How do the Air Tahiti passes work?

I thought it would be useful to provide a clear guide to the Air Tahiti Passes, as so many people have contacted me privately about their itineraries between the Polynesian islands. This article was originally written in November 2018, completely revised in February 2024, and updated again in July 2026 following another major overhaul of the Pass system. The names, combinations, and fares presented below are the current ones. I have kept the much older system at the end of the article for historical context, but it should no longer be used to plan a current itinerary.

I have already written extensively about French Polynesia, including what to do, when to go, and the many islands I have been fortunate enough to visit. Even so, I know that the travel possibilities offered by the Air Tahiti Passes are not always easy to understand when planning a vacation or honeymoon in French Polynesia. That is exactly why I wanted to update this guide properly. If you are looking for a rental car for your French Polynesian vacation, you can compare prices here!

One point is essential: when an Air Tahiti Pass is issued, all the islands and travel dates in your itinerary must already be confirmed. Once the ticket has been paid for and issued, the Pass cannot be changed or refunded. This remains its main disadvantage.

I will first explain the inter-island options currently available in French Polynesia, along with the main rules you need to understand before building your itinerary. I will then share my opinion on each Pass and explain which type of trip it is best suited to. I am not trying to create a complete itinerary for you here—I have already done that in the article mentioned in the introduction—but I will still include practical examples and personal recommendations based on our years of living and traveling in the islands.

For travelers who want to book activities before their trip, I recommend taking a look at Manawa’s activities in French Polynesia. Some of the most popular lagoon tours, diving trips, and unusual experiences can fill up quickly, especially during the busiest travel periods.

Many people who have never visited French Polynesia imagine that all the white-sand beaches, coconut palms, and postcard-perfect lagoons are found on Tahiti itself. Tahiti may be the best-known name internationally, but it is only the main island of a territory made up of very different archipelagos. Without taking anything away from Tahiti—which deserves more attention than it often receives—most visitors also want to discover islands such as Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Raiatea, Maupiti, Rangiroa, Tikehau, or Fakarava.

I say this with the benefit of the years we spent living in French Polynesia and all the trips we took throughout the territory: if you travel this far, it would be a shame to see only Tahiti. Everyone has to adapt the itinerary to their own interests, time, and budget, but the diversity of the other islands is a major part of the experience. Who would cross one or two oceans only to miss so many of the territory’s treasures?

So, why choose an Air Tahiti Pass? I see two main reasons:

• For travelers visiting several islands within a limited period, a Pass can cost less than booking the same eligible flights separately. Traveling by boat may sometimes be cheaper, but it requires far more time and is not possible between every island.
• Air Tahiti offers the widest inter-island network and the only multi-island Pass system covered in this article. Air Moana now provides competition on a number of popular routes, so it is worth comparing individual tickets when your itinerary is simple. However, Air Tahiti remains essential for many remote islands and currently operates the public-service routes serving dozens of destinations.

Let’s get to the practical part. Air Tahiti currently presents eight Pass families and two extensions.

I know that the airline publishes its own conditions, but I have tried to summarize the rules that genuinely matter when you build an itinerary—and I also know that not everyone wants to work through every line of the official fare conditions. The points below apply to most Passes, although a few products have their own restrictions.

• Adult, child, and infant fares are available. The prices quoted below are the published adult starting fares for low season; child and infant prices are displayed during the booking process.
• Each island can normally be visited only once. You cannot return to Tahiti during the Pass, except for the specific transit allowed between a Pass and an extension.
• Within the same archipelago, islands can be visited in different orders, provided the routing exists in Air Tahiti’s timetable and seats are available.
• An Air Tahiti Pass is valid for a maximum of 28 days from the first departure.
• The current Passes start either in Tahiti or Moorea, depending on the product. Flights between Tahiti and Moorea must be direct, and Moorea generally needs to be placed at the beginning or end of the itinerary.
• At least two islands must normally be visited. The exact number depends on the fare selected, while the Austral and Marquesas Passes require the two core islands included in those products.
• Some islands are not included in the Pass network or are reached by another form of transport. Taha’a is normally visited by boat from Raiatea, while Tahuata and Fatu Hiva are reached from other Marquesas islands. Many Tuamotu atolls are also outside the Pass combinations. I recently visited Ahe, for example, and it is not part of the current Tuamotu Pass.
• Air Tahiti publishes low- and high-season fares. The prices in this guide are starting prices, not guaranteed quotes for every date.
• For Passes combining the Society Islands and the Tuamotu, all the islands in one archipelago must be visited before moving on to the other. You cannot visit part of the Society Islands, continue to the Tuamotu, and then return to the Society Islands within the same Pass.
• Traveling one or more sectors by another form of transport is allowed, but the complete itinerary must still comply with the Pass conditions.

• A Pass combined with an extension is valid for a maximum of 40 days from the first departure.
• A transit or stop in Tahiti of up to 24 hours is permitted between the Pass and the extension.
• An extension cannot be purchased on its own. You must first purchase an eligible Air Tahiti Pass.
• You may purchase both the Austral and Marquesas extensions.
• The extension must be used before or after the Pass, not in the middle of it.
• Air Tahiti currently allows at least one island to be visited within an extension; the exact combinations depend on the extension and the available schedule.

If your booking has not yet been ticketed, the airline or travel agency that made the reservation can still modify or cancel it. Once an Air Tahiti Pass or extension has been paid for and issued, however, changes and refunds are not permitted. This is why I strongly recommend checking every date, flight, and island before paying.

Below you will find the current Air Tahiti Passes and extensions. This is where the article becomes more personal: alongside the current rules and published starting prices, I will give you our opinion on each Air Tahiti Pass, based on the years we spent living and traveling in French Polynesia.

For each Pass, I give the adult starting price published for low season. The exact price changes according to the number of islands selected, the departure point, the dates, and availability. Adult and child standard tickets currently include 23 kg of checked baggage, while infants have a separate allowance. Some Passes depart from Tahiti and others from Moorea, so pay close attention to that detail.

The number shown refers to destinations after your departure point. For example, “Tahiti + 4 islands” means that your trip includes Tahiti as the starting and finishing point plus four other islands.

The itinerary examples below are deliberately simple. Islands shown in brackets can often be reversed when the flight schedule allows it, but never assume that every theoretical order operates on your dates.

• Tahiti – Moorea – (Huahine – Raiatea) – Tahiti
• Tahiti – Moorea – (Raiatea – Huahine) – Tahiti

The current range includes:

• 8 Air Tahiti Pass families
• 2 Air Tahiti extensions

This is a substantial change from the range introduced in 2024, so older screenshots and blog posts can now be misleading.

The Maeva Pass is the new straightforward option for exploring the classic high islands of the Society Archipelago from Tahiti without including Maupiti. Unlike the old Discovery Pass, you are no longer presented with four islands while being restricted to only two: you now choose and pay for a two-, three-, or four-island version.

For a first trip, this is an easy Pass to understand. It can combine Moorea with Huahine, Raiatea, and Bora Bora, and the four-island version lets you visit all of them. You remain close to Tahiti and do not reach the remote archipelagos or a Tuamotu atoll, but the landscapes and atmosphere already vary considerably from one island to another.

In my opinion, it is a good choice for a trip of roughly two weeks if you want a classic first introduction to French Polynesia. You could also add a day trip by catamaran from Tahiti to Tetiaroa without changing the Air Tahiti itinerary.

At first glance, the Monoï Pass may look very similar to the Maeva Pass, and that is because it serves the same part of French Polynesia. The important difference is the departure point: the Monoï Pass begins in Moorea rather than Tahiti.

This can be particularly practical if you travel from Tahiti to Moorea by ferry at the beginning of your stay, then continue by air to Huahine, Raiatea, or Bora Bora before returning to Tahiti. Depending on the number of islands selected, the price can also be slightly lower than the equivalent Tahiti departure.

Maupiti is not included, and you still remain within the Society Islands. Even so, I find this new departure-based distinction much clearer than the previous range, especially for travelers who already intended to begin their trip in Moorea.

This is the Pass that will interest many travelers who specifically want to include Maupiti. It now combines the possibilities previously divided between the Bora Bora and Bora Maupiti products, with a single starting fare covering several possible itinerary lengths.

Of all the Leeward Islands, Maupiti remains our favorite. It has so much going for it: a more intimate atmosphere, no large international hotel groups, an island small enough to explore on foot or by bike, a diving club, and a beautiful beach that is often almost deserted. In my opinion, it is still a must for travelers looking for a more deeply Polynesian experience.

If you are not planning to visit a remote archipelago or a Tuamotu atoll, the Maupiti Pass is probably the most complete Society Islands option. The main difficulty is not the Pass itself but matching your preferred order to the limited Maupiti flight schedule.

This Pass offers a complete change of scenery, taking you into the Tuamotu Archipelago, which is world-famous for its atolls and diving sites. It is very much a sea-oriented Pass, built around lagoons, snorkeling, boat trips, and scuba diving.

If underwater experiences are the main reason for your trip, this may be exactly what you are looking for. White sand, coconut palms, lagoon excursions, and marine life will become part of your daily routine.

The obvious downside is that you will not discover any high islands. French Polynesia is incredibly diverse, and I personally think it is worth seeing something beyond the atolls, which can share some visual similarities when you are not diving. For a 10- to 15-day diving-focused trip, however, this Pass makes perfect sense. You could then add time on Tahiti or Moorea separately.

The Reva Pass is one of the most flexible products in the new range. It replaces the old distinction between the Bora Tuamotu Light and Max Passes with a single product priced according to the number of islands you actually want to visit.

Its main advantage is the combination of high islands and atolls. You can build a relatively compact itinerary with two or three destinations, or plan a much longer trip covering up to all eight eligible islands. That makes the rules easier to understand, but it does not make the timetable any less important: the Society Islands must be completed before you continue to the Tuamotu, or vice versa according to the authorized routing.

For a first trip of around two to three weeks, I would usually look at three or four islands rather than trying to include everything. A combination such as Moorea, Bora Bora, and one Tuamotu atoll already gives you very different landscapes without turning the vacation into a sequence of airports.

The Fenua Pass is the Moorea-departure counterpart to the Reva Pass. It is designed for travelers who begin their island-hopping itinerary in Moorea and then continue through the Leeward Islands, the Tuamotu, or both before ending in Tahiti.

The same question applies here as with the Reva Pass: do you genuinely need to visit every eligible island? People often ask us whether Rangiroa, Tikehau, and Fakarava are different enough to justify all three, especially when they do not dive. There are real differences, but the rhythm of the stay—lagoon trips, snorkeling, diving, and quiet days by the water—can become repetitive for some travelers.

For many people, one atoll combined with several high islands will provide more contrast. The Fenua Pass is particularly logical when Moorea is already your first stop, perhaps reached by ferry from Tahiti, and you want to avoid flying back to Tahiti before beginning the rest of the itinerary.

This is a complete change of scenery and one of the Passes that takes you to a genuinely remote archipelago. I am not going to sing the praises of the Marquesas for pages here—that is not the purpose of this article—but if you have the time and budget to explore them, you are unlikely to forget the experience.

The landscapes, culture, villages, archaeological heritage, and atmosphere are completely different from the lagoon-centered image many people have of French Polynesia. With the core Pass, you can visit Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa, the two main gateways to the archipelago.

The other inhabited Marquesas islands are equally fascinating, but they require a more complex itinerary. The 2026 range also includes a Marquesas extension, which is the product to examine if you want to go beyond the two core islands.

Air Tahiti has changed the Austral range again. The three separate two-, three-, and four-island Passes introduced in 2024 have disappeared from the current public range. There is now one core Austral Pass, covering Rurutu and Tubuai, plus an Austral extension that can be combined with another Pass to build a broader itinerary.

I find this easier to understand, although travelers who specifically want Raivavae or Rimatara need to look closely at the extension and the operating timetable rather than relying on the old three- or four-island products.

This Pass covers Rurutu and Tubuai, the two core islands currently presented in Air Tahiti’s standalone Austral product. It remains a very different trip from the classic Society Islands circuit, and relatively few international visitors choose it.

Having visited Rurutu at least seven or eight times, both personally and for work, I know the island extremely well. It is remarkable, authentic, and full of character. We know Tubuai less well because we only visited once, but there is still plenty to discover there, including beaches, lagoon trips, archaeological sites, and hiking.

If you want a straightforward introduction to the Austral Islands without combining them with another archipelago, this is the current Pass to consider.

The disappearance of the old three- and four-island Austral Passes does not mean that Raivavae and Rimatara have become inaccessible. Air Tahiti continues to serve both islands, but the current public Pass page directs travelers toward the Austral extension when they want to go beyond the core Rurutu–Tubuai circuit.

We never had the chance to visit Rimatara, but we have consistently heard excellent things about it. Raivavae, with its white-sand motu, lagoon, and hiking opportunities, is truly beautiful and remains very authentic. If authenticity is what you are looking for, either island can add something special to a longer trip.

The difficulty is the schedule. Do not build a theoretical sequence and assume it will operate every week: check the actual flight dates before committing to accommodation.

The choice is therefore fairly simple. If the Austral Islands are the main focus of your trip and you only want Rurutu and Tubuai, choose the standalone Austral Pass. If you are already using another Pass for the Society Islands, Tuamotu, or Marquesas and want to add part of the Austral archipelago, look at the extension.

The extension is not automatically the cheaper option once the cost of the main Pass is added, but it gives you the legal fare structure and extra time needed to combine distant archipelagos. For a long trip, that flexibility can be more useful than trying to purchase several unrelated one-way tickets.

For travelers who want to discover what I like to call the more remote and authentic side of French Polynesia, the two extensions remain particularly useful. They allow a Pass itinerary to be combined with part of the Austral or Marquesas archipelago.

Air Tahiti currently offers two extensions. They cannot be purchased separately, and they must be used before or after a Pass. Buying a Pass plus an extension is obviously a significant expense, but it can make sense when you have enough time to appreciate the extraordinary diversity of the territory rather than rushing through it.

Below are the current starting prices and the main points to remember.

In simple terms, the Austral extension lets you add part of the Austral archipelago to another Air Tahiti Pass. It is particularly relevant for travelers who want to include Raivavae or Rimatara, or who want to combine an Austral stay with the Society Islands or Tuamotu. The exact island sequence must be checked against Air Tahiti’s schedule before the ticket is issued.

The same principle applies to the Marquesas extension. It is intended for travelers who are already purchasing another Pass and want to add part of the Marquesas archipelago. The standalone Marquesas Pass focuses on Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa, while the extension is the option to examine for a broader or combined itinerary. Because flights to islands such as Ua Pou and Ua Huka use smaller aircraft and operate on limited schedules, this is one of the products for which careful planning is essential.

In addition to this guide to the Air Tahiti Passes, I recommend reading our article about transportation in French Polynesia for a broader overview of flights, ferries, boats, and other ways of traveling between the islands.

I hope this major update has made the new 2026 range easier to understand and will help you prepare your trip without relying on outdated Pass names or prices.

Even after a detailed article like this, some combinations remain difficult because the answer depends on the exact flight schedule. If you notice an inaccuracy or still have a question, feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of the article.

Have a wonderful trip,

Historical Air Tahiti Passes and extensions used before April 2024

This final section preserves the older Air Tahiti Passes and extensions for historical reference. The names, rules, and approximate prices below applied to a previous fare structure and must not be used to book a current trip. I have kept my original opinions and itinerary examples because they still contain useful personal observations about the islands themselves.

For current planning, use the 2026 Pass section above and check the operating timetable before booking.

This is the “poor man’s” Pass in French Polynesia, no I’m kidding, but it’s one of the cheapest passes. For those with a limited budget in Polynesia, it is a very good solution to discover the “nearby” Leeward Islands. However, what isn’t available with this Pass is the beautiful island of Maupiti, it is a pity but it is done on purpose, I believe. To visit it, you’ll have to choose the Bora Bora Pass, which will cost you a little bit more (about 60€/person). This is discussed below.

This pass allows you to discover the high islands and the postcard (Bora Bora) for those who are looking for a superb lagoon with crystal clear waters. On the agenda: superb turquoise lagoons, scuba diving, snorkeling, hiking. The disadvantage of this Pass is that you do not visit any atoll or remote islands. However, if you have a limited budget, you can discover Tetiaroa atoll from Tahiti Island, in only 2 hours and 30 minutes by catamaran. By the way, I’m offering you 10% with Poe Charter in Tetiaroa, tempted?

With only 3 islands including Moorea accessible by boat for a low price, I don’t think these 2 passes are really that interesting. The latter is cheaper but does not allow access to Bora Bora, which will discourage many tourists. No possibility to see Maupiti either obviously at that price.

Finally, I would encourage you to take the Moana Pass for more or less the same price, knowing that you can go for a ride to Bora. However, the pass allows you to discover 3 high islands of the Leeward Islands and Moorea lagoon. Huahine and Raiatea will be more “land-oriented” than “sea-oriented” as a general rule (although there are beautiful spots on the water in both islands).

With only a 60€ difference with the Moana Pass, the Air Tahiti Bora Bora Pass gives you access to, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful islands in Polynesia: Maupiti. It’s hard not to recommend that you choose this Pass over the Moana one.

You still have no access to the Tuamotu atolls. However, you have the possibility to extend to the Marquesas or the Australes to discover some remote islands. It is in my opinion a great Pass for a nice glimpse of Polynesia, but you miss an atoll (for diving) and the remote islands. That’s a bit of a shame, in my opinion. A perfect pass for “small budgets”, those with limited time and for those who do not wish to dive (turn to the Bora Bora – Tuamotu Pass otherwise).

It is a perfect Pass for people who are more interested in sea than land. Of course, you can see Moorea and do some hiking, but it is clearly a scuba diving / snorkeling oriented Pass.

This pass allows you to discover the 3 atolls proposed in the Pass including the Tuamotu. If you are a fan of white sand, coconut palms, discovering underwater fauna, all in an idyllic setting, you will not be disappointed. For those who want to walk and enjoy the heights, don’t choose this pass.

It is clearly a Pass for those who do not want to follow the crowd. Away from mass tourism and classic tours, these two atolls are renowned for their underwater backdrop, the beauty of the area and their authenticity. This is an opportunity to discover the life of the Paumotu (the people of the Tuamotu atolls). Of course, you will have to like three things: the sea, scuba diving and white sandy beaches. There will be nothing more to do than that…

This is probably the most purchased Pass at Air Tahiti, although I haven’t checked. It may cost a little bit more, but it offers a lot more possibilities. On the agenda: the discovery of the high islands (Huahine, Raiatea), superb lagoons (Moorea, Maupiti, Bora) and a diver’s paradise (Rangiroa, Fakarava).

If you can afford it, it is clearly a Pass that I recommend 100%. Even more, you can ideally include an extension to the Marquesas or Australes to complete your trip in. For me: “the further you get from Tahiti, the more you will find authentic islands, close to what you imagined from Polynesia”.

I’m a little biased here because it’s an archipelago I really love. Why? Its freshness, its charm, its welcoming and authentic population, its magnificent landscapes, its white sandy beaches without tourists, its whales during the season. In short, it is an archipelago that I adore, and I have had the opportunity to visit 3 of the 4 islands proposed in the Pass on several occasions. If you are looking for an authentic Polynesia, far from the classic tours, it is the perfect destination. Be careful with the weather in the middle of winter, it can be cool in the evening and at night (10/15° – 50-60 F°). The beaches on the motus of the island of Raivavae clearly make the beaches of Bora Bora pale in comparison, or almost, in my opinion. As a bonus, there is no one, no jet skis, no tourist boats, no restaurants…what more could you ask for?

It’s the most expensive Pass and for good reason. Located about 1600 km north of Tahiti Island, the Marquesas Islands are one of the 5 archipelagos lost in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Once again, it’s all about budget (and choices) but discovering the Marquesas remains, I think, an experience to be done once in a lifetime.

This is the closest thing (with the Gambier archipelago) to “real Polynesia”, the one I had in mind before I came to live here. The islands have truly retained an incredible authenticity, richness and culture, far from the developed islands of the Society. If you are looking for breathtaking scenery, a great culture and an endearing population, you are on the right Pass.

I personally know 5 of the Marquesas islands: Hiva Oa (many times), Tahuata, Ua Pou, Nuku Hiva and Fatu Hiva. These are timeless islands where you can clearly live the ‘goodlife’. Please note that from Hiva Oa, you can now travel to Tahuata and Fatu Hiva (excluding the Air Tahiti Pass) by a municipal shuttle. I explain all this in the article on transport to and from the Marquesas Islands.

For those wishing to get lost outside the classic Polynesian circuits, here are the types of routes possible: visit the Australes and Marquesas Islands with an extension from Air Tahiti.

However, it would cost you more because extensions cannot be purchased alone. They must be taken with a Pass and can be done either before or after it.

Rates:

• Australes extension: 300 € / 190€
• Marquises extension: 520€ / 305€

It will be necessary to calculate this clearly and evaluate your total budget here. It’s expensive in addition to a Pass, and many around the world travelers will not be able to afford both. In any case, believe me when I say that if you’re looking for authenticity, you won’t be disappointed coming to the Marquesas or the Australes.

I’m coming to the end of this article on Air Tahiti passes, and I hope it has helped you make your choice and prepare for your stay in French Polynesia.

Written by Sylvain PONS

From 2015 to 2021, French Polynesia was our home, with Mélanie and our children. I'm happy to share my experience and advice to help you organize an unforgettable stay in French Polynesia, based on my in-depth knowledge of the territory.

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