Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# Fly in...Sail out Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Tahiti & French Polynesia
clortie 05:07 UTC 12 May 2011 | Hi all! I am flying into Tahiti and then sailing out, to Hawaii. Would anyone be able to tell me what Customs/Immigration will ask of me when I fly into Tahiti. Because I am sailing out I don't have a return ticket to prove that I will actually be leaving the country. Thanks so much for any help :) |
captainwoody 17:51 UTC 14 May 2011 | Since no one has answered: We have sailed in and out twice. Fr. Poly is strict. They want to see an outgoing ticket. Alternatively they will take a bond (it was $1200 a piece last time we were there). We gave them a flight voucher (gf is a flight attendant). I deliver a lot of boats and the strictest countries allow you to fly in with a one way if you have a signed letter from the skipper or owner of the boat that says that you are crew on the boat, they are responsible for you and the boat, with you are leaving on a specific date. I would also bring a copy of the boat documentation. The owner/skipper knows what this is. I haven't sailed out of Tahiti but I'm sure this will work. More info might be found here: http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/FrenchPolynesia | 1
clortie 20:43 UTC 14 May 2011 | Thanks so much for your reply. I have a letter from the skipper with all the details so hopefully that will do the trick. Thanks again :) | 2
clortie 06:17 UTC 06 Jul 2011 | Here's the update....I'm the one that wrote the original post.... I was not allowed to board the plane in LAX without a return ticket, showing that I would be leaving the country. I did have a letter from the captain of the sailboat that I was sailing on but I was told that it was insufficient. The only way that I was going to be allowed to fly into Papeete was if I had a bond with my name on it....which I didn't. So, I had to buy a full-fare refundable ticket. I am now in the process of obtaining my refund as I left the country by sailboat as originally planned But, let me tell you....F.P. is amazing. The hassle was totally worth it. I would go back in a heartbeat. | 3
silvanocat 04:20 UTC 07 Jul 2011 | Thanks so much for taking the time to provide an update. | 4