How long is the flight to Bora Bora?
The flight time from the US to Bora Bora typically averages around 19 hours, but this can vary widely. A trip with one stop might be as quick as 12 hours 20 minutes, while a route with three stops could extend to nearly 28 hours, depending on your departure city and the chosen flight path.
How long is a flight to Bora Bora from the US? It all depends on where you’re flying from and the number and length of stops on your route, but most flights take 19 hours on average.
We’ll take a detailed look at how long flights to Bora Bora from the US are in this guide with 1-3 stops from various US cities. We’ll also share tips on making a long flight more comfortable!
How Long Is a Flight to Bora Bora From the US?
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Bora Bora is a beautiful tropical island in French Polynesia that’s about as idyllic as you can imagine – swaying palm trees, vibrant aquamarine water, dense rainforests and cloud forests, and majestic volcanic peaks.
Getting there is as simple as taking an international flight, but how long is a flight to Bora Bora from the US?
The answer depends on your departure airport and the number and length of stops on your flight route. Overall, flights to Bora Bora with 1-3 stops take about 19 hours on average.
Flights to Bora Bora from the US can be as short as 12 hours and 20 minutes, but may take as long as nearly 28 hours if you’re flying a route with 3 stops.
That’s why it’s essential to carefully browse and consider flight schedules and layovers when you’re planning a trip to Bora Bora.
We’ll show you average flight times to Bora Bora from different cities across the US to give you an idea of how long you can expect to spend on a plane when traveling to this tropical island.
You’ll see average flight times with 1-3 stops. We’ll also share average layover durations and tips to make the most of a long international flight to Bora Bora!
How Long Is a Flight to Bora Bora With 1 Stop?
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- Seattle to Bora Bora w/1 stop: 12h 20m+
- New York to Bora Bora w/1 stop: 16h 10m+
- Chicago to Bora Bora w/1 stop: 14h 30m+
- Miami to Bora Bora w/1 stop: 16h 15m+
Flights to Bora Bora from the US with 1 stop range from 12 hours and 20 minutes to over 16 hours long. Flights from the West Coast (Seattle) were shorter than flights from New York, Chicago, or Miami in our analysis.
With less than 4 hours’ difference in flight times from these US cities, your departure airport does matter in total flight duration but is less important than closely analyzing flight schedules and layover times.
The average 1-stop flight to Bora Bora from the US takes about 14 hours and 49 minutes overall. The average layover on a 1-stop flight to Bora Bora from the US is around 3 hours and 51 minutes.
Layovers may be as short as 1 hour and 15 minutes and most are under 4 hours on flights to Bora Bora with 1 stop. But we found layovers 7+ hours long, too.
How Long Is a Flight to Bora Bora With 2 Stops?
- Seattle to Bora Bora w/2 stops: 14h 55m+
- New York to Bora Bora w/2 stops: 22h 20m+
- Chicago to Bora Bora w/2 stops: 16h 30m+
- Miami to Bora Bora w/2 stops: 18h 29m+
Flying to Bora Bora from the US on a flight with 2 stops can take anywhere from almost 15 hours to 22 hours and 20 minutes. Some flights may be longer from other US cities.
The shortest flight to Bora Bora in our flight data analysis departed from Seattle and took 14 hours and 55 minutes with 2 short layovers. The longest? New York to Bora Bora, taking over 22 hours in total.
The average 2-stop flight to Bora Bora from the US takes about 18 hours and 4 minutes overall. The average layover on 2-stop flights to Bora Bora from the US is around 1 hour and 41 minutes.
Layovers on flights to Bora Bora from the US with 2 stops tend to be pretty short. We found stops that were as short as 41 minutes and some just over 4 hours long.
How Long Is a Flight to Bora Bora With 3 Stops?
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- Seattle to Bora Bora w/3 stops: 24h 25m+
- New York to Bora Bora w/3 stops: 27h 50m+
- Chicago to Bora Bora w/3 stops: 26h+
- Miami to Bora Bora w/3 stops: 21h 9m+
Flights to Bora Bora from the US with 3 stops range in duration from about 21 hours to nearly 28 hours.
With roughly 7 hours’ difference in flight times, your departure airport makes a big difference in how long it takes to fly to Bora Bora if you’re choosing a flight with 3 stops.
The shortest flight we found from the US to Bora Bora with 3 stops departed from Miami. The longest flight to Bora Bora from the US from the cities we analyzed was from New York City (nearly 28 hours).
The average 3-stop flight to Bora Bora from the US takes about 24 hours and 51 minutes overall. The average layover on 3-stop flights to Bora Bora from the US is around 4 hours and 31 minutes.
Layovers on flights to Bora Bora from the US with 3 stops can be as short as 20 minutes or 11+ hours, depending on the flight schedule.
Typically, you’ll have 2 shorter stops and one longer stop on 3-stop flights to Bora Bora from the US.
Can You Fly Direct to Bora Bora From the US?
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With long flight times being part of the journey to Bora Bora, you might be hoping there’s an option to take a direct flight instead.
Unfortunately, there are no direct flights to Bora Bora from the US (or from anywhere, for that matter).
To get to Bora Bora, you’ll have to fly into Tahiti first (Faa’a International Airport). There, you’ll go through customs again and get on a connecting flight to Bora Bora (Motu Mute Airport).
Why can’t you fly direct to Bora Bora from the US? It’s because there’s no international airport in Bora Bora.
Bora Bora is part of French Polynesia, a chain of islands in the South Pacific, and the only international airport in the country is located in Tahiti.
In order to complete your journey and get to Bora Bora, you’ll have to first clear customs at Tahiti’s Faa’a International Airport before continuing on a 45-minute domestic flight to Bora Bora.
That means traveling to Bora Bora involves taking an international flight with at least 1 stop, which adds some time to your overall flight duration.
Things to Consider
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Planning a trip to Bora Bora is much easier and more enjoyable when you know how long your flight might be and what to expect in terms of layovers.
We’ve got a few more travel tips for you to keep in mind so you can make the most of your trip to Bora Bora!
- Air Tahiti doesn’t do TSA PreCheck. If you’re flying Air Tahiti to get to Bora Bora, know that they don’t participate in the TSA PreCheck program and you’ll have to go through customs in the regular check-in line. Calculate your trip time accordingly since you may spend an hour or more getting through customs before you can board your connecting flight into Bora Bora.
- Plan your departure flight with your check-out time. Bora Bora resorts often have check-out times from 10am to 12pm, while your departure flight may be much later. Try to plan your departure flight to be just before or after your resort’s check-out time to avoid a long wait in the Tahiti airport with no air conditioning.
- Leave enough time between connecting flights. International flights with stops have the added challenge of passengers needing to get through customs between flights. This process can take an hour or more. Make sure your connecting flight will leave you enough time to get through customs and board the next plane!
- Bring some comfort on the plane. Long flights can be uncomfortable and cramped when you’re on the plane for 12+ hours. Bring a plush neck pillow, lightweight blanket, reading materials, fully-charged devices, and plenty of snacks on the plane to help make the long flight a little more bearable.
- Know the best time to visit Bora Bora. If you’re looking for the best time to visit Bora Bora, aim for some time between May and October (shoulder and peak seasons) for warm sunshine and drier weather outside of the rainy monsoon season that runs from November to April.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Flying to Bora Bora means you’ll be on the plane for a good amount of time, so you might have additional questions about making the most of your trip.
Check out the most frequently asked questions related to “How long is a flight to Bora Bora?” below to learn more!
Can you fly direct from US to Bora Bora?
You can’t flight direct from US to Bora Bora because Bora Bora doesn’t have an international airport. Instead, you have to fly into Tahiti’s international airport and board a connecting flight into Bora Bora.
Because Bora Bora doesn’t have its own international airport, you can’t take direct international flights to the island.
Every international traveler will go through customs at Tahiti’s Faa’a International Airport before arriving in Bora Bora.
How far is Bora Bora from California on a flight?
Bora Bora is about 4,200 miles from California’s coast, so if you fly out from a coastal city like San Francisco, it should take around 11 hours on a flight with 1 stop.
There are no direct flights to Bora Bora, so this flight time includes stopping in Tahiti and flying the rest of the way into Bora Bora.
How far apart are Hawaii and Bora Bora?
Hawaii and Bora Bora are about 2,500 miles apart. Both island chains are in the Pacific Ocean, but Hawaii is closer to the center of the ocean and Bora Bora is in the South Pacific off the coast of South America.
It takes around 19 hours to fly to Bora Bora on average, with some flights from Hawaii taking 20+ hours with 1-3 stops.
Why is Bora Bora so expensive?
It can be expensive to visit Bora Bora because you might pay more for accommodations, food, activities, and flights.
Bora Bora is a remote island in the South Pacific and has fewer hotels and resorts than many other island destinations, adding to the cost of visiting. There are only an average of 5 flights to the island from Tahiti each day.
How much would a trip to Bora Bora cost?
The cost of a trip to Bora Bora is usually around $6,250 for a 7-day trip. Most of that cost is for accommodations (about $2,000).
Flights might cost $1,550 or more while food, activities, and transportation around the island can add another $2,700 to your total cost.
So, How Long Is a Flight to Bora Bora Overall?
How long is a flight to Bora Bora from the US overall? It takes about 19 hours overall if you consider flights with 1, 2, or 3 stops.
It’s not a short flight, but the trip is well worth it – you’ll be greeted with tropical beauty and (almost) endless days of sun and fun once you finally touch down in Bora Bora.
Flights with fewer stops are much shorter and should be high on your priority list if you can find one for a good price.
If you’re choosing a flight with 1 stop, the average flight to Bora Bora takes about 14 hours and 9 minutes – not short, but better than the alternative!
Adding one more stop to your flight (2 stops total) can mean tacking on an additional (almost) 4 hours for a total average flight time of 18 hours and 4 minutes.
Choosing a flight with 3 stops makes it even longer, adding about 11 extra hours to your overall flight time to Bora Bora from the US for a total flight time of 24 hours and 51 minutes on average.
Layovers on these flights can be as short as 20 minutes to 11+ hours but average between 1 hour and 41 minutes to 4 hours and 31 minutes. Fully read the details of your flight before booking to score one with shorter layovers!