Tahiti Worlds - Team USA

[Iñigo]

Hello,
I have a question about the ATA carnet asked to carry the kneeboards inside tahiti. I have some friends who have travelled all around the world and they have never been asked for such ATA carnet. If I want to get it I must pay more than 100Euro and give an aval of half the price I declare.
My question is: Is it totally necessary? Can I have problems in the customs if I have not it?. Is it necessary also for you travelling from USA?I am travelling via Los Angeles from Paris.
Any answer will be welcome.

Iñigo

[Sprocky]

Iñigo-
I've travelled with surfboards from the USA to England, France, Italy, Mexico, Costa Rica, Indonesia and Australia. I've never needed an ATA Carnet either.
It took some digging, but I finally found this
http://www.uscib.org/index.asp?documentID=718

For us its USD $120-$250
As far as I can tell, if you don't have the ATA carnet, your boards could get held up in Customs when you enter Tahiti. The ATA carnet doesn't seem to be required, but supposedly would make it easier to get the boards in and out of Tahiti. Seems like a lot to pay just to make it easier...


Anybody have an update on this mythical "special code" for Air Tahiti Nui?

[Iñigo]

Hello Sprocky,
Thank you for the information.
I have decided to obtain the ATA carnet in order to avoid any problem in the custom with the boards. I did not want to be "silly " paying for something that was not totally necessary but I am inverting much money and time to spoil my life's "adventure" trying to save 100 euros.
Are you also coming to Tahiti?
If the answer is yes we will know personally.
Thank you again

Iñigo

[Sprocky]

Hi Iñigo,
That's probably a wise decision, especially since you're traveling so far.

I want to go too, but I need to find cheaper airfare first.
USD $1092 is the best I can find right now. I keep checking www.horue.pf for the "special code" for Air Tahiti Nui, but can't find it.

Hope to see you there
Sprocky

[Iñigo]

Hello Sprocky,
I have paid the double to get there from Spain, 2170 €. and it is a reduced tarif. In the travel agency I was told that the special code is valid for a normal ticket only, it cannot be applied to a reduced ticket. I also was waiting for that code but at the end I have decided to contract this one. Not only the money was important, not to have but one scale in Los Angeles and I can travel in the dates I have free. From June 26th till July 12th
Hope to see you in the "paradise"
Iñigo

[Jack Beresford]

Eric,

Dan Young found a pretty good fare ($690) on Air Tahiti Nui:

http://dir.travelzoo.com/Vacations.asp? ... &id=146004

The added bonus is that it's a stopover fare to New Zealand - so if you have the time, you could go surf Raglan too!

Hope you and Ed can make the trip. Your country needs you!

[DarcyM]

too bad that special air fare is only for travel in April and May. Still haven't heard any news on the contest special. Currently air fare on Air Tahiti from LA for the dates we need to be there is $996.

The Air New Zealand web fare special is still available, http://www.airnzdeals.com/usa/sp04/index.asp?id=4101
I found out after doing another web search. I thought it was sold out but I wasn't looking in the right spot. The cost is 725.95 including taxes from LA. I will buy this fare by Friday if I don't hear otherwise from Club Popoti.

I put a call into Air Tahiti direct to see if they can clue me in on the special fare. I'm also sending another e-mail to the Surf Club. I'll let you all know when I know.

[albert]

The fare that I got was from New Zealand too, even though it was from Australia.

Part of my plan for Tahiti was to do a stopover somewhere, I am spending five days in New Zealand and hopefully catching some raglan too.

If anyone else is doing this please let me know, well meet up.

Albert

[DarcyM]

I've talked to two sales reps from Air Tahiti in LA this afternoon. They didn't know anything about the special air fare, but were going to contact the Tahiti office and get back to me tomorrow. They seemed pretty positive that they could manage a special fare discount. I don't know what that will be and whether it will beat the Air NZ price yet.

Stay tuned.
dm

[red]

The kicker is going to be whether the discounted allow excess baggage. You may find that you're asked $10/kg for your boards at check-in, so clear with the agent/airline that you are carrying a couple of boards.

Albert,
Air NZ shafted me on this last time I went to NZ. Got there fine, but they wanted $$ 'handling' to bring my boards back. Same thing happened with Lufthansa on the way back from Portugal. I think it is willful and dishonest trade practice by the airlines to nail you on the return trip, but say nothing on the outbound journey or at point of sale. This time I trying to get a guarantee in writing before I travel.

Good guys in NZ. Go to their KSNZ website and you may hook up with a couple for your NZ trip. Better chance of choosing the right spot (coast!) for the conditions that way.

[albert]

Red.

About getting charged for surfboards... Thats practically the only reason I ever fly quantas, because they never charge for surfboards.

I have some friends that are photographers and they always rant about how much some airlines charge them and the pros they travel with. Bottom line is that even guys on the WCT have to pay for their boards. On some occasions they have to pay hundreds and even thousands of dollars just to get their boards on a plane.

The way I see it, I always try to add up the cost of traveling with boards when I am sizing up ticket prices. Especially when certain airlines have the reputation of routinely opening board bags and charging you per board.

Albert

[DarcyM]

Success!

So far haven't heard anything about a special code, but I was advised by the sales staff at Air Tahiti in LA that there is a special fare available for the HORUE KNEEBOARD CHAMPIONSHIP which will be about $700 from LAX to PPT + about $69 tax. I don't know what it will be from other locations, but that is comparable to the fare on Air NZ. Tickets must be booked and ticketed no later than 3 weeks in advance.

There is a form that I got to fill out. The contestant must send a booking request to the Air Tahiti office in Tahiti to book the reservation. The booking agent can be reached at VAD@airtahitinui.pf
Their phone number: (689) 45 55 55; FAX number (689)46 02 22.

[Jack Beresford]

Darcy,

Thanks for staying on this Darcy! I know Greg and a few others are wanting to lock down their tickets. June/July is honeymoon season in Tahiti so I'd advise anyone waiting to jump on one of these fares if you're serious about the contest.

[krackatoa007]

you can download the form and get insider info on the contest site/photos of a kneeboard contest held there (Papara/Popoti Bay) that Dave Parkes won in 2000 by visiting:

www.krackatoapartners.com

who will also be making the official DVD of the contest for Popoti Surf Club. Being one of the kneeboarding Partners, we're getting hyped. See youse there! Tonina

[Jack Beresford]

US Team,

OK - it's put up or shut up time for anyone serious about this contest. The Air Tahiti Nui airfare is $700 while seats are still available. June 1 is the deadline for your entry. The contest itself is little more than six weeks away. Hopefully you're all eating your Wheaties, watching video and surfing with ankleweights or kelp wrapped around your leash.

Dan (Surfhorn) has started another post asking about any NoCal competitiors - presumably for PR purposes. This begs the larger question: Who's in? Who's still on the bubble?

It would be helpful to know - please reply below. If you've got a ticket, let me know your departure date, airline and flight number (you can PM me if necessary). I know Greg Little bought his ticket yesterday.

I'm on Air New Zealand, Flt 53 leaving 6/26.

Lastly - anyone up for an informal "scrimmage" on Sat. May 22 at Oceanside Harbor? We'd start at 6 a.m. and be done by 8 a.m.