Do you need to get an RTW ticket?

Thursday, April 16, 2009 ·

By Matthew Kepnes

Round the world air tickets are a good way to travel. Before you travel, you purchase all your tickets so you don't have to get your flights while you are away. Round the world tickets cost a lot of money, especially if you are going on a long and complex trip. Most people get sticker shock when they see ticket prices. It is important to do research and do some math before purchasing one of these tickets.

RTW tickets are really airline alliance passes. You buy a ticket than can be used on an air alliance networks. The biggest alliances are the Star Alliance, Oneworld, and World Journey. For example, if you bought a ticket with United, you would be using all the airlines on the Star Alliance and only those airlines.

Round the world tickets are a good deal for tourists who have a set route, schedule, and are only visiting popular spots. RTW tickets send people over the major international flight routes which means you can save some money.

However, nothing ever happens how you think it will when you travel. Most people who use these tickets are people who travel for a long time. The more time you spend on the road, the more your plans change and the more you head off down roads you didn't think of before you left. Being tied to this ticket can hinder your plans and constant changes can increase fees. However, for intrepid travelers, there are many alternatives to getting an around the world ticket:

Book the ticket yourself. By booking your own flights, you get more flexibility. You can use cheap airline carriers to lower the cost of your ticket. Moreover, you can be patient and wait for flight deals so that you can better find flight deals and save money.

Fly with discount carriers. While few exist in the US, there are plenty in other parts of the world. They often fly the same route as the big guys and charge half the price. You are only getting space on a plane but flying these airlines will save you a lot of money.

Round the world tickets are great for those with a route. If you know where you are going and the dates you want to be there, buy an around the world ticket. You will end up saving some money. However, if you are flying off the beaten path and are flexible, it's better to buy along the way.

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