Tips for buying a Round the World (RTW) ticket

Tired of constantly searching for cheapest possible flights, just to please your need to travel? Sure, there are a lot of apps that can make that job a lot easier, but it is still be quite a tedious task, especially for individuals who aren’t all that interested in constantly checking their phone.

The solution could exist on the opposite side of the spectrum. Have you considered acquiring a Round the World ticket instead? Could it possibly be even cheaper than hunting for budget airlines? In this article, we will do our best to inform you about the basic rules of RTW tickets, and showcase some lesser known facts about this convenient option.

What exactly is the Round the World ticket?

It’s almost surprising just how many of the frequent travelers never even heard of this deal. Anyways, the RTW ticket revolves around partnerships that the airlines themselves form, meaning that you can use a single ticket to travel with as many airlines as you wish, as long as they have mutual connection.

Why is this such a good deal? Well, no matter how powerful the airline is, there is simply no way that they fly to every known destination on the map. However, if you also have access to their sister airlines, you improve your chances of visiting the most remote parts of the planet.

Unfortunately, as you might’ve assumed, budget airlines are usually not included in this deal, which really makes sense when you think about it. Additionally, an RTW ticket does not last a lifetime, which would truly be amazing. Instead, you will be allowed to use it up to one year from the day of purchase.

Rack up those frequent traveler miles

Flying with the same airline all the time can bring a lot of benefits. First of all, you’ll always know what type of service you’re going to get, so you won’t be getting a nasty surprise or two like with some of the budget airlines.

Additionally, you’ll get plenty of discounts along the way, but most importantly, you’ll be able to rack up frequent traveler miles in a hurry. Most travelers don’t have this high on the list of priorities, but it can be a tremendous way to save some money, plus get awarded for your troubles.

Travel with class

We are fully aware that some RTW tickets can cost up to $15,000 which is a large sum of money to most people, but at least you’ll make sure to get the premium service this way. Unlike the budget airlines, you’ll always travel first class, and reach your destination without any hassle.

We often preach about the importance of living a minimalist lifestyle on this blog, but we perfectly understand the desire to travel with all of your belongings from time to time, and a RTW ticket gives you an ideal chance to do so. That is, if you decide to cash out and choose a first class seat.

What are some of the limitations?

As you might’ve assumed, the RTW tickets also come with a bunch of limitations. Depending on your choice of airlines, you will most likely get stuck with miles restriction. Luckily, there’s no need to feel alarmed, as these limitations are usually set at no lower than 20,000 miles, but you can get double that, depending on the package you have chosen.

Additionally, in case you ever feel like you’re missing out, you can always but extra miles to add to your plan. Naturally, some airlines don’t have restrictions when it comes to mileage, but they tend to limit the number of flights you can take on a single ticket. Most popular RTW tickets have at least 16 flights available, which is basically enough to cover 3 or 4 continents, depending on your route.

To sum it all up, in case you’re used to traveling with budget airlines, getting an RTW ticket won’t truly save you a lot of money. On the other hand, it’s a great option for people looking to travel as much as possible, without the hassle of searching for the cheapest flights available. It is worth it? We’ll let you be the judge.