Traveling to Tahiti is more attainable than ever.
French Bee, a new a la carte, low-cost long-haul airline now flies from San Francisco to Papeete, French Polynesia. The new service operates three times weekly with overnight flights to the islands.
TravelPulse was onboard for the inaugural flight, flying from San Francisco to Papeete and the return journey.
Check-In/Security (8/10)
Check in was smooth and easy in both San Francisco and Tahiti. For the flight to Tahiti, I was in the Premium cabin and had priority check-in. There was no wait and my bag was weighed and tagged and I received my boarding pass in less than five minutes. Premium fares include two checked bags and a carry-on.
In Tahiti, I was flying in the economy section. There were a few people in the line for check-in but the line went fast and I was going through security in about 15 minutes. Economy does not include a checked bag, but you can pay to check your luggage. You are allowed to bring one carry-on onboard for free.
Terminal (7/10)
French Bee flies out of the international terminal at San Francisco International Airport. The terminal is large, clean and quiet with plenty of seating. There could be some more food options in the terminal.
There's just one terminal at the Papeete airport. The terminal is open-air with a pretty garden. It's busy and crowded, even early in the morning, and the smell of second-hand smoke hovers fairly thickly in the air. If you have to wait a long time, it can be bothersome.
Seats/Space (8/10)
Onboard, Premium class is definitely more spacious. Seats offer 36 inches of pitch and a 19-inch seat width as well as a footrest, a large screen and complimentary in-flight entertainment. The armrests are pretty long to accommodate the tray table and it makes getting in and out of the seat a little difficult. It is advisable that if you are going to be getting up and down a lot, to book an aisle seat.
In economy, the seats are standard size in a three-four-three configuration. There are two separate cabins in economy. The Cozy Cabin offers more privacy and is quieter, located in the front of the plane behind Premium. There are also seat options for more leg room in both regular economy and the Cozy Cabin.
Amenities (9/10)
While French Bee offers an a la carte in-flight experience, in Premium the fare includes a meal and beverage service. If you want additional beverages, they can be ordered via the Blue Cafe onboard.
Passengers also receive an amenity kit that includes toothpaste and a toothbrush, socks, earplugs, an eye mask and a headset. Pillows and blankets are provided as well.
In Economy, meals are not included in the fare, however, you can package meals and baggage fees into your fare when booking or add them before your flight. Make sure to make these changes at least 48 hours in advance of your flight.
If you choose not to bundle your tickets, it's not too late. Travelers can purchase food and drinks onboard from the Blue Cafe.
In-flight entertainment includes movies, television shows and games. Duty-free purchases are also offered onboard.
Service (9/10)
Service is very attentive. Flight attendants speak both French and English. In premium, flight attendants come by twice with drinks and meals. In economy, there's drinks service and followed by meal service. Food can be ordered throughout the flight.
Overall (41/50)
Overall, the flight was pleasant. The brand-new A350 aircraft provides a superior in-flight experience. The sophisticated air quality, lighting and pressurization controls are designed to reduce jet lag, and I definitely felt that was true. My ears didn't even pop during takeoff or landing.
The customizable in-flight experience is growing in popularity, and it's definitely worth it-especially on the overnight flight to Papeete. We were offered meals in Premium, but the flight leaves at 11 p.m. so I wasn't that hungry, and I would have skipped it had I been in economy. The return flight is in the daytime, which is when I would recommend splurging on food and drinks.
The free in-flight entertainment is easy to use and there is a wide variety available, including newer films-I watched "The Darkest Hour"-and classics such as "Fargo" and "Silence of the Lambs."
Both flights left late, but as a new airline operating a new route, these problems are to be expected as the details are worked out.
French Bee also offers low-cost flights to Paris Orly from San Francisco International and flies from Paris to La Reunion.
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