R T W
FARES
SENSATIONAL ROUND THE WORLD
AIRFARES
For some strange reason, most people
don't seem to be aware of these incredible fares. Others who do know about
them figure that they're only worthwhile on a trip that might span six months to
a year. But if you use your noodle, these fares can be applied on many
trips lasting two weeks or less.
For our 25th anniversary, I took my
lovely bride around the world. We're Delta Air Lines fanatics and at the
time used Delta and it's partner carriers Swissair and Singapore Airlines for
our global trip. We spent just over two weeks on this trip but it was an
incredible adventure. Our itinerary included the following segments:
Detroit - Atlanta
(Delta)
Atlanta - Zurich (Swissair)
Zurich - Singapore (Singapore)
Singapore - Bali (Singapore)
Bali - Singapore (Singapore)
Singapore - Hong Kong (Singapore)s
Hong Kong - San Francisco (Singapore)
San Francisco - Atlanta (Delta)
Atlanta - Detroit (Delta)
Here's the best part. We flew
first class the entire way--more than 20,000 miles--and the
tickets only cost $5,200 each at the time in 1996. Had we just
booked a single first class trip just to Europe and back, it would have cost
far more.
Here's a current example (at press
time, anyway) of the savings that RTW fares can bring. The business class
fare R/T between Detroit and London Gatwick on Northwest is just under $7,000.
Yet you can go around the world on Northwest and KLM business class for $5,300!
Even on a two week vacation just think of the ground you could cover. If
you've got the time, why not?
An even better application of using RTW fares as
opposed to a straight business class fare would be on a trip from the U.S. to
Australia. Instead of just heading west to Australia, find an airline
alliance that will allow you to fly east through Europe along the way.
Again, keeping that Northwest/KLM round the world business class fare of $5,300
in mind as an example, you'd save a bundle over the straight Qantas business
class fare of just under $8,000 from L.A. to Sydney!
Another example of savings is this. At
press time, the round trip fare on British Airways just from Detroit to
London Heathrow is roughly $6,800. You can go around the world
using their three continent plan on British for $6,200! Just think of the
bang you get for your buck. The round trip mileage between Detroit and
London is roughly 7,400. Yet for $600 less you can fly in the same
luxurious cabin and cover more than 20,000 miles!
Similar RTW savings are offered for coach travel.
Generally, these guidelines apply to round the
world travel although changes can occur at any time. On many fares, you
have six months to complete your journey. You must keep traveling in the
same direction although some airlines allow you one back-track in Europe and
another in Asia. You can change your itinerary along the way although a
nominal charge will be required for each change. Also, airlines generally price
RTW fares by the number of continents you cover starting with three and going up
from there.
Here are some web sites you may find helpful in
exploring an around the world trip, and believe me, there's nothing like it!
BRITISH AIRWAYS
A very helpful spin-off from their main web site detailing RTW travel &
airfares.
NORTHWEST /
KLM ALLIANCE
Northwest - KLM
ONE WORLD ALLIANCE
Aer Lingus - American Airlines - British Airways - Cathay Pacific
Finnair - Iberia - Lan Chile - Qantas
SKY TEAM
ALLIANCE
Aero Mexico - Air France - Alitalia - CSA Czech Airlines
Delta Air Lines - Korean Air
STAR
ALLIANCE
Air Canada - Air New Zealand - ANA - Asiana - Austrian Airlines - BMI
Lauda - Lufthansa - Mexicana - Scandinavian Airlines - Singapore Airlines
Spanair - Thai Airways - Tyrolean - United Airlines - Varig
1STAIRNET offers
good deals on round the world business class fares. You can sign up for a
free section of, for a premium, get even better deals on RTW travel.
AIR CONCIERGE
offers some tempting business class RTW fares.
Travelers in Britain and elsewhere in Europe
might find this web site helpful and informative:
BON
VOYAGE WORLDWIDE.
North American travelers might likewise find this
site helpful: AIR TREKS.
They have information including fares on their home page.
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