Traveling around the world just got easier thanks to a new budget round-the-world ticket scheme launched by an airline alliance.

Star Alliance has introduced a new round-the-world fare scheme that allows travelers to enjoy discounted fares as long as their itinerary includes stays of at least 24 hours in two cities. This makes global travel more accessible. Previously, all round-the-world tickets required at least three stopovers. This change increases the variety of itineraries eligible for the Star Alliance round-the-world fare.

Janice Antonson, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Star Alliance, said the new two-stopover option will attract more travelers to use the round-the-world fare. With over 18,400 daily flights operated by Star Alliance’s 28 member airlines, passengers can plan their trips more flexibly according to their needs and fly to 1,300 destinations across 191 countries.

Travelers can directly book round-the-world fares through the "Book & Fly" online booking feature on the Star Alliance official website, which offers services in English, German, and Japanese. They can plan their round-the-world trip anytime, 24/7, from home, share their itinerary via email or social media, and complete the ticketing process online to obtain an e-ticket after finalizing their flight plans. In addition to online booking, travelers can also purchase round-the-world fares through the reservation centers or travel agencies of any Star Alliance member airline.

For the same global itinerary, the round-the-world fare offers better value compared to purchasing one-way tickets from multiple airlines. The actual price of the fare package depends on market exchange rates and varies based on the traveler’s planned itinerary, chosen cabin class, and flight distance.

The round-the-world fare offers several mileage bands: 26,000, 29,000, 34,000, and 39,000 miles (note: the Earth's circumference is 24,901 miles). Travelers can plan their itineraries based on the selected mileage range and different fare options, but the origin and destination must be in the same country, and travel must be in a single direction, with the exception of round trips within the same continent. The itinerary must also include one crossing of the Atlantic and one of the Pacific.

Travelers can also refer to Star Alliance’s curated themed itineraries to create their own unique round-the-world journey. By visiting the themed itineraries page on the Star Alliance website, they can choose from 11 recommended themes, including world wonders, architectural tours, natural landmarks, and wine tasting journeys, to plan their trip.

When using the round-the-world fare, travelers must stay in at least two cities for a minimum of 24 hours each, with a maximum of 15 stopovers allowed. Additionally, some special fares require a minimum of three stopovers and a maximum of 5 to 12, offering more diverse options.

The Star Alliance round-the-world fare offers various cabin classes, including First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy, with a validity period of 12 months. Passengers using the round-the-world ticket can choose to accrue miles to any member airline’s frequent flyer program and use them toward achieving Star Alliance Gold or Silver status. Miles can also be redeemed for free flights, cabin upgrades, hotel stays, and other benefits (actual rules subject to each airline’s frequent flyer program).

According to statistics, among customers who purchase Star Alliance round-the-world tickets, more than half choose Business Class, over one-third opt for Economy Class, and 8% are in the First Class category.

(Business News)