This is the moment to go global—meaning book an around-the-world ticket. A singular confluence of declining ticket prices, loopholes in Round-The-World (RTW) fare structures, currency exchange rates, and luxury hotel discounting has put some Business and First Class RTW fares in the $5,000 range. That’s not much more than a Business Class ticket can cost to Europe often times.
The best deal from the U.S. right now is on Singapore Airlines, which has a $5,300 RTW Business Class fare from New York that is only about $600 more than an economy RTW booked through Star Alliance (of which Singapore is a member). The other Star Alliance members offering RTW fares (United, Lufthansa, US Airways, and Thai, among them), charge $9,454 in Business Class.
Among alliances, Business Class RTW fares vary substantially. The lowest price is available through oneworld ($7,770 through April 12), while SkyTeam charges $8,880, and Star Alliance is $9,454. When traveling within an alliance you earn elite and redeemable miles on your preferred airline.
If you want to play the RTW game at the master level, consider booking a ticket that originates in Europe or Asia, where pricing and currency differentials have combined to produce some even better bargains. The best countries to book from are Hungary, India, Poland, and Sweden (which has the lowest alliance RTW Business Class fare of any western European country). We found oneworld fares starting at $4,400 from Warsaw and $4,600 from Stockholm, compared to the U.S. fare of $7,770. (All foreign fares were converted at end-of-February exchange rates.) Star Alliance fares start at $6,400 from Mumbai, Delhi, and Colombo, Sri Lanka, compared to the U.S. fare of $9,454. SkyTeam fares start at $6,300 from Stockholm and $6,600 from London, compared to the U.S. fare of $ 8,800.
From the U.S., going halfway around the world to begin an around-the-world itinerary is impractical. But you might consider doing so from London, where oneworld RTW fares start at $5,140, courtesy of the falling British pound. Singapore Airlines offers an even better deal from London, at $4,066.
There are a few conditions attached to RTW fares. SkyTeam and Star Alliance allow as many as 15 stops, and oneworld unlimited stops, as long as you keep going in the same direction—no backtracking allowed. That doesn’t preclude veering south or north in some cases; it depends on the airline/alliance route system. If you book through a specific carrier, you’re restricted to its route system, whereas if you book an alliance ticket, you have the combined systems of its members at your disposal. Advance-booking requirements are minimal: usually seven days from North America.
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