Most people planning round-the-world trips have no idea how many possible combinations are available, according to operators. This week STA posted details of over 200 sample routes on its new Round the World Route Planner, and plans to add more.
"The route planner will give people a chance to research itineraries before they come into the shop - often they just come in and say: 'I want to go round the world.' They're just not aware of the options," said a spokeswoman for STA.
The number of combinations beyond the traditional London-Asia-Australia/New Zealand-US route is expanding rapidly as airlines add new routes and airline networks, such as Star Alliance and One World, expand. One of the most exciting developments is the incorporation of South African Airways into the Star Alliance group, a network of 16 carriers including Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines and United Airlines. Previously travellers who wanted to fly from country to country within Africa or to the Indian Ocean had to buy separate tickets which added considerably to the overall price; from June next year when SAA officially joins Star Alliance they will be able to use destinations on its network as stopovers on Star Alliance's round-the-world ticket, which starts at £1,099 for five stops (up to 26,000 miles).
Other developments that will increase round-the-world options include the launch by Air New Zealand of a Fiji-Wellington service on November 20 and Rarotonga (Cook Islands)-Christchurch on December 1, and the expansion of South American airlines. Lan (formerly Lan Chile and a member of the One World alliance), for example, is planning new services from UK to Ecuador and Peru, via Madrid.
Operators say travellers are also unaware how inexpensive tickets have become. The cheapest round-the-world ticket is £860, flying London-Hong Kong-Singapore-Sydney-Auckland-Cook Islands-Tahiti- LA/Las Vegas-London (departing April 20-June 30 2005; the greatescapade.com). This week the Ebookers group launched a brochure, available from ebookers.com, highlighting the best deals and tips on planning a trip.
Meanwhile, Qantas is allowing customers to add an extra stop to its Discovery ticket for £30. "The Discovery fare is usually four stops and costs from £995. With this offer you get a fifth stop which means you could fly across Australia for just £30 more, about £170 less than normal," said Darren Wallace, air product manager at ebookers. Tickets must be bought in September.
Round the world tickets with a difference
London-NY-Mexico City-Lima-Santiago-Easter Island-Paptio-Auckland-Hong Kong- London: £1,529 inc taxes; through Journey Latin America (journeylatinamerica.co.uk).
London-Bogota-Atlanta-Tokyo-Rome-London: £1,289; Journey Latin America.
UK-Moscow-overland on Trans Siberian-Hong Kong-Bali-Perth-Alice Springs-Cairns-overland-Sydney-Auckland-LA-overland-Vancouver-UK: from £1,040 through STA Travel (statravel.co.uk).
London-Nairobi-Dubai-Colombo-Delhi-Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur-Los Angeles-New Orleans-London: from £1,413, through Trailfinders (trailfinders.com).
