Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
GUIDE
How to book a Star Alliance Round the World fare
Star Alliance Round the World fare is a single paid airfare covering a whole round-the-world journey on the alliance's member airlines, with between 2 and 15 stops in one itinerary and a trip that can run for up to 12 months after the first flight. [1] The price is determined by the itinerary's total mileage, the point of origin of the ticket and the class of travel, plus applicable fees, taxes and surcharges. [1]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- The fare is one paid ticket covering the whole journey, with a maximum of 16 flight coupons including any later re-routing. [1]
- Price depends on total mileage, point of origin and cabin, and there are four maximum permitted mileage levels: 26,000, 29,000, 34,000 and 39,000 miles. [1]
- The itinerary must start and end in the same country, run in one direction, and include only one Atlantic and one Pacific crossing. [1]
- Flights taken on the fare can still earn miles and status points in your own frequent flyer programme when the booking class qualifies. [1]
How much does a Star Alliance Round the World fare cost?
Star Alliance builds the price from three inputs: the total mileage of the routing, the point of origin of the ticket and the class of travel, with applicable fees, taxes and surcharges added on top. [1] Because total mileage is one of those three inputs, the routing itself affects the price. [1]
There are four maximum permitted mileage levels, and the price band follows whichever one the itinerary falls into. [1]
| Maximum permitted mileage | Applies to |
|---|---|
| 26,000 miles | Special Economy and Special Business fares only, or Economy and Business Class fares only [1] |
| 29,000 miles | — |
| 34,000 miles | — |
| 39,000 miles | — |
The fare applies only when the Round the World ticket is purchased before departure, and the fare must appear on the ticket itself. [1] Special Economy Class fares are not applicable if the trip starts in Japan. [1] Tickets can be built with the Star Alliance Book and Fly tool, through any member airline reservations centre or through a travel agent. [1]
What routing, stopover and transfer rules apply?
Every Round the World itinerary has to start and end in the same country and travel in one direction, east or west. [1] It must cross both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and only one transatlantic and one transpacific crossing are permitted; either of those crossings may be flown as a surface sector provided the land mileage is counted in the total. [1] Not more than one crossing is allowed between Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia/Pacific. [1] Travel through the city of origin is not permitted. [1]
Stopovers. A stopover is any stay of more than 24 hours. [1] In general the fare needs at least 2 stopovers and allows at most 15, while the Special Tourist Round the World fare and the Round the World Special Economy fare need at least 3 and allow at most 5. [1] No more than 3 stopovers are allowed in any one country, except in the contiguous United States, where 5 are allowed for travel that does not start in the United States or Canada. [1] Only one stopover is allowed per city, and the maximum number of stopovers in certain regions may be further limited. [1]
Transfers and surface sectors. A transfer is a stop of less than 24 hours; transfers are unlimited but no more than three are allowed at any one city. [1] International transfers are capped at four per country outside the country of origin, where no more than two domestic and two international transfers are permitted — except for trips starting in the United States, Canada, Thailand or Norway, where up to four domestic and four international transfers are allowed in the country of origin. [1] Up to five surface sectors are permitted, at the passenger's own expense, and their mileage must still be counted in the maximum permitted mileage calculation. [1]
How long can a Star Alliance Round the World trip last?
A trip can last up to 12 months after departure of the first flight. [1] Star Alliance's booking guidance is to complete the journey between 10 days and 1 year. [1] Minimum-stay rules then vary with the cabin bought and with where the trip begins. [1]
| Where the trip starts | Minimum stay |
|---|---|
| General rule, Tourist fares | At least 3 days between the first and last international sector [1] |
| General rule, First and Business Class fares | At least 10 days between the first and last intercontinental sector, or a last intercontinental flight departing no earlier than 10 days after the first [1] |
| Economy Regular | 3 days [1] |
| Australia or New Zealand | No minimum stay in First or Business Class; Economy and Premium Economy must fly the last international sector at least 7 days after the first international sector starts [1] |
| Europe | Economy and Premium Economy: last international sector departs at least 3 days after the first international sector starts; First and Business: at least 10 days between the first and last intercontinental sector [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]
Which cabins, baggage allowances and child fares apply?
The fare is sold in Business, Premium Economy and Economy Class. [1] If the chosen cabin is not available on a particular flight, a lower cabin is offered and the full price of the selected cabin still applies. [1]
Baggage is counted by piece for the whole journey. [1]
| Cabin | Allowance per person |
|---|---|
| Economy and Premium Economy | 1 piece, 20 kg (44 lb) [1] |
| Business | 2 pieces, 30 kg (66 lb) in total [1] |
| First | 2 pieces, 40 kg (88 lb) in total [1] |
On trips that stay within North America, surcharges may be applied from the first checked bag. [1] On Economy Class fares, children aged 2 to 11 are charged 75% of the adult fare plus fees, taxes and surcharges, and proof of age is required. [1] The first infant under 2 not occupying a seat pays 10% of the adult fare plus fees and taxes, only one such infant is allowed per adult, and an infant occupying a seat pays 75% of the adult fare. [1] An infant who turns 2 during the trip must occupy a seat priced at the child fare for the entire journey. [1] Children and infants must be accompanied on all sectors in the same cabin by an adult paying the full Round the World fare, and infant bookings cannot be made online but can be arranged through the call centres. [1]
Exceptions and limits worth checking before you buy
- The fare is valid on the flights of all Star Alliance member carriers, but certain flights marketed under a member carrier's flight number and operated by a different airline are not offered for this product. [1]
- It is sold for travel around the world from countries in the South West Pacific, Africa/Middle East, Asia, Europe, North America, and South and Central America that are served by participating member carriers, and travellers from any country can use it. [1]
- The fare is sold in Business, Premium Economy and Economy Class, while the minimum-stay rules and the free baggage allowance also give figures for First Class. [1]
- Stopover caps differ by country, and the Special Tourist Round the World fare and the Round the World Special Economy fare allow 3 to 5 stopovers instead, so the general 2-to-15 range is a starting point rather than the final count. [1]
- Surface sectors between cities, and between airports in a multi-airport city, require a separate coupon, and a surface-sector stop of more than 24 hours counts as one of the stopovers. [1]
- Further exceptions may apply and are set out in the Round the World Terms and Conditions. [1]
Frequently asked questions
How many stopovers does a Star Alliance Round the World fare allow?
Generally at least 2 and at most 15, with no more than 3 in any one country and only one per city. [1] The Special Tourist Round the World fare and the Round the World Special Economy fare allow 3 to 5 stopovers. [1]
Can I earn miles and status points on a Round the World fare?
Yes, when the flight and booking class qualify: miles and status points are credited to the traveller's own frequent flyer programme, whose rules set which booking classes earn. [1]
Do I have to fly in one direction?
Yes. The itinerary must run east or west, start and end in the same country, and include one Atlantic and one Pacific crossing, without passing through the city of origin. [1]
How far ahead can I reserve sectors after the first international flight?
Sectors up to and including the first international sector can be reserved at least 24 hours before departure, and later segments can be reserved at any time. [1]
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. It covers the Star Alliance Round the World fare only; the Star Alliance Circle Pacific fare, alliance award bookings and other alliances' round-the-world products are not covered here.
- Star Alliance Round the World fare page and fare FAQs, checked 18 October 2026