Air Tahiti Nui’s baggage allowance depends on travel class: Moana Economy gets one 23 kg checked bag, Mānava Premium gets two 23 kg bags, and Poerava Business gets two 32 kg bags. Extra bags cost 80–230 depending on route, and every checked bag must stay under 32 kg and 158 cm total dimensions.

Packing for a trip to French Polynesia comes with real financial stakes if you don’t check the baggage rules first. Air Tahiti Nui structures its allowances around three cabin classes, and the fees for extra, overweight, or oversized bags shift depending on your route and departure country. Get it wrong, and you could be paying $200 or more at the check-in counter for something that would’ve cost half that online.

What Is Air Tahiti Nui’s Baggage Allowance by Class?

Air Tahiti Nui’s baggage allowance varies by cabin class and covers both cabin and checked bags. Moana Economy and Mānava Premium passengers get one 10 kg carry-on plus a 3 kg personal item, while Poerava Business travelers get a 12 kg carry-on. Checked allowances range from one bag to two bags depending on class.

Club Tiare Silver and Gold members receive one additional free checked bag on top of their class allowance, though this perk doesn’t apply to infants traveling without a seat.

What Is the Air Tahiti Nui Checked Baggage Size Limit?

Air Tahiti Nui requires every checked bag to measure 158 cm (62.2 inches) or less when you add the height, width, and length together, including wheels, handles, and outer pockets. Bags exceeding this measurement are classified as oversized and incur an additional fee, separate from any overweight charges.

This 158 cm rule applies uniformly across all three cabin classes  there’s no size upgrade for Business passengers, only a weight upgrade. If you’re packing a large duffel or a hard-shell suitcase, measure it before you leave home; airport scales catch this more often than travelers expect.

What Is the Air Tahiti Nui Baggage Weight Limit?

The maximum weight for any single checked bag on Air Tahiti Nui is 32 kg (70.5 pounds), regardless of cabin class. Anything heavier than 32 kg cannot be checked as standard luggage and must be shipped through Air Tahiti Nui’s freight/cargo service instead.

Within that 32 kg ceiling, though, your free weight allowance still depends on class:

• Moana Economy & Mānava Premium: Bags up to 23 kg travel free; anything between 23 kg and 32 kg incurs an overweight fee.
• Poerava Business: Bags up to 32 kg travel free  no overweight charge until you hit the airline’s absolute cap.

Cabin bags follow a separate limit of 115 cm (45 inches) total dimensions, with weight capped at 10 kg for Economy/Premium and 12 kg for Business, plus a 3 kg personal item.

What Are Air Tahiti Nui’s Baggage Fees for Extra, Overweight & Oversized Bags?

Air Tahiti Nui charges separate fees for extra bags (beyond your allowance), overweight bags (over the free weight threshold), and oversized bags (over 158 cm). Fees vary by route and departure country, with flights from the United States and Canada priced in USD and CAD respectively.

Extra Baggage Fees (Flights from the U.S.)

Overweight Baggage Fees (Flights from the U.S., up to 32 kg)

Oversized Baggage Fees (Flights from the U.S., over 158 cm)

For example, a Moana Economy passenger flying Los Angeles to Tahiti with a second checked bag weighing 28 kg would pay two separate charges: $80 for the extra bag, plus $120 for the overweight portion  a total of $200 before even considering an oversized fee. Buying that second bag online in advance instead of at the counter often costs less, so it pays to check “Manage My Booking” before departure day.

Club Tiare members can also redeem miles for excess baggage instead of paying cash  for instance, 10,000 miles covers an extra, overweight, or oversized bag between Tahiti and Los Angeles.

What Special Items Can I Bring for Free?

Air Tahiti Nui allows several categories of special baggage free of charge, separate from your standard allowance. Ukuleles and acoustic guitars up to 115 cm travel as carry-on items, while sports equipment like surfboards, golf bags, and dive gear can be checked for free up to 23 kg.

• Free in addition to your allowance (up to 23 kg, 250 cm): golf equipment, dive gear, surfboards, bodyboards, snowboards, paddleboards, ski equipment, inflatable kayaks, fishing rods, and paddles.
• Free within your existing allowance: windsurfing gear, disassembled bicycles, tennis equipment, and fishing tackle (excluding rods).
• Free regardless of class: mobility devices (wheelchairs, crutches), respiratory equipment, and strollers or car seats for children under 7.

Bicycles must be disassembled, boxed, and under 250 cm in length; equipment over 32 kg or 250 cm requires the airline’s freight service instead.

When Should I Check In for an Air Tahiti Nui Flight?

Air Tahiti Nui’s airport check-in counters typically open three hours before departure and close one hour before departure, with boarding gates closing 15 minutes prior to takeoff. Online check-in windows vary by route but generally open 24 hours before departure.

Arriving early matters more on Air Tahiti Nui routes than you might expect, since counters at hub airports like Auckland and Los Angeles can queue up quickly during peak season. If you’re checking oversized sports equipment or purchasing excess baggage at the counter, add extra buffer time  agents need to process the paperwork and liability waivers required for items like surfboards or bicycles.

What Should I Know About Codeshare Flights?

If part of your itinerary is operated by a codeshare partner  American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Japan Airlines, Qantas, Air Calin, or Korean Air  that carrier’s baggage rules may apply instead of Air Tahiti Nui’s. When policies differ across a single itinerary, the airline recommends following whichever rule is most restrictive to avoid a surprise charge at check-in.

For tickets that begin or end in the United States or Canada, however, U.S. DOT and Canadian Transportation Agency regulations require that the baggage allowance of the “Most Significant Carrier” apply across the entire itinerary  a detail that often trips up travelers connecting through multiple countries.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an extra bag cost on Air Tahiti Nui from the U.S.?
An extra bag from the U.S. to French Polynesia costs $80. Fees rise to $100 for Europe, $145 for New Zealand, and $185 for Japan or Asia destinations.

Can I bring a surfboard on Air Tahiti Nui for free?
Yes. Surfboards travel free up to 23 kg and 250 cm in length, in addition to your standard checked baggage allowance, provided they’re packed in a proper surf bag.

What happens if my bag weighs more than 32 kg?
Bags over 32 kg cannot be checked as standard luggage on Air Tahiti Nui. They must be shipped through the airline’s freight/cargo service instead.

Does Poerava Business class get more free baggage than Economy?
Yes. Poerava Business includes two 32 kg checked bags versus Moana Economy’s single 23 kg bag, plus a larger 12 kg cabin allowance instead of 10 kg.

Can Club Tiare members use miles instead of cash for excess baggage?
Yes. Club Tiare members can redeem miles for extra, overweight, or oversized bags  for example, 10,000 miles covers one excess bag between Los Angeles and Tahiti.

Is there a weight limit for cabin baggage on Air Tahiti Nui?
Cabin bags are limited to 10 kg in Economy and Premium, or 12 kg in Business, plus a separate 3 kg personal item, with all pieces under 115 cm total dimensions.

Do bicycles count toward my free baggage allowance?
Yes, if disassembled and packed in a hard case under 250 cm. Bikes exceeding 32 kg or 250 cm must ship as cargo freight instead.

What’s the difference between “Piece Concept” and “Weight Concept” baggage?
Air Tahiti Nui uses the Piece Concept, charging fees per bag. Some partner airlines, especially on Australian routes, use the Weight Concept, charging per kilogram over the limit instead.

When does online check-in open for Air Tahiti Nui flights?
Online check-in generally opens 24 hours before departure. Airport counters open three hours prior and close one hour before scheduled departure time.

Are medical devices counted in my baggage allowance?
No. Wheelchairs, respiratory equipment, and other mobility or medical devices travel free of charge in addition to your standard cabin and checked baggage allowance.