Papeete Airport

Not Verified | This airport, like much of French Polynesia, does not have air conditioning or modern amenities. 75% of the restaurants and shops you encounter before security at the airport are always closed for some reason, and the places that are open are very expensive. If you are flying domestic or international there will be one restaurant selection past security. When we had a domestic flight, there were long lines at the “Snack Shack”, I can’t comment on the food quality because there was no power. When I flew international, the one shop selling food was not making iced beverages but was selling hot coffee and sandwiches of rancid meat and cheese. They are probably rancid due to the lack of roper refrigeration in this hot and humid climate. The two upsides are that staff are very friendly and the airport was very clean considering it is all an open space.

Not Verified | The airport is located just west of downtown Papeete and is on the sea front. On arrival at the terminal you note that the front of the building totally open. This means that the waiting/check-in area is hot and humid as there is no air conditioning. It also means that the waiting/check-in area is not as clean as some would like. The ticket counters are located a few inches behind doors that roll up and down. The airlines only have their check-in counters open (the rolling doors in the up position) about 3 hours before the flights depart. Food service and shopping are both limited in the departure area before the security check point. After passing thru the security check point there is additional, and better, shopping but even less food service options. All food, both before and after the security check point, is expensive. Seating in the international departure lounge after the security check point is also limited. There are no bridges from the terminal to the planes. Passengers need to walk on the tarmac from the terminal building to the plane and then climb a set of rolling steps to enter the plane. The terminal, while workable, needs to be updated to meet modern international standards.

Not Verified | Papeete airport is dreadful! It has no air conditioning and no fans either in the check in area or the international main departure area. It was extremely hot and humid so I was dripping sweat as were others who stank from the heat. It was very crowded, body to body as all the international flights to the US (and to Europe) go out in the late evening. The good thing about so many bodies is I only got a few mosquito bites while waiting to check in (I had none before getting to Papeete airport). It was a very long wait to check in and they didn't have the counters clearly marked as to what flights each counter person was working. Because of the heat and the long wait and the confusion about which counter did which flight many people were in the wrong lines. The only place with air conditioning on the lower level was the stinky bathrooms which I stayed in for a while despite the stink because I felt like I was going to faint from the heat in the main checkin area. Almost no chairs were available either in the check in area despite many, many people having to wait hours to checkin for all the international flights leaving between the hours of 9-11:55 pm. The main departure lounge was little better. No air conditioning except in the duty free shop. Not enough seats for the many people waiting for their flights. The islands of French Polynesia / Tahiti are beautiful but I would likely go to other South Pacific island countries just because the Papeete airport is so awful.

❎ Not Verified | Will not return to Tahiti unless this airport changes. The absolute worst airport I have been to. Departure was a nightmare. Flight departed at 10.50pm, arrived at the airport at 5.30pm. 88 degrees. No fans turned on, of course no AC, not enough seating for people already there. When the VAT line opened, there was only one employee, 15 people in line. One lady fainted from the heat. It was so hot that the back of my shirt was dripping. McDonald's was just closing and get this! They came out and collected all of the trash cans and stacked up all the chairs and took them away, making even less seating in the terminal. We have a lounge pass which let us in to the Air Tahiti Nui lounge. Still, we could not get to the lounge until they opened the gates at 8.15pm. There was only one employee to be found, and that was a lady at the information desk. Felt sorry for her having to take the wrath of mad customers. Also the bathrooms had AC. Go figure. This experience pretty much ruined the end of our vacation. Which ever country runs this airport-shame on you!

❎ Unverified | Arrival: VIP lounge is small but the personal welcome is way to discover polyesian culture. Customs procedures and lugage delivery is appreciated while drinking a fruit juice in conditionned air (temperaure was 28+C at 11:00pm). Departure: you have to arrive 3 hrs before take off in order to minimize queing time (polynesian quickness) in outside air cooled by old fans. One shop and one bar in international area.

Incompetent and rude staff in duty free at Papeete Airport. Refused to give perfume in a sealed bag when travelling through the U.S and U.K. Giving out wrong information regarding what can be taken through is one thing, then to have an attitude and be rude is another. Absolutely horrendous service.

We arrived at Papeete Airport after a very long journey involving three airports prior to our destination airport. We descended the aircraft steps, walked to the terminal passing the welcoming Tahitian band on the way in. We called a greeting to them who greeted us in return. We waited at a barrier (for EU citizens) to pass through immigration, only second in line, and waited until the staff were ready. Passport handed over and through quickly to the baggage reclaim area. Out of the arrivals very quickly and over to the car rental desk where we were dealt with in an efficient, but, leisurely and friendly fashion. No problems. On the return journey, we had more time to assess the airport. There were fans in the domestic area which were welcome. It is unfortunate that there are none in the international area because it was very sticky and hot in the late evening. Because the check in desks were not open, we could not access the Business Lounge, so we went back to the cooler domestic end and changed into our travel clothing - this was a mistake because when we returned to international and still had a lengthy wait, we were far too hot. Fortunately, we had the sense to already have bottled water with us. It is a wee bit chaotic, but, I've got to say that passengers don't help sometimes by scrabbling to almost every desk that looks like it might be opening. Despite what it says on the signs, some folks will stand in any queue. It's not just the airport which is a bit disorganised. There was a wee bit of confusion at check in with our tickets involving three different airlines, which might have been resolved a bit more quickly had the check in lady asked us about our journey, but, she went off and sorted it out without fuss. There are few facilities in the airport and there are relatively few international flights. It is obvious that ground staff are brought in when necessary, areas are not manned unnecessarily. It is less noticeable in larger international airports with far more facilities. There is a significant lack of seating and, with landside being open-air, fans in the international area would be beneficial. When security finally opened, we made our way to the Business Lounge. For the size of the airport, the lounge was very comfortable. The amount of food provided was adequate considering ours would be the last flight of the night, in fact, the last flight out of Tahiti in 2015. There were plenty of beverages available. The fact that there are only two restrooms, one each male and female shouldn't really be much of an issue with so few international flights. I note negative comments here about Papeete Airport, but, having suffered the crowds and incredible number of security checks in London Heathrow and Los Angeles (inc an incredibly poor business lounge operated by LAX) before and afterwards, I can assure you the small inconveniences of Papeete Airport seem trivial. The staff were all pleasant and appreciate the same in return. This is Tahiti, chill.

When you land at PPT, the first thing you will notice is that there is no jet bridge. You will disembark the aircraft by stairs. It is a very short walk from tarmac to the terminal where you will go through immigration. As you are standing in line, you will notice Tahitians dressed in beautiful tropical attire, playing musical instruments, and singing songs. The immigration officer was very courteous. Baggage claim, currency, exchange, and ground transportation were all smooth. While returning back, the most memorable moment at PPT was when the security personnel said, "Please visit us soon." This was the first time someone working at an airport asked us to visit their city again. The dining options are slim after clearing security, and you can expect long lines in the morning hours to grab a bite. I stood in line for 30 minutes to grab blueberry muffins, Turkey sandwich, and Juice for my family.

Terrible both coming and going. The immigration queue on arrival was terrible-we were fifth in line for the non- resident entry point and again and again the porters brought up families with children and people in wheelchairs and cut them in line ahead of us. We waited over 45 minutes being fifth in the line for a one minute process! Just before us a person cut into the line and then the immigration officer spent five minutes arguing with them before sending them away. Ridiculous! At least there were taxis waiting as we walked out. On the return we waited 30 minutes for the counter (Air France) to open only to find yet another problem with our tickets that took 45 minutes to resolve-and then we were lied to by a supervisor about it when he acted like he was doing us a favor just by giving us the seats we had ticketed a year prior. The flight was delayed and there was no place to sit other than a hot humid non-air-conditioned open air space right by the smoking area a few feet away. There was only one snack bar with limited offerings and too many children who were not being properly supervised by their parents. It was like a 3rd world country. One of the many reasons I'd never venture to this part of the world again. It's simply not worth the hassle bad attitude and disorganization.

One of the most disorganized airports I have ever been through including 3rd word countries. Most non customer oriented airport I have ever seen. 1) Our flight arrived 1/2 an hour early but had to wait 1 hr to go through Immigration. 2) No air conditioning in airport. 3) Flight check-in starts 3 hrs before flight time but departure immigration only opens 2 hrs before so you have to stand in line sweating profusely in between. Never have stood in so many lines for so long at any other airport in the world. They constantly ask to see your passport and boarding pass. 5 times from check-in to getting on airplane. They also check and weigh your carry-on twice. The only AC is in the duty free shop and the VIP lounge. For a country that relies so much on tourism one would think that they treat travelers better!