San Francisco – Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia. $653 (Basic Economy) / $813 (Regular Economy). Roundtrip, including all Taxes – The Flight Deal

It can be expensive to reach this island.

United offers an $813 fare that includes a standard economy ticket with one checked bag and a regular-sized carry-on.

They also have a cheaper option at $653, but it falls under the Basic Economy category. Note that these Basic Economy fares:

• DO NOT permit advance seat assignments.
• DO NOT include checked bags (first checked bag costs $55 and the second $100 each way).
• DO NOT allow changes.
• DO NOT allow cancellations. If you cancel after the 24-hour risk-free period, the Basic Economy fare cannot be used for future purchases.
• Many online travel agencies do not accurately categorize these fares under Basic Economy when booking with United, Air Canada, Austrian, Lufthansa, or Swiss Air.

To reach Bora Bora, you will need an additional ticket from Air Tahiti, which is approximately $500 roundtrip with no mileage options available through redemption partners.

Bora Bora, French Polynesia – Photo: tensaibuta via Flickr, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)

Sample Travel Dates:

• This is just ONE SAMPLE travel date. For more options, refer to the “Fare Availability” and “How to Search for Availability” sections below.

Fare Availability:

• Valid for travel from mid-January 2026 to early July 2026 or late August 2026 to early November 2026. Limited availability. Must purchase at least one day prior to departure.

• Note: This fare is valid at the time of posting. If this post is older than two days, the fare may no longer be available.

How to Search for Availability:

• Use this process only to search for availability. To purchase tickets, scroll down to the “How to Buy” section of this post.

• Utilize the Matrix Airfare Search by ITA Software with the following criteria:
• Origin: SFO
• Advanced Routing Code:
  • Routing Codes: ua
  • Extension Codes:
    • This is to ensure the search focuses on the Basic Economy fare. When using these dates on United, you’ll have the option to upgrade to the standard economy fare.
• Destination: PPT
• Return Routing Code:
  • Routing Codes: ua
• (Click on the Advanced Codes link to enable routing code input)
• Select “See calendar of lowest fares.”
• Duration: “3-10” days (this is a sample; you may use any 7-day range like 3-10 or 7-14).

• The Matrix Airfare Search by ITA Software page should look similar to the example below when all criteria are entered.

• You cannot purchase tickets directly through the Matrix Airfare Search. Follow the “How to Buy” instructions below to purchase.

Fare Class:

Elite Qualifying Dollars:

Routing:

• SFO – PPT (Papeete, Tahiti) – SFO

Stopover:

Mileage:

• Miles Flown: 8,400 miles
• Redeemable Miles: 3,475 miles

How to Buy:

• Book through United using the dates found via the Matrix Airfare Search.

Accommodations:

• TripAdvisor – A prominent hotel meta-search engine that helps you find the lowest prices from over 200 websites.

Car Rentals:

• Rental Cars – A global leader in car rentals, featuring major brands such as Hertz, Avis, Budget, Dollar, and Enterprise.

Activities and Tours:

• Viator – The largest marketplace for destination activities and tours globally.

Background Information:

• Visa: Not required for U.S. Citizens. Other nationalities should check the TIMATIC Visa Database.
• Currency: CFP Franc (XPF). Exchange rate: $1 USD ≈ 101 XPF.

Tips for Saving at International Destinations when Using Credit Cards:

For more of the latest low-cost flights from San Francisco / Bay Area:

* The Flight Deal earns a commission if you book accommodations, car rentals, activities, or apply for a credit card via our links. Thank you for your continued support.

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The Flight Deal does not sell travel products or services. We provide information about offers from third-party travel suppliers and link to their sites. The details posted by The Flight Deal are accurate at the time of publication, but we cannot guarantee that these offers won’t change or become unavailable. For the latest offer information and terms, please visit the suppliers’ websites.