Round-the-World Ticket with Various Airlines

Principle

This involves creating a route with flights from different airlines, implying that they are not necessarily partners. This is what originally existed and can still be used today.

For example, you might take a first flight with airline X, then another with Y, before flying again with X, then taking Z, and so on. Each flight has its own price, which adds up to the others. The result is a series of "traditional" flights, as found in agencies, with airlines, or online.

By combining the most common or frequently requested routes, some travel agencies offer standard round-the-world tickets. The same applies when they respond to a specific request.

In practice, you can buy a round-the-world ticket put together this way either before departure (with a fixed itinerary and dates) or in segments as you travel.

Advantages and Disadvantages

This varies depending on whether you book all your flights at once or buy them as you go.

Advantages

Booking as You Go

There are many advantages and a lot of freedom since each connection is entirely independent. You choose what you want, when you want, and where you want (including from abroad).

This gives you total (or almost total) freedom regarding your stopovers and their duration, your routes and directions, and the option to use other modes of transport not originally planned between points. Most importantly, you can change your mind about the places you want to visit while on the road, as these flights can be booked as you travel. For the same reason, there’s no issue for those traveling for a long time—over a year, which is the validity limit for flight tickets.

In short, freedom and great flexibility for improvisation.

Booking in Advance

Besides knowing the airfare cost before leaving, the freedom lies mainly in designing the itinerary since anything is possible. However, constraints appear once the ticket is purchased...

Disadvantages

Booking as You Go

The flip side is that this "à la carte" booking system with various carriers requires some knowledge of air travel (main routes, who flies where, prices, etc.) or at least a very well-thought-out route... otherwise, you might end up paying a small fortune. The final price can be the biggest drawback if you’re not careful, especially if you planned everything yourself.

Additionally, to save money, you’ll sometimes need flexibility and time in your trip to catch the right flight at the right time, or even from the right place. There’s a risk that the price you budgeted initially could be much higher in reality, including due to an unfavorable exchange rate. Don’t forget the booking fees for each purchase, which add up—unlike when you reserve all your tickets at once.

Also, even though the internet and e-tickets have made things easier, in some cases, you’ll still need to deal with local agencies, which can be challenging if you’re not used to it.

Finally, not having proof of onward or return travel can cause issues with obtaining a visa or upon arrival. Hence the need to plan ahead, even if you intend to buy flights along the way.

Booking in Advance

Even if you opt for pre-set agency offers, it’s still best to have a basic understanding of air travel or consult the (very few) specialists to avoid overpaying for illogical routes.

Once flights are booked, you won’t be able to change the stops (unlike the dates). This means you can’t really modify your itinerary once on the road without losing the benefit of one or more flight segments. The same goes for an unplanned return home if it’s not covered by insurance (and you’ll have to buy an additional ticket for the occasion).

Even if there’s some flexibility in certain cases, the validity of your round-the-world ticket won’t exceed one year.

Finally, with pre-set agency offers, the first flight usually has to depart from your home country.

In Both Cases

Financially, be careful that your "various airlines" choice doesn’t end up costing more than the packages offered by alliances. So, compare, especially if both options offer similar routes (most often, and quite logically, the alliance will be more economical).

Price Ideas

Some ready-made round-the-world options from Paris to Paris, offered by agencies with price ranges depending on the itinerary. If you put together your own RTW ticket following similar patterns, you’ll roughly end up with the same prices.

Note that for tickets including many overland segments, the possibilities may differ slightly from the price ranges mentioned.

Under 2,000 €

These are often mini-tours of Asia, usually including 3 or 4 stops (often Bangkok). For the higher end of this range, you’ll find "real" RTW tickets with flights to Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur, Japan, Hawaii, and/or one or two U.S. cities.

2,000 to 2,500 €

Round-the-world trips still focused on Asia (major cities) but with more options to include the U.S. (East and West) and Hawaii or even Australia/New Zealand. Sometimes, the number of stops, especially in Asia, is significant (up to 6 or 7).

2,500 to 3,000 €

Still Asia (many options), with North America (or occasionally South America) and Australia (often overland), New Zealand, or some other Pacific islands (Hawaii, Tahiti...). This is also around the price where full tours of South America appear.

3,000 to 3,500 €

Many possibilities. You can get 7 to 10 stops without too much trouble on routes like Asia/Pacific/North America and/or South America, or even East Africa/Asia/Pacific/North or South America.

Over 3,500 €

Roughly the same route possibilities as above; some destinations or combinations are more easily accessible. You’ll find many tickets for Asia/Pacific/South America/North America (overland between cities) or East Africa/Asia/Pacific/North America.