Round-the-World Tickets

Idea and Principle

Since air travel is the primary mode of transportation for globetrotters, and their numbers have grown over time, it’s only logical that various offers have emerged to meet demand. The goal: allowing travellers to visit multiple destinations across different continents in a single trip, with stops (location, date, number, and duration) left largely to individual choice.

So, from the simplest to the most complex, from the least expensive (under 1,500 €) to the most costly, from a gap year to an express round-the-world trip in 30 days (of validity), all options are now possible—including limiting the journey to just one continent.

How Does It Work?

The basic principle of a round-the-world ticket is to start by determining your itinerary (which can also include overland connections), the planned date of your first flight, and the duration of your trip. Then, based on what’s planned, you’re allowed to stop at each destination for as long as you like, as long as it falls within the ticket’s validity period. Even if you sometimes have to set the dates for connections between cities before departure, the formula remains flexible.

You can easily modify these dates with the airline once you’re on the road, usually without penalty, but subject to availability. However, during certain times of the year or for short trips, it’s better to book before departure to avoid getting stuck.

On the other hand, you can’t really change your route (except sometimes within alliance formulas in the same region) or use airlines other than those specified.

Generally, the maximum validity of the ticket is one year. For those planning to travel for more than twelve months, this can be an issue. While it’s sometimes possible to negotiate with the issuing agency to push back the date of the last leg, the only real solution is often to buy tickets as you go.

Air Travel Basics

Such a ticket is essentially a series of one-way (or return) flights, often including stops with one or more airlines.

While you can go anywhere you like, it’s best to follow a few principles if you want to save money. Prices vary depending on dates (avoid peak periods), sometimes the direction, the number of stops and/or the planned mileage, the number of airlines if they’re not partners, and especially the routes taken. Adding certain off-route or less-travelled destinations (i.e., with less competition) can significantly increase the ticket price. So, it’s wise to adapt your itinerary to existing routes and limit the number of carriers (or choose partners).

Airlines of Choice or Alliance?

In practice, what could be called a "round-the-world ticket" can actually be built in two ways in terms of air travel and carriers. Either it’s a series of flights from various airlines, or it’s a package offered by an "airline alliance" (i.e., partner airlines).

Various Airlines

See the detailed article

This involves creating a route with flights from different airlines, meaning they don’t necessarily have to be partners. This was the original approach and can still be used today.

Alliances

See the detailed article

For several years now, the trend in air travel has been toward airline groupings. Commercially, each alliance now offers its own packages for round-the-world trips.

Worth Noting...

Even if the connection to round-the-world tickets seems distant, it’s worth mentioning the existence of airline or alliance passes that also allow multiple flights at reduced rates within a country, region, or even a continent. For certain types of trips, these formulas can be combined with a basic round-the-world ticket or a few "transition" flights.

In Summary

What’s called a "round-the-world ticket" can be built in one of two ways:

A series of tickets from various airlines....

-# either purchased before departure..... for an itinerary already defined by a travel agency OR..... for an itinerary you define yourself, alone or with the help of a specialist agency

-# or purchased as you go.

A package from an airline alliance purchased before departure.

Who to Contact?

There are several options for buying a round-the-world ticket, each with its own advantages and drawbacks. You can turn to:

Airlines,

Agencies specialising in this type of service,

Various non-specialist agencies,

The web,

Foreign agencies, particularly British ones before departure and/or others along the way.

Airlines

Airline Alliances

Meaning SkyTeam, One World, and Star Alliance. This is generally—and logically—the best solution if you opt for their packages. Any representative of a member airline in the chosen alliance can theoretically advise and sell the ticket (though it’s better to contact the leading airlines); this includes online, where many offer itinerary/tariff simulators on their sites.

Others

As for other airlines, logically, they’ll only sell you their own flights, which alone won’t allow you to do a round-the-world trip. So, they’re only worth contacting if you want very few air transfers during your journey. That said, any agency is also authorised to sell tickets for almost all the world’s major airlines.

Specialist Agencies

In France, there are only two travel agencies truly specialising in round-the-world trips, though others may occasionally offer some, usually quite simple, round-the-world itineraries.

In short, apart from Les Connaisseurs du voyage and Zip World, there’s no one else. These agencies offer various formulas, from the simplest to the most complex, from pre-defined round-the-world trips to those built together with a quote, including thematic ideas or the option to buy flights with services to complete your journey. So, there’s choice, expertise, advice, information (especially on their sites), and competitive rates.

Various Agencies

While theoretically any agency can put together and sell a round-the-world ticket, starting with alliance packages, very few do so—especially if you’re not entirely sure of your choice and/or need advice. In short, unless you know exactly what you want or are buying a "basic" pre-defined itinerary from a travel agency, this may not be the best solution.

The Internet

Its development, and especially the generalisation of e-tickets, might make it seem like the perfect solution. It’s also an excellent source of information for this type of trip. So, no problem if you want to buy your tickets online from an agency, airline, or alliance present and recognised in France (or Europe). However, elsewhere, it’s not always possible to buy online if you don’t have a locally issued card, as is often the case in the United States, for example.

Foreign Agencies/Travel Agencies

The two most common scenarios involve British agencies for buying a round-the-world ticket before departure, and local agencies for those who want to buy flights along the way.

British Agencies

This is an option chosen by some, especially since there are several agencies in the UK specialising in round-the-world or long-term travel. But be careful—whether you’re dealing directly with British agencies or others, it’s not something to improvise. You need a minimum of knowledge and resourcefulness because, as always in such cases, the potential savings can quickly turn into a loss. That said, among the specialist agencies, you can mention Westernair, STA, The Great Escapade, Trailfinders, and especially Travel Nation, which specialises in long-term travel and round-the-world trips.

Along the Way

In practice, it’s already essential to know a bit about how air travel works, have an idea of prices abroad, and know the right addresses (and also be a bit resourceful). Hence the importance of doing preliminary research, especially online.

Schematically, to extend or continue a journey, you’ll find good options in the United States (transpacific, Latin America, the Caribbean), South Africa (South America, Australia, Southeast Asia occasionally), Australia (the Americas, South Africa, Southeast Asia), Bangkok, Malaysia, and Hong Kong (Southeast Asia, North America), and Istanbul (Middle East, Central Asia).

Defining Your Air Itinerary

A few basic rules for defining a "coherent" air itinerary for a round-the-world trip.

Air Travel Principles

See the detailed article

Whether you’re considering a pre-defined agency formula, an alliance package, or—even more so—planning your own itinerary, some basics about how air travel works (routes and carriers, in particular) can always be useful. If only to avoid mistakes that could ultimately weigh on the bill...

The Itinerary

Defining your itinerary is an interesting step for everyone, whether you plan to buy a "ready-made" or "custom" ticket from an agency, an alliance pass, or especially if you’ve opted to buy your transport as you go. Moreover, it’s also good to define your itinerary based on your travel desires but also the "air realities" by respecting routes and making judicious airline choices—all, of course, to find the best opportunities...

To Define Your Route

1 - First, remember that a round-the-world trip, whatever the mode of transport, requires preparation.

2 - Always keep in mind the principle of good dates (in the Southern Hemisphere, high seasons for some countries or carriers are reversed compared to the North), air routes, and the limited number of airlines to use (also consider their quality-price ratio and advantages).

3 - For the route, unless you’ve already settled on a "ready-made" agency itinerary (in which case, no hesitation), the first thing to do is list the places you want to visit and thus determine the possible stops to theoretically include in your ticket. Distinguish between those you absolutely want to do and the secondary ones.

4 - Don’t forget to maintain good geographical coherence by avoiding zigzags or backtracking and favouring main air axes where there’s competition and attractive prices.

5 - Consider the routes you’d like to take by land or sea, which could reduce the cost of air travel.

6 - The itinerary is set. Estimate its air cost by first using, depending on the case, the online booking systems of travel agencies, the websites of airlines, or the simulators of the Alliances.

7 - From this point on, and especially if the route differs from the classic ones, choose a specialist agency (and thus presumably competent) and/or look at alliance offers.

8 - Get a quote and ask for advice. The quote is almost unavoidable for many round-the-world tickets. Even if they’re sometimes paid, their cost is usually refunded upon booking. Also ask for the price for the same itinerary in the opposite direction—there are sometimes (good) surprises.

9 - If the prices exceed your budget, ask for cheaper circuits similar to yours, then compare. At the limit, you can also contact another agency, another alliance, or see what’s available from England. A small note: the extra cost can sometimes simply come from the airlines used (so look for the most economical ones offering roughly the same route).

10 - If nothing suits, you can reduce costs by excluding cities, often located off air routes compared to others, that are responsible for the high price. If you insist on your itinerary, consider alternative solutions (tickets bought on the spot, air passes, detours via cities with better rates, other modes of transport, etc.) and compare again.

11 - Once decided, remember that while you can change your dates once on the road, the departure date and changes to the itinerary (except in some cases with alliances) or airlines are not allowed. So, it’s best to be sure of your choice before committing.

Are Round-the-World Tickets Useful?

So, are round-the-world tickets useful, and if so, in what form? Here’s a start to the answer, based on different travellers’ expectations and what might be the most interesting choices. It’s up to each person to synthesise...

Tickets Purchased Before Departure

The itinerary is defined by yourself alone or with the help of a specialist agency.

Good if you want: to budget air travel before departure; to have help/recourse in case of problems; to travel in your preferred class; not to circle the globe completely or to visit just one or two continents; to go off traditional air routes; to prioritise overland transport.

Moderate if you want: the simplest option; to travel for more than a year; to have great freedom; to easily change your stops/route; if you have no knowledge of air travel; for airline quality; to start and end air travel in two different countries.

Not good if you want: to accumulate or use miles (Frequent Flyer Program).

Tickets Purchased Before Departure

In the case where the itinerary is already defined by a travel agency.

Good if you want: the simplest option; to budget air travel before departure; to have help/recourse in case of air problems; to limit processing fees; if you have no knowledge of air travel.

Moderate if you want: airline quality; to travel for more than a year; to travel in your preferred class; to have great freedom; to easily change your stops/route; to circle the globe completely or visit just one or two continents; to prioritise overland transport.

Not good if you want: to start and end air travel in two different countries; to go off traditional air routes; to accumulate or use miles (Frequent Flyer Program).

Tickets Purchased Along the Way

Good if you want: to travel for more than a year; to travel in your preferred class; to have great freedom; to easily change your stops/route; not to circle the globe completely or visit just one or two continents; to start and end air travel in two different countries; to go off traditional air routes; to prioritise overland transport.

Moderate if you want: airline quality.

Not good if you want: the simplest option; if you have little time; to budget air travel before departure; to limit processing fees; to have help/recourse in case of problems; if you have no knowledge of air travel; to accumulate or use miles (Frequent Flyer Program).

Airline Alliance Package

Good if you want: to travel in your preferred class; the simplest option; to budget air travel before departure; to have help/recourse in case of problems; to limit processing fees; if you have no knowledge of air travel; for airline quality; to accumulate or use miles (Frequent Flyer Program).

Moderate if you want: to have great freedom; to easily change your stops/route; not to circle the globe completely; to go off traditional air routes.

Not good if you want: to travel for more than a year; to visit just one or two continents; to start and end air travel in two different countries; to prioritise overland transport.