Bora Bora on points and miles may sound impossible at first, but you can absolutely turn this bucket-list destination into an affordable French Polynesia trip.
By earning flexible credit card points, using the best airline transfer partners, and booking smartly with hotel loyalty programs, a trip to Bora Bora on points and miles becomes surprisingly doable. Planning our French Polynesia itinerary entirely on points was easier than we expected.
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What credit card points to use for a trip to Bora Bora
This guide breaks down how we used different points: American Express Membership Rewards, Hilton Honors points, Alaska’s Atmos points, plus the strategies I’d recommend to any family looking to plan a dream French Polynesia itinerary on points.
To start, earning flexible transferable points makes the biggest difference. For instance, American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer to the programs that consistently offer award seats to Papeete (PPT), the international gateway to Bora Bora.
How to book flights to Tahiti and Bora Bora on points
It’s very important to know that to reach Bora Bora, you must first fly to Tahiti (PPT). All award programs below get you to Tahiti, and from there, you take a paid Air Tahiti or Air Moana flight to Bora Bora.
How to book a United Airlines flight to Tahiti with United MileagePlus miles
Now, you can book the United Airlines flight to Bora Bora directly on the United Airlines website using United MileagePlus miles. United typically prices the route around:
- 35K–45K United miles one-way in economy
- 70K–80K United miles one-way in business
How to earn United Airlines Miles
You can earn United Airlines miles in a few easy ways:
- Use Chase credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, then transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards to United Airlines at a 1:1 ratio.
- Earn miles with a United credit card, such as the United Explorer Card, which offers a welcome bonus and extra miles on United purchases.
- Fly United and credit your flights to MileagePlus.
- Shop through the United shopping portal to earn extra miles on everyday purchases.
How to book a United Airlines flight to Tahiti through Air Canada Aeroplan
Additionally, you can also book a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Tahiti (SFO–PPT) through Air Canada’s Aeroplan. United often releases saver award space on this route, and those seats appear directly on Aeroplan’s website. That’s exactly how we booked our flight and paid 35k and $56 per person in Economy.
First, search the route on the Air Canada Aeroplan site. When you see United saver seats, you can transfer your flexible points, such as Amex Membership Rewards, to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. Transfers are instant, so you can move your points and book your flight right away.
Award rates vary, but here is the general pricing:
- 40K–70K Aeroplan points one-way to Tahiti in economy
- 70K–100K Aeroplan points one-way to Tahiti in business
Pricing depends on demand and the distance band. Cash fares on this route often start around $900–$1,600 in economy and can jump well over $3,000+ in business, so using points is usually a great value.
How to earn Air Canada Aeroplan points
- You can earn Aeroplan points: Transfer Flexible Points – Move points from Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles, Bilt Rewards, or Marriott Bonvoy (3:1 + bonus) into Aeroplan.
- Aeroplan Credit Card (Chase) – Earn a welcome bonus and bonus points on travel and everyday spending.
- Fly Star Alliance Partners – Earn points when flying United, Lufthansa, ANA, Singapore Airlines, and other partners.
- Book Air Canada Flights – Earn points directly when flying Air Canada.
How to book an Air Tahiti Nui flight with Alaska (Atmos) points
One of the best sweet spots for French Polynesia is booking Air Tahiti Nui with Alaska Airlines’ Atmos points. Alaska partners directly with Air Tahiti Nui, and the award pricing is simple and consistent.
You can book Los Angeles (or Seattle) to Tahiti (PPT) in business class for 60K Atmos points one-way, which is still one of the best values in the entire region. Cash fares for this route often climb past $4,000, so using points saves an incredible amount.
Economy pricing varies, but most flights fall in the 30K–40K Atmos points range.
Once you arrive in Tahiti, you’ll continue to Bora Bora on Air Tahiti, which is separate and must be booked with cash.
How to earn Alaska Atmos Points
Alaska miles are harder to earn than other currencies, so you’ll want a clear strategy. You can earn Atmos points through:
- Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card from Bank of America
- Flying Alaska Airlines and crediting miles to your Mileage Plan account
- Shopping through the Alaska Airlines shopping portal
Transfer partners are extremely limited. You cannot transfer points from Amex, Chase, or Citi into Alaska. Occasionally, Marriott Bonvoy allows transfers into Alaska, but the ratio is poor, so it’s only useful for topping off a small gap.
How to book Air France flight to Tahiti with Flying Blue Miles
Air France offers another reliable way to reach French Polynesia, especially for families who want more award space. You can fly Los Angeles – Tahiti (LAX–PPT) nonstop using Flying Blue miles. Availability is usually stronger than on other programs, which makes this route a great backup when United or Air Tahiti Nui awards are gone.
Flying Blue uses dynamic pricing, so award rates shift based on demand. Most flights fall in these ranges:
- 35K–55K miles one-way in economy
- 70K–90K miles one-way in business class
Prices rise during peak dates, but transfer bonuses from credit card programs often bring the cost back down. Once you land in Tahiti, you’ll book a separate Air Tahiti flight to Bora Bora.
How to earn Flying Blue Miles
Flying Blue is one of the easiest programs to earn because it accepts transfers from almost all major point currencies. You can earn Flying Blue miles from:
- Amex Membership Rewards
- Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Capital One Miles
- Citi ThankYou Points
- Bilt Rewards
All transfer at a 1:1 ratio. Because transfer bonuses happen often, you can book this route for even fewer miles.
You can also earn miles through the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®, which adds another steady source of Flying Blue miles if you’re planning a future trip to Bora Bora or Europe.
We booked a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Tahiti (PPT) using American Express Membership Rewards transferred to Air Canada Aeroplan points. We paid 35k points and $56 in fees per person in Economy class.
For the return, we flew PPT – LAX – SFO on Air Tahiti Nui and booked it with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan (Atmos) points. We paid 60K points and $79 in fees per person in business class (this price includes a flight to San Francisco in Economy class).
How to book hotels in Bora Bora on points
How to book Conrad Bora Bora Niu on points
After securing flights, hotels are where most families save thousands. During our Bora Bora stay, we booked Conrad Bora Bora Nui using Hilton Honors points. We reserved it before the devaluation, so our nights were priced at 130K points instead of the current 200K.
Here is the How to Book a Hotel with Hilton Points: Step-by-Step Guide.
Hilton’s 5th night free when booking on points perk cuts the cost significantly, making this stay one of the best redemptions of the entire trip.
When we arrived in Papeete, Tahiti, we stayed at the Hilton Hotel Tahiti for 80K Hilton points for the night. It’s modern, convenient, and a great base for the first or last night of any itinerary.
To end the trip, we moved to Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort, which costs 95K Hilton points per night. The lagoon here is stunning, and if you’re traveling with kids, Moorea is the easiest island for a mix of snorkeling, relaxation, and adventure.
How to earn Hilton Honors points for hotel stay
To earn enough Hilton points for a Bora Bora trip, start with the Hilton credit cards that offer welcome bonuses. The Hilton Honors American Express Card is the no-annual-fee option and often comes with a bonus that can cover at least one night at Hilton Moorea.
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card earns even more points on groceries, gas, and dining, categories most families spend heavily on, so building a balance happens quickly.
And for anyone who wants premium perks, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card includes automatic Diamond status and a yearly free night certificate, which can be used at the Conrad Bora Bora.
Another way to earn Hilton points is through Amex Membership Rewards transfers. The transfer ratio is 1:2, and it’s perfect when you need to top off your account for a specific redemption.
You can read more about how to earn Amex Points: 7 easy ways to maximize Membership Rewards here.
Hilton points also stack fast thanks to generous multipliers on Hilton stays, seasonal promotions, and the 5th-night-free benefit on award bookings.
How to book Marriott hotels in Bora Bora on points
Meanwhile, families who collect Marriott Bonvoy points have great options, too. St. Regis Bora Bora is the stunning, ultra-luxury choice, one of the best ways to redeem Bonvoy points worldwide.
But The Westin Bora Bora, which has been open for several years now, is a fantastic alternative. It’s modern, points-friendly, and easier to book than St. Regis during peak season. Both hotels accept Bonvoy points and free night certificates (especially the 85K ones from premium cards).
Marriott also has a 5th Night Free perk on award stays, which can save a massive amount of points. If you’re planning a longer Bora Bora trip, this benefit makes Bonvoy redemptions even more valuable.
How to earn Marriott Points for hotel stays
To build enough Marriott Bonvoy points for Bora Bora, start with the Marriott credit cards. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card both offer strong welcome bonuses that can cover several nights at the Westin or help offset the cost of a St. Regis stay.
For even faster earning, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card includes automatic Platinum status and an annual free night certificate worth up to 85K points, which you can use in Bora Bora.
It’s also easy to keep earning points through Marriott stays. Bonvoy members earn 10 points per dollar at most brands, plus elite bonuses on top. If you need to top off your account, you can transfer points from Amex Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards to Marriott, though the ratios are better for filling small gaps than for full redemptions.
How to plan a trip to Bora Bora with Points and Miles
1. Earn the right points early
To start planning a Bora Bora vacation on points and miles, focus on earning flexible currencies. Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Points are the most useful because they unlock the best options for French Polynesia—especially Aeroplan, Flying Blue, and hotel programs like Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy. Building these balances early gives you the freedom to book as soon as flights or rooms open.
2. Transfer points strategically
Next, be ready to move fast when you see availability. Award seats to Tahiti and Bora Bora disappear in minutes, so transfer points the moment you find the flights you want. For our own trip, we shifted Amex points → Air Canada Aeroplan to book United SFO–PPT, and we already had Alaska Atmos points ready for our Air Tahiti Nui PPT–LAX–SFO return.
3. Combine multiple programs
After that, don’t feel pressured to stick to just one loyalty program. The best Bora Bora redemptions often come from combining points. For us, using Aeroplan for the outbound, Atmos for the return, and Hilton Honors for all three islands gave us incredible value. You can also mix in Marriott Bonvoy points for the Westin or St. Regis Bora Bora, especially with the 5th Night Free perk.
Bottom line
Planning a trip to Bora Bora on points and miles doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Start by earning flexible points you can transfer to Aeroplan or Flying Blue.
Then book flights as early as possible because seats disappear fast. For hotels, use Hilton or Marriott and take advantage of the 5th night free perks. With a simple strategy, families can turn a Bora Bora dream trip into an affordable reality.
