How to Book a Round the World Ticket

Round the world (RTW) tickets let you visit 4-16 destinations on a single itinerary using one airline alliance. Book through airline alliances like Star Alliance or OneWorld, not directly with individual carriers. Prices run $2,000–$5,000 depending on regions visited and how many stops you make.

1. Decide which alliance works for your route. The three major alliances are Star Alliance (United, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines), OneWorld (American, British Airways, Cathay Pacific), and SkyTeam (Delta, Air France, KLM). Check each alliance's route map and member airlines to see which covers the countries you want to visit. Not all destinations are equally served by all alliances—if you need to hit Southeast Asia plus South America, you might need a different alliance than someone doing Europe and Africa.
2. Plan your route on paper first. Write down every city you want to visit in order. RTW tickets must follow a logical geographic path—you can't jump randomly. Most tickets require you to move generally in one direction (east or west) and not backtrack. Sketch this out before you contact anyone. Include at least 4 destinations; some alliances have minimums and maximums (typically 4-16 stops).
3. Calculate total mileage. Most RTW tickets are priced by distance bands, not by number of flights. Use the alliance's mileage calculator or add up the great circle distances between each leg of your journey. Star Alliance, for example, prices based on total miles flown. This determines your final ticket cost. A ticket under 20,000 miles costs less than one over 39,000 miles.
4. Contact the alliance or a specialized RTW agent. You cannot book RTW tickets online through normal airline websites. Call the alliance's RTW ticket desk directly or work with a travel agent who specializes in these tickets (search 'RTW specialist travel agent'). Provide your exact routing and the agent will quote you a price. Expect the call to take 20-40 minutes. Get a written quote before committing.
5. Confirm all segment rules before paying. Ask about stopover limits, minimum stay between flights, maximum validity (usually 1 year), whether you can change the order of cities, and change/cancellation policies. Different alliances have different rules. Some let free stopovers in certain cities; others don't. Confirm the ticket is refundable or what happens if plans change. Get this in writing.
6. Book and pay. Once you agree, you'll pay the full ticket price upfront (non-refundable deposit common, then balance due before ticket issuance). The agent books all segments at once and issues a single ticket with multiple flight coupons. You'll receive your itinerary and e-tickets or physical ticket stock. Print everything and keep it organized by date.
7. Get travel insurance immediately. With this much money committed to a single ticket, buy comprehensive travel insurance that covers trip cancellation and medical emergencies. Standard policies don't always cover RTW trips—specifically request coverage for round the world itineraries. Premiums are typically 5-8% of your total ticket cost.

Can I change the order of cities once I've booked?

Usually not without rebooking the entire ticket. Some alliances allow one free routing change; others charge heavily. Confirm change policies before you book. The reason: your ticket is priced on the exact routing and mileage you specified.

What if a flight gets cancelled mid-trip?

The airline must rebook you on the next available flight on the same alliance to your next destination. You're protected as a ticketed passenger. However, delays can cause you to miss onward flights. Travel insurance with trip delay coverage protects you if delays cause you to miss connections or need accommodation.

Do I have to use all the flights?

No, but be aware: if you skip a segment (called a 'no-show'), airlines may cancel all remaining segments. Talk to your agent about this before skipping anything. Some segments can be dropped without penalty if you inform the airline in advance; others cannot.

Can I use frequent flyer miles for an RTW ticket?

Some alliances allow miles redemptions for RTW tickets, but availability is limited and the value is often poor. If you have significant miles in one alliance, call them first to compare miles-redemption pricing versus cash. For most people, paying cash is clearer.

How far in advance do I need to book?

RTW agents typically need 2–4 weeks to process the ticket. Book 2–3 months ahead if possible to lock in pricing and allow time to obtain visas. Last-minute bookings are possible but may have limited routing options.

What's the difference between an RTW ticket and just booking separate one-way flights?

RTW tickets are usually cheaper than buying individual segments and offer a fixed total price. Booking separately leaves you vulnerable to price spikes and doesn't guarantee connection protection across different airlines. RTW is simpler logistically if you're visiting 5+ countries.