Many people have a round the world trip on their bucket list. What could be better than stopping in multiple countries, seeing new sites, and soaking up ancient history, all on one ticket?
The trouble is, there are so many round the world flights available that it can become confusing. The best option for you will depend on your flexibility, budget, and vacation time.
How do round the world flights work?
While it would be great to fly Air Canada the whole way around the world, unfortunately each airline is restricted to certain routes. Because of this, airlines have formed alliances and partnered with each other so you can fly wherever you want on the one ticket.
The two main alliances are Star Alliance and Oneworld. Star Alliance is bigger, but the alliance you choose will come down to the flights that best suit you. Skyteam is another alliance which offers these tickets, but they don’t have nearly as many destinations or airlines as Oneworld or Star Alliance.
The price of your ticket is calculated in two ways: either by mileage, or continents. Star Alliance only use mileage, while Oneworld have options for both mileage and continent based fares.
You will be able to gain frequent flyer points with these fares, which will quickly add up, and you may end the trip with enough points for another flight.
Should you book a round the world ticket?
Round the world tickets have a lot of terms and conditions. You’ll usually have one year to make your way back home, and since most airlines only release their flights eleven months in advance, if you’ll be away for that 12th month you will need to book the flight for earlier, and then change it once the fares have been released (this is usually free of charge).
These tickets generally aren’t good for those who change their plans and itineraries often. It’s important to be aware that these tickets aren’t meant to be changed, and if your itinerary isn’t set in stone then you’ll probably end up spending a fair chunk of money on change fees.
However if you have a limited amount of time, or know that you won’t be changing your itinerary, round the world tickets can be perfect, and save you a lot of money- especially if you’re flying one of the more popular routes.
If you’d like some help planning your round the world trip, contact one of our friendly agents at Gaba travel today.
