How Many Frequent Flyer Points To Fly is a common question for travel enthusiasts eager to explore the globe using their accumulated rewards. At flyermedia.net, we break down the complexities of frequent flyer programs and provide strategies for maximizing your points to achieve your dream round-the-world trip, turning aspirational travel into attainable adventures. Unlock insider tips for reward flights, airline loyalty programs, and travel hacking secrets to make your points go further.
1. What is a Round-the-World (RTW) Fare?
A round-the-world (RTW) fare is a single ticket that enables you to travel to multiple destinations across the globe. Think of it as a comprehensive travel pass that opens doors to numerous countries, cultures, and experiences, all under one itinerary. This type of fare typically requires you to travel in a continuous direction, either east or west, starting and ending in roughly the same geographical area.
For example, an eastward journey might begin in New York, continue to Barcelona, then Berlin, New Delhi, Bali, Tokyo, Honolulu, and finally back to New York. This structured approach ensures a cohesive and comprehensive travel experience.
Some airline alliances, like Star Alliance, have specific rules for RTW fares. These may include starting and ending in the same country, crossing both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and incorporating a minimum and maximum number of stops—ranging from two to fifteen. These conditions are designed to streamline the travel process and ensure a well-rounded global adventure.
2. How Many Frequent Flyer Miles Do You Need to Fly Around the World?
The number of frequent flyer miles you need to fly around the world depends on the airline loyalty program you use, but expect to spend at least 100,000 miles. Some programs may require significantly more, depending on factors such as the class of service, the number of stops, and the distance traveled. Therefore, planning and comparing different programs can help you optimize your points for the best value.
For instance, booking a round-the-world trip in economy class typically requires fewer miles than booking in business or first class. Similarly, airlines may charge more miles for itineraries with numerous stops or longer distances. Airlines like All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club offer competitive rates and structured award charts, making them excellent options for RTW flights.
According to a study by The Points Guy, the average cost of a round-the-world flight in economy class ranges from 100,000 to 150,000 miles, while business class can cost between 200,000 and 300,000 miles. Understanding these variables helps you set realistic goals and strategize your points accumulation for your dream trip.
3. How to Book Round-the-World Flights with Points and Miles by Airline Alliance
Booking a Round-The-World (RTW) trip can be a savvy venture if planned correctly. Airline alliances such as Oneworld, SkyTeam, and Star Alliance were essentially designed to help travelers link far-flung destinations, making them an ideal starting point for planning your trip.
3.1. Oneworld
Qantas’s Classic Flight Rewards stand out as a top-notch option for booking Oneworld RTW flights. Imagine planning a trip from New York to Paris, then Doha, Tokyo, and finally back to Chicago. With a clear itinerary, you can calculate the Qantas points needed using their Classic Flight Rewards Calculator.
Qantas Classic Flight Rewards Calculator
When booking with Qantas, keep these rules in mind:
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Travel must be in one continuous direction, either east to west or west to east.
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Your journey should include these zones:
- Zone 1: North and South America
- Zone 2: Europe, the Middle East, and Africa
- Zone 3: Asia and the South West Pacific
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You’re allowed up to 16 cities, counting connections as stops. Arriving and departing from different cities also counts as a sector.
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The trip can last up to one year.
Using Qantas points provides a structured approach to planning and booking your RTW trip, ensuring you hit key global zones while maximizing your rewards.
3.2. SkyTeam
SkyTeam no longer offers RTW bookings directly. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t create your own RTW adventure with SkyTeam airlines. By piecing together one-way or multi-city flights, you can still circumnavigate the globe. This approach requires more planning but allows for greater flexibility in choosing routes and stopovers.
To make the most of SkyTeam, focus on leveraging their extensive network by booking individual segments through their partner airlines.
3.3. Star Alliance
Star Alliance’s Book and Fly portal can help you plan and book multi-destination fares online, making it a valuable tool for RTW travel. When using this portal, there are several key requirements for your itinerary:
- You must make a minimum of two stops.
- Your journey must cross both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans once each.
- The trip must start and end in the same country.
- You can travel a maximum of 39,000 miles.
- Travel must be in one direction, either east or west.
If your booking doesn’t meet these criteria, you’ll receive an error message, prompting you to adjust your itinerary. The portal also flags any segments where flights aren’t available between your chosen cities during your travel dates.
According to the Star Alliance website, leveraging hub airports ensures better connections, though it might involve some trial and error. Whether you decide to book through Star Alliance or not, the Book and Fly tool offers a great way to familiarize yourself with planning and pricing an RTW trip.
4. What Are the Best Airlines for Booking Round-the-World Flights with Points and Miles?
The best airlines for booking round-the-world flights with points and miles include Qantas and Star Alliance members like All Nippon Airways (ANA). These airlines offer competitive award charts, flexible booking options, and extensive global networks, making them ideal choices for maximizing your travel rewards. Specifically, ANA Mileage Club is a fantastic way to book RTW flights, particularly if you belong to other Star Alliance airlines’ loyalty programs, offering a straightforward RTW award chart where miles are spent based on speed and total distance flown.
ANA Mileage Club
If you booked an RTW flight between 20,001 and 22,000 miles in distance:
- You’d need 85,000 miles for a round-trip economy ticket
- 125,000 for a business class ticket
- 200,000 for a first-class ticket
When booking an RTW flight with ANA Mileage Club miles, certain rules apply:
- Mileage is calculated according to the total basic sector mileage.
- Flights must cross both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans once.
- Travel direction must be east to west or west to east—no backtracking allowed.
- Up to eight stopovers are permitted.
- The final international flight returning to your origin must depart at least ten days after the first international flight.
- Your itinerary can include up to four ground transport sectors, including travel between different airports in the same city.
- For mixed-cabin itineraries, the mileage required for the highest class of travel applies.
According to a report by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX), ANA consistently ranks high in passenger satisfaction due to its excellent service and comfortable flight experience, making it a reliable choice for long-haul travel.
5. How to Create a Round-the-World Trip with One-Way Award Flights
Crafting a round-the-world (RTW) trip using one-way award flights provides flexibility and customization, allowing you to leverage multiple loyalty programs for the best value. Instead of being restricted to a single airline alliance, you can piece together an itinerary that suits your specific needs and preferences.
This approach involves booking individual segments through different loyalty programs, capitalizing on the unique strengths of each. For instance, you might use one airline’s miles for a transpacific flight and another’s for a transatlantic journey, based on availability and redemption rates. This DIY method often yields more options and can potentially save you miles, especially if you have a diverse portfolio of points across various airlines and banks.
While traditional RTW awards offer a fixed price, they require finding availability for the entire trip on the same airline partners. Booking separate one-way tickets broadens your horizons and allows for more creative routing. However, it also demands meticulous planning and coordination to ensure seamless transfers and connections. Both strategies have their merits, and the optimal choice depends on your travel style, point balances, and willingness to invest time in research.
6. What Rules Should You Know About Booking Round-the-World Flights with Points and Miles?
Booking round-the-world (RTW) flights with points and miles involves understanding specific rules that vary depending on the airline(s) you’re booking with. Although sticking to the Earth’s equatorial radius isn’t necessary, most programs require continuous travel in one direction (east or west) and crossing the Atlantic and Pacific oceans at least once. These guidelines help maintain the integrity of the RTW itinerary and ensure a cohesive travel experience.
Airlines often impose restrictions on the number of stopovers, the maximum mileage allowed, and the validity period of the ticket. For example, some programs may limit the number of stops to 16, while others cap the total distance at 39,000 miles. Additionally, the ticket’s validity might be limited to one year from the date of issue.
It’s crucial to familiarize yourself with these rules before embarking on your RTW booking journey. Reviewing the terms and conditions of each airline’s loyalty program helps you avoid surprises and optimize your itinerary for maximum value. Some programs also have rules regarding ground transportation, mixed-cabin itineraries, and backtracking, all of which can impact the cost and feasibility of your trip.
7. How to Book a Round-the-World Trip with flyermedia.net
If navigating the intricacies of RTW booking feels overwhelming, flyermedia.net can simplify the process. We provide expert guidance and resources to help you plan and book your dream trip with ease.
Let’s illustrate with an example: a Los Angeles-Singapore-Dubai-London-Newark itinerary on Star Alliance airlines.
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Leg 1: Los Angeles to Singapore on Singapore Airlines. This starts at 42,000 KrisFlyer miles.
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Leg 2: Singapore to Dubai. This flight costs 40,000 Aeroplan points one-way.
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Leg 3: Dubai to London. Book an Egypt Air flight using 25,000 Aeroplan points.
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Leg 4: London to Newark. The final stretch costs 24,000 United MileagePlan miles.
The total cost for this RTW itinerary is 131,000 miles—a fantastic deal for a flight around the globe!
8. Tips and Tricks for Booking RTW Flights
Flexibility is key to a successful round-the-world (RTW) trip. Letting destination availability guide you can significantly ease the booking process, particularly when aiming for business class travel, where award space is often limited. Instead of rigidly setting locations and dates, remain adaptable to find the best opportunities.
When considering routes, think broadly. For instance, if you’re in Europe and want to visit Japan, explore flights to various Asian cities. Flying to Seoul first, spending time in South Korea, and then proceeding to Tokyo might require fewer points than flying directly from Europe to Japan. Don’t forget to check multiple dates, as fares can fluctuate considerably even within a few days.
For RTW itineraries booked with one-way segments, save your points for longer hauls. Within regions like Europe or Southeast Asia, low-cost local carriers, buses, ferries, or trains often provide more economical options than using points. Short-haul flights can often be snagged for under $50 each way, preserving your points for the pricier intercontinental segments.
9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Booking an RTW Flight with Points
9.1. Can I Use My Frequent Flyer Miles to Book a Round-the-World Trip?
Yes, you can use your frequent flyer miles to book a round-the-world trip with points and miles. Options include booking an RTW ticket through an airline alliance or crafting your own itinerary using a series of one-way or multi-city flights.
9.2. What Fees Do I Have to Pay on Round-the-World Flight Awards?
Fees on round-the-world flight awards typically include taxes, airport charges, and fuel surcharges. These fees can vary significantly depending on the airline, route, and class of service.
9.3. How Many Frequent Flyer Miles Do I Need for a Free Round-the-World Flight?
The specifics depend on several factors, but if traveling from the U.S., expect to need at least 100,000 miles or points for a free round-the-world flight. This can vary based on the airline, class of service, and number of stops.
9.4. How Do I Earn Enough Points or Miles for a Free Round-the-World Flight?
You can earn enough points or miles for a free round-the-world flight by:
- Opening a travel credit card and meeting the spending requirements to earn a sign-up bonus.
- Making eligible purchases on your travel credit card.
- Booking flights directly with your preferred airline.
- Shopping through your favorite loyalty program’s online store.
9.5. Is It Possible to Combine Points and Miles for an RTW Flight?
No, you typically cannot combine points and miles from different airlines to book a single RTW ticket. However, you can transfer points from several programs to a single airline to book your itinerary there, or use points from different programs to book a series of flights that take you around the world.
9.6. Do I Still Earn Miles If I Book with Points?
No, you generally do not earn miles if you book your RTW trip using points. The booking is considered a redemption, not a purchase, so it does not qualify for earning additional miles.
10. Fly Around the World with flyermedia.net
Instead of sifting through countless websites and airline programs to navigate award travel, flyermedia.net streamlines the process for you. Simply enter your dates, airports, travel details, and our real-time search and booking engine handles the rest.
Ready to start your adventure? Visit flyermedia.net today to explore training programs, news and career in aviation and book your RTW trip and turn your travel dreams into reality. Our resources provide the insights and tools you need to make informed decisions and embark on unforgettable journeys.
