Question on Oceania air arrangements for the Valparaiso - Papeete Itinerary

[Tarpeian Rock]

OK, having vented and wrung my hands over the acquisition, we are looking ahead to our April O cruise Miami to San Francisco -- and are on the brink of booking the Valparaiso to Papeete cruise in January 2016.

 

Living in Massachusetts, we're curious from any veterans of this itinerary what to expect in how O would be getting us to Chile and home from Tahiti: airlines used, number of plane changes, whether the flights to Valparaiso end up being a 2-day trek, where the leg from Tahiti puts down in the U.S. - and what airline services Tahiti to begin with. Not a fan of foreign flag airlines who have been featured on the "Air Disasters" TV program. Thanks.

[computerworks]

We did that itinerary last year. We picked our best flights and submitted for deviation. No problem.

 

Non-stop JFK to Santiago on LAN

Return Air Tahiti Nui to LAX and AA non-stop to JFK

[StanandJim]

OK, having vented and wrung my hands over the acquisition, we are looking ahead to our April O cruise Miami to San Francisco -- and are on the brink of booking the Valparaiso to Papeete cruise in January 2016.

 

Living in Massachusetts, we're curious from any veterans of this itinerary what to expect in how O would be getting us to Chile and home from Tahiti: airlines used, number of plane changes, whether the flights to Valparaiso end up being a 2-day trek, where the leg from Tahiti puts down in the U.S. - and what airline services Tahiti to begin with. Not a fan of foreign flag airlines who have been featured on the "Air Disasters" TV program. Thanks.

 

A great deal depends on which airport you prefer to use in Massachusetts, and if your intention is to fly in and out of Polynesia on the days when you will actually be boarding and disembarking the ship.

 

Given the great distances involved, it is very likely that you will be extending at least one leg of your trip in order to get some red eye relief, and if that is true then you will be paying the Deviation Fee of $175.00 per person, anyway.

 

In addition to changing your dates of Travel, paying that Deviation Fee also enables you to choose the flights which suit you best.

 

If the flights which you prefer are significantly more expensive, you'll have the choice of paying that difference in fare to Oceania, or choosing another set of flights entirely.

The process continues until both sides are satisfied.

Edited September 8, 2014 by StanandJim

[Silver Sweethearts]

...what airline services Tahiti to begin with. Not a fan of foreign flag airlines who have been featured on the "Air Disasters" TV program. Thanks.

 

If it fits your schedule, you might consider the Hawaiian Airlines non-stop from Papeete to Honolulu every Saturday evening and the Hawaiian non-stop from Honolulu to New York (every day, we believe).