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Round the World

Buying a multi-destination ticket has never been simpler.

Do you want to travel the world? Are you excited to discover and experience different countries and cultures? Are you looking for the best value for travelling to the world’s top iconic cities?

Our Star Alliance Book and Fly tool helps you plan and book multi-destination fares online. Certain exceptions apply. Alternatively, contact a member airline or your travel agent.

One Star Alliance ticket. Limitless travel possibilities.

Imagine embarking on a journey that takes you all around the world. Picture all the places you will go, the sights you will see, the people you will meet. Now imagine doing all of that and more, with just a single ticket.

The Star Alliance Round The World ticket offers you a travel experience unlike any other.

Journey across the world and visit up to 15 cities, while enjoying the kind of seamless flexibility and outstanding value for money that only the world’s largest airline network can offer. Where will your Round The World journey take you? Imagine your trip and make it a reality—all in just a few clicks with our Star Alliance Book and Fly tool. Certain exceptions apply. Alternatively, contact a member airline or your travel agent.

• Terms and Conditions

Book and Fly

• Single ticket valid on all Star Alliance members
• Every journey is different
• Follow our tips and reminders while booking

How to Map Your Journey

• Start and end in the same country
• Follow one global direction (East or West)
• Cross both the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean
• Have a minimum of 2 stops and maximum of 15 stops
• Travel between 10 days to 1 year
• Transits must be less than 24 hours
• Stopovers are more than 24 hours
• Check the terms and conditions for detailed inclusions

Flexibility

• Save your itinerary at any time
• Contact support 24/7
• Accrue frequent flyer points or miles
• Upgrade your flight or entire itinerary at any time, subject to availability

Round The World in Just a Few Clicks

Select your destinations.

Start by entering your Origin City. Then add destinations by entering the city name or by selecting cities on the map.

Choose Your Flights

The system will automatically select the flights for each segment, but you may also pick flights from the Star Alliance network that best cater to your needs.

Enter Your Details

Provide the necessary travel details such as your contact information and identification documents to help us secure your booking.

Pay Seamlessly

Enter your payment details to complete the transaction.

Circle Pacific

The itinerary can be accessed and changed by visiting staralliance.com and entering the Itinerary Code under 'Open Saved Itineraries' in the booking tool. Thank you for using the Star Alliance booking site for your journey.

• Planning: Please save your itinerary and copy the 20-character code for us to better assist you.
• Booking: We kindly ask that you refer to the terms & conditions for further booking details and reservation requirements.
• Availability: Please be reminded that pricing and availability is subject to change at any time without notice.
• Payment: If you experienced a problem with completing your payment, please indicate this when reaching out to our dedicated team of specialists.

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Round The World Airline Tickets

Fly rtw with one world member airlines.

one world's Round The World tickets give you unprecedented access to hundreds of destinations in 170 territories. We offer three types of Round The World trips:

one world Explorer: a continent-based fare,

Global Explorer: a distance-based fare,

Circle Pacific: an inter-continental journey to explore continents that border the Pacific Ocean.

Where to first? The whole wide world is waiting for your Round The World trip.

one world Explorer

Continent-Based Air Travel

No matter where business or pleasure takes you,  one world's vast network means your Round The World trip via  one world Explorer fare makes it easy to travel from city to city, and continent to continent. And, for every dot you connect, you earn more miles and points to spend across the  one world Alliance.

Global Explorer

Distance-Based Air Travel

For an even wider choice of where to travel, book your Round The World trip via Global Explorer, which grants you access to an even more extensive list of airlines, including Aer Lingus, Bangkok Airways,  one world  connect   partner  Fiji Airways , Jetstar, Jetstar Asia, Jetstar Japan, Jetstar Pacific, WestJet, and  Qantas  code-share flights operated by Air Tahiti Nui.

Circle Pacific

Multi-Continent Air Travel

If you prefer to visit multiple continents without actually flying all the way around the world, our Circle Pacific fare lets you explore the continents that border the Pacific Ocean. You can choose to start and finish your journey in one of the following continents:

Asia  (Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam)

Southwest Pacific  (Australia and New Zealand)

North America  (USA and Canada)

South America

Contact a  one world member airline or your travel agent to plan and book your Circle Pacific trip now.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a round the world ticket.

The one world Alliance offers a way to visit many countries, around the world, all in a single itinerary.

On oneworld.com, you can choose to book either one world Explorer, where the fare depends on the number of continents you visit, or Global Explorer, where the fare depends on the distance you travel.

Circle Pacific, an inter-continental journey to explore continents that border the Pacific Ocean, can be booked by your travel agent and is not currently available for booking on oneworld.com.

Where Can I Fly With Round The World?

For one world Explorer and Global Explorer, one world member airlines and affiliate airlines cover six continental regions: Europe/Middle East (including Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Georgia, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen); Africa (excluding countries listed above); Asia (including the Indian subcontinent, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, but excluding countries named above); Australia, New Zealand, and the South West Pacific; North America (including the Caribbean, Central America, and Panama); and South America. Currently, it is not possible to begin your itinerary through Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) through one world member Qatar Airways. Book both one world Explorer and Global Explorer on oneworld.com.

Through the one world Circle Pacific fare, one world member airlines and affiliate airlines cover four continental regions: Asia (including the Indian subcontinent, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan); Australia, New Zealand, and the South West Pacific; and North America. Ask your travel agent about booking a one world Circle Pacific fare. Routes are subject to change.

Where Can I Travel Now, Given COVID Restrictions?

View entry restrictions and COVID-19 travel requirements for countries around the world on our the one world Travel Requirements Information Portal . Use the map to get information on travel restrictions by country, including entry restrictions, as well as COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and quarantine requirements.

Is Round The World Ticket Business Class An Option?

Yes, Round The World tickets are available in Economy, Business, and First class. On our oneworld.com booking tool, there is a drop-down menu to select your preferred cabin class. Premium economy upgrades will show where available when you select flights.

Is Round The World Ticket First Class An Option?

How much does a round the world ticket cost.

Your Round the World fare is based on a few factors: the number of continents you visit or pass through or the distance travelled, the travel class selected, and the number of travelling passengers. Read on for more information about full fare rules and conditions [Note: Links open PDF in browser]:

What Are The Round The World Rules?

Read on for Round The World rules and conditions [Note: Links open PDF in browser]:

What Should I Know To Help Me Plan My one world Explorer Itinerary?

When planning your one world Explorer itinerary, here are tips to keep in mind:

Destinations are grouped into three zones and six continents:

Zone 1: North & South America

Zone 2: Europe, the Middle East and Africa

Zone 3: Asia and the South West Pacific

Your trip must be in a continuous forward direction, East or West, between Zone 1, Zone 2 and Zone 3. Backtracking within a continent is generally permitted, however some exclusions apply.

Your adventure can last from 10 days up to a year. Travel must be completed within 12 months of your original departure date.

Your trip must start and finish in the same city.

You must cross both the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean on your journey.

Your journey can include three to six continents, and anywhere between three and 16 flights.

Review complete one world Explorer fare rules and conditions .

Can I Change Or Update My Round The World Itinerary?

Yes, one world Explorer, Global Explorer and one world Circle Pacific itineraries can be modified to accommodate changes to your Round The World plans.

If you booked your Round The World trip through oneworld.com, contact the ticketing airline (the airline you are flying on the first leg of your journey) to make changes to your itinerary.

If you booked your Round The World tickets through a travel agent, please contact the travel agent to make changes to your itinerary.

Will I Earn Frequent Flyer Points On A Round The World Trip?

Short answer: Yes, you will earn frequent flyer points on your Round the World trip.

Long answer: Yes. one world works in collaboration with all of our partner and member airlines to ensure that you’re rewarded no matter where you travel. On all eligible flights, you will accrue points or miles toward the airline of your choice and toward your one world tier status .

How Can I Pay For A one world Round The World Trip With Frequent Flyer Points?

Currently, it is not possible to use frequent flyer points to pay for a one world Round The World trip.

Does Your one world Explorer ticket include checked-in baggage?

Two free pieces of 23 kilos each shall be permitted. Additional allowances may apply. Refer to individual carrier websites.

Round the World Tickets: The Ultimate Guide (Updated 2024)

Y ou've probably heard about round the world tickets, a one-stop shop approach to cross-continental flying. But let's be real: it's never been easier to book flight tickets yourself, and round the world tickets are pricey. So why do people book round the world tickets, and are they  actually worth the cost?

The quick answer is, it depends . If you're pressed for time, have a seriously fixed itinerary with many international stops to make, it can be cost-wise. However, if you have a whimsical, budget-conscious trip in mind, or are focusing on just one part of the world, there are cheaper options out there that you should know about  (like finding fares yourself on Skyscanner on Kiwi.com ).

So, here's everything you need to know about round the world tickets, followed by our DIY approach that could save you even more money!

• 1 How do Round The World tickets work?
• 2 How to book a round the world ticket
• 3 What are the restrictions and/or setbacks?
• 4 The alternative: book separate flights yourself
• 5 How to book your own round the world trip
• 6 So, what's the cheapest option?
• 7 A Thrifty Case Study: A Round the World Trip from New York City
• 8 What are the alternatives?
• 9 So, is a round the world ticket worth it?

How do Round The World tickets work?

Round the world (RTW) tickets are flight packages that let you visit a number of destinations around the world for one price. These tickets are offered by airline alliances like SkyTeam, Oneworld, and Star Alliance. All the flights in your itinerary must be served by airlines within the chosen alliance.

RTW tickets require you to select your destinations and departure dates in advance. This means you prepay for the pass and book all of your flights before your trip. Note: you don't have to actually fly “around the world” with these tickets , they're also sold as multi-city flights, continent-based travel, or by miles.

The perk of RTW tickets is the ability to book all flights at once at a discounted price, plus ensures a mass accumulation of frequent flyer miles since you'll only be flying partner airlines. You can even purchase part or all of your RTW ticket with relevant miles, where permitted.

How to book a round the world ticket

Round the world tickets can be purchased directly with airline alliances or via  travel agents .

Airline Alliances

• OneWorld Alliance
• Star Alliance

Each alliance offers an online trip planner that allows you to put in every stop of your itinerary and get a price quote. It also makes it easy to work around the restrictions of round the world tickets, warning you when your planned route doesn't meet the requirements. All alliances offer online booking, or you can call one of the participating alliance airlines directly.

Travel Agents

• AirTreks (U.S. – our top choice & has 32+ years experience in RTW planning)
• Liberty Travel (U.S.)
• Flight Centre ( Australia , U.K. , Canada )
• RoundAbout Travel (Australia)
• Student Flights (Australia)
• A travel agent local to you

Travel agents have exclusive access to flight deals, plus receive discounts accessible only via their IATA code. They also save a great deal of time and money whilst adhering to your budget and needs. Find an agency that specializes in round the world tickets, so they're aware of the restrictions and can secure the best price.

What are the restrictions and/or setbacks?

RTW tickets often more expensive than a DIY approach (covered later), especially given they exclude budget airlines. Furthermore, there are restrictions to follow, so ensure you've read the fine print. Such restrictions typically include:

• A minimum number of flights to book (typically three), as well as a maximum
• Flights usually must be within the same airline alliance. This can sometimes result in obscure stopovers to stay with partner alliances.
• Restrictions on the direction of travel (e.g. East to West only) and/or requiring you to cross both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans at least once
• All flights must end in the city you started from and connect from city-to-city (i.e. you can't fly into London, then take a train to fly out of Paris)
• A minimum number of stopovers
• Additional surcharges for itinerary changes and/or flying to certain destinations
• Missing a flight in your itinerary could result in the remaining flights being cancelled, even if days or weeks away

Whew! Though there are many restrictions, most will come up when making your booking . Simply use the round the world ticket planners provided by each alliance, put in your desired destinations, and the options and costs will be presented automatically.

The alternative: book separate flights yourself

The value of a round the world ticket depends on the route you're taking and the flexibility needed. More often than not, you'll find it's cheaper, easier, and more flexible to book your own round the world trip online across several bookings using multi-destination flight search engines like Kiwi.com  and Skyscanner . You also can mix and match airlines, and aren't confined by the restrictions that accompany an actual RTW ticket.

Credit card points programs also allow multi-city flight bookings, effectively allowing you to book your own round the world trip via points or a combination of cash and points. You can readily rack up a significant amount of miles just by hitting the minimum spend within a set time. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is our top pick as a beginner card. On hitting its minimum spend, you can earn up to 60,000 points worth $750 – more than enough for an international flight .

Flight deal subscriptions like Scotts Cheap Flights compile discounted airfare to your inbox, based on the desired departure airports. Whilst this doesn't include RTW flights, this could help you cover some of the legs of your trip, as it has majorly discounted international flights departing the U.S. For those outside America, similar services exist in the U.K. ( Jack's Flight Club ) and Canada ( Next Departure ).

The only major drawbacks with booking a RTW ticket yourself is the time and patience needed to make the booking. Additionally, you may end up with frequent flyer miles spread across a variety of programs, without enough miles in any program to use them. Most likely though, you'll come out ahead financially doing it yourself.

How to book your own round the world trip

Kiwi.com  and Skyscanner are the two flight search engines we recommend for booking your own tickets for a round the world trip. They include budget airlines and let you search multi-destination flights, letting you see prices for your entire itinerary at once.

The key difference between the two is that Skyscanner prefers results from partner airlines , while Kiwi.com will always  mix and match airlines (including budget airlines) for the cheapest price . Either booking site can be beneficial depending on your trip, so to get the best price, be sure to compare results and follow these tips:

• Experiment with  the order of your destinations for the best price. Just because a flight is shorter doesn't mean it will be cheaper.
• Experiment with the  dates of each flight . This can be time consuming, but if you're dedicated, you can shave hundreds of dollars off your total cost by simply finding the cheapest dates for each flight.
• Multi-city and  return flights are often better value than booking many one-way flights when they can all be fulfilled by the same airline/alliance. For example, Virgin Atlantic has routes from New York to London, London to Shanghai, and Shanghai to New York, so making one multi-city booking with this single airline will be cheaper than several individual bookings with different airlines.
• Skyscanner prefers partner airlines that can fulfil the entire itinerary you submit, which doesn't always get you the best price on complex itineraries. So if you have a lot of destinations, split your searches into 3-4 destinations at a time . For example, instead of submitting New York > London  > Paris > Beijing > New York as a single search, try searching New York > London > Paris as one search, and Paris > Prague > Beijing > New York as a second search. You don't have to worry about this on Kiwi.com , which always mixes and matches airlines to get the best results.

So, what's the cheapest option?

In our tests, the DIY approach is always cheaper, but it depends on the kind of trip you're taking. Round the world tickets can cost anywhere from $1,500 USD to $20,000 USD . The price varies greatly, and depends on your departure point, number of flights, distance flown, continents flown to, and flight class.

On the other hand, regular flight ticket prices are all over the map, dependent mostly on supply and demand. Sometimes a flight across continents can be even cheaper than a flight within your own country. Since regular flight tickets include budget airlines , sale and error fares , and you can still take advantage of discounts with partner airlines,  booking your own flight tickets has always been cheaper for us .

The only way to know for sure is to compare. Use the links provided in this guide and see what gives you the best result!

A Thrifty Case Study: A Round the World Trip from New York City

As an example, let's find the best price for the following round the world trip:  New York City > London > Paris > Prague > Beijing > Hong Kong > New York City . We want to go in  April and May , and we are booking now in  January . We'll start on Tuesday, April 10, and schedule each consecutive flight for the following Tuesday.

Option 1: A round the world travel agent

Booking with AirTreks also gives you a team with over 32 years of experience in RTW planning, all your tickets in one spot (instead of many confusing separate bookings), 24/7 support, and better routes (less layover time, more baggage, etc.) If you do find a cheaper fare yourself, let them know – AirTreks tells us they're confident they could beat it!

Option 2: A round the world ticket booked directly with airline alliances

Putting in the same itinerary into each of the airline alliances' round the world trip planner gives us the following totals:

• OneWorld: $3,738.86 USD
• SkyTeam: $3,904.28 USD
• Star Alliance: $4,543.84 USD

Not exactly thrifty, and up to 3x the advertised price of the travel agent! True round the world tickets require strategic planning, so using a travel agent's expertise can save you time and money. But let's take a look at booking regular airline tickets yourself…

Option 3: Book your own tickets using Kiwi.com and Skyscanner

Using the Kiwi.com multicity search feature, we enter our full itinerary, and within minutes, we have a variety of options from $1,390 – $1,434 USD .

As we mentioned, Skyscanner usually just shows results from  partner airlines that can fulfill a ticket for the entire route. This route is pretty complex, and it's unlikely one airline alliance could fulfill it all, so let's  break it up .

After half an hour of trying different combinations of multi-city and one-way searches, the cheapest combination I could find for these dates was

• New York City > London > Paris > Prague: $390 USD
• Prague > Beijing: $283 USD
• Beijing > Hong Kong: $119 USD
• Hong Kong > New York City: $493 USD
• TOTAL TRIP COST: $1,285 USD

This is the cheapest option, beating Kiwi.com by only $105. What's going on here? In short, trial and error. The first batch of airlines aren't partners, but Skyscanner sometimes lets you mix and match airlines by using Kiwi.com for booking. And although there are partner airlines to fulfill the rest of the route, Hong Kong Airlines is an independent budget airline with competitive pricing, so it ended up being cheaper to book the flights separately in order to include their fares.

You can take this even further by testing different dates in your itinerary, as well as the order of your flights. As you can see, the process can be time consuming, but a little time rewards you with hundreds or thousands of dollars saved!

What are the alternatives?

Regional flight passes.

While not a round the world ticket in itself, this type of flight pass might be more sensible for your trip, depending whether you'll be flying a lot in one region versus globally. For instance, if you are planning to take more flights around South America than across continents, then you may be better off investing in one of their regional passes (check our guide here ).

Some examples of regional flight passes include:

• OneWorld single-continent passes: available for Africa, Asia, Japan, Australia & New Zealand, Malaysia, South America, Europe, North America, Middle East, South Asian Sub-Continent
• OneWorld multi-continent passes: rather than flying all the way around the world, these passes let you fly in a circle around one smaller area of the world
• SkyTeam regional passes : available for Asia & Southwest Pacific, Africa, Asia, Europe, Greater China, Russia, and USA & Canada
• Independent airline passes in South America : these work within specific South American countries (check our comprehensive list and guide here )
• Qantas Explorer pass : a flight pass for exploring Australia and New Zealand

Building your own stopover

A stopover – that is, an extended layover where you can actually leave the airport for 1 or more days or weeks – can be added for cheap or free to any trip, all by yourself. Our how-to guide here explains exactly how to do this.

Essentially, you find a flight fare that includes a layover, but instead of rushing to your connecting flight, you spend days or weeks in the layover destination, visiting 2 destinations for the price of 1. Whether you go round the world or not, it's a great way to squeeze more travel value out of your flight costs.

So, is a round the world ticket worth it?

In short, for most travellers, the answer is probably no. There are a certain set of criteria where it could be more cost-effective, and some travellers may prefer the ease of having all of their tickets booked in one pass anyway. However, the fixed timing, many restrictions, and high price are likely to be unappealing to those who are seeking a thriftier approach, especially when it's so easy to book yourself for less with Kiwi.com and Skyscanner .

The Thrifty Gist

• Round the world tickets are usually pricier than self-booking, but offer peace of mind and a pre-set itinerary
• A dedicated RTW agent such as AirTreks can save you a lot of time, with the added benefit of 24/7 support, having all of your flights in one place, established airlines with shorter routes, and over 32 years of experience in RTW planning. AirTreks tells us they're confident they could beat the other prices in this post, so if you find a cheaper fare yourself, let them know!
• Round the world tickets can be booked with airline alliances or travel agents, while self-booking regular flight tickets can be booked using the multi-destination features of Skyscanner and Kiwi.com
• Self-booking is usually the cheapest approach to a round the world trip, but can also be more tedious
• Reasons to self-book include the abundance of available error/sale fares , budget airlines, the ease with which self-booking can be done, and that stopovers can easily be added to any trip

Our website contains some affiliate links in relevant areas. This means we get a small commission, at no extra cost to you, for recommending a product we personally use, trust, and own.

trying to fin d the cheapest country to start a Oneworld 4 continent ticket July 2022, it used to be South Africa or Jordan, any update links?

Please send complete information for my round the world travel for 2 – up to a year.

Skyteam RTW tickets are not available currently, and haven’t been since the start of COVID. The Star Alliance RTW business ticket I just booked was half the price of using the DIY method.

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A Simplified Guide To Buying an Around the World Ticket [2023]

Christine Krzyszton

Senior Finance Contributor

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Table of Contents

What is an around-the-world ticket, how to buy an rtw ticket with an airline alliance, how to buy an rtw ticket using airtreks [easier method], how to buy an rtw ticket using points or miles, a do-it-yourself, free-form rtw ticket, earning miles on your rtw ticket, tips for buying an rtw ticket, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

A lifelong fantasy for many travelers is to leave their everyday existence behind and take a trip around the world. Even if you’re fortunate enough to have an extended amount of free time to circumnavigate the world, putting together a round-the-world itinerary can be complicated and potentially expensive.

But let’s say you do have the time, the money, the miles, or the points to make this epic adventure a reality. Where do you even start ? Is it currently possible to purchase such a ticket?

Today you’ll discover that it’s not only possible, but it’s probably less expensive than you thought — and of course, there are even ways to pay for it with miles or points.

As usual, we’re up for the challenge of providing you with the information you need to begin exploring the option and book an around-the-world ticket (we’ll use the common “RTW “ for short).

In today’s article, we’ll cover RTW ticket options available with each airline alliance, an affordable third-party RTW provider, using points or miles for an RTW ticket, and some creative ways to build your own around-the-world itinerary.

We won’t go into the nitty-gritty details of every possible RTW booking option, but we’ll provide a basic roadmap for you to start looking for RTW tickets and tips for booking your around-the-world experience.

An around-the-world plane ticket is generally a series of flights that start and end in 1 country after circling the globe in 1 direction and stopping at several cities en route.

You could think of this ticket as a “world airline pass” that allows you to build a custom itinerary of your choice within the guidelines of the airline alliance or another provider selling you a single ticket.

Changes are usually allowed , and you should have the ability to schedule enough time between destination cities to visit the surrounding areas. Most RTW tickets are valid for up to 1 year.

You’ll understand more about whether an RTW ticket is right for you once we’ve explored the possibilities for purchasing an RTW ticket and some of the pros and cons of doing so.

Airline alliances are groups of individual airlines with formal agreements in place that allow cooperation with each other. These alliances facilitate global travel for their customers by utilizing these partnerships to create a worldwide network that connects destinations.

Purchasing an RTW ticket from an airline alliance allows you to leverage the network of partner airlines to visit just about any part of the world, all on 1 ticket.

Another advantage of buying an RTW ticket with an airline alliance is that when changes need to be made, the airline making those changes for you has access to view/change your entire ticket .

Let’s explore the option of building an RTW ticket and purchasing it from 1 of the 3 major airline alliances, Star Alliance , Oneworld , or SkyTeam .

Star Alliance

The Star Alliance network reaches 1,300 destinations in 190 countries, with 50 hub cities, allowing you to reach every corner of the globe with its RTW ticket. You’ll start building your journey at its Round-the-World website .

The price of a Star Alliance RTW ticket is determined by the total mileage and class of service .

Here are the additional requirements for an RTW with Star Alliance:

• Minimum of 2 stops, maximum of 15 stops (defined as 24 hours or more)
• Cross the Atlantic Ocean once and the Pacific Ocean once
• Start and end the journey in the same country
• The minimum journey is 3 days; the maximum journey is 1 year
• 16 maximum flight coupons
• A maximum of 39,000 flown miles

The  Star Alliance Book and Fly planning tool  is user-friendly, but it’s easy to make mistakes, go against the rules, and default to trial and error. The tool won’t let you continue with an itinerary that is invalid but it’s not always easy to determine why it’s invalid. You might want to start by reviewing some sample itineraries to become familiar with the process.

For example, starting out with an RTW itinerary of New York – Madrid – Cape Town – Hong Kong – Sydney – New York, I used the Star Alliance Book and Fly tool to build a sample ticket. The tool was easy to use but quickly priced out an economy ticket at $7,542.

With some practice, and after reviewing some sample itineraries, pricing 2 additional RTW itineraries proved much more productive:

• Athens – Cairo – Hong Kong – Chicago – Brasilia – Athens: $3,173 economy/$7,390 business
• Berlin – Istanbul – Singapore – Seoul – New York – Berlin: $3,181 economy/$7,270 business

You can book the RTW ticket online once you’ve completed an itinerary with which you’re satisfied. Changes are allowed but change fees can apply.

Hot Tip: The Star Alliance  suggested itineraries are worth reviewing because they automatically apply the maximum mileage and stopover limitations that keep pricing under control. Maximizing these restrictions when building your own itinerary from scratch, even using the Book and Fly tool, is more challenging. Customizing the suggested itineraries may serve as a better starting point. 

Oneworld Alliance has 2 options for purchasing an RTW ticket:

• Oneworld Explorer — The fare is based on the class you choose to fly and the number of continents. You can include up to 15 segments and you can build and purchase this ticket using the Oneworld RTW tool.
• Global Explorer — The fare is based on the class you choose to fly and the total distance of the journey with a maximum of 39,000 miles.

Either way, the cost of your RTW ticket will vary significantly depending on where you begin your trip, the number of cities visited, and the class of service you select.

Here are the general rules for a Oneworld RTW itinerary:

• You must travel in 1 direction, east or west between the designated zones, and backtracking may be allowed
• The trip must be between 10 days to 1 year (from your departure date)
• Start and finish in the same city
• Cross both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans
• Include 3 to 6 continents
• Minimum of 3 flights, maximum of 16 flights

The base prices for an RTW Oneworld Explorer ticket depend on the number of continents you visit. Pricing for stops on 3 continents in economy class is $3,599, 4 continents is $4,999, 5 continents is $5,699, and 6 continents is $6,899, plus taxes and fees.

A sample itinerary in business class originating in Chicago and visiting Los Angeles, Auckland, Adelaide, Johannesburg, Cape Town, London, Bordeaux, and ending in Chicago prices out with a fare of $6,506 in economy class and $11,403 in business class .

You can create and price your own itinerary or follow the sample itineraries provided .

Booking your RTW ticket through the alternative Global Explorer option requires working with a Oneworld representative and then booking the itinerary with a member airline.

Hot Tip: The Oneworld Explorer RTW ticket allows you 16 total flights. Since it counts them all equally (whether 1 hour or 12 hours in length), you could purchase inexpensive short flights as needed and utilize the RTW ticket for just the long-haul flights to maximize its value. 

Unfortunately, SkyTeam no longer sells RTW tickets . However, it may possible to book an RTW with Aeromexico using points or miles. We’ll cover that option shortly.

Bottom Line: Star Alliance and Oneworld both offer RTW tickets and have tools to help you construct your own itinerary and provide sample itineraries for inspiration and to make planning easier. RTW tickets purchased via alliances can carry restrictions on the number of stops allowed, maximum distance, number of flights, and the direction of your journey. Tickets expire 1 year from the first travel date. 

The best is yet to come in our quest to find an around-the-world ticket. Now, we’re looking outside of the airline alliances to a popular third-party company known for its expertise in putting together affordable and creative RTW tickets.

AirTreks has been constructing RTW tickets since 1987, so it’s an established company with a wealth of RTW knowledge.

This is one of those sites you should visit when you want to daydream about travel because it allows you to play with different RTW itineraries and see the pricing immediately. It’s also possible you’ll start imagining yourself traveling on one of its sample itineraries !

Let’s look at some of these RTW economy itineraries and see how pricing and restrictions stack up against the airline alliances.

• New York City – Buenos Aires – Barcelona – Berlin – Bali – Chang Mai – New York City: $2,576 to $3,429
• New York City – Milan – Dubai – Johannesburg – Mahe, Seychelles – Mumbai – Bangkok – New York City:  $2,599 to $3,459
• London – Bangkok – overland – Singapore – Sydney – overland – Melbourne – Los Angeles – overland – San Francisco – London: $1,395 to $1,859

As you can see, the prices for RTW tickets booked with AirTreks are much lower than those booked through airline alliances. One reason is that AirTreks can use a combination of airlines and alliances and isn’t restricted to certain partner airlines.

On the flip side, because you select your fixed dates and flights up front, changes to your AirTreks RTW tickets can be subject to change fees. That said, you’ll pay much less for the ticket, so there’s certainly a trade-off here.

In addition to the price, AirTreks tickets allow you to begin and end your journey anywhere , travel in any direction, and fly on any airline without mileage restrictions . You’ll find the most competitive pricing for itineraries with more than 3 stops .

AirTreks will also help you build a custom itinerary if you desire, and support you after you depart on your RTW ticket, should you run into any transit problems along the way.

Hot Tip:  Selecting a sample itinerary and tweaking it to your liking can save you money over building an itinerary from scratch on your own. This is because the airline alliance or third-party seller has factored in all the rules that need to be followed to keep the cost down while maximizing the length and number of destinations allowed. 

While none of the domestic carriers currently offer the option to purchase an around-the-world ticket with miles, there are a few international carriers who do.

Booking RTW award tickets is not for the faint of heart. Finding award availability to complete an entire RTW itinerary can be daunting. Also, keep in mind you’ll be paying taxes and fees in addition to using your frequent flyer miles, some of which can be significant.

With those caveats as a foundation, let’s look at some options for booking RTW tickets using points or miles.

Using ANA Mileage Club Miles

All Nippon Airways (ANA) has, arguably, the best value when using miles for an RTW ticket. Pricing is based on the distance flown and the class of service and it’s possible (but time-consuming) to book the ticket online.

To give you an idea of fare pricing, a 35,000-mile itinerary will cost 160,000 miles in economy, 240,000 miles in business class, and 320,000 miles in first class. An itinerary ranging from 44,001 to 50,000 miles will cost 200,000 miles in economy, 300,000 in business class, and 450,000 in first class.

You can learn more about the rules for the ANA RTW tickets, review the award pricing chart, and find out how to accumulate ANA Mileage Club miles in our guide to the best ways to redeem ANA Mileage Club miles .

Using Singapore KrisFlyer Miles

One of the most popular award redemptions for an RTW ticket is using Singapore KrisFlyer miles . The RTW ticket utilizes Star Alliance partner airlines and includes visits to 7 cities serviced by these airlines. You’ll need 200,000 miles for economy, 280,000 miles for business class, and 405,000 miles for first class .

Unfortunately, you’ll need to call Singapore Airlines (833-727-0118) or complete a form to book the ticket. A reservation fee of $250 has recently been added in order to book the RTW ticket. You’ll also want to consider any additional taxes and fees which can be significant when purchasing an RTW via KrisFlyer.

Accumulating Singapore KrisFlyer miles is made easier thanks to the number of transfer partners, including American Express Membership Rewards ,  Chase Ultimate Rewards ,  Citi ThankYou Rewards , and Marriott Bonvoy .

Using Lufthansa Miles and More

Lufthansa is another Star Alliance carrier that offers an RTW ticket you can purchase with Miles & More miles.

You’ll need 180,000 miles for economy, 335,000 miles for business class, and 500,000 miles for first class .

The RTW ticket with Lufthansa utilizes Star Alliance partner airlines and includes 1 Atlantic crossing, 1 Pacific crossing, a maximum of 10 flight segments, and 7 stopovers. There is also a requirement that beginning and ending intercontinental flights must have at least 10 days in between. You can book the RTW ticket by contacting Lufthansa Miles & More customer service .

There are plenty of ways to earn Miles and More frequent flyer miles .

Using Qantas Frequent Flyer Points

If you happen to have a healthy stash of Qantas frequent flyer points, you can use them to book a Classic Flight Reward itinerary and travel up to 35,000 miles when you combine 2 or more Oneworld partners. You’ll pay 132,400 points for the itinerary in economy or 318,000 points for business class, plus the cost of taxes and fees.

For a Qantas reward itinerary (and other RTW tickets that are distance-based) you can use the Great Circle Mapper tool to plot your course and estimate mileage.

Use the multi-city search tool on the Qantas website to search for availability and even attempt to purchase the ticket online. You may end up having to call Qantas (800-227-4220) to have your ticket issued as reports indicate there can be problems issuing the ticket online.

Using Aeromexico Premier Points

Aeromexico offers an RTW ticket beginning at 244,000 miles (actually, kilometers) in economy class and 352,000 in business class , but you must call (800-237-6639) to book it. And, while it may be possible to book such a ticket, it is not a popular option due to the potential difficulty of booking a complex itinerary with its customer service.

If you choose to go this route, be sure to do your research in advance and have your specific flight numbers, dates, and alternative options ready when calling.

Don’t have Aeromexico Premier Points? American Express Membership Rewards points can be transferred to the program at a ratio of 1:1.6. Don’t do this unless you’ve called and confirmed an itinerary with Aeromexico in advance.

Bottom Line:  It is possible to build your own around-the-world trip using points and miles versus purchasing an RTW ticket. Here’s an example of an incredible journey using a combination of points/miles/cash . 

By now, you’re probably realizing how complicated it can be to build an around-the-world itinerary. But if you’re savvy at booking flights, it’s entirely possible to do it yourself. And, you may save some money when you do so.

If you select all the places you want to visit in advance, you may end up with an expensive adventure. But if you start by allotting a time slot for this journey and are flexible with your destinations, you can begin your trip with an affordable flight and build from there.

For example, let’s say you find an affordable one-way flight or award ticket to Sydney (or any major city) that fits your allotted time frame. With that flight booked, you can use Sydney as the departing airport and utilize Google Flights or Matrix/ITA software to find an affordable flight or use miles to secure an award ticket for your next destination.

The best part of building a free-form RTW ticket is that you can use any combination of :

• Economy tickets or business class tickets
• Budget airlines
• Miles/points to purchase award tickets
• Your own timeframe
• Traveling in any direction
• Overland or water-based transportation as needed/desired

Letting the price of the ticket (miles or cash) determine your next destination could be the most affordable way to build the RTW ticket. While not for everyone, those who have managed to accomplish booking an RTW adventure using this method truly earn their place as world explorers.

Alternative Transport

Building an RTW ticket can be supplemented with ground or water transport between major cities to keep costs down. A good tool for booking alternative transport between cities, including the cost to do so, is Rome2Rio . Just plug it in any 2 destinations and the site will give you all the available options (train, bus, ferry, Uber, taxi, etc.), the associated duration, and the estimated price for each option.

Another choice for affordable alternative transport is a repositioning cruise . Repositioning cruises can be priced at a fraction of retail cost and can transport you across the Atlantic or from Brazil to Europe, for example, for as little as a few hundred dollars (see the actual listing above).

Train travel can be a great alternative for transiting from 1 city to another during an RTW trip. Seat 61 is an awarding-winning site that helps you find the perfect route, provides reviews of seats/trains, and facilitates booking tickets, all in 1 spot.

Hot Tip: Consider beginning your RTW ticket from a different country than your residence as your bottom-line RTW fare could be much lower (even adding the cost of a positioning flight). Try pricing your trip from Malaysia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, or even Indonesia to determine how changing the starting country can affect your bottom line price. 

One question that may enter your mind when building an RTW ticket is whether you’ll earn miles on your journey . The answer is generally yes, but it’s based on the airlines involved and fare classes within your itinerary.

There are several factors that determine the number of miles you earn on an RTW ticket or even whether you’ll earn any miles on a particular flight. Those factors include:

• Fare class of your ticket
• The airline’s rules for partner flights
• Which airline you’re crediting the miles to

When booking the ticket (whether it’s with one of the airline alliances or with a third-party such as AirTreks ), just let them know you want to earn miles and they’ll work with you to find flights that qualify.

You may have to purchase a slightly higher fare to earn the most miles from your trip, but that may be worth it.

No matter how you build and subsequently purchase your RTW ticket, there are a few tips to keep in mind that will help keep costs down, improve your experience, and assist if things go wrong.

• Stick to major cities for your RTW ticket and purchase or use miles for short-haul flights as needed.
• Consider alternative means of transportation between cities to maximize your experience and reduce costs.
• Consider starting your journey in another city that offers less-expensive airfare.
• Be flexible regarding your destinations and dates.
• Use frequent flyer miles for award tickets to supplement your journey, or position to a more affordable city to begin your journey.
• Compare prices between providers.
• Buy travel insurance . After all, you’re going on a trip around the world.
• Make sure you’re using a credit card that has no foreign transaction fees .

Keep in mind that rules change, options become unavailable, and pricing will be dynamic and constantly changing . Booking an RTW ticket takes a lot of work and patience but the results can be more than worth it.

Paying the extra premium to purchase an RTW ticket from one of the airline alliances may or may not be worth it to you. You may be able to save money by purchasing through third-party AirTreks with minimal sacrifice.

With that said, making changes appears more flexible and less costly with the airline alliances’ RTW ticket, but you’ll still have to follow their rules when building your itinerary. For example, you must travel in 1 direction with no backtracking, there is a restrictive number of stopovers, etc.

AirTreks’ RTW tickets aren’t as flexible when it comes to making changes, but you may be able to afford a few change fees and still pay less overall.

Purchasing an around-the-world ticket with miles is becoming a disappearing option — domestic carriers do not even offer it anymore. This is most likely because you can use one-way award flights to duplicate the same itineraries with greater flexibility.

If you want to purchase an RTW ticket, consider using an AirTreks itinerary that is affordably priced and tweak it to your liking. Or go completely wild and build your own free-form RTW itinerary where your destinations are determined by the cost (in points/miles/money) of the ticket.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a round-the-world ticket work.

A round-the-world ticket is a series of one-way flights that circle the globe and are all booked on 1 ticket.

You can purchase an RTW ticket from the airline alliances or from other third-party sellers. RTW tickets usually have restrictions and rules you must follow such as traveling in 1 direction, no backtracking, and beginning/ending in the same country.

How much does a round-the-world ticket cost?

The cost of an RTW ticket can vary substantially but you can purchase an RTW economy ticket with just a few stops for as low as $1,500.

The number of stops you make and the fare class of the ticket can affect pricing. For example, you may want to fly business class and visit a dozen cities so your cost will be higher.

In some cases, extra stops do not increase the price. RTW ticket sellers usually have sample itineraries illustrating a large number of stops so you can compare prices.

Where can I buy a round-the-world ticket?

You can purchase an RTW ticket from airline alliances such as Star Alliance and Oneworld, from some specific foreign airlines, or from third-party sellers such as AirTreks.

How long is a round-the-world ticket good for?

An RTW ticket issued by airline alliances, specific airlines, or AirTreks is generally good for 1 year from the date of purchase or from the first date of travel and cannot usually be extended.

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About Christine Krzyszton

Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.

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Guide to Buying Around the World Tickets: A Cost Comparison

Last updated on January 24, 2024 by Shannon

Should you buy an around the world plane ticket or book as you go? This is the biggie question for many round-the-world travelers. Central to the question is: Which one costs more?

But it’s the wrong question. The right question is: Is an around-the-world plane ticket the best way to visit the countries you have planned?

I’ve traveled the world for 15 years now, and taken several RTW (which stands for round-the-world) trips—my first long-term trip was a yearlong journey through Australia , Southeast Asia , South Asia, and Europe. For the most part, I’ve skipped buying RTW tickets and instead booked flights as I traveled—and for really good reasons!

The worth of around-the-world planet tickets depends on the logistics of every single trip and every type of traveler. Even something as simple as traveling with carry on luggage can affect which option is more cost-effective for your trip. The other thing new travelers seldom fully grasp are the complex rules associated with an actual around-the-world ticket from an airline alliance (the three available being Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam).

Instead of drilling only into costs of an around-the-world ticket (which while valid eclipses some of the other major pros and cons), a better question is: Which flight ticketing option fits my travel style and trip goals?

Let’s look at an overview of what it takes to buy an around-the-world plane ticket (the rules, restrictions, and costs), and then the granular details of flights and country-level restrictions when booking long-term round the world travel.

Table of Contents

Buying Around the World Plane Tickets Through an Airline Alliance

Round the world tickets have a few key advantages that makes this an attractive option for certain types of trips. But there are drawbacks, too. Really, it’s a specific decision that appeals to some travelers.

If you’re keen to fly on a formal RTW ticket, your two primary options are Star Alliance  and OneWorld . These two around the world ticket providers are also the two largest airline alliances in the world. Between the two, they represent the vast majority of the world’s major airline carriers.

The third alliance is too small to be a viable option for most round the world trips, but for clarity’s sake that one is SkyTeam.

None of these alliances include the many budget airlines that have cropped up on nearly every continent.

If you book a RTW ticket through an airline alliance, there are a few industry conventions and rules you will have to follow.

How Oneworld and Star Alliance Plans Work

Both alliances offer total flexibility on which destinations you add to your itinerary—it’s completely customizable. That said, the rules dictate how many, the order of countries you visit, the number of overland segments you add, and the continents visited along your route.

Here’s a quick rundown of what’s offered by the two airline alliances you may be considering for your RTW tickets:

• Star Alliance

A Star Alliance standard RTW flight package consists of 15 stops and 39,000 miles (that means 16 flights), all of your flights must be on Star Alliance airlines . You’re also offered five overland segments in your trip—you could land in Rome and fly out of London by doing the overland bit via Eurorail or budget flights.

Notable, however, is that the mileage on overland segments still counts against your total miles!

The other Star Alliance offering is a RTW-adjacent ticket called “ Circle Pacific ,” which only allows routes through countries bordering the Pacific—while it’s likely your trip will include more than these countries, there is a fair bit on offer so it’s worth investigating!

Oneworld ‘s offerings are a bit different—you can have a continent-based ticket (called one world Explorer) or a mileage-based one (called Global Explorer).

A continent-based oneworld Explorer ticket prices you based on the number of continents visited (three, four, or six) and then you can use up to 16 flight segments, which includes connecting flights. In this way, overland travel would not count against your RTW ticket. Obviously, the more continents you add to this segment-based itinerary, the more the ticket costs.

The Global Explorer, on the other hand, prices the RTW ticket by total mileage (26,000; 29,000; 34,000; or 39,000). If you’re skipping a couple of continents (I skipped three!), this can really work out in your favor and give you a lot of flexibility for the rest of your route. Like Star Alliance, Oneworld offers a Circle Pacific fare, which does not require you to cross both the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans.

Pros of Buying RTW Tickets Through an Alliance

• RTW tickets can be a cost-effective option if you are planning to visit multiple destinations around the world.
• RTW tickets often include stopovers at no additional cost, which can be a great way to add extra destinations to your trip.
• RTW tickets can provide peace of mind, as all of your flights are booked in advance and you don’t have to worry about finding and booking flights as you go.

For the sake of ease, I will just list the most relevant rules you will have to follow if you choose to buy your flights on a round the world ticket through an alliance.

Cons of Buying RTW Tickets Through an Alliance

• RTW tickets may be more expensive upfront than booking flights individually.
• RTW tickets sometimes have restrictions and fees, such as change fees or blackout dates.
• RTW tickets rarely offer as much trip flexibility as booking flights individually— you’re committed to a specific route and cannot be able to make last-minute route changes (just date changes).

Alliances Rules for Around the World Tickets

• Because you bulk-buy your tickets at the beginning, there are sometimes real cost benefits—you are never buying last-minute tickets and scrambling on oversold flights at a busy time of year.
• They last a year.
• You’re booking with an alliance and can only sometimes redeem miles you may have earned through travel hacking. You do, however, earn miles along your route.
• You are limited to airlines within the alliance that you select.
• You cannot backtrack on your route. While you can move around a continent freely, your flights can never backtrack from the direction you choose around the world. (Here’s why I think picking a world travel itinerary that flies West is the best option for most.)
• You must start and end in the same country.
• You have to cross the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
• You eliminate a potential source of stress. You won’t need to spend a day searching flights and considering possible routes, you decided all of that before you left.

What does a round the world ticket cost?

Round-the-world tickets start around $2,500 USD for economy class and can go up to $10,000 USD—or far more if you’re flying business class to the maximum number of stops.

The cost of an round-the-world ticket varies significantly depending on: the airline or alliance you choose, the number of stops you plan to make, the class of service (economy, business, or first class), and the specific routes and destinations you want to include in your itinerary.

How many stops on a round the world ticket?

The number of stops varies depending on the alliance you used for your RTW ticket, and the tickets you bought. Star Alliance allows between 2 and 15 stopovers, while the Oneworld Global Explorer allows 16 total flights on your ticket.

Buying Piecemeal Flights Through an Airline Aggregator

Airline aggregators are how most of us book our flights. If you use Expedia, Skyscanner, or Kayak to book your vacations, then you know that these aggregators list the prices for a range of airlines flying your desired route.

For RTW tickets, a couple of specific search engines are designed to accommodate multi-stop trips. Start your search with Indie and Airtreks .

RTW tickets purchased on these special flight aggregators are not locked into the formal rules of a typical round the world ticket—but you also lose the benefits that come with the airline alliance tickets (date change flexiblity and such).

These RTW ticket aggregators mix and match airlines and airline alliances to find the best flight prices for every segment of your trip. These tickets come in at a much lower price than Alliance tickets, but offer few of the perks.

The only thing you really gain is that you have your flights pre-booked, which is ideal for trips up to six months. For longer trips, I find that booking a year’s worth of flights is impractical for most people. It locks you into a rigidly fixed route and timeline around the world.

Book-as-You-Travel

Your third option is to always be just a step or two ahead of your travels, booking the next segment from the road.

Pros of Booking Round-the-World Flights as You Go

• Booking flights as you go allows for more flexibility, as you can make changes or adjust your itinerary as needed.
• You may actually find better deals on flights if you book closer to the travel date.
• You will have more control over your route and the airlines you fly with—this can be good if you’re travel hacking on certain airlines to offset some of the cost of your round the world trip .

Cons of Booking Round-the-World Flights as You Go

Booking flights as you go can be more time-consuming, as you will need to research and book each flight. This is the main drawback—but if you’re on a long trip of six months or more, really you will have down time to research flights.

RTW Tickets vs. Booking-As-You-Go Showdown

• Many RTW ticket aggregators use only major airlines, so you may find better deals for segments of that trip on regional budget airlines.
• If you book through these aggregator companies, what you will have is a series of separate tickets. If you want to move your dates, you will pay the traditional fees associated with each airline impacted by your change.
• Pre-booking means your route and trip is pre-planned so you are relieved of the stress of planning as you travel.
• Both companies, AirTreks and Indie, offer guidance as you plan, which is a nice benefit if the flight planning part is high-stress for you.
• Budget airlines charge for a lot of “extras” that mainstream airlines do not, and many also arrive into alternative airports (these that may be far outside of your destination city and require hefty taxi fees or long bus rides after your flight).

In the years since my first long-term trip, I have used Indie for even just multi-stop tickets. The Indie search engine found a great deal for my Africa flights , which I booked from the U.S. into South Africa and out of Kenya. The BootsnAll crew is responsive and helpful and the search tool is intuitive.

How to Save Money on Around the World Flights

Plan in advance.

Start your research and booking process well ahead of time. Airlines often offer better deals when you book in advance, allowing you to secure more affordable fares.

That means you should be buying a RTW ticket at least six months before your trip to score the best deals. This is a way to save money while booking as you go, too.

Be flexible with your dates and destinations

Consider being open to adjusting your travel dates and exploring alternate routes. Sometimes, flying on weekdays or during off-peak seasons can result in lower prices.

Additionally, being flexible with your chosen destinations can help you take advantage of cheaper flights and optimize your overall itinerary—I share in-depth details about how to actually plan your route around the world .

Explore different airlines and alliances

Don’t limit yourself to a single airline or alliance. Research and compare prices across various airlines and alliances to find the best deals. Sometimes, combining flights from different carriers can result in cost savings. This is crucial when deciding if going with a single alliance’s RTW ticket is the best option for your trip.

Consider alternative airports

Research nearby airports in your departure and arrival cities. Sometimes, flying to or from a different airport can save you money, even when factoring in transportation costs to reach your intended destination. And consider even reversing your overland route, for example, if that lowers costs.

Don’t get stuck on flying into and out of Bangkok just so you could do the circular Banana Pancake Trail of SEA. Instead consider flying into Hanoi and then making your way to Thailand, for example. Or if you find an amazing deal into Kuala Lumpur, then you have a natural starting point for SEA.

Or travel through Africa north to south vs south to north. Basically, keep your brain creatively considering how to massage your routes into something you love, but that also takes advantage of flight deals.

Look for discounted or promotional fares

Keep an eye out for special promotions, discounts, or sales offered by airlines or travel agencies. Sign up for newsletters or follow them on social media to stay updated on the latest offers. This is incredibly true for puddle-jumpers! All of the discount airlines in the world offer flash sales with incredible deals.

Use a travel agent

Some travel agents and online travel agencies specialize in multi-stop itineraries (like AirTreks). They may have access to exclusive deals or be able to provide expert advice on cost-saving options.

How to Book Flights as You Travel Around the World

On my round the world trip, I tracked every single dollar spent on my round the world trip . And after it was over, I estimate that booking tickets as I traveled totaled out to slightly more than having purchased a piecemeal ticket before I left. And it was significantly less (by about $2,000) than a RTW ticket through an airline alliance.

I flew on one-way tickets around the world, and I booked many puddle jumpers on smaller, low-cost airlines too. Take a look at my route around the world . I visited 15 countries and several were grouped in regions of the world that facilitated overland travel.

On my route, I valued the flexibility of my trip far more than the idea that I could have saved a couple hundred dollars by having booked a pre-set route through one of the aggregators.

Booking as the year progressed also allowed me to take suggestions from other travelers and to adapt my RTW Itinerary to suit my evolving goals as I traveled (which embraced slow travel toward the end).

Also, to be honest, I didn’t have the money to spring for a ticket up front, and in the end I was grateful not to have to align myself with the rules and requirements and strict timetable of a RTW ticket. That said, some travelers rave about their RTW ticket experience.

Warning: Piecemeal Flights Mean You Have No Proof of Onward Travel

One big heads up —and it’s very important for anyone using this style of travel—some countries require that you have an outbound ticket before you can board the flight or enter the country.

In my more than 15 years of travel, this has cropped up twice as a big issue.

I was not allowed to board my flight from Melbourne to Bangkok until I had proof that I was leaving Thailand within 30-days of my arrival (North Americans are given a free 30-day visa on arrival in Thailand). This is not a rule that Thailand immigration enforces, but it was a random rule for the airline I had unwittingly booked. Australian airlines are notoriously strict about checking outbound flights.

Then, the same thing happened traveling from Mexico to Costa Rica—this is a hard and fast rule that is widely enforced for Costa Rica-bound travelers.

I write this so that you are aware of the possibility. Many long-term travelers fly on one-way tickets and show up with fingers crossed that they won’t have their outbound flights checked. You can mitigate this by planning the next stage of your trip, by booking a refundable plane or bus ticket to another country, or by arriving to the airport early and booking a ticket over wifi/cellular data if it’s required.

To my mind, booking airline tickets as you travel affords the most flexibility for any long trip, but the biggest benefits manifest on round the world trips that will last longer than six months.

If you decide to book your flights along the way, or to book each one independently, below I list my favorite flight search engines and route planning tools.

The Core Pros & Cons of Around the World Tickets

If you’re in a hurry, here are the five core points within the “Buy RTW Ticket” debate:

• Flexibility.  With the RTW plane ticket, you are locked into a firm route and you know the cost of your flights before you leave. If you book as you go, prices might rise as you travel but you’ll have the ability to change your route mid-trip.
• Type of Flights.  You will use the world’s major airline alliances on an around the world ticket. Booking as you go means you’ll likely spend more time flying on budget, low-cost, no-frills airlines.
• Planning Stress.  You either face the stress of spotty wifi on the on the road or you bite the bullet beforehand and add route planning into the madness of preparing for your round-the-world trip.
• Cost Comparison.  How do the airfare costs really stack up at the end of a trip? Since every person’s dream trip is different, you really have to price out the tickets yourself and see if the round-the-world ticket falls within your flight budget and goals.
• Amenities.  Decide the style of travel you prefer and then compare which type of planet ticket will offer the best all around—service, cost, and product—for your specific goals.

Are Around-the-World Tickets Worth It?

BootsnAll put together a free downloadable comparison guide for RTW tickets , and it has a sample of the different prices all of the various alliances would charge on sample routes—it’s a useful read! It’s older but still gives a good idea of what you’re facing when you buy an around the world plane ticket.

That comparison report has good average costs for round-the-world tickets. For your own trip, to budget for the expense, I recommend that you use the airline aggregators as a rough estimate of what you should save before travel .

Use Indie/ Airtreks to price out your route at the time of year you will travel (even if you’ll actually be booking flights in a couple years, try to align your search to a rough timeline of when you would be taking these flights).

Be generous with your estimates here. If there is one outlier flight route that comes up far cheaper than the others, go with an anticipated cost that sits in the median of those that come up in the search engine.

Pricing out daily travel budgets for various countries is easier than flights in many ways. Accommodation averages tend to stay steady over the years—the percent of increase year over year doesn’t noticeably affect a travel budget.

Airline prices, on the other hand, fluctuate on everything from current route competition to the global price of oil. If you’re creating an anticipated budget for future travel then budget high for the flights and you can adjust it as your trip nears and the flight prices become more indicative of the actual costs you will encounter as you travel.

If you’re undecided about which choice is best, know that there is no right answer here. They both work for different reasons.

My best advice is to plan just enough of your trip to stave off the panic attacks.

Leave the bulk of your trip planning to your actual trip. This works particularly well for trips longer than six months. That may sound crazy, but disassembling your life is enough work.

Once you are on the road, you will quickly learn how you want to travel and what you prioritize. I suggest that you book a hostel/hotel for the first week you land at the first stop on your around-the-world itinerary —then, I swear that the rest will work out.

You don’t have to plan the sights, the transport, the nitty-gritty details. That will all happen organically once you land and start talking to other travelers. Once I was actually on the road, I was amazed by how much I had over-stressed in the weeks leading up to my round the world trip.

And from a travel-hacking perspective on flights, if you’re keen to use airline miles and that sort of thing, Chris Guillebeau shared his round-the-world ticket buying strategies  and there are also programs online that teach you how to accrue miles and how to best redeem them for great flight deals.

I only lightly dabble in travel hacking (I own a Chase Sapphire Reserve card—arguably the best travel credit card —and use it exclusively when I am paying for anything and everything. I earn about one $800 flight each year, and I could do far better if I invested time in the travel hacking techniques that many friends successfully employ). But I love the perks of the card (free Priority Pass for airport lounges), too, so that has made it worth it.

How to Research Tickets and Prices

If you’re not completely sure which option works best for your trip, dive into the links below to price out various routes and options. Also, this post shares my exact process for finding great flight deals .

Search Engines for Regular Flights:

• Kayak : I usually start here for my flight searches to get a baseline on the costs, then I move on to a search engine that pulls in more of the low-cost carriers.
• Skyscanner : Use this as your first source for booking flights to or within Asia; the search engine pulls in a lot of the low-cost airlines too and can offer up some great fares you won’t find on the other aggregators.
• Expedia : I have been surprised by some of the great flights I find on here leaving from the US, particularly if you book in advance and have some of the major hub cities as stopping points.
• Google Flights : You know it’s good if it’s from Google, the king of search. This is a nice place to get a baseline for price estimates at the time of year you’ll be traveling.
• Matrix.itasoftware.com : Access to the backend that many travel agents use to find flight deals. It’s not in my regular lineup, but I always have this one in my back pocket.
• Research online : I found many tiny airlines in Africa that are not listed in any aggregator, so checking a guidebook or online for local low-cost airlines in some regions is a good idea.
• Amazing List of Low-Cost Flight Routes : This is a google map with flight routes many of the world’s low-cost airlines fly. Just glancing at it might inspire you to find some interesting routes to add into your travels.

Best Search Engines for RTW Flights:

• Indie  from Bootsnall
• STA Travel for students
• Flight Centre

Best Airline Alliances for RTW Tickets:

Planning your travels.

If you’re in the early stages of planning your travels, the following resources should help.

Dreaming of Travel » Letter to Travel Dreamers | How Do You Make Big Decisions? | Why I Decided to Travel the World | Creating Transformative Travel Experiences | The Best Travel Books

Affording Travel » How to Save for World Travel | How Much Does it Cost to Travel the World | Best Credit and Debit Cards for Travel | Using Geoarbitrage to Live Abroad | How to Work Remotely

Planning Travel » Plan Your World Travel Itinerary | Pack for Long-Term Travel | Homeschooling While Traveling | How to Purge Everything You Own | How to Pick the Right RTW Backpack | Buying RTW Flights

Staying Healthy » Safety and Solo Female Travel | How to Pick the Right Travel Insurance | Travel Vaccines 101 | How to Stay Healthy Abroad

8 thoughts on “Guide to Buying Around the World Tickets: A Cost Comparison”

My partner and I, we are traveling the world on May, We love the idea of the RTW ticket, the only problem is that we live in Middle east we really dont want to take the flight back to Dubai, is there a way to do the RTW without coming back to the initial country ?? Is bit of a shame to just dont take that flight and leave it to waste.

By the way great article we enjoyed reading it.

Have done this but must warn from experience that if you have not pre booked a certain flight out of certain countries you can get stuck for weeks relying on standby for availiabilty.This happened to me on the Bali Australia route and aslo Hawaii to Usa route(3weeks wait list each).and also Vancouver to Uk 2 weeks Also Srilanka to Uk was 2 weeks.Best to plan f your trips around flight dates in some parts of the world cos of waitlists

Thanks for this article, it’s so informative! I think though that you seem to be alright with budget airlines and smaller accommodation, so not going the RTW route and not making plans before hand as to where to stay, eat, see etc might work out for you. But I travel alone mostly, as a solo female, i think it’s imperative i have my accommodation sorted out before hand at least. And i only fly major airlines as i’m a nervous flyer as it is, and I just don’t do smaller planes/unknown carriers. So for me, the RTW makes the most sense. But your article is a good one nonetheless, and covered other angles. I enjoyed reading it.

I can completely understand using major airlines instead of lowcost ones, but I will counter your other point. There is no sane way to book a year’s accommodation ahead of time. I always advise all travelers to book at least a week or two in their destination where they’re landing, then it’s easy to figure out from there. And I was a solo female traveler for essentially all of my travels except some trips with my young nieces and nephews.

You are better off looking at an airlines financial results than going by the size of their fleet. Major airlines lose bucketloads most of the time. Budget airlines often have the newest planes. You can check that before booking. Most airlines have their planes maintained by service companies when they are away from base, so they all get the same treatment. In my experience almost all the incidents one is likely to encounter are caused by things like bird strikes, which no airline can protect against.

Shannon, this type of article has the danger of falling into over qualified “it depends” descriptions. You did a great job of avoiding that pitfall.

The link library at the end makes this a bookmark must.

Thanks for the wonderfulness.

II always aim for very specific and granular information and actionable advice that people can actually use to tweak and fit into their own travel plans. I am so happy to know that you’ve found it useful. Good luck with your traveling planning!

I am going on a round the world trip and having booked my flights in advance looks cheaper and more convenient. I will be working at the same time so I dont need the extra stress. As I also want to go to North Korea some expert advice is always welcome. Also, the necessity to show your outbound ticket in certain countries is a risk I definitely do not wish to take. I already know where I really want to go so I prefer it like this. However, some advice to people searching for RTW offers: NEVER contact roundtheworldflights.com. They are abrupt and unprofessional to say the least.

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You Can Fly Around the World Starting at $3,000. Here’s How.

From major airline alliances like oneworld and star alliance to individual travel agencies, there are several ways to score an around-the-world flight ticket. here’s what to know..

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Break up a transpacific leg of an around-the-world flight with a restful stop in O’ahu, Hawai’i.

Photo by Peter Thomas/Unsplash

Embarking on a yearlong journey around the world is a dream scenario for many travelers. However, the logistics of making it happen can be challenging, not least because of the sheer number of flights you would need to book. One way to make the journey a reality is by purchasing an around-the-world flight ticket.

Here are the basics of what you need to know about around-the-world flights, including which airlines and companies offer them and tips for navigating this travel option.

What is an around-the-world ticket?

An around-the-world (often referred to as RTW for “round the world”) ticket allows travelers to hopscotch across the globe and visit multiple destinations on one ticket, usually at a lower cost than individually bought tickets. RTW trips typically need to be in a continuous forward direction, either eastward or westward; for example, an eastward itinerary could include flights from New York to Buenos Aires to Barcelona to Berlin to New Delhi to Bali to Honolulu to New York again.

With RTW tickets, changes are typically allowed, so extending or shortening your stay at each destination doesn’t cost extra. Travelers either choose their own unique itinerary or follow one of the sample itineraries provided.

Consider starting your around-the-world journey in Buenos Aires, Argentina, before crossing the Atlantic to Europe, Asia, and beyond.

Courtesy of Sasha Stories/Unsplash

Which airlines offer around-the-world tickets?

Around-the-world tickets are typically offered by airline alliance networks and travel agencies—not by single airlines. Both Oneworld Alliance and Star Alliance offer around-the-world flights, but SkyTeam (which includes Delta Air Lines, Air France, and KLM) no longer has an around-the-world program . The rules around the tickets vary based on the provider.

Oneworld Alliance around-the-world tickets

The Oneworld Alliance (which includes U.S. carriers Alaska Airlines and American Airlines as well as international carriers British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Qatar, and seven others) offers travelers two options for RTW tickets , including:

• Oneworld Explorer, which sets prices based on the number of continents you visit
• Global Explorer, which bases the fee on the distance traveled

There are a few restrictions for each. For one, trips must start and end in the same city within 12 months. Also, travelers need to visit at least three continents and cross both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans in no more than 16 flights, without backtracking (meaning you need to continue in the same direction of travel).

Oneworld RTW prices for itineraries starting stateside begin at roughly $3,500 for an economy ticket to three continents. However, that price climbs to about $7,000 for travelers planning to visit six continents. Those seeking to travel in business or first class should expect rates to start at more than $10,000.

Star Alliance around-the-world tickets

There are few places you can’t get to on a Star Alliance RTW ticket —the network reaches more than 1,300 destinations in 190 countries. It includes 26 airlines, some of which are United, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, and Air New Zealand.

Travelers have two options when booking: to pick their destinations or to select one of Star Alliance’s themed RTW tickets. The themed itinerary Architecture Hotspots Round the World , for example, starts in Athens, from where you fly to Cairo, Beijing, Miami, Chicago, Brasilia (Brazil), Barcelona, and Florence and then return to Athens.

Like Oneworld, Star Alliance RTW tickets demand travelers make both a transpacific and transatlantic flight in no more than 16 flights, flown within one year. However, Star Alliance doesn’t require fliers to start and end at the same airport. They just need to get back to the same country—so users could feasibly start in San Francisco and wrap up in New York if they’re running short on allotted miles (the maximum allowed for the entire journey is 39,000). Additionally, each stop must last at least 24 hours.

For Star Alliance, prices are determined by total mileage flown and class of service. On the low end, expect to pay about $4,000.

Whether you’re going east or west, you might decide to hop off in Melbourne, Australia, during an around-the-world flight.

Photo by Weyne Yew/Unsplash

Other companies that offer around-the-world tickets

If you’d rather not use one of the airline alliances, another option is to consult a travel agency that specializes in around-the-world tickets.

One of the oldest is AirTreks, which has been assembling RTW tickets for travelers since 1987.

Because AirTreks works with multiple airline alliances (including SkyTeam, even though it no longer sells RTW tickets), it can offer greater ticket flexibility, often at a lower price. It also provides overland options from one airport to another (meaning you could fly into London, take the train to France, and fly out of Paris), whereas Oneworld and Star Alliances require travelers to fly in and out of the same airports.

One sample itinerary titled the Off The Beaten Path starts in Los Angeles and has you fly to Melbourne and Catania, Italy, where you travel overland to Palermo to catch forward flights to Porto, Portugal; Florianópolis, Brazil; Medellín, Colombia; and Los Angeles. The price starts at $3,000, which is slightly cheaper than booking a similar trip with one of the airline alliances.

AirTreks doesn’t have mileage or segment restrictions, so it allows travelers to embark on and conclude their journey wherever they choose. However, because flights are spread across multiple alliances, tickets can be subject to change fees.

Other companies you might consider include Trailfinders , Flight Centre , and RoundAbout Travel .

Can you pay for an around-the-world ticket using miles?

Yes, it’s possible to fund your around-the-world ticket with select airline miles. However, you’re going to need a treasure trove of loyalty points to make it happen, and you’ll be tasked with finding flights with award availability for each flight segment, which can be challenging.

Some of the mileage programs that currently offer RTW tickets are Aeromexico, Air Canada, ANA, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, Qantas, and Singapore Airlines.

Are around-the-world tickets worth it?

It depends.

“RTW tickets can be a pretty seamless way to bundle that once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Katy Nastro, a travel expert at flight deal tracking service Going.com .

There are some distinct advantages to booking a RTW ticket, chief among them are having some flexibility and a set price. Because the price is determined by the number of places you visit, it can be cheaper for travelers who are keen on flying during more expensive peak travel periods such as summer, versus during the off-season.

However, some travelers may find it easier to book individual tickets as they go rather than the whole itinerary upfront. Booking outside of an airline alliance also allows for the mixing and matching of airlines. Similarly, going the DIY route would also allow travelers to use a combination of points and cash.

“While they can make the planning process a lot simpler, be aware of the restrictions and costs,” Nastro said. “Someone who is considering a RTW ticket should consider all of their options and not be afraid to price out a similar itinerary one flight at a time.”

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The Guide to Around-the-World Tickets

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Table of Contents

What is an around-the-world ticket?

Which airlines offer around-the-world tickets, how much is an around-the-world ticket, booking an around-the-world ticket with miles, if you're considering booking an around-the-world ticket.

For those who love travel, there may be no more romantic idea than taking off on a long trip spanning the globe. Airlines realize this and offer travelers the ability to book such a trip using an around-the-world ticket.

However, around-the-world tickets can be very complicated and quite expensive. Thankfully, travelers with a stash of airline miles or program points with a bank can book around-the-world mileage tickets.

Here's a guide to your options for booking an around-the-world ticket — both with cash and miles.

An around-the-world ticket is generally a series of flights that circumnavigate the world and start and end around the same general point, all booked as part of one airline ticket.

The rules for around-the-world tickets vary based on the airline, airline alliance or mileage program issuing the ticket.

The price of some around-the-world tickets is based on how many continents you fly through — regardless of the number of stops or distance. Other around-the-world ticket prices are based on the total flight distance.

Generally, around-the-world tickets are much more flexible than regular airline tickets. Some around-the-world tickets even allow free changes if you stick to the same itinerary. Plus, you'll generally earn miles on the booking when purchasing a cash around-the-world ticket.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

Most airlines offer around-the-world tickets through their airline alliance. Both Star Alliance and the Oneworld alliance currently offer around-the-world tickets. However, the SkyTeam alliance has suspended its SkyTeam Round the World pass.

Oneworld Round The World Airline Tickets

The Oneworld alliance — which includes American Airlines and Alaska Airlines — offers three types of multi-city multi-airline tickets:

Oneworld Explorer prices the around-the-world ticket based on the number of continents you visit.

Global Explorer is a distance-based around-the-world ticket.

Circle Pacific is a not-quite around-the-world ticket limited to continents bordering the Pacific Ocean.

Oneworld recently launched an intuitive new Oneworld Explorer tool that walks you through the city and date selection process. Input your preferred destinations, dates and length. Then, the tool will determine the right pass for your itinerary, help you select flights and book the around-the-world ticket.

» Learn more: What to know about Oneworld multi-carrier awards

Oneworld currently has the following restrictions on around-the-world tickets:

Trips should start and end in the same city.

Fly no more than 16 flights.

Visit at least three continents.

No backtracking allowed — you need to continue in the same general direction of travel.

Complete your trip within 12 months.

Cross the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean

Star Alliance Round The World Airline Tickets

As the world's largest airline alliance, Star Alliance is an obvious choice for around-the-world tickets. Star Alliance's 26 members combine to serve 1,300 destinations in 190 countries. You can build an epic trip to pretty much anywhere through a Star Alliance around-the-world ticket.

Know where you want to go? Start with the Star Alliance Round The World journey builder . Otherwise, get inspired with more than 20 sample itineraries .

Like Oneworld, Star Alliance around-the-world tickets allow up to 16 flights, up to one full year from the date of departure and require you to generally travel in the same direction. You can also book a Circle Pacific not-quite around-the-world ticket through Star Alliance.

If you're booking with cash, around-the-world tickets aren't cheap.

Oneworld around-the-world tickets beginning in the U.S. start at $3,599 for an economy ticket visiting three continents and climb as high as $6,899 to visit six continents in economy. And that's before taxes and fees. Business and first-class fares are even higher, often pricing above $10,000.

Two advantages of booking an around-the-world ticket are flexibility and the set price. Around-the-world tickets are priced at the same price whether you're flying during the off-season or peak holiday times.

If you want to fly on peak dates or pricey routes, it can be cheaper to book an award-the-world ticket than to piece together a trip using individual flight bookings.

Booking around-the-world tickets using cash is just one option. Several airline loyalty programs offer around-the-world mileage tickets.

Around-the-world awards have the obvious advantage of saving you a lot of cash out-of-pocket. However, you'll need to accumulate quite a stockpile of miles to be able to book these tickets. Plus, you'll need to find award availability on every flight segment — which can be a daunting task.

Here's a quick overview of the best around-the-world mileage options for each airline alliance:

ANA Mileage Club (Star Alliance)

All Nippon Airways — better known as simply ANA — offers arguably the best around-the-world mileage tickets. Travelers can book up to 12 flights and eight stopovers between their origin and final destination. The price depends on how far you fly and in which cabin:

Travelers can limit flight mileage by booking up to four "ground transport" segments. These segments don't count toward your total distance. That means you can use a low-price award or cheap cash ticket to keep your around-the-world ticket distance down.

Restrictions to keep in mind:

Limit of one crossing of the Atlantic Ocean and one crossing of the Pacific Ocean.

Backtracking isn't permitted.

The full journey must span at least 10 days.

Must return to the same country you departed.

The best way of getting enough ANA Mileage Club miles for an ANA around-the-world ticket is by accumulating American Express Membership Rewards.

You can transfer AmEx points to ANA at a 1:1 transfer ratio. And you can top off your ANA account with transfers from Marriott Bonvoy, but points transfer at a rate of 3:1.

» Learn more: The best AmEx transfer partners — and ones to avoid

Asia Miles (Oneworld)

Asia Miles — the mileage program of Cathay Pacific — doesn't technically have around-the-world tickets. But you can piece together an epic journey around the world using the mileage program's Oneworld Multi-Carrier Award chart.

Since it isn't a true around-the-world ticket, it doesn't have some of the same restrictions. That means you can backtrack and don't have to end your trip where you began. Award pricing depends on your class of service and the distance of your trip.

» Learn more: Cathay Pacific: What to Know

Maximize your Oneworld Multi-Carrier Awards booking with up to five stopovers. And use the two allowable open-jaws to connect the dots where Oneworld doesn't have a good option.

Make sure to fly at least one flight on Cathay Pacific to remove the limitation of just two airlines. The only major limitations are that premium economy awards aren't available and your journey must be limited to 50,000 points.

Build your Asia Miles balance by transferring points from:

American Express Membership Rewards (1:1 transfer ratio).

Capital One Miles (1:1).

Citi ThankYou Points (1:1).

Bilt Rewards (1:1).

Marriott Bonvoy (3:1).

Aeromexico Club Premier (SkyTeam)

One of the only SkyTeam airlines that offers a compelling around-the-world mileage ticket is Aeromexico. And it's a pretty solid option. Travelers can book a whopping 15 stopovers, meaning you can piece together an absolutely epic trip in the one-year ticket validity.

The cost sounds extremely high, but remember that these are in kilometers instead of miles: 224,000 Premier Points in economy or 352,000 Premier Points in business class.

American Express Membership Rewards transfer to Aeromexico at a 1:1.6 transfer ratio. That means you need 140,000 AmEx points for an economy SkyTeam Around-the-World ticket or 220,000 AmEx points for business class.

While AmEx is the best option, you can top off your Aeromexico Club Premier account by transferring points from:

Other loyalty programs to consider

Several other airlines offer around-the-world mileage tickets — or multi-carrier awards with multiple stopovers. Here's a quick summary of other options and why we didn't highlight them in detail:

British Airways Multi-Carrier Reward Flights . Asia Miles generally provides better pricing and fewer restrictions.

Qantas Oneworld Classic Flight Reward . Allows up to five stopovers. But Asia Miles generally provides better pricing.

Japan Airlines Oneworld Award Tickets . Superb pricing and very flexible, but the only major transfer partner is Marriott Bonvoy.

Korean SkyTeam Round the World Award . Excellent prices, but no longer issued after March 31, 2023.

Lufthansa Miles & More Round the World . Pricey and Miles & More has no major transfer partners.

Singapore Star Alliance Round the World Awards . Up to seven stopovers and easy-to-accumulate miles. Plus, KrisFlyer generally limits award availability to partners. However, ANA generally provides better pricing.

There's a lot to keep in mind when considering an around-the-world ticket.

For cash fares, consider booking through one of the major airline alliances for the best options. Just pay attention to the restrictions. Just as importantly, consider what isn't restricted. You might be able to add additional destinations for no additional cost.

Many airline mileage programs also offer around-the-world mileage tickets, although some are labeled "multi-carrier awards" instead. These can be an excellent deal as long as you can find award availability.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

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75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-5% Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Up to $300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

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2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

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Round the world flights & tickets.

If you’re looking to travel to a number of destinations, then we recommend booking a round the world flight. These airfares can cover multiple countries and are designed to be better value than booking individual city-to-city flights. For an itinerary that’s tailored to you, call one of our Round the World Airfare Experts today.

Chat to our experts on  0208 336 5393   for more details, and to book.

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Each member of our Round the World Airfares Team has an average of seven years’ experience when it comes to booking flights and tailoring airfares. They are dedicated to finding the best airfare for you and are on hand to help should your plans change.

As one of the world’s largest travel retailers, we have access to the widest choice of airfares, covering every seat, on every airline, to every destination. So you can book your entire itinerary with us, no matter where you want to go. Start planning with our Trip Planner .

With our widest choice of airfares, our expert team is able to custom-build round the world tickets to suit your exact travel plans – whether you plan to visit two or 20 destinations – and can often book airfares that can’t be found anywhere else online. Contact our Round the World Airfares Team today and we’ll send you two airfare options which feature at least one personal recommendation tailored to you.

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• Is It Worth It?

Around The World Ticket: Is It Worth It?

by Jason Moore

*This post contains affiliate links – if you decide to purchase anything through those links we receive a small commission at no extra charge, and you’ll be supporting Zero To Travel. Thanks!

An around the world ticket (also known as an RTW ticket for short, or “Round the World”) is a special type of plane ticket that allows you to circumnavigate the globe.

When done right, booking an RTW ticket can save you a lot of money.

That being said, around the world trip planning isn’t your ordinary Google Flights search for a few sweet deals. This is a whole different way to travel.

Stringing together multiple flights across several continents requires strategic planning, skillful budgeting, a lot of knowledge about international travel, and hours and hours of research. It’s a daunting task, but almost every RTW trip starts by answering one simple question:

Should you buy an Around The World ticket or book each leg of the trip as you go?

The answer to this question will impact your budget, timeline, destinations, and even how you travel. Booking an around the world ticket (or not booking one!) is a big deal, and honestly, RTW trips aren’t for everyone.

So let’s dig into the pros and cons of Around The World tickets with a look at the average price for one, common rules and restrictions, how to make changes and cancellations to RTW flights, and a few pro tips to help you add more stops, score free layovers, and get the best bang for your buck on your RTW ticket.

Here’s what will cover…

Around the World Ticket FAQs

What is an Around The World Ticket and How Does It Work? How Much Does an Around The World Ticket Cost? What is an Air Alliance and How Do They Work? What’s the Difference Between Booking with Airline Alliances and Travel Agents or Booking Sites? What are the Rules and Restrictions of an Around The World Ticket? Can You Change Dates or Destinations While Traveling on an RTW Ticket? How Long is an Around The World Ticket Good For? How Many Stops Can You Book on an Around The World Ticket? Do You Always Have to Start and End in the Same City on an RTW Ticket? Why Can’t You Backtrack with an RTW Ticket? Can You Use Budget Airlines in an RTW Ticket? Can You Redeem Points or Miles for Around The World Tickets? Tips, Tricks, & Travel Hacks for Around The World Tickets When is the Best Time to Book an Around The World Ticket? The Pros and Cons of Around The World tickets Podcast Episode Show Notes

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Listen to the full Zero to Travel podcast episode featuring around the world ticket expert Dale Vaughn from AirTreks as he shares his tips and advice for booking an RTW ticket.

What is an Around The World Ticket and How Does It Work?

An RTW ticket is an around the world one-way ticket with a bunch of stops along the way. You can tailor your trip to however many destinations and continents you like, but there are (generally) only three rules for an RTW ticket:

• You have to book every stop and destination in advance
• You always have to fly in the same direction (always flying east to west, for example)
• RTW tickets are good for up to 11 months from start to finish

The specific rules and restrictions of your Around The World ticket can vary based on if you book with an airline alliance vs. a third-party travel company like AirTreks or STA Travel.

We’ll get into all the pricing, red tape, and RTW travel hacks down below, but that’s the nuts and bolts of an RTW ticket. Or as AirTreks Marketing Director, Dale Vaughn puts it:

“An around the world ticket is exactly what it sounds like. You go in one direction around the world—circumnavigating it—with a handful of stops along the way.”

So if Around The World tickets are just a string of flights on different airlines, what’s the advantage of buying an RTW ticket upfront vs booking each leg of travel separately as you travel?

The answer is simple—it costs a lot less when you buy everything in advance. And the reason why has to do with what happens when you buy multiple flights at once and the weird world of airline alliances.

How Much Does an Around the World Ticket Cost?

Obviously, it’s impossible to give an average price for an Around The World ticket. Every RTW ticket varies based on your starting city, the number of stops, when you fly, the duration of your trip, and flights and airlines you choose.

“It all depends on where you are and where you want to go,” argues Vaughn from AirTreks. “But, it would be very easy to plan an around the world trip with four or five stops for around $2000 or less,” he continues. “We have a travel planner, named Nicola, who lives in London. She planned an RTW trip from London > Chicago > LA > New Zealand > Bangkok > London for less than $2000.”

Again, that price is just one example of a common RTW route. Don’t be surprised if your dream Round The World trip costs closer to $5000—or even more. And that difference is largely based on who you book your RTW ticket through (an alliance vs a travel agent or booking site) and how the three big airline alliances work when you buy an Around The World ticket.

What is an Airline Alliance?

Almost all Around The World tickets are air alliance flight passes. That means that you’re basically buying a “pass” to use multiple airlines within a single alliance. And almost every major airline belongs to one of three airline alliances:

• Star Alliance – 27 members including United, Air Canada, and Lufthansa
• Oneworld – 13 members including American, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas
• Sky Team – 20 members including Air France, Delta, and KLM

Airline alliances were started in the late 90’s to make international travel easier, and more affordable by leveraging larger networks for better connections, more destinations, and competitive prices. So it’s no surprise that the three major alliances have dominated RTW ticketing for the past 15 years.

Airline alliances are why your last trip to Europe probably started on a United flight out of New York or LA and ended with a Lufthansa connection in Germany. You didn’t book with Lufthansa, but both Lufthansa and United are part of the Star Alliance network. So United works with them to get you to your final destination instead of going through the hassle of creating their own flight to a city they don’t service regularly. This is essentially how alliances book RTW tickets. But things are changing.

What’s the Difference Between Booking with Airline Alliances & Travel Agents or Booking Sites?

When you book an Around The World ticket through an alliance you only get access to the airlines in that alliance.

When you book through a third-party travel company they can mix and match flights and destinations to tailor your dream trip to your ideal budget. It’s just a larger pool to draw from.

“You can book an RTW ticket from London > Chicago > LA > New Zealand > Bangkok > London for less than $2000”

Remember that an Around The World ticket is really just one booking for multiple flights from different airlines. You can’t book your entire RTW trip through American or Delta because they won’t go to all the places you want to visit.

Instead, you create an Around The World ticket by choosing flights and destinations from within an alliance network and the end result is that your ticket is a little cheaper and the trip easier than booking every single flight on your own. At least that’s the goal.

However, the benefits of airline alliances don’t always go to the customers, and alliance RTW tickets can come with a lot of rules and restrictions.

A Guide to the Most Common Round The World Ticket Rules & Restrictions

According to Vaughn, Around The World tickets through an alliance usually come with a fair bit of red tape:

“The alliances are basically a partnership between airlines that give each other better rates, although you don’t typically see the benefits of these better rates,” explains Vaughn. “When you book an RTW ticket through an alliance or try to book the entire trip yourself you’re typically restricted to major hub cities and major airlines.”

Vaughn argues that alliance RTW tickets usually aren’t as flexible as something from a professional travel service like AirTreks . And for most people, flexibility is kind of the whole point of booking an Around The World trip.

Here are some answers to the most common questions concerning rules and restrictions on Around The World tickets.

Can You Change Dates or Destinations While Traveling on an RTW Ticket?

When you change your ticket (if that’s possible through your RTW provider), you’ll almost always have to pay a change fee. Altering your Around The World ticket is like changing any other flight. You’ll usually have to pay the difference between your old flight and your new flight and you’ll likely pay some kind of admin fee.

The same goes for changing dates and pushing back a connection. “It all depends on the airline,” explains Vaughn.

Change fees can add up regardless of who you use. So while it’s nice to have some flexibility built into your RTW ticket through a travel agency or booking site like AirTreks , you should really put some time and thought into your timing and destinations. Or, as Vaughn cautions, it pays to work with a person instead of a booking site:

“When you plan a trip and you know that you’re gonna be creative on the ground, it helps to be involved with a person instead of a search algorithm because algorithms can’t help you with that kind of flexible creative travel planning.”

Pro Tip: Budget for short roundtrip flights or bus trips from select hubs instead of adding stops or making major reroutes to your Around The World ticket.

How Long is an Around The World Ticket Good For?

Most RTW tickets have a time restriction of 11 months to complete your trip. But that’s changing. AirTreks offers RTW trips that can last for years. According to Vaughn, the timeline is up to you:

“If you want to break the Guinness World Record and see all 197 countries in less than two years, you’d contact us. We’ve helped multiple people break the record, and that takes two, three years for people to do.”

But the catch is that AirTreks (and almost every airline search engine in the world) can only book flights up to one year at a time because flights just aren’t released that far in advance, let alone pricing. That’s the main reason that Around The World tickets typically “expire” within 11 months—you can’t book tickets more than a year in advance.

How Many Stops Can You Book on an Around The World Ticket?

The short answer is: as many as you want. The whole point of an Around The World ticket is to take you around the world. That can include as few as three stops or more than 20. It’s your call. The only difference is the price.

An RTW ticket with only three destinations can cost as little as $1500 while a more extravagant RTW ticket with a dozen destinations can be upwards of $10,000. It’s all about customizing your ticket to your ideal trip and finding the budget that works for you.

Do You Always Have to Start and End in the Same City on an RTW Ticket?

Yup. You can book all kinds of trips and all kinds of combo flights, but if you book an RTW with an alliance or a third-party vendor you have to start and end in the same city.

Image Credit: AirTreks

Why Can’t You Backtrack with an Around The World Ticket?

One of the core restrictions for most Around The World tickets is the rule against “backtracking” or traveling in more than one direction (i.e. always east to west). For whatever reason, it’s just cheaper to fly in the same direction for all your flights. It’s just one of those things, even among airline alliances. That’s the main reason Around The World booking agents don’t typically allow switching directions—it just costs them more.

However, AirTreks says they don’t have any restrictions on the direction you can travel. “There are some ways to save money by going in the same direction,” argues Vaughn, “but that’s flexible. You can go in any direction, you can go in loops, you can go back and forth.”

Can I Book Budget Airlines in an Around The World Ticket?

You can always book a budget airline like Spirit or RyanAir, but it’s not always worth the savings. Most budget airlines charge extra for checked and carry on bags , have small cramped seating, and don’t provide the same in-flight amenities as other airlines.

Work with your booking company (or price out other options) to see if that Spirit Airlines flight from NYC to Costa Rica is really worth saving $40 (spoiler alert: it isn’t).

Can You Redeem Points or Miles for Around The World Tickets?

You can always book legs of your trip with miles , but not typically through booking sites. You usually have to handle miles and points booking directly with the airline. So that’s an added hassle. Also, many travel agents don’t make any money off of trips or RTW legs booked with miles, so they’ll typically offload that responsibility to you.

If you’re a can-do person, you can use miles and points to book parts (or all!) of your RTW ticket.

Tips, Tricks & Travel Hacks For Around The World Tickets

When is the best time to book an around the world ticket.

You’ve probably heard that the sooner you book your ticket, the better, but that’s just not true.

“The sweet spot for the best prices for flights is typically between four and six months out,” argues Vaughn. “The only exception is the holidays (December).”

And he has the data to prove it: “We measured this over thousands of different trips and we found on average you’re going to save between 30-40% on the price of the ticket when you book 4-6 months ahead of time.”

Look for Free Stopovers

A lot of people don’t know that they can get free stopovers and layovers in multiple destinations with the right carriers. Use the airline booking system to your advantage. As of January 2019, Turkish Airlines does a free hotel stopover in Budapest if you fly with them. So you not only get a free stopover in a fantastic destination, you get a free hotel if you book with them. You don’t even have to add it as a separate destination.

Pro Tip: The AirTreks trip planner will even give you suggestions for free stopovers at certain destinations.

Fly in the Same Direction

Yes, you can backtrack on RTW trips with AirTreks or other travel agents, but it’ll cost you. Fly in one direction and help keep costs down.

Crossing the Equator Costs Money

According to Vaughn, “Crossing the equator adds a couple of hundred dollars to your trip. If you can bunch your southern and northern hemisphere trips together it helps with cost-cutting.” Try to only cross the equator twice.

Get Travel Insurance

C’mon. You’re going around the freaking world. Get travel insurance. We love World Nomads travel insurance .

Tell People You’re Going to Travel the World

“When you say I want to travel the world in your diary, that’s one thing. But when you tell Facebook or your friends, it’s real,” argues Vaughn. “You can’t go back after that,” he adds.

Commit to Yourself

Vaughn adds that saying “yes” to yourself is a huge part of planning a successful RTW trip:

“Have you given yourself permission to take the trip of your life, or are you gonna let this be a dream? After that, it’s just a matter of planning.” AirTreks even offers free tools to help you talk to your boss about your RTW trip. So that’s awesome.

RTW Pros and Cons: Should You Buy an Around The World Ticket?

RTW travel really is for anyone and everyone, but AirTreks has found that many of their trips are popular with certain types of travelers.

Around The World Tickets are great if you’re a:

• Gap Year Traveler
• Taking a Career Sabbatical
• Family Traveler (especially if you’re buying lots of flights for the kids!)
• Senior & Retiree
• Solo Traveler & Digital Nomad

And Around The World Tickets are great if you:

• Like sticking to a schedule
• Have the budget to pay for changes
• Want those frequent flier miles
• Hate budget airlines
• Plan to go to off the grid destinations

Airtreks has an awesome flight booking tool to help you see if an RTW ticket is right for you.

Podcast Show Notes

Since 1987, AirTreks has been a leader in multi-stop international travel and is the leading expert on RTW plane tickets. You’ll love that their team is made up of experienced independent travelers who truly care about your trip.

In this podcast you’ll learn:

• Differences of round the world tickets vs. normal plane tickets
• Advantages and disadvantages of a RTW ticket
• How to create a blank canvas for travel
• The general cost of RTW tickets (and how to keep the cost low)
• How to learn about hidden costs for trips
• How you can get incentives to hang out in certain cities
• Specific travelers that benefit from round the world tickets
• The best way to plan your route
• And so much more!
• Tortuga Backpacks
• Round The World Travel + GAP Year For All! With Sean Keener

* Tortuga and Airtreks references contain affiliate links – if you decide to purchase anything through those links I’ll receive a small commission at no extra charge and you’ll be supporting my work. Thanks!

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Alliance Air

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Avior Airlines

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Southern / Mokulele

800 329 0485

10 Ways to a Cheaper Ticket

An around the world plane ticket is quite possibly one of the most important things you’ll buy in your lifetime. It’s a proven way to change your attitude, worldview, and karma forever. Here are the 10 best ways to make your trip more affordable…without having to settle for a trip that’s not quite what you wanted.  You can take your dream trip and stick to a budget .

1. Check seasonality

Probably the hardest thing to avoid when planning a long trip (yet one of the factors that affects prices the most) is high season travel. After all, you wanna go when you wanna go. But traveling during busy times for a destination can raise the price of a single flight by 30% or more.

• High season : June, July & August. Dec 15 – Jan 10
• Low season : Jan 10 – March 31
• Shoulder season : all the rest

In the northern hemisphere, June through August is summer. Students are out of school, and employees are off work, and lots of them spend this time traveling. Late December through early January are high season because of Christmas and New Year’s, a time when many people across the world travel to visit friends and family. The seasonality factor is especially relevant traveling to or from high-traffic, seasonal destinations like Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific.

2. Limit your number of destinations

The world’s a big place, but you don’t have to try to see it all at once. Here’s a few reasons why: Round-the-world ticket fares are usually based on miles traveled, so it follows that the more cities you visit the more your ticket will cost, especially if they happen to cross oceans. Limiting your destinations will save you money on the ticket, not to mention giving you more quality time in the places you do go. But sometimes you can actually see more places for less via multi-city stops  (by turning layovers into stopovers) so just be flexible and do your research! And if you’re wanting to upgrade to a business class flight , you can still use these other tips to maximize your value.

3. Travel overland

Overland travel allows you several things: a glimpse beyond a country’s flashy cosmopolitan surface, a firsthand view of its beautiful countryside, and a cheaper final price for your itinerary. Take advantage of what an AirTreks ticket allows you (that  other types of tickets  don’t) and travel overland wherever you can. It’s not as difficult, dangerous or confusing as you might think.

4. Be willing to connect

Everyone loves the convenience of a beeline point-A-to-point-B trip. But for just this reason, nonstop flights can be the most expensive ones. Not every nonstop flight is a surefire trip to the poorhouse, but if you’re open to connecting in a hub city you’ll almost always be able to save money on your ticket. On that note…

5. Choose stops in hub-cities

Consider only flying into airline hubs (usually the country’s capital or biggest city) since that’s where the carrier will connect to smaller cities or towns in the country. Compare prices for local ground transportation (train, bus, car rental, ferry) versus the cost to connect via plane. Or else…

6. Use your city connection as a destination

If you want to get the most from the money you’re spending, think about booking a stopover. A stopover can increase the value of your trip without increasing the cost. There are several cities that offer  free or cheap options for stopping over for certain amounts of time . Here are a few options for interesting stopover destinations:

7. Don’t backtrack

Unless you absolutely have to retrace your steps, don’t! While it is possible on an AirTreks ticket, this will typically increase your cost unnecessarily . For the lowest fare, you should set up your trip to route the fewest miles traveled possible. You’ll save some cash  and  time spent cooped up on the plane.

8. Follow the equatorial rule

While some of the world’s most enticing destinations are on the other side of the equator from home, these long flights are costly. Every travel consultant at AirTreks will tell you: every time you cross the equator, you add between $1000 – $1500 to your trip total. You’re far better off focusing on one world region and getting the most out of it. In other words, minimize the number of long-haul flights in your itinerary and you’ll be able to spend that extra money doing other fun and interesting things.

9. Book 4 – 6 months in advance

While some airlines do offer good deals on last-minute fares, it usually doesn’t help to wait till the last minute (or even the last month) to book an AirTreks ticket. Early access to the seat inventory helps us book you the cheapest ticket available. Finally, if your trip cost is still out of reach…

10. Ask for advice

Which of your must-see places are making your trip cost prohibitive? Our travel consultants deal with complex multi-stop and RTW trips every day. Ask them which stops to get add or eliminate to lower the price  — they’ll be able to suggest unexpected ways of assembling your itinerary so that it works for your budget . Some airlines offer discounts for travelers over 65 and students, and most offer discounts for children, and infants.

You can also try out different routes with TripPlanner  just to see which routes will be most expensive.

Build Your Trip

14 Easy Tips to Always Find Cheap Flights

Last Updated: March 15, 2024

For most trips, airfare is the most expensive part of the trip. While prices for transatlantic flights have gone down in recent years, they can still put a sizeable dent in any travel budget. Whether you’re a budget solo traveler or a family looking to vacation abroad, finding a cheap flight deal can be what makes or breaks your trip.

After all, if your flight is too expensive, you’re likely going to keep putting the trip off. I’ve seen it happen time and time again.

And yet every day, airlines have thousands of amazing deals — from mistakenly published fares to special promotions to slashing prices to compete with another airline. Cheap fares are out there and they can make your dream trip a reality — if you know where to look (I start all my flight searches with Skyscanner ).

Today, I am going to help you master the art of finding a cheap flight. These are the exact steps I’ve been following for a decade to get the cheapest airfare possible every time I fly. If you follow them too, you’ll never be the person on a flight who paid the most for their ticket!

Here’s how to find a cheap flight no matter where you want to go in the world:

Table of Contents

1. Ignore the Myths

2. be flexible with your travel dates and times, 3. be flexible with your destinations, 4. keep an eye for special deals, 5. fly budget carriers, 6. don’t always fly direct, 7. remember not all search engines are equal, 8. take advantage of student discounts, 9. mix and match airlines, 10. use points and miles, 11. search ticket prices for individual travelers, 12. look for tickets in other currencies, 13. book early (but not too early), 14. book hidden city fares, find your cheap flights today.

The first thing to know about finding a cheap flight is that there is no magic bullet or one secret ninja trick to doing so. There are a lot of myths online about how to find cheap flights. In fact, you’ve probably come across a ton of them on your search to find the best flight deal!

They are all lies. They will lead you astray.

Most websites hire terrible reporters who recycle common and outdated myths. Here are the most common that are 100% not true:

• It is NOT cheaper to buy airfare on a Tuesday (or any other specific day for that matter).
• There is NO evidence that searching incognito leads to cheaper deals.
• There is NO exact date or specific time period in which to book your airfare.
• You can’t predict airline prices and websites that do are basically taking an educated (but probably wrong) guess.

Airlines use advanced computer and pricing algorithms to determine prices and run sales based on the time of the year, passenger demand, weather, major events/festivals, time of day, competitor prices, fuel prices, and much more. Those so-called “tricks” don’t work anymore. The system is too smart. Throw them out. Let them die.

Don’t listen to anyone who tells you otherwise. Anyone who is telling you doesn’t know what they are talking about.  

Airline ticket prices vary greatly depending on the day of the week, time of year, and upcoming holidays, such as Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Thanksgiving, or the Fourth of July. August is a big month for traveling around Europe , and everyone wants to go somewhere warm in the winter or travel when the kids are out of school.

In a nutshell, if you are going to fly when everyone is flying, then your ticket is going to cost more.

The solution is to fly off-season. Search alternative dates so that you can capitalize on the best day. The more rigid your plans, the less likely it will be that you find a deal.

Try to be flexible with your dates. If you are dead-set on visiting Paris , go in the spring or fall when fewer people visit and airfares are cheaper.

But if you want to go in the middle of August? You’re out of luck. Hawaii over Christmas? Good luck! Prices will be at their highest.

Moreover, it’s almost always cheaper to fly during the middle of the week than on a weekend because most people travel on the weekends and airlines hike their prices then. Prices are cheaper if you fly after or on a major holiday. Early-morning or late-night flights are also cheaper because fewer people want to travel then (who wants to wake up early?!). Fridays and Mondays are expensive because that’s when most business travelers fly.

When searching on Skyscanner , simply click on the date field to expand the calendar view and you’ll immediately see the cheapest months to fly. On this search from NYC to Paris, you can see that traveling during September, November, or December would be half as much as traveling during June or July:

Airlines are not dumb. They know when a festival, holiday, major sports event, or school break is coming up — and they raise prices accordingly.

Be flexible with your dates and times and you’ll save yourself some major money.  

If you can’t be flexible with when you fly, at least be flexible with where you fly. It’s best to be flexible with both, but if you really want to save the most money and get a cheap flight for your trip, you at least need to be flexible with one or the other.

Airline search engines have made it really easy to search the entire world to find the cheapest ticket. You no longer have to search manually, city by city, day by day. Websites like Skyscanner and Google Flights offer explore tools that allow you to put in your home airport and see a map of the world with all the flights on it. This allows you to easily compare multiple destinations without having to brainstorm every possible option. You’ll likely even find some interesting destinations you hadn’t even thought of either!

If you are flexible with where you want to go (i.e., anywhere but home), all you need to do is type “Everywhere” into the search box on Skyscanner or “Anywhere” if you’re using Google Flights.

The truth about airfare is that there’s always a deal to some destination — it might just not be your first choice. However, if you’re flexible about where you want to go, you’ll always get a deal and save a ton of money in the process.

When you are locked into one place at one time, you are stuck with whatever price shows up. Nothing can change that. But when you become flexible, suddenly the entire world opens up to you and you’ll find amazing cheap airfares!  

Before you start looking for specific lights, make sure you’ve signed up for some newsletters. Joining the mailing list for airlines and last-minute deal websites will give you access to the absolute best deals out there. Sure, 99% of them might not fit your itinerary but keeping your eye on the deals will ensure you don’t miss an amazing opportunity.

More often than not, cheap flights are only available for a limited window (usually 24 hours). If you aren’t always scouring the web for sales, you’ll likely miss out on the best deals.

I would have missed out on a round-trip ticket to Japan for $700 USD (normally $1,500) as well as a $500 flight to South Africa if I wasn’t signed up to flight deal websites.

Additionally, airline newsletters often offer frequent flier bonuses. Those points and miles can add up to free flights and awesome upgrades.

Aside from joining airline newsletters, the best website for finding travel deals is Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) . It’s the BEST for upcoming US flight deals and new users can get 20% off a Premium membership with the code NOMADICMATT20.

Other sites worth checking out are:

• The Flight Deal – Great for global flight deals.
• Holiday Pirates – The best for European flight deals.
• Secret Flying – A great site for flight deals from around the world.

Years ago, if you wanted to fly between continents, you were mostly stuck with traditional expensive airlines. That’s no longer true. These days, you can fly most of the way around the world on a budget airline. Sure, they might not be as comfortable and you may need to pay for premium upgrades like checked bags and meals, but they bring the world to your doorstep without breaking the bank.

Budget airlines mainly service short and medium-haul routes. While many budget carriers (notably Norwegian Air) scrapped their long-haul routes during COVID, new ones (like PLAY, Norse Atlantic Airways, and French Bee) have now arisen to take their place.

For now, budget airlines mainly operate regionally so it’s really easy to find a cheap flight, even during this age of higher prices.

• Flair Airlines
• Air Canada Rouge
• Air Transat

United States

• Allegiant Air
• Spirit Airlines
• Sun Country Airlines
• Hong Kong Express
• Spring Airlines
• T’Way Airlines
• Cebu Pacific
• VietJet Air
• Norwegian Air

Australia/New Zealand

Middle East

Flying budget airlines is a good alternative to flying “the majors” whenever possible. You get fewer perks, but you can save a bundle in price.

Just be sure to watch out for fees. That’s how they make money! Budget airlines often charge fees for checked bags, carry-ons, printing your boarding pass, using a credit card, and anything else they can get away with. Be sure to add up the cost of the ticket AND the fees to make sure that the price is lower than a larger carrier.

You’ll also want to double-check the location of the budget airline’s airport at your intended destination. These airlines often fly in and out of airports that are quite far from the actual city, with limited and expensive transportation options.

For example, the shuttle to Beauvais, the budget airport for Paris , costs 17 EUR one-way. If you’re flying roundtrip, this means that you should add about 34 EUR to the price of your plane ticket to see if you’re even saving much by flying a budget airline.  

Not only does it help to be flexible with dates and destinations but being flexible with the route you take is another way to get a cheap flight. For example, sometimes it’s cheaper to fly to London and take a budget airline to Amsterdam than to fly direct to Amsterdam from your departure city.

I did precisely this when I was going to Paris. The flight from the US was $900 USD, but I could fly to Dublin for $600 and get a $60 flight to Paris. It meant more flying time, but the $240 USD I saved was worth it to me.

To use this method, find out how much it is to go directly to your destination. Then, open Google Flights and type in that destination’s continent to look at prices to nearby airports. If the difference is more than $150 USD, I look to see how much it is to get from the second airport to my primary destination (either by budget flight or train, if it’s not too far). You can use Rome2Rio to help search for the best ways to get between a nearby airport and your primary destination.

You can also do this for leaving too. It might be cheaper to fly out from a nearby airport. I often search other airports to see if it’s cheaper to fly/drive/train there and then fly to my final destination. For long international flights, it can be worth the added time!

If you do book separate segments, be sure to have at least three hours between connections. This will give you space in case there is a delay as your second flight won’t wait for you (you booked with a separate airline, so they won’t care if you’re late or not).

Leaving a three-hour buffer will also cover you for an insurance claim since most insurance companies require you to have at least a 3-hour delay before you can make a claim.

This method is more work since you have to figure out lots of different routes and check different airlines. But it can lower the price of your flight, which is worth the extra effort if you end up saving a few hundred bucks.

Note : If you ever have a delayed flight to or from Europe, you might be owed additional compensation (upwards of 600 EUR). Here’s how to find out if you’re entitled to compensation!  

In order to find the best deal, you need to search multiple websites. Many major search sites don’t list budget carriers or obscure foreign carriers because those airlines don’t want to pay a booking commission. Others don’t list booking sites that aren’t in English. And others still only display prices retrieved directly from airlines.

In short, not all flight search websites are created equal and all have their pros and cons.

Since there is no perfect airline search engine, you’ll want to search a few to compare. Even the best have their faults. That said, I have a few favorites I always start with as they tend to consistently show the best results. To me, the best websites to find a cheap flight are the following:

• Skyscanner – The best booking site out there. They have a great user interface (and a great app for mobile )
• Google Flights – Great search engine that lets you see prices for multiple destinations.

Typically, I start all my searches with Skyscanner because it searches all major AND budget airlines, non-English websites, English websites, and everything in between. They vet all the sites they link to as they have strict criteria on who they operate with. It’s one of the most comprehensive booking sites out there and they have the lowest price 99% of the time. I’ve been using them since 2008, and it’s the search engine all the other travel experts I know use too.  

If you are a student (or under 26), there are many discounts available to you. You can usually find prices 10-20% off the standard fare. Travel agencies like Flight Centre and Student Universe can help find you a cheap ticket. Don’t overlook them!

Additionally, keep in mind that most student discounts transfer over to airline partners. For example, Lufthansa offers a student discount, which means you can use that discount on partner airlines such as Swiss Airlines and Austrian Airlines. This will allow you to go much further afield while still saving a ton of money.

If you’re not sure which airlines offer discounts (they don’t make this information easy to find), visit their website or call them. Doing a little digging to save 20% (or more) will be worth it!  

When you book directly with an airline, you’ll only be able to fly that airline and any partner airlines it has. That means your options will be limited when it comes to finding the perfect itinerary or saving the most money.

Usually, that will suffice. However, if you’re chasing greater savings, try booking your tickets on separate airlines. For example, if you’re flying from New York to Paris, you might have a stop in London. Booking both legs as one ticket will be simple, but it likely won’t save you money.

Instead, book your New York to London flight as one ticket and then your London to Paris ticket with another airline. That will allow you to shop around for the best bargain. It’s more work, but the savings (and flexibility) can be worth it.

This is what most third-party booking websites like Kiwi.com do. They piece together trips using whatever flights they can find to ensure you get the cheapest price.

If you’re hunting for the lowest possible price and aren’t happy with what you’re finding on the airline’s website, try booking separate segments. You might just stumble onto a great deal!  

As soon as you know you want to travel somewhere you should sign up for a travel credit card. Using points and miles is the #1 way avid travelers like me earn free flights, travel perks, and free hotel stays. Travel credit cards offer huge welcome bonuses, credit toward rideshares like Uber or Lyft, access to airport lounges, travel insurance, and much more.

You don’t need to do any extra spending either. I earn over a million miles a year — without flying or spending extra money. That translates into dozens of free flights (often in business class) for myself and my family.

If you are smart with your money and collect points and miles, you can travel around the world for very little (and often free). Here are some articles that can help you get started:

• Points and Miles 101: A Beginner’s Guide
• How I Earn 1 Million Frequent Flier Miles Every Year
• Is Collecting Points and Miles Really a Scam?
• The Ultimate Guide to Points and Miles
• The Ultimate Guide to Picking the Best Travel Credit Card
• The Best Travel Credit Cards for Travelers

If you already have some points and miles collected, consider joining a platform like point.me . It’s a search and booking engine that helps you find the best ways to use your points and miles. It searches 30+ loyalty and 100+ airline programs to find the best value possible so you never waste your miles! Get your first month for just $1 with the code NOMADICMATT .  

If you’re traveling with friends or family, don’t search for or buy multiple tickets in a single purchase. Airlines always show the highest ticket price in a group of tickets which means you’ll end up paying more money.

Airlines have tons of different price points for tickets (these are based on a variety of factors). They want to sell tickets in the highest fare bucket possible and, when they group tickets together, always list prices in the highest fare bucket.

For example, if you are a family of four and you’re searching for four seats, the airline will find four seats together and show your fare based on the highest ticket price. So if seat A is $200, seats B and C are $300, and seat D is $400, it will price those tickets as $400 each instead of adding up the individual ticket prices. If the price difference is large, that translates into a sizeable extra expense.

For that reason, always search for tickets as a single person. Afterward, in the checkout process, you can pick your seats so you and your family are sitting together. And even if you end up not beside one another, that’s a fair trade for saving a few hundred dollars.  

If your country’s currency is currently strong compared to others around the world, search for airfare in a country where the currency is weaker.

For example, when the US dollar was strong and the New Zealand currency weak, I found a one-way flight from Australia to NYC for $1,000 USD. However, when I searched on the New Zealand version of the airline, I found the same ticket for $600 USD.

It was the same airline, same flight, and same booking class — it was just booked in a different currency. This tip does not always work, but it works often enough that it’s something worth trying if your currency is currently doing well.

( Tip : Always use a no-foreign-transaction-fee card to avoid paying a surcharge .)  

Airline fares keep rising the closer you get to departure, but there is a sweet spot when the airlines begin to either lower or increase fares based on demand. Don’t wait until the last second but don’t book far, far in advance either. The best time to book your flight is around 2-3months before your departure, or around five months before if you are going to your destination during their peak season.

This isn’t a hard and fast rule, though, so use it as a guide. I could go on forever about airline pricing models but airlines raise prices closer to departure because the people who book last minute tend to be price insensitive business travelers so they will pay whatever. So don’t book last minute!  

This is a more advanced (and riskier) way of finding cheap flights, but if you’re adamant about spending as little money as possible, it’s worth looking for hidden city fares. This is when you book a flight that has a layover in your desired destination. You then get off the plane and exit the airport at the layover city instead of continuing onto the final destination that you booked the ticket for.

For example, say you want to fly from Austin to Atlanta. A flight from Austin to New Orleans with a stop in Atlanta might be cheaper than booking Austin to Atlanta directly.

As you can imagine, this practice can get complicated and tricky. There are a few crucial elements to keep in mind, namely that once you skip a leg, the airline cancels the rest of your trip. That means that you cannot buy round-trip flights and do this practice on your departure flight, because your return flight will be cancelled. Also, you cannot check bags, as they will end up in the final destination on your ticket, not where you get off.

Additionally, airlines strongly frown upon this practice, so you don’t want to advertise that this is what you’re doing, and you don’t want to do it often, otherwise you might get flagged.

All that being said, you can save hundreds of dollars with hidden city flights, and it’s perfectly legal. It’s easy to search for hidden city flights on the website Skiplagged . Just do so at your own risk!

Finding a cheap flight is all about being flexible and getting creative. It may take some effort, but the deals are out there if you’re willing to look. Follow the tips above to get started, but don’t waste hours and hours hunting for a cheap flight. If you’re spending more than an hour booking a flight, you’re spending too much time.

Once you find a flight deal that you’re happy with, book right away, as airfares change by the minute. Remember that you have a 24-hour window to cancel in case you need to.

Use the tips above on how to get a cheap flight to get the ball rolling. Do that, and you’ll always get a great deal!  

I start all my searches with Skyscanner because they search all major AND budget airlines, non-English websites, English websites, and everything in between. Even if you aren’t sure of your plans, it’s best to start searching for flights today. People who wait to book are people who end up spending the most.

Use this widget to plan your next trip:

READ NEXT —-> How to Put This Into Practice: 5 Step-by-Step Instructions for Booking a Flight

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. If you have any questions about the companies or my status as an affiliate, please don’t hesitate to email me.

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• At the airport

Checked bag policy

Checked bag allowances.

Changes to bag allowances and fees have been updated as of February 20, 2024.

Travel within / between the U.S., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands – 1st checked bag fee is $40 ($35 if you pay online) and the 2nd checked bag fee is $45.

Travel to / from Canada, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and Guyana – 1st checked bag fee is $35 and the 2nd checked bag fee is $45.

All bag fees are non-refundable and apply per person, at each check-in location, each way, even if you purchase or get an upgrade that includes free checked bags. If you believe you've been incorrectly charged for bag fees, contact an American representative for help or file a refund claim within 45 days.

• Bag limitations
• Bag and optional fees

How many bags can you take?

Check up to 10 bags on american airlines operated flights if your trip is:.

• Transatlantic
• Transpacific

Check up to 5 bags on American-operated flights if you’re traveling to / through / from:

• Mexico / Caribbean / Central America*
• South America*
• Bag regions

*There are seasonal and year-round bag restrictions

We calculate the size limits of your bag by adding the total outside dimensions of each bag, length + width + height.

For all regions, except to / from Australia or New Zealand, your checked bag allowance is:

• Dimension: 62 in / 158 cm
• Weight: 50 lbs / 23 kgs
• For First / Business, weight is 70 lbs / 32 kgs for complimentary bags and 50 lbs / 23 kgs for excess charged bags

For all confirmed customers on flights to / from Australia or New Zealand:

• Weight: 70 lbs / 32kgs for complimentary bags and 50 lbs / 23 kgs for excess charged bags
• Oversize and overweight bags

What it will cost

In some cases, you won't have to pay the fees for up to 3 bags when traveling on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airlines. If you qualify for complimentary bags based on your AAdvantage ® status or one world ® status, the benefits are based on your highest status level at time of ticketing or check-in.

If your status level is:

• Higher at ticketing than at check-in, show your ticket receipt to the airport agent
• Lower at ticketing than at check-in, current benefits will automatically apply

Free checked bags may not apply to codeshare flights operated by our partners. Visit the website of the airline operating your flight for details.

Other airlines

1st checked bag is complimentary for:

• Eligible AAdvantage ® Aviator ® and Citi ® / AAdvantage ® cardmembers (on domestic American Airlines operated itineraries)
• AAdvantage Gold ® status
• GOL Diamond Smiles members
• oneworld ® Ruby

or when traveling to these destinations:

• El Salvador*
• New Zealand^
• South Korea^
• Transatlantic*

*Excluding Basic Economy

^Excluding Basic Economy for tickets issued on / after June 7, 2023

1st and 2nd checked bags are complimentary for:

• AAdvantage Platinum ® status
• one world ® Sapphire members
• Confirmed Domestic First customers
• Confirmed Business customers
• Confirmed Premium Economy customers

1st, 2nd and 3rd checked bags are complimentary for:

• Confirmed Flagship ® First and Flagship ® Business Plus customers*
• AAdvantage Executive Platinum ® status
• AAdvantage Platinum Pro ® status
• one world ® Emerald
• Active U.S. military and / or dependents with ID traveling on orders (1st - 5th bags free of charge)**
• Active U.S. military with ID on personal travel**

*Applicable only to Flagship ® First International, Flagship ® First Transcontinental and Flagship ® Business Plus. AAdvantage Executive Platinum ® status, AAdvantage Platinum Pro ® status and oneworld ® Emerald members traveling in Flagship ® First may check a 4th bag at no charge

**Free checked bags apply when traveling on American marketed and operated itineraries. Free checked bags don't apply to codeshare flights operated by our partners.

Save time, pay online

Don’t wait in line at the airport – get the best price available and check up to 3 bags when you check-in on aa.com or in the app.

Pay for your checked bags online within 24 hours of departure and receive the best price available for travel on domestic flights within and between the U.S., including Hawaii and Alaska, and select markets in the Caribbean and Central America.

For tickets issued on / after February 20, 2024, save $5 on the 1st checked bag fee for travel within and between the U.S., including Hawaii and Alaska, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.

For more information about paying for your bags online, visit our customer service FAQs.

Customer service FAQs

All published bag fees apply at each check-in location and are base rates according to travel dates and destination; applicable taxes are not shown.

All bag fees are non-refundable and apply per person, each way, even if you buy or get an upgrade that includes free checked bags. If you believe you were incorrectly charged for bag fees, contact an American representative for help or file a refund claim within 45 days.

^Main Plus includes 1 extra free checked bag in addition to the Main Cabin allowance (max of 2)

^^A $30 1st checked bag fee and a $40 2nd checked bag fee applies for tickets issued on / before February 19, 2024. A $40 1st checked bag fee ($35 if paid online) and a $45 2nd checked bag fee applies within / between the U.S. (including HI / AK), Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands for tickets issued on / after February 20, 2024. Otherwise, a $35 1st checked bag fee and a $45 2nd checked bag fee applies for tickets issued on / after February 20, 2024.

*Free bag excludes Basic Economy: For Basic Economy travel to / from Haiti, a $30 1st bag fee applies for tickets issued on / before February 19, 2024 and a $35 1st bag fee applies for tickets issued on / after February 20, 2024. For Basic Economy travel to/from Panama / Colombia / Ecuador / Peru a $45 1st bag fee applies. For Basic Economy travel to / from South America (excluding Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname) a $45 1st bag fee applies for tickets issued on / before September 19, 2023 and a $60 1st bag fee applies for tickets issued on / after September 20, 2023. For Transatlantic Basic Economy travel, a $75 1st bag fee applies. For Transpacific Basic Economy travel for tickets issued on / after June 7, 2023 a $75 1st bag fee applies and for tickets issued on / before June 6, 2023 there is no 1st bag fee.

**For travel to / from Panama and South America (except Guyana and Suriname), a $65 2nd bag fee applies for tickets issued on / before September 19, 2023 and a $100 2nd bag fee applies for tickets issued on / after September 20, 2023.

Flights departing Canada

Find out how much you'll pay for checked bags and other fees on roundtrip and one-way flights departing Canada, displayed in CAD.

Bag and optional fees - Canada

If your region isn’t listed, we can still help:

• Reservations and ticket changes

Through checked bags

We only through check bags if all your tickets are in the same reservation and you’re connecting to another American Airlines or one world ® flight.

Each passenger traveling to Cuba may only check up to 2 bags* with a maximum weight of 70 lbs / 32 kgs per bag, plus 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal item.

• Carry-on bags

*Seasonal exceptions apply to Havana, Cuba effective for travel on / after March 14, 2023

*For travel to Cuba, a $30 1st bag fee applies to Basic Economy and Main Cabin for tickets issued on / before September 19, 2023. For tickets issued on / after September 20, 2023 a $30 1st bag fee applies to Basic Economy and there is no 1st bag fee for Main Cabin. For tickets issued on / after February 20, 2024 a $35 1st bag fee applies to Basic Economy and there is no 1st bag fee for Main Cabin.

**For travel to Cuba, a $200 2nd bag fee applies seasonally for travel from November 16 – January 9. A $150 2nd bag fee applies otherwise. Excludes Main Plus for tickets issued on / after September 20, 2023.

^Main Plus includes 1 extra free checked bag in addition to the Main Cabin allowance (max of 2).

What else can you travel with?

• Mobility and medical devices
• Traveling with pets
• Special items and sports equipment

Restricted items

There are some items that are only allowed in checked bags or your carry-on. Check to see how to pack and travel with restricted items.

Flying on a partner airline?

Find helpful information if your trip includes 1 or more flights with our partner airlines.

• British Airways
• Japan Airlines
• Qatar Airways

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• Paying for bags online

Please review our Terms of Use , which changed on May 24, 2024.

Walt Disney World Theme Park Tickets

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Florida residents, special offers.

4-Day, 4-Park Magic Ticket

• A Walt Disney World water park (either Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park or Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park—whichever is open)
• ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
• Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course
• FootGolf at Disney's Oak Trail
• Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course (one round; prior to 4:00 PM)
• Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course (one round; prior to 4:00 PM)
• Admission to each of the 4 Walt Disney World theme parks (Magic Kingdom park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park). One admission per theme park. One theme park per day.
• Valid from April 2 through September 22, 2024. Ticket must be used within 7 days of selected start date.

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4-day ticket (Ages 10+) from:

Special 3-Day 3-Park Ticket

Special 3-Day, 3-Park Ticket

• Admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, EPCOT and Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park only. One admission per theme park. One theme park per day. Does not include Magic Kingdom.
• Valid from April 2 through September 24, 2024. Ticket must be used within 5 days of selected start date.

3-day ticket (Ages 10+) from:

Prices and Products for All Guests

Theme park ticket.

• Magic Kingdom park
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park

Park Hopper option : Visit more than one theme park on the same day. The ability to visit a park is subject to the park's capacity limitations.

Water Park and Sports option : Visit one theme park per day, plus enjoy a certain number of visits to a water park or other Walt Disney World fun. A 2-day ticket allows two visits, a 3-day ticket allows 3 visits and a 4-day ticket allows 4 visits. For each visit, you can choose one of the following:

Park Hopper Plus option : Visit more than one theme park on the same day, plus enjoy a certain number of visits to a water park or other Walt Disney World fun. A 2-day ticket allows 2 visits, a 3-day ticket allows 3 visits and a 4-day ticket allows 4 visits. The ability to visit a park is subject to the park's capacity limitations.

For each visit, you can choose one of the following:

All tickets and options are nontransferable and nonrefundable and exclude activities/events separately priced or not open to the general public. Parks, attractions and other offerings subject to availability, closures and change or cancellation without notice or liability. Water parks are subject to extended rehabilitation, seasonal, capacity and weather closures or may close for other reasons. On certain dates a water park may only be open for special events or to limited groups. Tee times are required for Disney's Oak Trail Golf Course and are subject to availability. FootGolf is available every Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday during select afternoon hours, subject to availability. Miniature golf valid for one round. Round must start prior to 4:00 PM. Only one miniature golf visit per day. ESPN Wide World of Sports admission valid only on event days; some events require an additional admission charge; there are no events on certain days; days and hours of operation of concessions, venues and attractions vary. Visit espnwwos.com for more information.

1 to 10-day standard date-based ticket

• Date-based ticket that requires you to choose a start date.

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1-day ticket (Ages 10+) from:

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Elektrostal, Russia

Essential elektrostal.

Elektrostal Is Great For

Eat & drink.

• Apelsin Hotel
• Elektrostal Hotel
• Apart Hotel Yantar
• Mini Hotel Banifatsiy
• Restaurant Globus
• Amsterdam Moments
• Cafe Antresole
• Viki Cinema
• Statue of Lenin
• Park of Culture and Leisure

Expedia Rewards is now One Key™

Elektrostal, visit elektrostal, check elektrostal hotel availability, popular places to visit.

• Electrostal History and Art Museum

You can spend time exploring the galleries in Electrostal History and Art Museum in Elektrostal. Take in the museums while you're in the area.

• Cities near Elektrostal

• Places of interest
• Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center
• Central Museum of the Air Forces at Monino
• Peter the Great Military Academy
• History of Russian Scarfs and Shawls Museum
• Ramenskii History and Art Museum
• Bykovo Manor
• Pekhorka Park
• Balashikha Arena
• Malenky Puppet Theater
• Drama Theatre BOOM
• Balashikha Museum of History and Local Lore
• Pavlovsky Posad Museum of Art and History
• Saturn Stadium
• Church of Vladimir
• Likino Dulevo Museum of Local Lore
• Orekhovo Zuevsky City Exhibition Hall
• Noginsk Museum and Exhibition Center
• Fairy Tale Children's Model Puppet Theater
• Fifth House Gallery
• Malakhovka Museum of History and Culture

Plan Your Lyubertsy Holiday: Best of Lyubertsy

Explore Lyubertsy

Essential lyubertsy.

Lyubertsy Is Great For

Eat & drink.

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• Local & State

Resurgam festival, a massive yard sale and more things to do this weekend

Comedian Dave Attell is in town, Zephyr Ice is serving up cool treats and food trucks are out in force (there's an app that will tell you where).

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We’re not entirely sure how the weekend weather is going to shake out, but either way there’s a whole lot going on, so let’s get to it.

Maine Roller Derby skaters competing at Happy Wheels Skate Center in Westbrook. Photo by Jim Vernier

On Saturday and Sunday, Maine Roller Derby’s first international tournament happens at Happy Wheels Skate Center in Westbrook. There will be several exciting flat-track bouts, and if you’re a Mainer, tickets are half off.

Get a discount on tickets to Maine Roller Derby’s international tournament

Max Abraham runs through Moon Tide Park while performing with the band Corpus Chicanery at last year’s Resurgam festival. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

The Resurgam Music and Arts Festival is Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Ocean Gateway marine terminal and surrounding areas. The list of performers is about 17 miles long and includes Oshima Brothers Band and professional hula hoop and circus artist Nettie Loops.

Resurgam festival returns this weekend with music, arts and more

Local musician Toby McAllister, pictured here at The Press Room in Portsmouth, would of course play at a local venue on his perfect day. Photo by Corey Fitzgerald and courtesy of Toby McAllister

Another musician you can see at Resurgam is Toby McAllister from Sparks The Rescue. McAllister unpacked his perfect Maine day for us, and it includes a hike in Grafton Notch and a stop at Puzzle Mountain Bakery in Newry for cookies.

My Perfect Day: Hiking Old Speck, eating tacos and sweets, playing a show – for musician Toby McAllister, it all strikes a chord

Comic Dave Attell plays the State Theatre in Portland, June 8. Photo courtesy of the State Theatre

There’s plenty else cooking this weekend , including Yoga in the Park on Saturday and the Walk the Working Waterfront tour. Both are in Portland. Or you can shop till you drop at Maine’s Ultimate Spring Yard Sale Saturday at Cumberland Fairgrounds. Need a few laughs? Grab a ticket to see comic Dave Attell at the State Theatre Saturday.

Waterfront tour, giant yard sale, comic Dave Attell

Zephyr proudly tells its customers that everything is made in house with real fruit and no dyes. Photo by Megan Gray

Satisfy your sweet tooth with something a little different this weekend. Zephyr Ice in Portland serves shaved ice atop a scoop of regular or vegan ice cream. Choose from a variety of syrup flavors, all made in-house with real fruit.

For cool, customizable treats, breeze on in to Zephyr Ice

Mainely Burgers food truck. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

Should you fancy a food truck fix, check out our massive, always growing food truck guide and get busy chowing down.

A guide to 87 food trucks rolling through Maine

A Foodtruckalico Instagram post featuring the Ugly Dumpling food truck. Photo by Justin Velgos

For even more food truck fodder, we suggest heading to Food Truckalico on Instagram . A couple of times a week, the account shares details about where and when you can find trucks in the Portland area.

Follow the food trucks with Food Truckalico on Instagram

A newspaper article about a Comegato sighting from web series “Tracking the Comegato.” Photo courtesy of Kate Kaminski

If the weather does indeed relegate you to the indoors, curl up on the couch and fire up the new web series “Tracking the Comegato” about a beastly human-weasel hybrid that may or may not exist.

Could this human-weasel hybrid from Maine join the ranks of Bigfoot?

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