There are lots of different ticket options available and the first thing to do is decide where you want to go and how much you want to spend, as this will determine the best airline.
You can build your own round the world ticket online which may well work out cheaper and gives you the flexibility to book flights as and when you need them, and means you get to change your mind as you travel. Lastminute has an online flight builder which may be useful.
The other option is to go for one of the tickets below, which can be booked directly with the airline or through an agent like Round the World Expert or Trailfinders (who I have found to be very good)
SOME TICKET OPTIONS:
The World Walkabout
Airlines include: British Airways/Quantus/Air Pacific
Good for: Trips to Oz/NZ with one or two stops on route, this ticket also allows you to fly back in the same direction and also offers good deals on internal flights in Australia. Good value for money.
The deal: 7 stops around the world, There is a maximum mileage allowance of either 25,000 miles or 29,000 miles on the World Walkabout fare, depending which fare is selected. The ticket is valid for 12 months
You can find plan this ticket here
The Global Explorer
Airlines include: BA, Qantas, Air Pacific, Cathay Pacific, American Airlines, Iberia, Gulf Air, Lan Chile....
Good for: Getting to South America and linking Africa and Asia. There are loads of different routes to choose from.
The deal: The pricing structure and milage allowances are based on tiers, examples of the mileage are below. You must fly around the world on this ticket
- Tier 1: Up to 26,000 miles
- Tier 2: Up to 29,000 miles
- Tier 3: Up to 34,000 miles
- Tier 4: Up to 39,000 miles
One World Explorer
Airlines include: BA, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, American Airlines, Lan Chile, Finnair + more.
Good for: Unconventional routes, this ticket is not based on mileage but zones
The deal: This ticket is valid for 12 months and based on visiting various different 'zones'. You must travel in a continous direction but are able to backtrack
To find out more about this ticket click here
Great Escapade
Airlines include: Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Atlantic
Good for: Linking Africa and Asia
The deal: You've got 29,000 miles to use up across the destinations and stopovers are unlimited. You can also purchase additional mileage from £130 for 1,500 miles up to a maximum of 4,500 miles.
You can only stay at any one destination once, although you can use destinations as transiting points. Also you can only cross the Atlantic and the Pacific once.
Good for: You can go virtually anywhere, price is based on mileage not stops.
The deal: There are 4 prices of Star Alliance RTW tickets based on mileage. The Special Economy RTW fare has a limit of 26,000, then the normal tickets are based on either 29,000, 34,000 or 39,000 miles. Between 3 to 15 stops are permitted on the normal Star Alliance Round the World tickets, and between 3-5 stops in the 'Special Economy RTW Fare' which has a maximum mileage of 26,000 miles.
