Plan, book, fly — answered straight.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.