Air Tahiti Baggage Limits

We will be traveling between 5 islands from Papeete on Air Tahiti. I have read that the baggage limits are 44 pounds for each checked luggage, and 6 pounds for each carry-on. This sounds difficult to maintain, given that we will be taking snorkeling gear plus purchasing items to take home. Are these limits strictly enforced? Do they weigh everything, including my purse? I understand that there are hefty fees for overages. Thanks!

They are fairly strict with luggage weight. If you are doing several islands by air ask for a special assesement on your first flight and you will not have to pay again. They charge you for the farthest destination you will be travelling to, in our case from Papetee to Bora Bora(we had 5 fights altogether). They did not weigh my purse but it still cost something like 58CPF for our extra weight.

We returned from Tahiti a few weeks ago, and yes, they are quite strict with weighing the luggage. As #1 noted, our hand luggage wasn't weighed, but we really only had a couple of books and my handbag.

The only consideration is that everything is soooo expensive in French Polynesia, you might decide not to buy so many souvenirs, and therefore manage to keep your baggage under the allowable limits.

There really isn't much to buy souvenier wise, a pareo, a T shirt, a black pearl.

If you are a diver and have your international dive certification card (and international air ticket) you are allowed an extra 5kg (11 lbs).

Even with snorkel gear 50 pounds is a lot of luggage. It's (even the resorts) very informal there.

Yes, I agree that 44 lbs does seem like a lot for the tropics! You'll mostly be in shorts etc and bathing suits, no need to bring a lot of clothes for nightlife, etc. If you are close to the limit, put all liquids [these can get pretty heavy] ---shampoo, etc---into your carry-on jacket pockets, or purse, they won't weigh those.

Raro,
Do they still allow you to take liquids like shampoo in your handluggage? In the US, cosmetics and non-prescription drugs taken into the cabin must fit into a one-quart ziploc bag that has to be shown to the security control people. Prescription drugs with your name on it are ok. You don't need to show them for inspection.

I boarded Air Tahiti Nui in NY and they used the US boarding rules for the liquids etc. I believe they did the same at PPT, because they are part of France, and France uses the very similar EU rules, of course. 20kg is plenty. Remember, no caots, no boots, nothing heavy is necessary. And I carried my own snorkelling gear too. NP. The Air Tahiti flights to the outlying islands will use the same rules.

Ed

Nuku--I guess I was really thinking of the inter-island (domestic) flights, where they are much tougher on weight limits at times. But yes, large bottles of liquids probably won't be allowed on the int'l segments.

Air Tahiti Nui does indeed follow the USA/TSA rules. Tuesday night in PPT they had a drawing of a zip-lock bag and it had to be packed neat...pretty funny.
My zip-lock bag is not neat, but they didn't say anything.
By the way.....Tahiti/Marquesas....take lots of $$$$$$$$$$$!

Will be traveling with Air Tahiti (not same as Air Tahiti Nui) in a few weeks. Are you saying the limit is 44 pounds per bag? I understood that to be 44 pounds allowance per passenger. We had this same restriction flying intra-Europe last summer. For example, British Airways is pretty clear, "World Traveller and Euro Traveller – 1 Bag...Maximum weight per bag: 23kg* (51lbs)". I agree that Air Tahiti is less clear. Link: http://www.airtahiti.aero/faq.php?cat=Baggage

It's per passenger.

You dont need more than 44lbs of luggage,

When I go snowboarding my bag only weighs 35lbs, that includes boots and all my winter clobber.

When travelling accross the pacific I take even less, wash some of your clothes on route and you can half the amount you take.

And they hit you hard.....If you move the booze and books to your carry on backpack, I've never had them weigh it.

But I have had to pay......and I don't remember how much accept it seemed like a lot at the time.

Weight and balance can be critical in these small planes they use. They lost the first one in 35 yrs last week in Moorea. So don't cheat and sleep better!!!!!