{"generated":"2026-07-14T05:19:17.026Z","version":"1.0","faqs":[{"question":"What is a round-the-world ticket?","slug":"what-is-a-round-the-world-ticket","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/what-is-a-round-the-world-ticket","answerExcerpt":"A round-the-world ticket is a single booking for flights across multiple continents, traveling in one direction with an Alliance, or any direction with AirTreks. Alliance RTW tickets work when the traveler has flexibility on timing and books 6 to 9 months in advance","answer":"A round-the-world ticket is a single airfare that takes you to multiple destinations across several continents, then brings you back to where you started. Instead of booking each flight separately, you get one ticket that covers the whole route.\nThe traditional version, sold by airline alliances like Star Alliance and oneworld, requires you to keep moving in one general direction (eastbound or westbound) and return to your country of origin within a year. You typically get between 3 and 15 stops, and the ticket uses multiple airlines within that alliance to cover the globe.\nAirTreks builds a custom RTW ticket  with 3 to 50 stops or more, based on knowledge, fare database and airline geography and understanding built since 1987. We combine airlines from every alliance plus independent carriers, which means your routing options are much wider and often cheaper, more direct and with less rules than what a single alliance can offer.\nThe real advantage of a RTW ticket over booking flights individually is the practical wisdom our agents and algorithms employ, as well as saving you hours and hours of time trying to figure it out on your own as well as peace of mind of working with a firm that has done this for almost 40 years. When you book 6 or 8 international flights separately, costs add up fast. A well-constructed RTW itinerary bundles those flights together at a lower total cost. For a typical 5 to 8 stop trip in economy, you're looking at $3,000 to $6,000 total, which is often thousands less than the same flights purchased one by one.\nRTW tickets also give you structure without rigidity. Your flights are confirmed in advance, but most tickets allow date changes on individual segments (usually for a fee of $50 to $250 per change). That means you can extend a stay in Bali or cut short a stop in London without rebuilding your whole trip.\nMost RTW tickets are valid for up to one year from your first flight, which gives you the flexibility to travel at your own pace. Whether you want to circle the globe in three weeks or stretch it over ten months, the ticket framework supports both approaches.","answerType":"detailed","category":"planning","audienceTag":[],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"high","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"What's the difference between a RTW ticket, multi-stop, and booking one-ways?","slug":"rtw-vs-multi-stop-vs-one-ways","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/rtw-vs-multi-stop-vs-one-ways","answerExcerpt":"A RTW ticket circles the globe. A multi-stop covers several cities without circling the globe, though often times multi-continent. One-ways are single flights. RTW and multi-stop tickets are priced as packages - often 40-60% cheaper than buying the same flights as one-ways.","answer":"These three options serve different trip shapes and what a traveler is optimizing for, and picking the right one depends on where you're going and how flexible you need to be.\nA round-the-world ticket covers multiple destinations across several continents on a single itinerary, often times, starting and ending in the same country. It's priced as one fare, uses multiple airlines, and typically offers the best per-flight value for trips with 5 or more international stops. The trade-off is that you commit to a general routing structure up front if working with an Alliance.\nA multi-stop ticket strings together several flights, usually on one or two airlines, without necessarily circling the globe. This works well when your trip covers one or two regions rather than spanning continents. Flying into Bangkok, then to Bali, then to Sydney, then home is a multi-stop itinerary. It's simpler than a full RTW and sometimes cheaper if your route stays within one airline's network.\nBooking one-way tickets gives you maximum flexibility. You buy each flight independently, change plans on the fly, and never commit to a route in advance. The downsides include cost, getting stuck or not going where you want or need to go. International one-way fares are often 60 to 80 percent of the round-trip price, which means 6 one-way flights can cost more than a RTW ticket covering the same cities. You also lose the safety net of having a travel consultant managing your connections.\nHere's a rough guide. If you're visiting 5+ cities across 3+ continents, a RTW ticket almost always wins on value. If you're doing 3 to 4 stops in one part of the world, multi-stop is your best bet. If you genuinely don't know where you're going next and value total spontaneity over savings, one-ways make sense, but expect to pay more.\nAirTreks specializes in the first two options and can tell you which structure works best for your specific plans within your first consultation.","answerType":"comparison","category":"planning","audienceTag":[],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"high","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"How many stops can I have on a round-the-world trip?","slug":"how-many-stops-round-the-world","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/how-many-stops-round-the-world","answerExcerpt":"As few as 3, to as many as 50 or more.  Alliance-based RTW tickets cap you at 5-16 segments depending on the fare. AirTreks builds custom routes with no fixed stop limit - your budget and routing logic set the boundaries, not airline rules.","answer":"With AirTreks we can do an unlimited number of stops.  Alliance RTW tickets allow between 3 and 15 stops, but the right number depends on how much time you have and what kind of trip you want.\nThe sweet spot for most travelers is 5 to 8 stops. That's enough to hit multiple continents and see a real variety of places, without turning your trip into an airport marathon. At 5 stops, you might do Tokyo, Bangkok, Istanbul, London, and Reykjavik. At 8 stops, you could add Cape Town, Buenos Aires, and Sydney to a similar route.\nMore stops doesn't always mean a higher price. If a city falls naturally along your route, adding it can cost very little. For example, if you're already flying from Southeast Asia to Africa, a stop in Dubai or Doha might add zero to the fare because you're connecting through those hubs anyway. Your AirTreks consultant knows which \"free\" stops exist along common routing paths.\nOn the other hand, adding a stop that requires a detour (like flying from Tokyo to Sydney and then back up to India) adds both distance and cost. The most affordable routes move in a generally consistent direction.\nIf you're planning a shorter trip of 2 to 4 weeks, 3 to 5 stops is realistic. You want at least 3 to 4 nights in each city to make the stop worthwhile. Flying somewhere for one night just to check it off a list isn't satisfying and it's exhausting.\nFor longer trips of 3 to 12 months, you can stretch to 10 or more stops and spend weeks to months in each place. Some travelers mix flights with overland segments, flying between continents but traveling by train or bus within each region. This keeps the stop count manageable on the ticket while covering more ground.\nAirTreks doesn't impose rigid stop limits. We custom-build every route, so the number of stops is driven by your plans and your budget, not by an arbitrary product rule.","answerType":"stat","category":"planning","audienceTag":[],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"high","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"How far in advance should I book a round-the-world trip?","slug":"how-far-in-advance-book-rtw","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/how-far-in-advance-book-rtw","answerExcerpt":"Book 3-11 months before departure for the best fare availability. You can book as close as 2-3 weeks out, but popular routes and business class seats disappear fast. Peak season travel (June-August, December) needs more lead time.","answer":"Three to eleven months before departure is the sweet spot for most RTW trips. Here's why that window works.\nAirlines release their best fare inventory 3 to 11 months in advance. Book too early (10 to 12 months out) and many airlines haven't published their schedules yet, which limits your routing options and can actually result in higher fares. Book too late (under 6 weeks) and the discount fare classes that make RTW tickets affordable are sold out. You'll pay walk-up prices on individual segments, which defeats the purpose.\nWithin that 3 to 11 month window, earlier is generally better. At 11 months, you have the widest selection of airlines, routes, and fare classes. At 3 months, you still have solid options but fewer choices on popular routes during peak seasons.  Try to do it 6 or more months in advance if you can.  Earlier is better no doubt.\nSome situations require more lead time. If you're traveling during peak season (June through August for Europe, December through February for Southeast Asia and Australia), book at least 6 to 10 months ahead. If your route includes hard-to-reach destinations with limited flight frequency, like Easter Island or the Maldives, the same advice applies. And if you need advance visas for countries like India or China, factor in processing time on top of your booking timeline.\nFor budget-conscious travelers, the 9 to 11 month window often delivers the best combination of availability and price. Airlines have released their seasonal schedules by then, and the best fare classes are still open.\nThere are also last-minute exceptions. If you're flexible on dates and destinations, AirTreks can sometimes find solid deals within 4 to 8 weeks of departure. But \"flexible\" means genuinely open to changing your dates by a week or swapping Bangkok for Kuala Lumpur. If your heart is set on specific cities and dates, don't wait.","answerType":"short","category":"planning","audienceTag":[],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"high","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"How long can a round-the-world trip last?","slug":"how-long-can-rtw-trip-last","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/how-long-can-rtw-trip-last","answerExcerpt":"Most AirTreks RTW tickets are valid for up to one year from the first departure. Travelers typically spend 3 weeks to 6 months on the road. Two to three weeks works for a fast lap with 4-5 stops. Three months or more lets you slow down and go deeper.  We know people that take years to do the trip and almost never stop.","answer":"Most RTW tickets are valid for up to one year from the date of your first flight. That gives you a full 12 months to complete all the flights on your itinerary, traveling at whatever pace you choose.\nSome airline tickets within your RTW itinerary may have shorter validity windows of 3 to 6 months. Your AirTreks consultant builds your itinerary within these constraints and will let you know if any ticket validity limits affect your plans.\nWithin the validity window, you decide how long to stay in each place. Fly into Bangkok and spend two days or two months before catching your next flight to Sydney. The ticket doesn't care, as long as you make your flights on the dates they're booked. Most tickets allow date changes for a fee ($150 to $250 per segment is typical), so you can extend or shorten stops as your trip evolves.\nCommon trip lengths break down roughly like this. Two to four weeks: a \"greatest hits\" tour with 3 to 5 stops, fast-paced but doable if you're short on time. Two to three months: the most popular range, enough time for 5 to 8 stops with real depth at each one. Six to twelve months: extended travel for gap year students, sabbatical travelers, retirees, or anyone who can take a big chunk of time. You'll likely combine flights with overland travel and might only use 6 to 10 flight segments while covering many more destinations by land.\nOne important note: the one-year clock starts ticking on your first flight, not on the date you book. So if you book in January for a March departure, you have until the following March to complete your trip.\nIf you're planning an extended trip, talk to your consultant about building in flexibility. Having date-change options on key segments lets you adjust your pace as you go, which is valuable when you discover a place you want to stay longer or realize you're ready to move on sooner than planned.","answerType":"stat","category":"tickets","audienceTag":[],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"high","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"How does the AirTreks booking process work?","slug":"how-does-airtreks-booking-process-work","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/how-does-airtreks-booking-process-work","answerExcerpt":"Start with the TripPlanner on airtreks.com - enter your cities and exact or rough dates, class of travel, and flexibility on travel dates. An AirTreks travel consultant builds a custom route and quote. You revise together until it's right, then book. The whole process takes an hour to a few weeks if you want to collaborate with friends, families and groups","answer":"It starts with your trip idea. You tell us where you want to go, roughly when, and how long you want to spend in each place on our tripplanner.  You will see the range of pricing and a map.  You can add overland sections and do as many versions of the trip as you would like.  Don't worry about having every detail figured out. Most people come to us with a wish list and some flexible dates, and that's plenty to get started.\nYour request goes to an AirTreks travel consultant, a real person who specializes in complex international routing. They'll build a custom itinerary based on your destinations, dates, and budget. This involves checking airline availability across dozens of carriers, finding the most efficient routing, and constructing a fare that takes advantage of pricing rules most travelers don't know exist.  The more information you provide regarding your wants and needs - the better we can meet them!\nYou'll receive your first quote within 1 business day or less. It includes a full route map, flight details for every segment, the total price with all taxes and fees included, and notes from your consultant explaining the routing choices.\nFrom there, it's a conversation. Want to swap Kuala Lumpur for Singapore? Add a stop in Reykjavik on the way home? Extend your time in Peru from 5 days to 10? Your consultant adjusts the route and reprices. Most itineraries go through 2 to 3 revisions before they feel right.\nWhen you're ready to book, you put down a deposit and your consultant locks in the fares. Full payment is due before ticketing, which happens after payment. After ticketing, you receive complete itinerary documents with confirmation numbers for every flight.\nThe human element is what separates AirTreks from online booking engines. An algorithm shows you what's cheapest today even if that flight is not available. A consultant knows that a Tuesday departure may saves you $400, that connecting through Doha instead of Dubai on that particular route is more reliable, and that the afternoon flight to Bali lands at a better time than the red-eye. That expertise compounds across 6 to 10 flights into real confidence and a better trip.","answerType":"detailed","category":"booking","audienceTag":[],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"high","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"Can I change my itinerary after booking?","slug":"can-i-change-itinerary-after-booking","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/can-i-change-itinerary-after-booking","answerExcerpt":"Yes. AirTreks tickets allow date changes on most segments for an airline change fee (typically $75-150 per flight). Adding or removing cities is possible but may require rebooking segments. Your consultant handles most changes.","answer":"Yes, and this is one of the advantages of booking with a human consultant rather than an algorithm. Life happens, plans shift, and your AirTreks consultant is there to help you adjust.\nBefore ticketing, changes are generally straightforward and often free. Want to add a stop, change a date, or swap one city for another? Your consultant reworks the routing and gives you an updated quote. This is the easiest window for changes, so take your time reviewing your itinerary before giving the green light to ticket.\nAfter ticketing, changes are still possible but they depend on airline rules. Each airline on your itinerary has its own change policy, and fees typically range from $50 to $200 per segment. Some tickets are built on more flexible fare classes that allow changes with lower fees or no fees at all. Your consultant knows which legs of your trip have flexibility and which ones are locked in tight.  Some Fare classes will cost more to change, others have more flexibility - trade offs exist.\nDate changes are usually the simplest. Moving a flight from Tuesday to Thursday within the same week is often just a fee plus any fare difference. Route changes (swapping one city for another) are more complex because they affect the entire fare construction. Sometimes it's cheaper to leave the original segment in place and buy a separate ticket for the new routing.\nIf you need to cancel a leg entirely, the refund depends on the fare rules for that specific ticket. Some are refundable minus a fee. Others are non-refundable but the value can sometimes be applied to a future flight on the same airline.\nThe best advice: if you think a change might be coming, tell your consultant early. The sooner we know, the more options we have. And when you're in the planning phase, flag any dates or destinations you're uncertain about so we can build in flexibility where it matters most.","answerType":"detailed","category":"booking","audienceTag":[],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"high","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"How much does a round-the-world ticket cost?","slug":"how-much-does-a-round-the-world-ticket-cost","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/how-much-does-a-round-the-world-ticket-cost","answerExcerpt":"Most AirTreks round-the-world tickets cost between $2,500 and $8,000 per person in economy. Business class runs $8,000 to $18,000+. Price depends on the number of stops, distance, routing direction, and how far ahead you book.","answer":"Most economy RTW tickets through AirTreks fall in the $2,500 to $8,000 range per person. That's the total cost including all flights, taxes, and fees. No hidden charges.\nWhere you land in that range depends on several factors. A straightforward 5-stop route (say New York to London, Bangkok, Bali, Sydney, and home) might come in around $3,500 to $5,000 in economy. Add more stops, longer distances, or peak-season travel and the price climbs. A 10-stop, globe-spanning route with some remote destinations could push toward $6,000 to $8,000.\nBusiness class RTW tickets typically run $8,000 to $20,000 per person, depending on the same factors. The biggest driver is the number of long-haul segments in premium cabins. A mixed-cabin approach (business on the 10+ hour flights, economy on the shorter hops) usually saves 30 to 40 percent versus booking business class on every leg.\nTo put these numbers in context: the same flights booked individually often cost 30 to 50 percent more than a well-constructed RTW ticket. The savings come from fare construction techniques that combine pricing rules across airlines. This isn't available on consumer booking sites.\nHere are a few real-world examples. A couple doing San Francisco to Tokyo to Bangkok to Cape Town to London to home, 5 stops, economy, booked 4 months out: roughly $4,200 per person. A solo traveler doing a gap year route through Southeast Asia, Australia, and South America with 8 stops: around $3,800. A retired couple doing business class on a 6-stop trip through Europe, the Middle East, and Asia: approximately $12,000 per person.\nThe fastest way to get an accurate number is to goto our TripPlanner and start building and pricing.","answerType":"stat","category":"cost","audienceTag":[],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"high","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"What affects the price of a round-the-world ticket?","slug":"what-affects-rtw-ticket-price","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/what-affects-rtw-ticket-price","answerExcerpt":"Four things drive RTW price: number of stops, total distance, cabin class, and timing. More stops and more distance cost more. Business class adds 2-3x. Peak season (June-August, December) runs higher than shoulder months. Booking 3-11 months out gets better fares.","answer":"Several factors push RTW ticket prices up or down. Understanding them helps you make trade-offs that match your budget.\nNumber of stops matters, but not the way most people think. Adding a stop that falls naturally along your route might cost nothing extra, or even reduce the cost.  Flying from Asia to Europe with a stop in Dubai or Istanbul is basically free because you're connecting through those hubs anyway. But adding a stop that requires a detour (like going from Tokyo to Sydney and then up to India) adds distance and cost.\nDirection of travel affects pricing because airline availability isn't symmetrical. The same route can cost $500 to $1,000 less going eastbound versus westbound, or vice versa. AirTreks prices both directions and recommends the better deal.  We have databases of \"airline geography\" that often does not map to real world geography to make routes work.\nClass of service is the biggest single variable. Business class on long-haul flights costs 3 to 5 times more than economy on the same route. A mixed-cabin approach (business on the long legs, economy on the short ones) is a common way to manage this.\nSeason and advance purchase work together. Peak travel periods (June through August, December holidays) see higher fares because demand is up and discount inventory sells out faster. Booking 6 to 11 months ahead generally secures the best pricing. Under 8 weeks out, expect to pay a premium.\nRouting efficiency is where AirTreks earns its keep. Backtracking (going east and then west and then east again) costs more than moving in one general direction. Using major airline hubs as connection points keeps fares lower. Knowing which airlines offer the best pricing on specific routes, and which fare classes to combine, is the kind of expertise that saves hundreds or thousands of dollars on a complex itinerary.\nTotal distance is a factor on alliance tickets, which price by mileage tiers. AirTreks builds custom tickets that aren't bound by mileage formulas, which often results in better pricing for routes that cover a lot of ground.","answerType":"list","category":"cost","audienceTag":[],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"high","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"Is business class worth it for a round-the-world trip?","slug":"is-business-class-worth-it-rtw","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/is-business-class-worth-it-rtw","answerExcerpt":"On flights over 8 hours, business class transforms the experience - lie-flat seats, lounge access, better sleep. On short hops (under 4 hours), the premium buys you little. A common approach: business class on long-haul legs, economy on the short ones.","answer":"This is a personal call that depends on your budget, your priorities, and how long your flights are.\nThe case for business class is strongest on long-haul segments of 10 hours or more. A 14-hour flight from Los Angeles to Sydney in economy is survivable but exhausting. The same flight in business class, with a lie-flat seat, proper food, lounge access, and space to actually sleep, means you arrive in Sydney ready to explore instead of needing a recovery day. Multiply that across 3 or 4 long-haul flights and the difference in trip quality is significant.\nThe case against: the money you spend upgrading to business class could fund weeks of ground travel. The difference between economy and business on a 6-stop RTW trip might be $5,000 to $12,000 per person. That's a safari in Tanzania, a month in Southeast Asia, or a week in a Santorini villa.\nThe hybrid approach is what most experienced RTW travelers choose. Business class on the 2 or 3 longest flights (transpacific, transatlantic, or anything over 10 hours), and economy on the shorter regional hops (3 to 6 hours) where the premium cabin barely matters. AirTreks builds mixed-cabin itineraries as a standard practice.\nA few things worth knowing. Business class pricing varies enormously by airline and route. Business class from the US to Asia on a major carrier might be $4,000 to $6,000 one-way. The same class on a Gulf carrier (Emirates, Qatar, Etihad) routed through their hub can be substantially less. Your consultant knows where the value is.\nPremium economy is an underrated middle option. Wider seats, more legroom, and better food at roughly 50 to 70 percent of the business class price. Not every airline offers it, but when available, it's a solid compromise on those marathon flights.","answerType":"detailed","category":"cost","audienceTag":["senior"],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"high","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"Do I need visas for a round-the-world trip?","slug":"do-i-need-visas-rtw-trip","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/do-i-need-visas-rtw-trip","answerExcerpt":"It depends on your passport and your stops. US passport holders can visit most of Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia visa-free. Countries like India, China, Australia, and many African nations require visas in advance. Check each country as you build your route.","answer":"Visa requirements depend entirely on your passport and where you're going. If you hold a US passport, you can enter most of Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia without a visa for stays under 90 days. That covers a lot of popular RTW stops like Thailand, Peru, Spain, and Argentina.\nBut plenty of countries still require advance visas. India, China, Australia, Vietnam, Kenya, Tanzania, and Egypt all need paperwork before you arrive. Some of these are straightforward e-visas you can process online in a few days. Others, like China, require a consulate visit and supporting documents. Processing times range from 48 hours to several weeks depending on the country.\nYour AirTreks consultant flags visa requirements as part of the routing process. We've been doing this since 1996, so we know which stops add complexity and how to sequence your route so you have time to get documents in order. For example, if you're visiting both India and Australia on the same trip, we'll make sure your itinerary gives you enough lead time to secure both visas before departure.\nA few things catch people off guard. Brazil reinstated visa requirements for US citizens in 2025. Transit visas are sometimes required even if you're just connecting through a country, particularly in China and parts of Africa. And some countries require six months of passport validity beyond your planned departure date, so check your expiration before you start planning.\nWe recommend starting the visa process at least three months before your departure. Your consultant will give you a country-by-country breakdown, but the final responsibility for securing visas is yours. The good news: for most RTW routes, the majority of your stops won't need anything more than a valid passport and a return or onward flight.","answerType":"detailed","category":"visas","audienceTag":[],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"high","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"Do I need travel insurance for a round-the-world trip?","slug":"do-i-need-travel-insurance-rtw","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/do-i-need-travel-insurance-rtw","answerExcerpt":"Yes. A multi-month, multi-country trip has too many variables to go without coverage. Look for a policy that covers trip interruption, medical evacuation, and missed connections. World Nomads and SafetyWing both offer plans built for long-term multi-country travel.","answer":"Strongly recommended. For a multi-country, multi-airline trip spanning weeks or months, travel insurance moves from \"nice to have\" to \"effectively essential.\"\nHere's what you're protecting against. Medical emergencies abroad: a hospital visit in Thailand might cost $500, but a medical evacuation from a remote location can run $50,000 to $100,000. Your domestic health insurance almost certainly doesn't cover you internationally, and Medicare covers nothing outside the US. Trip cancellation or interruption: if you need to fly home for a family emergency mid-trip, last-minute one-way international flights cost a fortune. Lost or delayed luggage: annoying on a weekend trip, genuinely disruptive when you're three months into a RTW route.\nFor RTW and long-term travel, look for policies specifically designed for multi-country trips. Standard vacation policies cap out at 30 days. You need a policy that covers the full duration of your trip, which could be months.\nGood options include World Nomads, SafetyWing, Allianz Global Assistance, and IMG Global. Expect to pay $100 to $300 per month depending on your age, destinations, and coverage level. For a 3-month trip, that's $300 to $900 total. Measured against a potential $50K medical evacuation bill, it's one of the easiest financial decisions on your trip.\nKey things to check in any policy: medical coverage limits (at least $100K, preferably $250K+), emergency evacuation coverage, trip interruption benefits, and whether adventure activities (scuba diving, trekking, motorbike riding) are included or excluded. Pre-existing condition coverage varies widely between providers, so read the fine print if that applies to you.\nWe recommend purchasing insurance within 14 days of booking your trip, as some policies offer broader coverage when bought early.  We have several policies that we recommend, depending on your needs/wants.","answerType":"short","category":"insurance","audienceTag":[],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"high","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"Who is AirTreks?","slug":"who-is-airtreks","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/who-is-airtreks","answerExcerpt":"AirTreks is a travel company based in White Salmon, WA that has been building custom round-the-world and multi-stop itineraries since 1987.  Our staff is global. Each trip is routed by a human consultant using fare construction techniques that most online booking tools can't replicate.","answer":"AirTreks is a travel company that has been building custom round-the-world and multi-stop international itineraries since 1987. We started as BootsnAll Travel, an early online community for independent travelers, and evolved into a specialized multi-stop airfare consultancy. We're based in the Pacific Northwest and our staff works from locations around the world.\nEvery AirTreks trip is built by our updated fare databases, routing logic and human consultant that can understand and listen to the needs you have for complex travel. You won't get a chatbot or an algorithm spitting out the cheapest option. Your consultant uses fare construction techniques that most online booking tools simply cannot replicate.  We test Google flights, Kayak and more daily and can't find what we find and do on their engines. That means combining airlines, fare classes, and routing rules across carriers to build itineraries that are both cheaper and more flexible than what you'd find on your own.\nWe work with all airlines, not just one alliance. That gives us access to routes and pricing that alliance-based RTW tickets can't match. If the best option for your Bangkok-to-Cape Town leg is on Ethiopian Airlines and the best option for your London-to-New York leg is on Norse Atlantic, we can put those on the same itinerary. No online booking engine does that well.\nAirTreks has routed millions of multi-stop international trips. Our consultants know which connections work, which airports to avoid for tight layovers, which airlines have reliable service on specific routes, and which seasonal patterns affect pricing. That experience shows up in the quality of your route.\nWe're not a budget travel agency and we're not a luxury concierge. We sit in between. Most of our itineraries run $2,500 to $8,000 per person in economy, and $8,000 to $20,000 per person in business class, depending on the number of stops and destinations. We serve gap year travelers, honeymooners, retirees, families, and anyone else who wants to see more of the world in a single trip.\nYou can start planning at airtreks.com or call us directly.","answerType":"short","category":"about","audienceTag":[],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"high","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"How is AirTreks different from airline alliance RTW tickets?","slug":"airtreks-vs-alliance-rtw-tickets","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/airtreks-vs-alliance-rtw-tickets","answerExcerpt":"Alliance tickets (Star Alliance, oneworld) restrict you to one airline group, limit stops, and ban backtracking. AirTreks builds routes across all airlines with no alliance restrictions, no stop caps, and full flexibility to backtrack or add surface segments.","answer":"Airline alliances like Star Alliance and oneworld sell their own round-the-world tickets. These products have been around for decades and they work for some travelers. But they come with significant restrictions that AirTreks itineraries do not.\nAlliance RTW tickets limit you to airlines within that single alliance. Star Alliance gives you United, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, ANA, and about 20 others. Oneworld gives you American, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, and their partners. But you can't mix them. If the best flight from Johannesburg to Mumbai is on Emirates (which belongs to neither alliance), you're out of luck on an alliance ticket.\nAirTreks builds routes across every airline. We regularly combine Star Alliance carriers, oneworld carriers, and airlines that don't belong to any alliance. Ethiopian Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Icelandair, JetBlue, and dozens of others become available options. This opens up routes and pricing that alliance tickets simply cannot access.\nAlliance tickets also cap your stops, usually at 5 to 16 depending on the fare level, and they restrict backtracking. You generally must keep moving in one direction, either eastbound or westbound. If you want to fly from Sydney to Bali and then back to Auckland, most alliance tickets won't allow it.\nAirTreks has no stop limits and no directional restrictions. You can backtrack, zigzag, and add surface segments where you travel overland between two cities. Fly into Rome, train to Barcelona, fly out of Barcelona to your next destination. That kind of flexibility is standard in our itineraries.\nPricing varies, but AirTreks is often competitive with or cheaper than alliance tickets, especially on routes with 6 or more stops. Alliance tickets price based on total mileage, which penalizes routes that cover a lot of ground. AirTreks prices each segment individually and combines them, which frequently produces a lower total fare.\nThe bottom line: alliance RTW tickets are a one-size-fits-most product. AirTreks builds a trip that fits your specific plans, with no compromises on airline choice, routing, or flexibility.","answerType":"comparison","category":"about","audienceTag":[],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"high","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"Can families do a round-the-world trip?","slug":"can-families-do-rtw-trip","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/can-families-do-rtw-trip","answerExcerpt":"Yes. Families fly RTW every year with AirTreks. Kids over 2 need their own seat. Key adjustments: fewer stops, longer stays in each city, stick to family-friendly destinations with good healthcare. Many families do 4-6 stops over 4-8 weeks.","answer":"F100s of families fly RTW with AirTreks every year, from toddlers to teenagers. The trips look different from a solo backpacking route, but the value of a custom multi-stop itinerary actually increases when you're traveling with kids.\nChildren under 2 can fly as lap infants on most international flights for about 10% of the adult fare. Once they turn 2, they need their own seat at the child fare, which is typically 75% to 100% of the adult price depending on the airline and route. Plan your travel dates around birthdays if your child is close to that threshold.\nRoute design matters more with kids. Most families do well with 4 to 6 stops over 4 to 8 weeks. Longer stays in each city, at least 4 to 5 nights, reduce the stress of constant movement. Southeast Asia is popular with families because it's affordable, welcoming to children, and has solid tourist infrastructure. Bali, Thailand, and Japan are consistently strong family picks. New Zealand, Portugal, and Costa Rica also rank high.\nStick to destinations where good medical care is accessible. Your AirTreks consultant can help you avoid routing through cities where a pediatric emergency would be complicated. We also recommend building flexibility into your schedule. Kids get sick, plans change, and having date-change options on at least some segments gives you a safety net.\nOn the flight side, choose daytime legs when possible and avoid red-eyes with young children unless you know they sleep well on planes. Business class on the longest legs, say anything over 10 hours, makes a real difference when you're managing kids in a confined space. A common approach is to fly economy on shorter hops and upgrade the one or two longest flights.\nAirTreks has been routing family trips since 1987. We know which airlines have the best family boarding policies, which airports have play areas, and which connections to avoid with strollers.","answerType":"detailed","category":"planning","audienceTag":["family"],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"high","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"Is round-the-world travel safe for solo female travelers?","slug":"rtw-travel-safe-solo-female","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/rtw-travel-safe-solo-female","answerExcerpt":"Solo female travelers are one of AirTreks' largest booking segments. The key is route selection - Southeast Asia, Japan, Portugal, New Zealand, and much of South America rate high for solo female safety. Your consultant can flag stops that need extra planning.","answer":"Solo female travelers are one of AirTreks' largest booking segments, and that's been true for years. Women travel the world on their own every day, and a well-planned RTW route puts you in control of where you go and how long you stay.\nRoute selection is where safety planning starts. Japan, New Zealand, Portugal, Iceland, Scandinavia, and Singapore consistently rank among the safest destinations for solo female travelers. Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand, Vietnam, and Bali, has deep solo travel infrastructure with well-established hostel and guesthouse networks. Much of South America is very doable solo, with Colombia, Chile, and Argentina being popular and well-traveled.\nSome destinations need more planning. Parts of India, North Africa, and the Middle East can be challenging for solo women, though millions of women visit these regions every year with the right preparation. Your AirTreks consultant can talk through specific concerns and suggest routing adjustments. Sometimes it's as simple as arriving during daylight hours or choosing a neighborhood with a strong tourist presence.\nPractical tips from our travelers: book your first night's accommodation before you arrive in each city. Share your itinerary with someone at home. Carry a local SIM card or an international eSIM so you always have data access for maps and rideshare apps. Uber, Grab, and similar services have made solo ground transportation significantly safer in dozens of countries.\nThe structure of an RTW ticket actually adds a layer of security. Your flights are confirmed in advance, your route is documented, and your AirTreks consultant is reachable if you need to change plans quickly. If a destination doesn't feel right when you arrive, we can help you move up your departure or reroute to somewhere else.\nTrust your instincts, do your homework on each stop, and don't let fear shrink your itinerary. The world is more accessible to solo female travelers now than at any point in history.","answerType":"detailed","category":"planning","audienceTag":["solo-female"],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"high","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"Can I backtrack on a round-the-world ticket?","slug":"can-i-backtrack-on-rtw-ticket","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/can-i-backtrack-on-rtw-ticket","answerExcerpt":"Alliance RTW tickets require you to keep moving in one direction - no backtracking allowed. AirTreks custom tickets have no such rule. You can fly Bangkok to Tokyo, back to Bangkok, then on to Sydney if the routing makes sense for your trip.","answer":"Traditional airline alliance RTW tickets (Star Alliance, oneworld) require you to travel in one continuous direction, either eastbound or westbound. No doubling back. If you fly from London to Bangkok, you can't then fly back to Dubai on the same ticket.\nAirTreks builds custom tickets that aren't bound by alliance rules, so limited backtracking is sometimes possible. If your dream route requires going from Bangkok to Bali and then back up to Tokyo, we can often make that work. The question is whether it makes financial sense.\nBacktracking generally costs more because it adds distance. The most affordable RTW routes move in one general direction, taking advantage of natural hub connections along the way. Every time you double back, you're essentially paying for an extra flight that doesn't advance your overall route.\nThat said, there are smart ways to handle destinations that don't fall neatly along a directional route. Your consultant might suggest a side trip on a separate low-cost carrier that doesn't affect your main ticket pricing. Or they might find a creative routing that covers your \"backtrack\" destination without actually backtracking, by connecting through a nearby hub.\nThe practical advice: give your AirTreks consultant your full wish list, including any destinations that seem geographically awkward. Let us figure out the most cost-effective way to cover them all. Sometimes the answer is a slight backtrack built into the main ticket. Sometimes it's a separate side trip. And sometimes it's reordering your stops so the route flows naturally without any backtracking at all.","answerType":"comparison","category":"tickets","audienceTag":[],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"medium","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"Which direction should I fly around the world?","slug":"which-direction-fly-around-the-world","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/which-direction-fly-around-the-world","answerExcerpt":"Westbound (Americas to Asia to Europe) and eastbound both work. The best direction depends on seasons at your destinations, jet lag preferences, and fare availability. Eastbound routes from the US often price lower because of transpacific fare structures.","answer":"Westbound or eastbound. It's one of the first decisions you'll make, and it matters more than you might think.\nWestbound (Americas to Asia to Europe to home) is the more popular choice. You follow the sun, gain time as you travel, and many people find westbound jet lag slightly easier to manage because you're extending your day rather than shortening it. The science on this is mixed, but the anecdotal evidence from thousands of RTW travelers is pretty consistent: westbound feels a bit gentler.\nEastbound (Americas to Europe to Asia to home) can be cheaper. Airline seat availability and pricing aren't symmetrical. Sometimes the same route costs $500 to $1,000 less in one direction than the other. This varies by season and by the specific cities on your route, so there's no universal rule.\nAirTreks prices both directions for every trip request and recommends the better value. Sometimes westbound wins. Sometimes eastbound saves you real money. The difference depends on which airlines have availability on your travel dates and how the fare construction works across carriers.\nA few other factors to consider. If you want to start your trip with long-haul travel and get the toughest flights out of the way first, eastbound from North America to Europe is a relatively easy first leg (5 to 8 hours). If you'd rather ease into your trip with a Pacific crossing to Asia, westbound puts that 10 to 14 hour flight at the beginning when you're freshest.\nSeasonality also plays a role. If you're starting in January and heading westbound, you'll hit summer in Southeast Asia, then swing through Africa or the Middle East before reaching Europe in spring. Eastbound from January puts you in European winter first, which is less appealing for most people.\nThe AirTreks TripPlanner can quick map options and directions and give you a quick range on pricing.  As you get closer to what suits you, our consultants will figure out the details options and walk you through the trade-offs for your specific route.  (There are always trade-offs - just like in life)","answerType":"detailed","category":"planning","audienceTag":[],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"medium","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"Can I do a round-the-world trip in two or three weeks?","slug":"rtw-trip-in-two-three-weeks","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/rtw-trip-in-two-three-weeks","answerExcerpt":"Yes. A 2-3 week RTW works with 4-5 stops and 3-4 days per city. Focus on hubs with good flight connections - London, Bangkok, Tokyo, Sydney. You'll move fast, but it beats burning vacation days on separate trips over several years.","answer":"Yes. It's a different kind of trip than a three to 9+month route, but a focused 2 to 3 week RTW is completely doable and can be one of the most memorable trips of your life.\nWith two weeks, plan for 3 to 4 stops with at least 3 nights in each city. That's enough time to get oriented, see the highlights, and actually experience a place rather than just passing through. A realistic two-week route might be Los Angeles to Tokyo (4 nights), to Bangkok (3 nights), to Istanbul (3 nights), to home. Three continents, three very different cities, no wasted days in airports.\nThree weeks opens up to 4 to 6 stops, or more time in each place. You could add Bali, Cape Town, or London to that same route and still have meaningful time in each place. The extra week makes a real difference in pacing.\nThe key to a short RTW trip is restraint. Don't try to see everything. Pick the cities that matter most to you and give each one proper time. Two days in Paris is frustrating. Four days in Paris is wonderful. The same flight cost gets you there either way, so spend your time wisely once you land.\nA few practical tips for short trips. Choose destinations where the airport is close to the city center (Tokyo Haneda, London City, Singapore) to minimize transit time. Avoid connections that cost you a full day of travel. Red-eye flights can save you a hotel night and maximize your time on the ground.\nAirTreks consultants are especially useful for short RTW trips because routing efficiency matters more when your time is limited. We'll find connections that minimize layovers and maximize your hours in each city. The difference between a well-routed 3-week trip and a poorly routed one can be 2 to 3 extra days of actual travel time.","answerType":"short","category":"planning","audienceTag":[],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"medium","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"What's the best time of year to start a round-the-world trip?","slug":"best-time-of-year-start-rtw-trip","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/best-time-of-year-start-rtw-trip","answerExcerpt":"There's no single best month - it depends on your route and where you are starting from. January departures catch summer in the Southern Hemisphere. September works for Southeast Asia's dry season. Avoid starting in June-August if budget matters - peak northern summer pricing affects transatlantic and transpacific fares.","answer":"There is no single best time, and anyone who tells you otherwise is oversimplifying. A RTW trip crosses hemispheres, time zones, and climate patterns. Summer in Sydney is winter in Stockholm. Monsoon season in Bangkok is peak season in Patagonia.\nThe real question is: what matters most to you? Good weather everywhere? Lower costs? Avoiding crowds?\nIf weather is your priority, you'll need to plan your route around seasons rather than picking a start date and hoping for the best. A January departure works well if you're heading west through Southeast Asia (dry season) and the South Pacific (summer), then up through Africa, and into Europe by late spring. A September departure catches the tail end of European summer, arrives in Southeast Asia for the cool dry season, and hits Australia and New Zealand in their spring.\nShoulder seasons (the weeks just before and after peak tourist season) are where experienced travelers find the best balance. Prices drop, crowds thin out, and the weather is usually still good. April to May and September to October are shoulder months in most of the Northern Hemisphere. The Southern Hemisphere flips: March to May and September to November.\nFor cost savings, avoid starting your trip during peak booking windows. Flights departing North America in June, July, and December are the most expensive. January, February, and October tend to offer the best fare availability.\nYour AirTreks consultant will map out the seasonal patterns for your specific route and suggest timing adjustments. Sometimes shifting your departure by two weeks puts you in a different pricing tier or moves you from rainy season to dry season in a key destination. That kind of optimization is hard to do on your own, but it's something we do on every trip we build.","answerType":"detailed","category":"planning","audienceTag":[],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"medium","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"Can I book just a few flights or do I need a full round-the-world route?","slug":"book-few-flights-or-full-rtw","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/book-few-flights-or-full-rtw","answerExcerpt":"You don't need to circle the globe. AirTreks builds multi-stop itineraries of any shape - a triangle through South America, a loop through Asia, or a one-way from New York to Bangkok with three stops in between. RTW is just one option.","answer":"You don't need to circle the globe. AirTreks books multi-stop international itineraries of all shapes, and some of our best work is on trips that never make it all the way around the world.\nOpen-jaw itineraries (fly into one city, out of another) are one of our most common bookings. Fly into Rome, travel overland through Italy and Spain, and fly home from Barcelona. Or arrive in Bangkok, work your way through Southeast Asia, and depart from Bali. These save you from backtracking to your arrival city just to catch a flight home.\nMulti-city routes within a single region are another sweet spot. A trip through South America hitting Buenos Aires, Santiago, Lima, Bogota, and Cartagena. A tour of East Africa covering Nairobi, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, and Cape Town. These itineraries involve complex routing across multiple airlines, and that's exactly where our expertise saves you money.\nThe general rule: AirTreks adds the most value on trips with 3 or more international flights, especially when the routing crosses airline networks. If you're booking a simple round-trip to London, you can probably do that yourself on Google Flights. But if you're booking London plus Marrakech plus Cape Town plus a return from a different city, you'll almost certainly get a better price and better routing through us.\nWe also book one-way international flights and partial circuits when that's what your trip calls for. Some travelers buy an AirTreks itinerary for the complex international legs and book regional budget carrier flights on their own. Your consultant can advise on which segments make sense for us to handle and which ones you're better off booking directly.","answerType":"short","category":"booking","audienceTag":[],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"medium","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"What's included in an AirTreks round-the-world ticket?","slug":"whats-included-airtreks-rtw-ticket","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/whats-included-airtreks-rtw-ticket","answerExcerpt":"Your ticket includes all flights, airport taxes, and fuel surcharges. AirTreks also provides a dedicated travel consultant who handles routing, booking, and any changes. Hotels, travel insurance, and ground transport are not included but your consultant can advise.","answer":"Your AirTreks ticket price includes all flights on your itinerary, all airport taxes and fees, all fuel surcharges, and the expertise of your travel consultant. The number you see in your quote is the number you pay. No hidden costs from us.\nSpecifically, here's what's covered. Every flight segment from your first departure to your return home. Government taxes and airport fees for each departure and arrival. Fuel surcharges imposed by the airlines. Your consultant's time building, revising, and finalizing your itinerary. Post-booking support if you need changes or hit a disruption while traveling.\nHere's what's not included. Hotels and accommodation at each stop. Ground transportation (taxis, trains, buses, rental cars). Activities, tours, and excursions. Travel insurance (strongly recommended, purchased separately). Visa fees for countries that require them. Meals except what's served on the plane. Checked baggage fees on airlines that charge for them (most international carriers include at least one checked bag, but check your specific airlines).\nOne thing travelers appreciate: AirTreks doesn't charge a separate service fee on top of the ticket price. Our business model is built into the fare, similar to how a travel agency has always worked. You're not paying extra for the routing expertise and support. It's included in the ticket cost.\nAfter booking, AirTreks remains your point of contact for the duration of your trip. If a flight gets cancelled, if you need to change a date, or if something goes wrong a, you have a real person to call who knows your entire itinerary and can assist you.","answerType":"list","category":"cost","audienceTag":[],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"medium","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"What airlines does AirTreks use for round-the-world tickets?","slug":"what-airlines-does-airtreks-use","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/what-airlines-does-airtreks-use","answerExcerpt":"AirTreks books across all major airline alliances and independent carriers - Star Alliance, oneworld, SkyTeam, plus airlines like Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and regional carriers. No alliance lock-in means your route gets the best combination of price, schedule, and comfort.","answer":"AirTreks works with over all airlines worldwide, and we're not restricted to any single alliance. This is one of the biggest differences between an AirTreks itinerary and an airline alliance RTW ticket.\nWe mix carriers from Star Alliance (United, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, ANA, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Air New Zealand), oneworld (American, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Japan Airlines, LATAM), SkyTeam (Delta, KLM, Air France, Korean Air, Vietnam Airlines), and independent airlines that don't belong to any alliance (Emirates, Etihad, JetBlue, Icelandair, and many others).\nThis matters because no single alliance covers every route efficiently. Star Alliance is strong in Asia and Europe but has gaps in South America. Oneworld has great coverage in Australia and the Pacific but fewer options in Africa. By combining carriers across alliances, we find routings and prices that alliance-locked tickets can't match.\nSome airlines show up frequently in AirTreks itineraries because they offer outstanding value on key routes. Turkish Airlines through Istanbul is often the best connection between Europe and Africa or Asia. Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa opens up East and Southern Africa at prices that surprise people. Emirates and Qatar Airways through the Gulf connect just about everywhere. Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific are consistently strong across Asia-Pacific.\nYour consultant selects airlines based on a combination of price, routing efficiency, service quality, and baggage policies. If you have airline preferences or loyalty programs you want to earn miles on, let your consultant know. We can sometimes route through preferred carriers when the price difference is minimal.\nWe also factor in reliability. An airline with a great fare but a history of cancellations on a particular route isn't a good deal. Your consultant's experience with specific airlines and routes is part of the value you're getting.","answerType":"list","category":"airlines","audienceTag":[],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"medium","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"Can I use frequent flyer miles on an AirTreks ticket?","slug":"frequent-flyer-miles-airtreks-ticket","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/frequent-flyer-miles-airtreks-ticket","answerExcerpt":"AirTreks tickets are revenue fares, not award tickets, so you can't pay with miles. But you will earn miles on every flight. Each segment credits to the operating airline's program or a partner program. Long RTW trips can earn enough miles for a free domestic flight or upgrade.","answer":"You can't pay for an AirTreks ticket with frequent flyer miles. Our tickets are revenue tickets purchased through consolidator fare agreements, and those fares exist outside the mileage redemption system.\nHowever, you will earn frequent flyer miles on most flights in your AirTreks itinerary. When you fly on a major carrier like Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Turkish Airlines, or Emirates, you can credit those miles to your loyalty account. A RTW trip with 6 to 10 international flights can easily earn 30,000 to 80,000 miles, enough for a domestic round-trip or a significant chunk toward a future international award ticket.\nTo earn miles, make sure your frequent flyer number is added to each booking. Your AirTreks consultant can add your loyalty numbers during the booking process. If you belong to multiple programs, your consultant can advise on which program to credit each flight to for maximum value.\nA few caveats. Not every fare class earns the same percentage of miles. Some deeply discounted fare classes earn 50% or 25% of the full mileage. A small number of consolidator fares may not be eligible for mileage accrual at all, though this is uncommon on the carriers AirTreks typically uses. Your consultant can flag any segments where earning might be limited.\nIf you have a specific mileage goal (like earning enough for elite status), mention it during planning. Sometimes small routing adjustments, like choosing one airline over another for a particular leg, can make the difference between hitting your status target and falling short. That's the kind of optimization a human consultant can do that a booking engine can't.","answerType":"short","category":"tickets","audienceTag":[],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"medium","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"How does luggage work on a multi-airline round-the-world trip?","slug":"luggage-multi-airline-rtw-trip","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/luggage-multi-airline-rtw-trip","answerExcerpt":"Each airline sets its own baggage allowance. Most long-haul carriers include one checked bag (23kg). Low-cost carriers charge extra. Your luggage won't transfer between separate tickets - you'll collect and recheck at connection points. Pack for the strictest airline on your route.","answer":"Each airline on your RTW itinerary has its own baggage policy, and those policies can vary significantly from one leg to the next. The practical reality is that you need to know the rules for every airline on your ticket, not just the first one.\nMost full-service international carriers include at least one checked bag of 23kg (50 lbs) in economy and 2 bags in business class. But the specifics vary. Some airlines allow 30kg. Others are strict at 23kg. A few carriers, particularly low-cost or regional airlines that might appear on shorter legs, charge for any checked luggage.\nThe golden rule for RTW packing: identify the most restrictive airline on your itinerary and pack to that standard. If one leg is on a carrier that allows only 7kg carry-on, that's your effective limit for carry-on weight the entire trip (unless you're willing to repack at every airport).\nMost experienced RTW travelers go with one carry-on bag and one checked bag. Some go carry-on only. The less you bring, the easier every airport, train station, and taxi ride becomes. A 40 to 45 liter carry-on backpack and a small daypack is a setup that works on virtually every airline and every type of ground transport.\nYour AirTreks itinerary documents include baggage allowance information for each flight segment, so you'll know exactly what to expect before you leave. If you see a restrictive leg, your consultant may be able to adjust the routing to a carrier with better baggage terms, assuming the price difference is reasonable.\nA few more practical tips. Weigh your bags at home before you leave. Invest in packing cubes. Bring a lightweight, compressible duffel for souvenirs you accumulate along the way. And keep anything irreplaceable (medications, passport, electronics, one change of clothes) in your carry-on, because checked bags occasionally take a detour.","answerType":"detailed","category":"logistics","audienceTag":[],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"medium","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"What happens if I miss a flight on my round-the-world ticket?","slug":"what-if-i-miss-a-flight-rtw","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/what-if-i-miss-a-flight-rtw","answerExcerpt":"A missed flight can void the rest of that airline's segments. Contact AirTreks immediately - your consultant can rebook you, though rebooking fees and fare differences apply. Travel insurance that covers missed connections is worth having for this reason.","answer":"Missing a flight on a multi-stop itinerary is more serious than missing a simple round-trip. On most airline tickets, a no-show on one segment can void every remaining segment on that same ticket. That means if you miss your flight from Bangkok to Sydney, your Sydney-to-Auckland and Auckland-to-Los Angeles flights could be cancelled automatically.\nThe first thing to do is call AirTreks. Your consultant can intervene with the airline before the remaining segments get cancelled. The sooner you call, the better your options. If we catch it within a few hours, we can often protect the rest of your itinerary. Rebooking fees typically run $150 to $400 per segment depending on the airline, plus any fare difference if the original booking class is no longer available.\nRTW itineraries built by AirTreks often use multiple separate tickets rather than a single airline alliance ticket. This actually works in your favor. If you miss a flight on one ticket, it doesn't automatically void flights on a different ticket. Your consultant structures your trip with this kind of protection in mind.\nPrevention is the best strategy. Build in minimum connection times of at least three hours for international connections, and don't book a tight domestic flight the same day you arrive from overseas. If you're traveling overland between flight cities, give yourself a full buffer day before your next flight.\nTravel insurance that covers missed connections and trip interruption is strongly recommended for any RTW trip. Policies from companies like World Nomads or Allianz typically cost $150 to $300 for a multi-month trip and can save you thousands if something goes sideways. Your consultant can point you toward policies that make sense for your specific route.","answerType":"detailed","category":"on-trip","audienceTag":[],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"medium","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"What happens if my flight gets cancelled during a round-the-world trip?","slug":"flight-cancelled-during-rtw-trip","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/flight-cancelled-during-rtw-trip","answerExcerpt":"The operating airline is responsible for rebooking you on the next available flight. Contact AirTreks as well - your consultant can coordinate across airlines if the cancellation affects connecting segments. Having travel insurance with trip interruption coverage protects against added costs.","answer":"When an airline cancels your flight, that airline is responsible for getting you to your destination. Under most international aviation regulations and each airline's contract of carriage, they must rebook you on the next available flight at no additional cost. This applies whether the cancellation was within their control (mechanical issues, crew shortages) or caused by weather and operational disruptions.\nThe complication with RTW travel is the ripple effect. A cancelled flight from London to Nairobi might cause you to miss a separately ticketed flight from Nairobi to Mumbai three days later. The first airline only covers getting you to Nairobi. Everything downstream is on you, unless you have travel insurance or your AirTreks consultant can restructure the route.\nCall AirTreks as soon as you learn about the cancellation. Your consultant has access to all the airlines on your itinerary and can coordinate across carriers to minimize disruption. Sometimes that means rebooking a later segment to give you breathing room. Sometimes it means rerouting you through a different connection city entirely. We do this regularly and we're good at it.\nAt the airport, get in the rebooking line but also call the airline directly. Phone agents often have more rebooking options than gate agents. If you're flying business class, use the airline's premium customer service line for faster response.\nTravel insurance with trip interruption coverage is essential for RTW trips. A good policy covers hotel costs during delays, rebooking fees on downstream flights, and meals during extended waits. For a trip with 6 to 10 flights across multiple airlines, the chances of at least one disruption are significant. Budget $150 to $300 for a comprehensive policy and consider it a required cost, not an optional one.","answerType":"detailed","category":"on-trip","audienceTag":[],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"medium","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"Can seniors do a round-the-world trip?","slug":"can-seniors-do-rtw-trip","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/can-seniors-do-rtw-trip","answerExcerpt":"Yes. Many AirTreks travelers are in their 60s and 70s. Priorities shift: business class on long legs, longer stays per stop, destinations with strong medical infrastructure. The flexibility of a custom itinerary matters more as you get older, not less.","answer":"1000s of AirTreks travelers are in their 60s and 70s, and some of our most memorable itineraries have been for retired couples and solo travelers who finally have the time to circle the globe. Age is not a barrier. Planning is just different.\nComfort on long flights becomes a higher priority. Business class on legs over 8 hours is worth the investment if your budget allows. The difference between 14 hours in economy and 14 hours in a lie-flat seat is not just comfort, it's arriving functional enough to enjoy your destination. AirTreks can mix cabin classes across your itinerary, putting you in business on the longest legs and economy on the short hops where it doesn't matter much.\nBuild longer stays into each stop. Three to five nights minimum per city lets you recover from jet lag, explore at a relaxed pace, and avoid the exhaustion of constant movement. A 6-stop trip over 8 to 10 weeks is more enjoyable than cramming 10 cities into a month.\nChoose destinations with reliable medical infrastructure, especially if you manage ongoing health conditions. Western Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Thailand all have excellent healthcare systems accessible to travelers. Carry a written summary of any medications, conditions, and your doctor's contact information. Make sure your travel insurance covers pre-existing conditions, and verify that it includes medical evacuation. Policies from companies like IMG or GeoBlue are designed for older travelers and cover more than basic backpacker plans.\nPrescription medications can be tricky across borders. Carry medications in original packaging with a doctor's letter, and bring enough for the full trip plus a buffer. Some countries restrict certain medications, so check in advance.\nYour AirTreks consultant will factor all of this into your routing. We'll suggest airports with easier connections, airlines with better service reputations, and ground segments where a short flight saves a grueling overland day. This is exactly the kind of trip where having a human consultant matters.","answerType":"detailed","category":"planning","audienceTag":["senior"],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"medium","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"Is a round-the-world trip a good option for a gap year or post-grad travel?","slug":"rtw-trip-gap-year-post-grad","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/rtw-trip-gap-year-post-grad","answerExcerpt":"A RTW ticket is one of the most cost-effective ways to structure gap year travel. Buying flights as you go costs more and limits your options. A planned route with open-jaw segments lets you fly between regions cheaply and travel overland in between.","answer":"An RTW ticket is one of the smartest ways to structure extended travel after college or during a gap year. Buying flights individually as you go almost always costs more, and you lose access to the discounted fare construction that makes multi-stop international travel affordable.\nA typical gap year RTW itinerary with AirTreks runs $2,500 to $5,000 in economy for 5 to 8 stops, depending on your route and how far in advance you book. That same set of flights purchased one at a time could easily run $6,000 to $10,000. The savings come from fare construction techniques that combine airline pricing rules across carriers, something you can't replicate on Expedia or Google Flights.\nThe best gap year routes use a mix of flights and overland travel. Fly between continents, then travel by bus, train, or ferry within each region. An open-jaw segment, where you fly into one city and out of another, makes this easy. Fly into Bangkok and out of Ho Chi Minh City, then travel overland through Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia in between. Fly into Buenos Aires and out of Lima, covering Patagonia, Chile, and Peru by bus.\nSoutheast Asia, Central America, and parts of South America are where your daily budget stretches furthest. You can live well on $40 to $60 per day in Thailand, Vietnam, Guatemala, and Bolivia. Western Europe, Australia, and Japan cost more on the ground, so many gap year travelers keep those stops shorter.\nBook your flights 6 to 9 months in advance for the best fares. Build in flexibility on your travel dates if possible. Most AirTreks RTW tickets allow date changes on individual segments for a fee, usually $150 to $250 per change, which gives you room to adjust as your plans evolve on the road.\nYour AirTreks consultant can structure a route that makes geographic sense, keeps costs low, and builds in the flexibility that extended travel requires. We've been doing this for gap year travelers since before the term \"gap year\" was mainstream.","answerType":"detailed","category":"planning","audienceTag":["students"],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"medium","relatedRoute":null},{"question":"Can I do a round-the-world trip as a couple?","slug":"rtw-trip-as-a-couple","url":"https://airtreks.com/faq/rtw-trip-as-a-couple","answerExcerpt":"Yes, and couples are AirTreks' most common booking type. Two people on the same itinerary book together for the same per-person price. The main couple-specific consideration: agree on pace before you plan. One slow traveler and one city-a-day person need to find middle ground early.","answer":"Couples are one of AirTreks' most common booking types. Two people on the same itinerary book together and pay the same per-person price. There's no couple surcharge, and traveling together doesn't limit your routing options.\nThe biggest couple-specific challenge is agreeing on pace and priorities before you start planning. One person wants to spend a week in Kyoto. The other wants to hit Bangkok, Bali, and Sydney in the same timeframe. Sort this out early. Your AirTreks consultant has seen every version of this conversation and can help you find a route that gives each person some of what they want without turning the trip into a forced march.\nBudget conversations matter too. If one person wants business class and the other is fine in economy, AirTreks can book mixed cabins on the same flights. If one person wants to splurge on a safari in Tanzania and the other wants to keep costs tight, build that into the routing plan upfront so the overall budget stays realistic.\nMost couples do well with 6 to 10 stops over 3 to 8 weeks. A popular route might run San Francisco to Tokyo, Bangkok, Bali, Sydney, Cape Town, London, and home. That's 7 stops across 4 continents, and in economy it typically prices between $3,000 and $5,000 per person depending on season and how far ahead you book.\nA practical tip: take at least one day apart during longer stops. Spend a morning doing different things and meet back up for dinner. It keeps the trip from feeling like a group project and gives you both stories to tell each other.\nHoneymoon RTW trips are a memorable and fun way to start a life long partnership. Combining a few luxury stops, like an overwater villa in the Maldives or a wine region stay in New Zealand, with more adventurous destinations like Vietnam or Peru creates a trip that's both celebratory and interesting. Your consultant can mix premium segments with budget-friendly ones to keep the total cost reasonable.","answerType":"short","category":"planning","audienceTag":["couples","honeymoon"],"answerUpdatedAt":"2026-05-27","searchVolumeTier":"medium","relatedRoute":null}]}