Los Angeles to Papeete (LAX–PPT) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
LAX–PPT is served by 5 airlines with nonstop service. Air Tahiti Nui, Air France and Alaska Airlines lead the route. The flight covers 4,108 miles in approximately 8h 10m. Beyond nonstop, 7 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TN Air Tahiti Nui Also: NZ | 13 | 789 | 8h10 | – | NZ | |
| AF Air France Also: KL | 5 | 359 | 8h20 | SkyTeam | KL | |
| AS Alaska Airlines | 3 | 789 | 9h15 | Oneworld | – | |
| QF Qantas | 3 | 789 | 8h10 | Oneworld | – | |
| SB Air Caledonie International | 2 | 789 | 8h10 | – | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Travel Essentials
LAX: PDT · PPT: -10
When it's 6:00 PM in Los Angeles, it's 3:00 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.
FlyAway bus runs from Van Nuys and Union Station ($9.75, 30–50 min depending on traffic). LA Metro C Line connects to Aviation/LAX station; a free shuttle covers the last mile to terminals. Ride-shares cost $20–50 from downtown. Long-term parking lots A/B are walkable; remote Lot E requires a shuttle.
LAX–PPT Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from LAX to PPT
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Fa'a'ā International Airport (PPT) are connected by nonstop service from Air France, Alaska Airlines, Qantas, Air Caledonie International and Air Tahiti Nui. With 35 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
LAX to PPT Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from LAX to PPT ranges from 8 hours 10 minutes to 9 hours 15 minutes. The route covers a distance of 4,108 miles (6,611 km). There are approximately 35 weekly flights outbound and 30 return, totaling 65 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
7 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 11 hours via VNY. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs.