Air Tahiti Nui (TN) runs limited but reliable routes between Tahiti and major hubs like Los Angeles, Auckland, and Paris. Their cabin pet program is straightforward but tightly constrained by aircraft type — they fly Boeing 787s, which have specific cabin pet capacity rules. Luna would qualify for cabin under TN's standard weight limits, but the cabin slots fill quickly on the popular Pacific routes, particularly during the high-season summer schedule from May to October.
TN's pet policy splits into cabin and cargo. This page summarizes the weight limits, fees, brachycephalic-breed restrictions, and carrier specifications for both modes — sourced from the airline's official pet pages.
How TN treats your pet
Cabin policy
| Item | Detail | Source & confidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pets accepted | Accepted in the cabin | 75% | |
| Pet + carrier max weight | 8 kg (incl. carrier) | 75% | |
| Advance booking | Add to booking ≥ 48 h before departure | 95% |
Hold policy
| Item | Detail | Source & confidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds | Not yet documented | — | |
| Advance booking | Add to booking ≥ 48 h before departure | 95% |
Cargo policy
| Item | Detail | Source & confidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advance booking | Add to booking ≥ 48 h before departure | 95% |
Air Tahiti Nui requires pet documentation to be submitted to the reservation service at or after 48 hours before flight departure. Submissions inside that window are not processed and the cabin slot defaults to standby. The 48-hour deadline applies even when the booking itself was made far in advance, so the documentation submission timing is the actual operational cutoff, not the original ticket booking date.
Frequently asked
- What is the cabin weight limit on TN?
- In the cabin, your pet plus its carrier must not exceed 8 kg.
- How far in advance must I book my pet on TN?
- Add your pet to the booking at least 48 hours before departure — do it when you book the ticket, not at the airport.
- What if my flight is delayed past my health certificate validity?
- If the certificate window expires before you board, you'll need a re-issue. Build a 1-2 day buffer between the cert date and departure to absorb minor delays.
- What happens if I forget a document?
- At the destination airport: at best, an extended inspection while you produce backup; at worst, the pet is held in quarantine or returned to origin at your cost. Bring printed copies.
For Air Tahiti Nui: book the cabin pet slot at ticket purchase and submit the supporting pet documentation to their reservation service at least 48 hours before departure. Confirm carrier dimensions and combined weight match TN's Boeing 787 cabin standards, and bring printed health documentation in English plus French for the destination side. Build your plan against your departure date in Pawgo before booking — it confirms cabin slot capacity for your specific TN flight.
Glossary
- ISO chip
- ISO 11784/11785 — the universal microchip standard.
- FAVN
- Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization — a rabies serology test required by rabies-free destinations.
- Brachycephalic
- Snub-nosed breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Persians, Himalayans) with restricted airline acceptance due to heat-stress risk.
- AVIH
- Animal Vehicle In Hold — IATA's term for cargo pet shipment, with fees that vary by carrier and route.