RWT - where to start?
 

I've been checking RWT 'First Class' fares with QF when being around in the world, and it seems like starting in Asia is the cheapest option, does anyone know where exactly I should start my RTW trip to save some cash?

Might be best to ask in the OneWorld forum, if you're talking about a OneWorld RTW fare.

I believe the cheapest place to commence an AONE is currently South Africa. Hong Kong is not too bad, although no bargain either. Other traditionally 'cheaper' commencement points such as South Korea have increased dramatically.


To find out up to date fares (and I am also doing this exercise presently for an AONE), consider:

(1) Expertflyer, taking out the premium subscription to access fare information. You are able to access RTW for all airlines for all starting points in your preferred currency; and

(2) For the free option, use the Oneworld website which gives fares in the local currency, and convert to your preferred currency using Universal Currency Converter.


These AONEs are not cheap at all (mine is just over $20,000 ex Aust). Each person has to make their own value decision on how practical it is for you to start at some far flung destination to obtain a saving on the fare (and often incurring time, inconvenience, dollar/points to get to destination, associated costs and whether you will miss out using segments at the end of the itinery to "return" to point of commencement) against the AONE fare saving obtained.


I concur with the previous poster that the Oneworld forum provides detailed and expert information.

Welcome to FT, sohb!

We usually call this a RTW or ATW ticket, not RWT. Within oneworld you will also often find something like xONEx where the first x stands for the class of travel (L, D or A (first) and the seond x for the number of continents (3-6).

The factors which influence the price are class of travel (do you really need A or would D do as well?), place where you start, number of continents (which is linked to the place where you start as some starting points change the number of continents required) and the issuing carrier (AA is MUCH cheaper than QF).

And just ask our friendly moderator to move this to the OW forum which also contains a helpful sticky with links to rules and prices and much more.

[QF Mod Hat]

Excellent idea...

[/QF Mod Hat]

and welcome to FT, sohb :)

It depends on the number of continents you need, as well as transit cost to a "cheap" purchase location and what your current location is. The fares are all on the OW website here. Don't forget the Canada purchase exception, too, depending on where you are.

Currently Saudi Arabia has the least expensive First class one world RTW fares

You might want to check my OW RTW Fares analysis spreadsheet (see link below). For first class fares the cheapest fares seems to be around the mid-east (Yemen, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan) or Africa (Namibia, South Africa). Based on yesterday's exchange rates, the range for AONE4 is from $8,421.37 (Yemen) to $10,174.46 (South Africa). The highest price is Switzerland ($17,287.23). Taxes, Fuel charges, etc. are not included in the above prices.