Air Tahiti Multi-Island Pass Explained

An Air Tahiti multi-island pass is a single fare that covers a one-way loop of domestic flights through a set group of islands, starting in Tahiti (or Moorea on some passes) and lasting up to 28 days. It usually saves money once you visit two or more islands beyond Moorea, but the routing rules are strict and changes after the ticket is issued are very limited.

Air Tahiti revises its pass range from time to time, so older blog posts may use other names, such as the Discovery, Bora Bora or Lagoons Pass. Here is how the passes work and when individual tickets are the better buy.

The current passes at a glance

Air Tahiti sells a family of passes. The islands below are those listed for each pass; check the official Air Tahiti pass page for current fares and conditions before you plan around one.

Roughly, the older Discovery and Bora Bora passes map to Maeva or Monoï, the Lagoons Pass to Reva or Fenua, and the Bora Bora and Tuamotu combinations to Tuamotu or Reva. Our sister site keeps a full old-to-new comparison.

The routing rules that shape your itinerary

The pass is cheap because it is rigid. These are the rules that matter when you design the route:

• Closed loop. The circuit begins and ends in Tahiti. If Moorea is on your route, it has to sit at the very start or the very end.
• One visit per island. Each island can be a stopover once. A stop of less than 24 hours with a change of flight number usually counts as a stopover too.
• At least two islands. You do not have to use every island in the pass, but you must visit a minimum of two.
• No returning to Tahiti mid-circuit. You cannot go back through Tahiti during the pass, except for a stop of up to 24 hours between a pass and an extension.
• One archipelago at a time. On passes that mix the Society Islands and the Tuamotu, finish all the islands in one group before moving to the next. Within a group you choose the order, as long as the schedule has a flight.
• 28 days. The whole trip must fit within 28 days from the first flight.

The no-Tahiti rule is the one that catches people. A route such as Bora Bora, then a night in Papeete for shopping, then Rangiroa, does not fit a pass. Neither does visiting Bora Bora twice.

Extensions to the Marquesas, Australs and Rarotonga

You can add an extension to the Marquesas, the Austral Islands or Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. An extension cannot be bought on its own, it must be used before or after the main pass, and you may buy both a Marquesas and an Austral extension. With an extension, the trip can run to 40 days instead of 28.

Extensions are the most economical way to reach the remote archipelagos as part of a longer trip. Flights to the Marquesas and Australs are fewer than in the Society Islands, so build the rest of the route around those dates rather than the other way round. If whales are the reason for an Austral trip, read our whale watching planning guide first and line the extension up with the season.

Booking, changes and who qualifies

All flights on a pass must be confirmed when the ticket is issued. You cannot hold an open segment and decide later. Pass fares exist for adults (12 and over) and children aged 2 to 11; there are no pass fares for infants under two, so ask how an infant is ticketed on your route. Pass fares cannot be combined with other Air Tahiti fares.

On changes, treat an issued pass as fixed. The conditions allow very little once the ticket is paid and issued, and refunds after arrival in French Polynesia are limited or not possible. Before you pay, check the current modification and refund rules on the Air Tahiti site or with us, and make sure every date lines up with your accommodation.

Checked baggage allowances on domestic flights can differ from your international ticket, and smaller aircraft serve some islands. Confirm the current allowance for your fare before you pack, especially if you are carrying dive or surf gear.

When point-to-point fares are the better choice

A pass is not automatically the cheapest or the best fit. Individual tickets usually win in these situations:

• One island beyond Moorea. If your trip is Tahiti, Moorea by ferry, and Bora Bora, a return Tahiti to Bora Bora ticket is often simpler. Price both options for your dates.
• You want a night in Tahiti mid-trip. A break in Papeete between islands breaks the pass rules.
• Repeat visits. Returning to the same island twice is not allowed on a pass.
• You need flexibility. If dates may move, separate fares with known change conditions can be less risky.
• Air Moana fits better. Tahiti Tourisme lists Air Moana as a second domestic airline serving main islands in the Society, Tuamotu and Marquesas. A pass only covers Air Tahiti, so a mixed itinerary needs separate tickets.

For Moorea itself, most travellers take the ferry from Papeete rather than flying, which is one reason the Monoï and Fenua passes start on Moorea.

Three sample routes

Classic Society Islands, 10 to 12 nights

Ferry to Moorea, then a Monoï Pass: Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Bora Bora, back to Tahiti. Confirm with the airline how the final sector to Tahiti is ticketed on a Moorea-start pass.

Lagoons and atolls, about two weeks

Reva Pass: Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine, Bora Bora, then Rangiroa and Tikehau, back to Tahiti. All Society Islands come first, then the Tuamotu.

Atolls only, 7 to 10 nights

Tuamotu Pass: Tahiti, Rangiroa, Fakarava, back to Tahiti. Good for divers who want two very different atolls without crossing back to Papeete, provided the schedule links them on your dates.

Our island hopping guide covers how many islands make sense for different trip lengths.

Planning notes

Choose your islands first, then pick the pass that contains them, then fit the dates to the actual flight schedule before booking hotels. Leave a buffer night on Tahiti before your international departure, and check how you will reach Papeete from the airport in our guide to getting to Tahiti. We price passes and separate fares side by side in Canadian dollars, so tell us your islands and dates and we will show you which works out better.

Frequently asked questions

Can I start a pass on Bora Bora?

No. Passes start in Tahiti, or in Moorea for the passes designed to begin there. Plan your route so the loop begins from one of those islands.

Does the Tahiti to Moorea ferry count toward the pass?

No. The ferry is a separate ticket bought from the ferry company. The pass covers Air Tahiti flights only.

Do I have to visit every island on the pass?

No. You need at least two of the listed islands. If you only want a few, price a smaller pass or separate tickets as well, since a bigger pass may cost more than you need to spend.