Houston to Papeete (IAH–PPT) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
No flights match your filters.
No scheduled airline flights on this route — it's flown by charter / private operators (). No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
Most recently operated nonstop flights — the month shown is when each was last scheduled. Most destinations remain reachable with a connection.
No discontinued nonstop flights on record for this route.
IAH–PPT has no scheduled airline service; it is flown by charter / private operators. 1-stop connecting options are also available.
Connection Landscape
On-Time Performance
Travel Essentials
IAH: CDT · PPT: -10
When it's 6:00 PM in Houston, it's 1:00 PM in Papeete.
US passport holders enter French Polynesia visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. French Polynesia is an overseas collectivity of France, and US citizens benefit from the same visa-free access that applies to metropolitan France. Passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the planned departure. French Polynesia is not part of the Schengen area, so time spent here does not count against your Schengen 90-day limit. At Tahiti Faa'a International Airport (PPT) in Papeete, immigration stamps your passport.
French Polynesia spans 118 islands across 5 archipelagos spread over 2,000km of the South Pacific. Tahiti is the gateway. Bora Bora, 50 minutes by plane from Tahiti, has the overwater bungalows. Moorea, just 30 minutes by ferry from Papeete, offers the same mountain scenery at lower prices. The Tuamotu atolls (Rangiroa, Fakarava) are diving destinations with drift dives through passes teeming with sharks and manta rays. Air Tahiti inter-island flights connect the archipelagos, with multi-island passes starting at XPF 39,000 ($350).
Direct flights from Los Angeles (LAX) to Papeete run about 8 hours 30 minutes on Air Tahiti Nui, French Bee, and Air France. San Francisco and Seattle also have seasonal or connecting service through LAX. French Polynesia uses the CFP franc (XPF), pegged to the euro at 119.33 XPF per EUR 1, trading at roughly 110 XPF per $1. Card payments work at hotels and restaurants on Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Moorea. ATMs exist on the main islands. Cash is needed on outer islands. Prices reflect extreme remoteness: a restaurant meal runs XPF 2,000 to XPF 4,000 ($18 to $36). Overwater bungalows on Bora Bora start at XPF 80,000 ($730) per night at the major resorts. Pensions (guesthouses) on less-touristed islands cost XPF 8,000 to XPF 15,000 ($73 to $137) per night including meals.
IAH has no direct rail link to downtown Houston. The IAH Express bus runs from Houston Amtrak/Greyhound station via Park & Ride to Terminal C (60–90 min, $1.25 with METRO Q card). This is the only transit option; Houston's rail network does not reach the airport.Taxis from downtown Houston cost $50–70 and take 40–60 minutes. Ride-hails (Uber, Lyft) are typically $35–55. IAH sits 23 miles north of downtown on the North Freeway (I-45); traffic is heavy during morning and evening rush. Remote economy parking lots serve all terminals via shuttle.
IAH–PPT Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from IAH to PPT
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Fa'a'ā International Airport (PPT) are connected through multiple connecting hub airports.
IAH to PPT Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from IAH to PPT is about 9 hours 6 minutes gate to gate. The route covers a distance of 4,881 miles (7,854 km).
Connecting Options and Alternatives
1-stop connecting options are also available, commonly via Los Angeles, San Francisco and Narita. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs.