Quick question...maybe

I am thinking about doing a RTW trip and am wondering about with star alliance airline is best to book through? Are there big price differences if say I book a seperate round trip ticket to get me somewhere and start my rtw from there? What is the cheapest spot/airline to book one with?

one other question..can you use Aeroplan miles to book a RTW?

Thanks!

Yes there are big price differences for paid RTW. In the sticky *A useful reference links there is a link to Wearybiztrvlr's spreadsheet which has all the price information as has been most recently posted.

Each FFP has its own award structure. Some (many?) do have RTW awards - but these are quite different to the paid RTWs (much more restrictive). What you can do on Aeroplan awards is best asked in the Air Canada Aeroplan forum.

I can answer a few questions. Yes there can be very large price differences based on where you purchase your ticket. And I mean a HUGE difference.

Here's some prices from North America (off SQ's site): http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_U...otions/rtw.jsp
I think the SQ/NZ/VS RTW is a very reasonable deal, even though it's ex-US.

Also, NZ flies RTW as well. No price though.

I think ex-BKK has some of the cheapest RTW out there.

If you look at the fare codes P is pacific (example the Philippines). So far that is the cheapest that I have found. The difference easily covers a round trip ticket there. Since the miles to and from MNL do not count against the total mileage (you pay them seperately), that's all the more places you can go.

Since you appear to be in Canada (cdn_traveller, AC Elite), you should be aware of the famous 'Canadian exception' to the usual RTW ticketing rules. In general, you can buy a ticket anywhere for an RTW trip starting anywhere -- but the price you pay is the _higher_ of (a) the price at the buying point or (b) the price at the starting point. However, due to Canadian law, you can buy a ticket _in Canada_ and pay the actual local price of your starting point (converted to $C) -- which may be much, much less than the Canadian price.

You can then buy a separate ticket to get you to, and home from, the place you want to start the RTW. As another poster has mentioned, the total price may still be less than the cost of buying the RTW at the starting-from-Canada price. Also, you have the convenience of dealing with a local travel agent (or Air Canada desk), and you'll have everything issued and in order before you leave home -- saves having to pay for the RTW by remote control, getting the tickets posted to you or collecting them on the spot (what if there's a problem?) etc., etc.

The exact best place to start the xRWSTARx depends of course on what sort of itinerary you have in mind, as well as where in the plane you want to sit. WBT's handy-dandy spreadsheet will be very helpful in your decision-making process.

cheers,

Henry

Thanks a lot for all the answers!

I have a lot more to read and compare now...

I wasn't aware of the Canada booking situation..looks pretty cool.

Thanks again!

Keep in mind that different airlines calculate the surcharges/fees/taxes differently, as well, and that you may have better luck getting availability with some airlines than with others.

I had a RTW trip back in June, and LH came in at a couple hundred dollars more than UA. But, when I changed the reservation, LH was able to book a flight on SQ that UA didn't see any availability to.

The best fares hands down is out of BKK UNLESS you want to leave out of CPT/JNB (So Africa) where it is the cheapest.

Contact Mike at www.travel2000.com there's an EK/UA rtw that's superb!

Tell him George sent you.

Happy Travels

UB

PS Going to check out MNL