s Checked Baggage Rules for Connecting Flights

Here are some rules and regulations to follow for connecting flights: 

• For connecting flights, the bags will be checked up to the final destination. However, this depends on a condition. Air Tahiti Nui must operate that flight or have a baggage agreement with the other airline where you connect.
• If you have separate tickets for different flights, you should check your bag for each flight, retrieve it, and recheck it. 
• For connections on flights which are operated by another airline, contact them to confirm the baggage allowance details. 
• You should check your bag tag for the destination. This indicates till where your bags will be checked and unloaded. 

Rules For Carrying Sports Equipment on Air Tahiti Nui Flights

Apart from the regular baggage allowance, you can carry the sports equipment listed below on hold for free. Check out a few of them mentioned below:

• Golf equipment
• Diving equipment 
• Ski equipment (both snow and water)
• Single or multiple surfboards carried inside a surf bag
• Fishing rod (weighing 5 kgs)
• Kneeboards, wakeboards, body boards, longboards, snowboards and more 
• Oar or paddle weighing around 5 kg 
• Diving equipment 
• Paddleboard (regular or inflatable ones)

Please note that sports equipment must not exceed 23 kg. If it weighs more than 23 kg but less than 32 kg, overweight charges may apply. However, if it exceeds 32 kg, Air Tahiti will handle your equipment as freight. Check their official website to learn more. 

If you are traveling with any of the sports equipment mentioned above, it will be accepted for free even if it is the only checked bag you are carrying. However, it should comply with the rules and regulations. 

Rules for Carrying Bicycles

The airline accepts bicycles as part of the free allowance, provided you comply with the rules.

• Disassemble them and pack them in hard-cased bags.
• They should not exceed 250 cm (98.4 inches). If your bicycle exceeds these dimensions or has a weight of over 32 kg, you must transport it as cargo freight. 
• You must fold the bike or remove the pedals. 
• You must remove the handlebars and attach them to the side. 
• Dismantle the accessories and put them inside a bag; place the bag inside the hard case. 
• Seal the hard case and label it well, adding your name, contact number, and address. 
• Ensure that the case is closed. There shouldn’t be any item sticking out. 

Can You Transport Musical Instruments On Air Tahiti Nui Flights?

The airline accepts musical instruments provided they are packed well in a hard case. You can carry your instrument in your checked or carry-on baggage. However, it depends on the instrument’s size and weight.

• When you check your musical instruments, they count as checked baggage. If the standard allowance for checked baggage is exceeded, you will be charged a fee. 
• When you travel with smaller musical instruments like an electric guitar, ukulele, or acoustic guitar, you may carry them onboard if they are a part of your carry-on allowance. They also mustn’t exceed 115 cm in length. 
• If your musical instrument needs special assistance during transit, you may buy an extra seat. However, the instrument shouldn’t exceed 110cm in height and 51 cm in width (Poerava Business class) or 45 cm (Moena Economy, Manava Premium). 

Rules for Transporting a Funerary Urn

Here are some points to consider: 

• You should transport it in the cabin or baggage hold.
• Seal and package the urn securely to maintain privacy and discretion. 
• Carry a copy of the death and cremation certificates to prevent security officers from opening it during security checks. 

Can You Carry Firearms as Sports Equipment?

To carry ammunition or firearms for hunting or sporting contact,  Air Tahiti Nui. Besides, there are other facts to consider: 

• To transport ammunition or weapons, you must contact the airline’s security department at suretetn@airtahitinui.pf with details such as your identity, the type of weapon you are carrying, the flight date, and more. 
• You must unload the firearm and lock it within a rigid container. 
• A duly qualified individual must certify that the weapon isn’t loaded. 
• Pack the ammunition within a single container. Also, it shouldn’t weigh more than 5kg/11 lbs (including the container). 
• There isn’t a proper definition of a hunting or sporting weapon. In fact, a weapon that isn’t a war weapon is mostly preferred. The sporting weapon category includes bows, hunting knives, and so on. An antique weapon like a musket, originally used as a war weapon, can also fall under the sporting weapon category. 

Excess Baggage Rules on Air Tahiti Nui Flights

If you want more baggage allowance than what’s specified on your ticket, you can buy it online during booking or later. Go to the Manage my booking tab on the official website. You can also buy it at Air Tahiti Nui agencies or through the travel agency. You may even buy them on your travel date by heading towards the check-in counters. 

If traveling on any other airline or any of Air Tahiti’s codeshare partners, contact them as they may have a different baggage policy. 

However, remember that any bags exceeding 32 kg or 200cm cannot be allowed on board. In such cases, contact the airline’s Freight Services. 

Excess baggage charges differ by route. For example, from French Polynesia to destinations like New Zealand, the USA, and Australia, a fee of XPF 8000 will apply. To know more about the fee structure, check Air Tahiti Nui’s official website. 

What Items Are Restricted or Prohibited On Air Tahiti Nui Flights?

Here are some prohibited or restricted items on Air Tahiti Nui flights. For a detailed analysis, check the airline’s official website. 

Items Allowed In Your Carry-On Bags Only

Here are some of the objects allowed in carry-on bags only. 

• . Lithium batteries (loose or spare) – the power rating shouldn’t exceed 100 Wh. You may take up to 20 batteries in your carry-on baggage. 
• E-cigarettes – You must switch off or disable the e-cigarette when you board the aircraft. If possible, you should separate the battery from the device. You cannot charge or use e-cigarettes on the flight. 

Items Permissible in Checked Baggage Only

Here are a few items allowed only in checked baggage. These include: 

• Mobility aids having lithium batteries 
• Mobility aids having spillable and non-spillable wet batteries 
• Fuel containers and camping stoves containing flammable liquid fuels 
• Pointed Instruments (tent stakes, ice axe, crampons, scissors, cockscrew, and more)
• Sharp instruments (cutter, scissors, cigar cutter, knife, razor blade, scalpel, and more)
• Blunt instruments (Boomerang, electric guitar, golf club, cast iron stove, and more)

Items Permissible in Both Checked and Carry-on Bags

Here are some of the items you may carry in your checked and hand baggage. These include: 

• Heat-producing devices (Torch, dive lamp)
• Alcoholic beverages
• Drones (remove the batteries to protect them from any damage)
• Dry ice (not more than 2.5 kgs per person)

Items That You Cannot Carry In Your Luggage

Here are some items that are strictly prohibited to carry in your baggage. Take a look at some of them. 

• Electroshock weapons (Stun gun, taser)
• Corrosive substances (Detergent, cleaner, remover, bleach)
• Infectious substances (Samples, specimens)
• Flammable substances (Ammonia, paint, fire lighters, petrol) 

Conclusion

In a nutshell, this is Air Tahiti Nui’s baggage policy. They have a fairly flexible baggage allowance, and knowing it all makes travel easier and more convenient. Make sure you don’t exceed the limits for checked, carry-on, or personal items onboard. If you have to purchase excess baggage, doing it before your travel will save you that extra penny. If you need help understanding the baggage policy, call Air Tahiti Nui customer service. 

Frequently Asked Questions