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Best Around the World Tickets: A Comparison

What is the best RTW ticket? While our most popular RTW ticket, via the Round the World Trip Planner, is the most flexible and budget-friendly ticket out there, it’s not the best option for every trip. Depending on your location, budget, and destination, for some RTW trips, it makes sense to use different RTW tickets, only one airline, a regional provider, or even some combination of overland travel and one-way flights. Here’s a comparison of all your RTW flight options.

Recommended Provider: BootsnAll airtreks

Best for: RTW trips beginning in the US or Canada
Booking: online with the RTW Trip Planner or call 1-866-549-7614
Maximum stops: unlimited
Airlines included: any
Valid for: 12 months from issue date
Maximum flight mileage: unlimited
Required stops: no
Fine print/exclusions: This is our recommended RTW ticket for a reason — low on fine print. Travel starting in US or Canada.
Bonus: You can backtrack (most providers require you to continue moving east or west). You can skip cities in most routings. Business class airfare also available.

One World Explorer

Best for:First-class RTW travel
Book: online at oneworld.com
Maximum stops: 5-15
Airlines included: American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malev Hungarian, Mexicana, Qantas, Royal Jordinian.
Valid for: 12 months from first flight
Maximum flight mileage: tiered (based on continents visited)
Required stops: no
Fine print/exclusions: Pricing is based on number of continents visited and class of travel.
Bonus: Business and first class RTW tickets available.

Star Alliance

Best for: flight-heavy RTW trips
Book: online at staralliance.com
Maximum stops: 15
Airlines included: Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, Brussels Airlines, Continental Airlines, EGYPTAIR, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Spanair, SWISS, TAP Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines, United, US Airways, Adria Airways, Blue 1 and Croatia Airlines.
Valid for: 12 months from first flight
Maximum flight mileage: 26,000 – 39,000
Required stops: no
Fine print/exclusions: Trip has to start and end in the same country. Travel must follow east or west direction (no backtracking). Atlantic and Pacific oceans must each be crossed exactly once. Routing changes $125 fee.
Bonus: Business and first class RTW tickets available.

Air New Zealand RTW

Best for: limited-stop UK/USA/Australia/New Zealand itineraries
Book: online at Air New Zealand
Maximum stops: 7
Airlines included: Air New Zealand (partner airlines: Lufthansa, United Airlines, Swiss International, Austrian Airlines, Air Pacific or Air Tahiti Nu)
Valid for: 12 months from first flight
Maximum flight mileage: unlimited
Required stops: Australia or New Zealand
Fine print/exclusions: limited stopover points, including 3 in Asia, 3 USA, 5 Pacific Islands.
Bonus: Business and first class RTW tickets available.

The Great Escapade

Best for: only RTWs leaving from London or Manchester
Book: online at Great Escapade
Maximum stops: unlimited
Airlines included: Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic
Valid for: 12 months from first flight
Maximum flight mileage: 29,000
Required stops: Australia or New Zealand (and required to cross the Atlantic or Pacific)
Fine print/exclusions: you can only stop in each city once and limited stopover points.

Build your own Multi-stop flight:

Expedia multi-stop flights (5 stops maximum)
Kayak multi-city search (6 stops maximum)
britishairways.com (6 stops maximum)

Other RTW transportation options:

Train: Eurail in Europe
Overland travel: most adventure tours include overland travel (like the Trans-Siberian Railway from St Petersburg, Russia to Beijing, China) and most regional flights.
Low-cost airlines: in Europe Skyscanner.net

(photo: alex-s)

« Special March 2010 fares for RTW tickets | Home | Cheap Multi-Stop Flights »

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3 Responses to “Best Around the World Tickets: A Comparison”

1. karelle Says:
   April 6th, 2010 at 5:17 am

   What is the best ticket for ARW leaving OZ going to Central America, South America, Mexico, Africa, Asia & home to OZ. On a budget can you help is there someone I can call. Thank you Karelle

2. DM Says:
   May 18th, 2010 at 1:26 am

   I had similar trip …from OZ and found Star Alliance was the cheapest and fortunately there was no mishap
   Cheers

3. Africa Travel Says:
   June 16th, 2010 at 7:02 am

   Thanks for the effort you took to expand upon this topic so thoroughly.

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