Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
GUIDE
Round-the-world fares compared: Star Alliance, oneworld and SkyTeam
Alliance round-the-world fares are compared here through three products: Star Alliance Round the World, oneworld Explorer and SkyTeam Round the World. The Star Alliance version is sold as one ticket for a multi-stop journey, priced by total mileage, origin and cabin, and subject to its own routing, stopover, coupon and ticketing rules [1].
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Travellers from any country can travel on the Star Alliance Round the World fare, which is valid for round-the-world travel from countries in the South West Pacific, Africa/Middle East, Asia, Europe, North America, and South and Central America served by participating carriers [1].
- Star Alliance routing must start and end in the same country, run east or west, cross both the Atlantic and Pacific, and include 2 to 15 stops; a transit is under 24 hours and a stopover is over 24 hours [1].
- The fare is priced by total mileage, point of origin and cabin, with four maximum permitted mileage levels: 26,000, 29,000, 34,000 and 39,000 miles [1].
- Stopover limits change with the fare tier: the general fare requires 2 to 15, while the Special Tourist or Round the World Special Economy fare requires 3 to 5 [1].
Who can buy, and on what basis
Scope. The rules below are Star Alliance's published conditions for its Round the World fare as checked on 18 October 2026 [1].
Who can buy. Star Alliance says travellers from any country can travel with the fare [1]. It limits validity to round-the-world travel from countries in the South West Pacific, Africa/Middle East, Asia, Europe, North America, and South and Central America served by participating member carriers [1]. The fare is valid on flights of all 26 Star Alliance member carriers listed on the page, but not on flights marketed under a member carrier's flight number and operated by a different airline [1].
Pricing basis. The total airfare is determined by total mileage, point of origin and class of travel, plus applicable fees, taxes and surcharges [1]. Four maximum permitted mileage levels are published: 26,000, 29,000, 34,000 and 39,000 miles [1]. The 26,000-mile level is tied to Special Economy and Special Business or to Economy and Business, and Special Economy fares are not applicable if the trip starts in Japan [1].
Routing and region rules
Start, end and direction. Routing has to start and end in the same country [1]. Travel must be in one direction, east or west [1]. The itinerary may reflect travel greater than round the world if it is not via the point of origin and still terminates in the country of origin [1].
Crossings. The itinerary must include only one transatlantic and only one transpacific crossing; an intercontinental sector may be a surface sector if its mileage is included in the total [1]. In the entire journey, not more than one crossing is permitted between Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia/Pacific [1].
Stops and length. Booking guidance says to include between 2 and 15 stops, with transits under 24 hours and stopovers over 24 hours [1]. The journey should be completed between 10 days and one year [1]. The FAQ separately says a trip can last up to 12 months after departure of the first flight and sets minimum-stay rules that vary by fare and origin [1].
Reservations. Reservations can be made at least 24 hours before departure for sectors up to and including the first international sector; for subsequent segments, reservations can be made at any time [1].
Stopovers, sectors and fare tiers
| Field | Star Alliance Round the World | oneworld Explorer | SkyTeam Round the World |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who can buy | Travellers from any country; valid from listed regions served by participating carriers [1] | ||
| Region and direction | Start and end in the same country; one direction; one transatlantic and one transpacific crossing [1] | ||
| Cabin | Business, Premium Economy and Economy; lower cabin may be offered at the full selected-cabin price [1] | ||
| Stopovers | Generally 2-15; Special Tourist/Special Economy 3-5; maximum 3 per country, with a contiguous-USA exception [1] | ||
| Sectors | Maximum 16 flight coupons; up to 5 surface sectors; transfer caps per city and country [1] | ||
| Ticketing | Purchase before departure; fare must appear on the ticket; reservation timing is at least 24 hours before departure for the first international sector [1] |
Stopovers and sectors. A stopover is any stay of more than 24 hours [1]. The general fare requires 2 to 15 stopovers and allows 3 to 5 on the Special Tourist or Round the World Special Economy fare [1]. No more than three stopovers are permitted in any one country, except in the contiguous USA where five are allowed for travel not starting in the USA or Canada; only one stopover per city is allowed, and regional maximums may be lower [1]. Up to five surface sectors are permitted at the passenger's expense, and their mileage counts toward the maximum permitted mileage [1]. The fare allows a maximum of 16 flight coupons for the entire journey, including subsequent re-routing [1].
Fare-tier divergence. The 26,000-mile level is tied to Special Economy and Special Business or Economy and Business, and Special Economy fares are not applicable if the trip starts in Japan [1]. The stopover count also changes between the general fare and the Special Tourist or Special Economy fare [1].
Exceptions and limits
- Minimum stay is not one rule. Star Alliance's FAQ gives a three-day minimum between the first and last international sector for Tourist fares, and a ten-day minimum between the first and last intercontinental sector for First and Business Class fares [1]. It also says the minimum stay is three days if the purchased cabin is Economy Regular [1]. For trips starting in Australia or New Zealand, there is no minimum stay for a First or Business Class fare, while Economy and Premium Economy travel on the last international sector must depart at least seven days after the first international sector starts [1]. For trips starting in Europe, Economy and Premium Economy travel on the last international sector must depart at least three days after the first international sector starts, and First and Business Class travel must last at least ten days between the first and last intercontinental sector [1].
- Cabin wording is not fully aligned. The cabin-availability answer lists Business, Premium Economy and Economy, but the minimum-stay answers refer to First and Business Class, and the baggage answer also gives a First Class allowance [1]. The First Class references should be read against the specific fare conditions rather than treated as a fourth available cabin on every route [1].
- Ticketing and reservation limits. The page does not publish a separate advance-purchase period; it says the fare is applicable only if the ticket is purchased before departure and the fare appears on the ticket [1]. Reservations can be made at least 24 hours before departure for sectors up to and including the first international sector, and subsequent segments can be reserved at any time [1].
- Codeshares and surface sectors. The fare is valid on the listed Star Alliance member carriers, but certain flights marketed under a member carrier's flight number and operated by a different airline are not offered [1]. Up to five surface sectors are permitted at the passenger's expense, and their mileage must be included in the maximum permitted mileage calculation [1].
- Transfer caps. Transfers are stops under 24 hours; they are unlimited in total but capped at three at any one city, and international transfers are limited to four in any country except the country of origin, with an exception for travel starting in the USA, Canada, Thailand or Norway [1]. Travel through the city of origin is not permitted [1].
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. The Star Alliance rules are taken from Star Alliance's Round the World page.
- Star Alliance Round the World, checked 18 October 2026
- American Airlines: oneworld Explorer, checked 18 October 2026