How do around the world tickets work?

A business class guide to around-the-world airfares.  

It’s rare to hear people speak of travelling on around-the-world tickets. It’s a misunderstood sector of the airfare market with niche appeal, and the perceived complexity and cost of flying on such a fare often puts people off the notion altogether. However, Mark Trim, Founder and Managing Director of RoundAbout Travel, says business class around-the-world tickets can offer travellers much more value than one would expect.  

“Around-the-world tickets are especially attractive when you have multiple stopovers within North America, or want to break your trip up to or from Europe in more unique locations,” says Mark. “As these fares are often based on distance travelled or continents visited, you can get creative from point A to point B and save extra costs going back to those bucket-list destinations later.”  

What is an around-the-world ticket?

An around-the-world ticket is a single airfare that takes you across multiple continents, usually in one direction, including both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. It simplifies multi-stop travel, letting ticketholders visit more destinations on one trip for less than booking separate flights.  

“They’re generally marketed by global airline alliances and feature legacy, full-service carriers. The tickets are often based on distance travelled or the number of continents visited, meaning travellers can get creative with their routing,” says Trim.  

What airlines offer around-the-world tickets in business class?

There are two main alliances that offer around-the-world tickets, Star Alliance and Oneworld, which encompass many of the world’s leading airlines. “Star Alliance includes carriers such as Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, United Airlines, ANA and Thai Airways, among others,” says Trim. “Oneworld is well known among Australian travellers thanks to Qantas, and includes Qatar Airways, British Airways and Cathay Pacific among its members.”  

Trim adds that Finnair and Turkish Airlines offer some route-specific fares, while more basic options are available via Singapore Airlines and Emirates, both of which are favoured by those looking for an end-to-end luxury experience.  

Four Seasons offers ultra-luxury round-the-world trips by private jet that can price in at more than $250,000, say Trim, and include stays at the hoteliers private properties. “In Australia, Captain’s Choice is a more recognised private/chartered jet operation with luxury ground experiences included, and its recent ‘Kangaroo Route’ promotion was a unique, multi-stop option but just fell short of being classed as a full, around-the-world journey.”  

How many stops do you get on an around-the-world ticket?

The terms and conditions of carriage on an around-the-world airfare vary between airlines and alliances. Most include limits on the number of stops or total distance flown before the fare increases to a higher tier. Others may have restrictions on the direction of travel, such as continuous travel either east or west, and on how long the ticket is valid (usually up to 12 months). Some fares require passengers to start and end their journey in the same country, and all stops must be booked in advance. Trim says RoundAbout Travel’s experts can tailor your itinerary, handling complex details to ensure the best outcome, without you needing to master all the rules yourself. 

“This can include things such as codeshare flights, route restrictions, the number of transfers between continents, and all sorts of specifics to work around. We always recommend a tailored approach rather than trying to consider every rule at once,” says Trim.  

How much do around-the-world tickets cost?

The cost of an around-the-world airfare will depend on the airline or alliance, and the continental or stop inclusions. For a great journey in Business Class, Trim says a realistic budget ranges from $9,000 to $12,000.  

“For this price, you can get a great choice of destinations, quality airlines and incredible value fares. The team at RoundAbout Travel can demonstrate how a five to seven-stop business class fare costing around $11,000 typically contains $20,000 to $25,000 worth of destinations. Often, that small step up from $9,000 to $11,000 can nearly double the overall value and inclusions. It’s a fantastic option for a trip of at least six weeks up to a total of 12 months.”  

Trim recommends booking around-the-world tickets six to nine months in advance for peak periods, or four to six months off-peak. They’re also a great way to earn frequent flyer points and status, making future short-haul travel easier and more enjoyable, so factor in your loyalty program preferences.  

Mark Trim’s suggested around-the-world itineraries

“From Australia to Western Europe, you can add stops in destinations like Southeast Asia, the Maldives, Nepal, India, the Middle East, Turkey, Egypt, or Greece, as airline routes often pass through these hubs. Point-to-point tickets, by contrast, usually limit you to fewer hubs and a simple out-and-back route,” says Mark.

• Star Alliance: Australia > Hawaii, USA > Vancouver, Canada > Calgary, Canada > London, UK > Zurich, Switzerland > Sicily, Italy > Istanbul, Turkey > Maldives > Singapore > Australia.
• Oneworld: Australia > Hong Kong > Tokyo, Japan > Osaka, Japan > Helsinki, Finland > Tromsø, Norway > Helsinki, Finland > Madrid, Spain > New York, USA > Mexico > LA, USA > Fiji > Australia
• Emirates: Australia > Dubai, UAE > Paris, France Milan, Italy > New York, USA Miami, USA > Dubai, UAE > Australia
• Singapore Airlines: Australia > Singapore > Tokyo, Japan > Los Angeles, USA New York, USA > Frankfurt, Germany Paris,France > Singapore > Australia
• Finnair: Australia > Fiji > Vancouver, Canada Seattle, USA > Helsinki, Finland > Amsterdam, Netherlands > Helsinki, Finland > Bangkok, Thailand > Australia

Who is Mark Trim?  

Mark Trim is the Founder and Managing Director of RoundAbout Travel. He says the key advantage of booking around-the-world tickets through a specialist such as RoundAbout Travel is the ability to bundle round-the-world airfares with luxury land experiences and cruises. Through in-house experts and partnerships within The Luxury Travel Collection, Trim’s company offers exclusive deals and tailored packages, providing added value and savings.