Luggage: everything you need to know to travel to and within French Polynesia
🧳 Luggage Guide 2026
Weight, dimensions, allowances, travel classes and diver bonuses: everything you need to know before taking off for Tahiti and between the islands.
Luggage Edition 2026
Why luggage is important for your trip
Planning a trip to French Polynesia isn't just about choosing your flight and accommodation. It's also about anticipating what you can take in the cabin and in the hold, and how to optimize your equipment – especially if you're traveling with diving gear.
Below you will find the baggage allowances of the main companies serving Tahiti (Air Tahiti Nui, French Bee, Air France, American companies) as well as those of the local companies (Air Tahiti, Air Moana), presented in clear, ready-to-use tables.
✈️ Air Tahiti Nui – international flights
Air Tahiti Nui is the airline that connects Tahiti to the rest of the world. Baggage allowances vary depending on the travel class, but remain generous, especially for hold baggage.
| Class | Luggage | Accessories | Total weight | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moana Economy | 1 piece of luggage | 1 small item (bag, computer…) | 10 kg | Cabin: 55×35×25 cm Accessory: 40×30×15 cm |
| Mānava Premium | 1 piece of luggage | 1 small item | 10 kg | Cabin: 55×35×25 cm Accessory: 40×30×15 cm |
| Poerava Business | 1 piece of luggage | 1 small item | 12 kg | Cabin: 55×35×25 cm Accessory: 40×30×15 cm |
| Class | Cargo allowance | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Moana Economy | 1 × 23kg | 158 linear cm |
| Mānava Premium | 2 × 23kg | 158 linear cm |
| Poerava Business | 2 × 32kg | 158 linear cm |
🌊 Bonus sports & diving equipment
Air Tahiti Nui accepts sports equipment (including diving gear) according to specific rules and sometimes in addition to the standard baggage allowance, depending on the ticket and destination. Always check the conditions at the time of booking or before departure.
Practical Tahiti tip: mention your diving equipment in advance to avoid any surprises at the counter.
✈️ French Bee – low‑cost flights to Tahiti
French Bee offers attractive fares, but the baggage allowance depends heavily on the option chosen. Read the terms and conditions carefully before booking, especially for "Light" fares.
| Type | Details | Total weight | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| All prices | 1 cabin bag + 1 accessory | 12 kg |
Cabin: 55×35×25 cm Accessory: 40×30×15 cm |
| Price | Cargo allowance | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Bee Light | No luggage included | |
| Bee Smart / Bee Flex | 1 × 23kg | 158 linear cm |
| Premium Smart / Premium Flex | 2 × 23kg | 158 linear cm |
💡 Practical Tahiti Advice
If you are travelling with diving equipment or heavy luggage, Premium fares often become more attractive than a Light + options added on a case-by-case basis.
✈️ Air France – long-haul flights to Tahiti
Air France serves Tahiti through code-sharing or via certain routes. The fare allowances are typical for a major European airline, with a real advantage in premium classes.
| Class | Cabin | Accessories | Total weight | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | 1 piece of luggage | 1 accessory | 12 kg |
Cabin: 55×35×25 cm Accessory: 40×30×15 cm |
| Premium Economy | 2 pieces of luggage | 1 accessory | 12 kg (combined) |
2× cabin 55×35×25 cm Accessory: 40×30×15 cm |
| Business / The First | 2 pieces of luggage | 1 accessory | 18 kg (combined) |
2× cabin 55×35×25 cm Accessory: 40×30×15 cm |
| Class | Cargo allowance | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | 1 × 23kg | 158 linear cm |
| Premium Economy | 2 × 23kg | 158 linear cm |
| Business | 2 × 32kg | 158 linear cm |
| The First | 3 × 32kg | 158 linear cm |
🇺🇸 American companies to Tahiti
Several American airlines fly to Papeete from the West Coast or Hawaii. Baggage rules are similar, but checked baggage allowances vary depending on the class and sometimes the fare.
| Type | Details | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Carry on | 1 standard cabin bag | 55 × 35 × 25 cm |
| Personal item | 1 small bag (computer, handbag…) | 40 × 30 × 15 cm |
| Class | Cargo allowance | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | 1 x 23 kg (sometimes subject to a charge depending on the tariff) | 158 linear cm |
| Premium Plus | 2 × 23kg | 158 linear cm |
| Business / Polaris | 2 × 32kg | 158 linear cm |
| Type | Details | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Carry on | 1 standard cabin bag | 55 × 35 × 25 cm |
| Personal item | 1 small bag under the seat | 40 × 30 × 15 cm |
| Class | Cargo allowance | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | 0 to 1 × 23 kg depending on the price | 158 linear cm |
| Premium Economy | 2 × 23kg | 158 linear cm |
| Business / First | 2 × 32kg | 158 linear cm |
| Type | Details | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Carry on | 1 cabin baggage (≈ 11 kg max) | 55 × 35 × 25 cm |
| Personal item | 1 small bag | 40 × 30 × 15 cm |
| Route | Cargo allowance | Size |
|---|---|---|
| USA ↔ Tahiti | 2 × 23kg | 158 linear cm |
| Type | Details | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Carry on | 1 standard cabin bag | 55 × 35 × 25 cm |
| Personal item | 1 small bag | 40 × 30 × 15 cm |
| Class | Cargo allowance | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Standard rates | Luggage is usually charged | 158 linear cm |
| First | 2 × 32kg | 158 linear cm |
The rules may vary depending on the fare (Basic, Main Cabin, etc.) and loyalty status. Always check when purchasing your ticket.
🏝️ Local airlines: Air Tahiti & Air Moana
Inter-island flights have stricter limitations, especially in the cabin. Every kilo counts.
| Class | Cabin franchise | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | 5 kg | ≈ 45×35×20 cm (ATR format) |
| Premium / Comfort | 10 kg | ≈ 45×35×20 cm (ATR format) |
| Ticket type | Cargo allowance | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 1 × 23kg | 158 linear cm |
| Premium tickets | Up to 2 × 23 kg | 158 linear cm |
| Divers Bonuses | + 5 kg diving equipment | 158 linear cm |
| Type | Cabin franchise | Size |
|---|---|---|
| All passengers | 1 x 5 kg + 1 accessory |
ATR cabin ≈ 45×35×20 cm Accessory: small bag |
| Price | Cargo allowance | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Smart | No luggage included | |
| Flex 23 | 1 × 23kg | 158 linear cm |
| Flex 46 | 2 × 23kg | 158 linear cm |
🐠 Divers: What you need to know
- Air Tahiti : +5 kg diving equipment.
- Air Tahiti Nui / French Bee / Air France / US : equipment accepted according to ticket conditions.
- Air Moana : no diver bonus.
Always check the exact conditions at the time of booking.
✅ In short – Travel light… but well prepared
Between international and inter-island flights, baggage rules can quickly become a headache. With these charts, you now have a clear overview to choose your airline, your travel class, and the best way to pack your gear—especially if you're diving in Polynesian lagoons.
One last thing before you pack your suitcase: double-check the baggage allowance on the airline's website or your ticket, as it can change. We'll take care of everything else when you get there. 🌺
The tomb of King Pomare V
Hello
Thanks for this very "practical" article. 😉
If I may, it might be helpful to also mention the baggage allowance on the Apetahi, for example, for people traveling by boat between the islands. Thank you for all the information.
Ia ora na Céline and mauruuru for your advice 👌 Actually, I wrote an article about the Apetahi Express a while ago and I just added some information about luggage: https://tahiti-pratique.com/bateau-apetahi-express-un-autre-moyen-daller-dans-les-iles/ 👍 Thank you again for your active participation in improving the Tahiti Pratique website 👍 Tropical greetings 😎