Are Round the World Tickets right for you?

I have to say I'm a fan of the Round the World air ticket. I have been around the world three times and each time used a Star Alliance world ticket. When you compare these tickets to the cost of a standard 'there and back' style airfare, for a little more money, you get a whole lot more travel value.

There are some down sides, however, and before you decide the round the world ticket is for you, there are a few points to consider. Firstly, unfortunately more stopovers in different countries also means more airport taxes. On our last trip we had to pay about $800.00 in taxes on top of the ticket price - per ticket. The second point to consider is how much time you may be spending in airports. You are allowed to have up to 15 stopovers with these world tickets so that could potentially mean 15 days spent flying. If you only have a limited time for your trip - two weeks are already taken up with travelling. The first world trip I took (using a world ticket) was for a period of six months. The second and third trips were for about eight weeks each. I think you need at least this length of time to really explore the countries you plan to visit, and to ensure you don't feel too rushed and have time to 'smell the roses'.

Star Alliance is an organisation made up of about twenty different airlines who work together to basically make sure they have full flights. They offer three fare levels for their Round World Fare: 29,000, 34,000 or 39,000 miles. I've used the minimum level and believe me, you can see some great countries while still within this range. The tickets are valid for up to one year and are not effected by seasonal surcharges. You must start and end your journey in the same country.

The first two times I bought a world ticket, we used a travel agent to assist with the booking. The last time I flew around the world, my husband and I did all our own bookings online. Star Alliance offer a fantastic 'mileage calculator' program which is available for downloading (free) from their web site - Mileage Calculator

This program is fairly easy to use and means you can plan your trip at your leisure, at home and without a travel agent breathing down your neck! There are sooooo many possible destinations -160 countries and over 800 airports - the planning is almost as good as the travelling! The calculator lets you know if your trip is a 'valid' itinerary. You can choose the airline you want and the time of day you want to fly. The calculator tells you how many miles each flight is and if any stopovers are involved. Sometimes just changing the airline you select can dramatically alter the kilometers covered and the time taken. e.g. When flying from Honolulu to Vancouver, some airlines fly there directly while others might fly there via America. A big difference in time and miles covered.

In summary, Round the World fares can be fantastic. If you're not sure whether to buy a Round the World fare for your next trip, download the mileage calculator and have a play with possibilities. If you have time on your hands, it really is the way to go.