A guide to booking a round-the-world ticket using points and miles: 9 loyalty programs at your disposal
If you're reading this, the idea of booking a round-the-world ticket with points and miles probably sounds enticing. Such an award ticket often allows you to fly numerous segments for roughly the same points or miles as just a few long-haul flights. Typically, you'll need to circle the globe and return to your original departure region, country, or city at the end of your journey.
You might also encounter challenges while booking and traveling with a round-the-world award ticket. Usually, you’ll need to call to finalize your booking; making changes can be tricky or even unfeasible. Additionally, if you're aiming for premium cabins, securing a round-the-world ticket with points and miles often requires both expertise and a bit of luck in finding award availability.
Despite these challenges, the value and experience of a round-the-world ticket can make the effort worthwhile. Here’s a look at some of the top programs for booking a round-the-world ticket with points and miles, which you can earn through transferable rewards.
Air Canada Aeroplan
Air Canada Aeroplan may not offer a genuine round-the-world award, but you can still journey around the globe and visit three destinations on a round-trip Aeroplan itinerary with two stopovers. The best part is that you can search for and book these awards directly on Air Canada's website.
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For instance, I explored a multicity route from New York to Singapore with a seven-day stop in Frankfurt on the outbound leg and a seven-day layover in Seoul, South Korea, on the return.
The overall cost for this four-segment economy round-the-world itinerary totals 130,000 Aeroplan points and 408 Canadian dollars (approximately $300). You can earn Aeroplan points through spending on the Aeroplan® Credit Card. If you need to accumulate points quickly, you can also transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards Points, Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards points, and Marriott Bonvoy points to Aeroplan.
ANA Mileage Club
ANA Mileage Club provides a Star Alliance Round-the-World award ticket to its members. With this ticket, you can travel on Star Alliance airlines globally, provided your itinerary adheres to the following criteria:
- Make one crossing of both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
- Travel from west to east or east to west without retracing your steps
- Include no more than eight stopovers (excluding your origin and destination; up to three stopovers in Europe and up to four in Japan)
- Limit your journey to 12 flights and four ground segments (including changes within the same city)
To book with ANA Mileage Club, you must call them directly, but you can anticipate the following award rates depending on the total distance of your flight segments:
| Itinerary mileage | Economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4,001 to 7,000 | 38,000 | 63,000 | 90,000 |
| 7,001 to 9,000 | 43,000 | 68,000 | 100,000 |
| 9,001 to 11,000 | 55,000 | 85,000 | 120,000 |
| 11,001 to 14,000 | 60,000 | 90,000 | 140,000 |
| 14,001 to 18,000 | 65,000 | 105,000 | 160,000 |
| 18,001 to 20,000 | 75,000 | 115,000 | 180,000 |
| 20,001 to 22,000 | 85,000 | 125,000 | 200,000 |
| 22,001 to 25,000 | 100,000 | 145,000 | 220,000 |
| 25,001 to 29,000 | 120,000 | 170,000 | 260,000 |
| 29,001 to 34,000 | 140,000 | 200,000 | 300,000 |
| 34,001 to 39,000 | 160,000 | 220,000 | 340,000 |
| 39,001 to 44,000 | 180,000 | 270,000 | 390,000 |
| 44,001 to 50,000 | 200,000 | 300,000 | 450,000 |
Many travelers consider ANA's award rates for Star Alliance Round-the-World tickets to be the best available. If you find yourself short on miles for your round-the-world ANA award, you can transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy to ANA Mileage Club.
British Airways Executive Club
British Airways Executive Club does not officially provide a round-the-world award ticket. However, you can book an award ticket for travel on two or more Oneworld carriers — including a round-the-world itinerary — by using the following multicarrier reward flights award chart:
| Total distance of your journey | Economy | Premium Economy | Business | First Class | Taxes, fees and carrier charges for an economy award |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 miles | 30,000 Avios | 45,000 Avios | 60,000 Avios | 90,000 Avios | Up to $109.79 |
| 1,501 to 4,000 miles | 35,000 Avios | 52,500 Avios | 70,000 Avios | 105,000 Avios | Up to $356.44 |
| 4,001 to 9,000 miles | 60,000 Avios | 90,000 Avios | 120,000 Avios | 180,000 Avios | Up to $1,534.64 |
| 9,001 to 10,000 miles | 70,000 Avios | 105,000 Avios | 140,000 Avios | 210,000 Avios | Up to $3,605.40 |
| 10,001 to 14,000 miles | 90,000 Avios | 135,000 Avios | 180,000 Avios | 270,000 Avios | Up to $1,910.25 |
| 14,001 to 20,000 miles | 100,000 Avios | 150,000 Avios | 200,000 Avios | 300,000 Avios | Up to $1,963.43 |
| 20,001 to 25,000 miles | 120,000 Avios | 180,000 Avios | 240,000 Avios | 360,000 Avios | Up to $940.83 |
The Avios required is determined by the total distance of your trip, though taxes, fees, and carrier charges will differ based on your travel dates and route. Expect higher taxes, fees, and carrier charges for premium cabin awards compared to the economy awards listed above.
To book multicarrier reward flights, you'll need to contact Executive Club directly. While Executive Club does not publish specific guidelines for these awards, you generally must return to or near your point of origin, avoid backtracking, and design a logical route. You don’t need to have the Avios in your account when you first call to inquire about your award; the agent will need to forward your itinerary to another department to determine taxes and fees. You’ll receive an email to call back and finalize your booking once those calculations are complete.
D3SIGN/GETTY IMAGESYou have numerous ways to earn Avios, including through Avios-earning credit cards. If you need Avios quickly, you can transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, and Wells Fargo Rewards to British Airways Executive Club.
Cathay Asia Miles
Like British Airways Executive Club, Cathay Asia Miles does not provide a round-the-world award ticket but offers a Oneworld multicarrier award chart. You can book a Oneworld multicarrier award at specific rates if your itinerary includes flights from at least two Oneworld airlines that aren’t Cathay Pacific or from at least three Oneworld airlines including Cathay Pacific.
| Total itinerary distance | Economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 1,000 miles | 30,000 Asia Miles | 60,000 Asia Miles | 75,000 Asia Miles |
| 1,001 to 1,500 miles | 35,000 Asia Miles | 65,000 Asia Miles | 85,000 Asia Miles |
| 1,501 to 2,000 miles | 40,000 Asia Miles | 70,000 Asia Miles | 95,000 Asia Miles |
| 2,001 to 4,000 miles | 45,000 Asia Miles | 80,000 Asia Miles | 110,000 Asia Miles |
| 4,001 to 7,500 miles | 63,000 Asia Miles | 100,000 Asia Miles | 150,000 Asia Miles |
| 7,501 to 9,000 miles | 68,000 Asia Miles | 120,000 Asia Miles | 165,000 Asia Miles |
| 9,001 to 10,000 miles | 77,000 Asia Miles | 135,000 Asia Miles | 175,000 Asia Miles |
| 10,001 to 14,000 miles | 95,000 Asia Miles | 170,000 Asia Miles | 250,000 Asia Miles |
| 14,001 to 18,000 miles | 105,000 Asia Miles | 210,000 Asia Miles | 310,000 Asia Miles |
| 18,001 to 20,000 miles | 115,000 Asia Miles | 230,000 Asia Miles | 330,000 Asia Miles |
| 20,001 to 25,000 miles | 126,000 Asia Miles | 250,000 Asia Miles | 350,000 Asia Miles |
| 25,001 to 35,000 miles | 140,000 Asia Miles | 265,000 Asia Miles | 365,000 Asia Miles |
| 35,001 to 50,000 miles | 160,000 Asia Miles | 280,000 Asia Miles | 380,000 Asia Miles |
When booking a round-trip Oneworld multicarrier award with Cathay, you can include up to five stopovers, two transfers, and two open jaws. However, your journey must be round-trip, and you cannot have an open jaw at either your origin or destination. To book a Oneworld multicarrier award, you need to call Cathay customer service.
To quickly accumulate Asia Miles, you can transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One miles, Citi ThankYou points, or Marriott Bonvoy to Cathay.
Qantas Frequent Flyer
Qantas Frequent Flyer does not provide a round-the-world award ticket, but you can utilize a Oneworld Classic Flight Reward to book a round-the-world journey on at least two Oneworld member airlines other than Qantas. All flights must be with Oneworld airlines, meaning you cannot book Qantas flights that are operated by Jetstar Airlines.
Here’s a glimpse of the Oneworld Classic Flight Reward award chart:
| Round-trip itinerary distance | Economy | Premium economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,200 miles | 20,000 points | 31,600 points | 40,000 points | 58,000 points |
| 1,201 to 2,400 miles | 28,000 points | 47,500 points | 60,000 points | 87,000 points |
| 2,401 to 4,800 miles | 40,000 points | 69,000 points | 87,600 points | 129,000 points |
| 4,801 to 7,200 miles | 49,000 points | 97,000 points | 122,400 points | 179,600 points |
| 7,201 to 9,600 miles | 60,400 points | 118,000 points | 150,000 points | 215,500 points |
| 9,601 to 11,600 miles | 75,600 points | 141,600 points | 180,000 points | 258,600 points |
| 11,601 to 14,000 miles | 90,000 points | 163,600 points | 209,000 points | 299,600 points |
| 14,001 to 16,800 miles | 100,600 points | 187,000 points | 238,400 points | 341,600 points |
| 16,801 to 19,200 miles | 123,000 points | 218,000 points | 278,400 points | 398,600 points |
| 19,201 to 35,000 miles | 132,400 points | 249,600 points | 318,000 points | 455,000 points |
All the award rates listed in the Oneworld Classic Flight Reward table are calculated based on round-trip distances. If your journey does not return to your starting point, the distance required to return directly to your origin will be added to your itinerary's total distance. Similarly, any surface segments not flown during an open jaw will also be factored in when determining your itinerary's distance. The overall distance must not exceed 35,000 miles.
A Oneworld Classic Flight Reward allows for up to 16 segments (including surface segments) and five stopovers, although you may only have one stopover in any given city. Additionally, you can only transfer twice in any specific city and cannot return to your origin city or country until your itinerary concludes.
To accumulate Qantas points, you can transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One miles, Citi ThankYou points, or Marriott Bonvoy points to Qantas Frequent Flyer.
TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go
TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go provides a genuine round-the-world award redemption for travel on scheduled flights operated by Star Alliance airlines. You can redeem 300,000 miles for an economy round-the-world ticket or 400,000 miles if any segments are in business class. However, your round-the-world Miles&Go award itinerary must adhere to the following rules:
- Your journey must begin and end in the same country
- You must cross both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
- The itinerary is limited to a maximum of 10 flights and 6 stopovers lasting more than 24 hours
- Travel must always be in an east or west direction without changing course
- Open jaws are permitted
D3SIGN/GETTY IMAGESAfter purchasing your round-the-world award, you can only modify your flight dates or cancel your ticket. However, note that you cannot cancel your ticket once your journey has commenced.
You can boost your TAP miles by using the TAP Miles&Go American Express® Credit Card or by transferring points from Capital One miles or Marriott Bonvoy.
The information regarding the TAP Miles&Go American Express credit card has been independently collected by Dinogo. The details about the card on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Additional programs to consider
The six programs we've explored thus far represent the top choices for most U.S.-based travelers seeking to book a round-the-world ticket using points and miles. However, the following three programs might be worth your attention if you can accumulate sufficient rewards:
- Asiana Club Star Alliance Round-the-World Ticket: You can redeem 140,000 miles for an economy round-the-world itinerary or 230,000 miles for business class, allowing for up to seven stopovers of 24 hours or more. Asiana Club permits backtracking within the same region, but you must return to your home country at the end of your journey and fly over both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans once. Marriott points can be transferred to Asiana Club.
- Japan Airlines Mileage Bank Oneworld Award Tickets: You can create your own round-the-world award ticket using the JAL Mileage Bank Oneworld award chart. These tickets permit up to eight flight segments and seven stopovers exceeding 24 hours (with one being a ground segment open jaw). You can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to JAL Mileage Bank.
- Lufthansa Miles & More Round-the-World Flight Award: Unlike many other Star Alliance programs, Miles & More allows its members to fly with all partners, not just Star Alliance ones. You can include up to 10 flight segments and seven stopovers, with the requirement to cross the Atlantic and Pacific oceans once. The award costs 180,000 miles in economy, 335,000 miles in business, and 500,000 miles in first class. Unfortunately, major U.S. transferable points cannot be transferred to Miles & More.
If you’re curious about why Singapore KrisFlyer Star Alliance Round-the-World Awards haven’t been mentioned, it's because the carrier ceased issuing these awards in May 2024. Similarly, Aeromexico Rewards appears to have discontinued its SkyTeam Go Round-the-World Pass award ticket.
Final thoughts
If you have the time for a multistop round-the-world adventure and the points and miles to make it happen, one of the loyalty programs mentioned above could offer the ideal award redemption for you. By effectively utilizing your stopovers and open jaws, you could plan an incredible journey around the globe using your points and miles.
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