Introduction to Round-The-World Award Fares in 2026
Round-The-World Award Fares are specialized flight redemptions that allow travelers to circumnavigate the globe on a single ticket using frequent flyer miles. By leveraging alliance-wide award charts or generous stopover policies, you can visit up to five or more distinct continents for a fixed mileage price, maximizing the value of your credit card points.
Booking a multi-continent itinerary used to be the crown jewel of every loyalty program. However, airline alliances have aggressively restructured their award charts in recent years.
You can no longer rely on outdated strategies to piece together global routes. Successfully booking a global trip today requires a strict, mathematical approach to routing rules and distance calculations.
The goal is to extract maximum value from your credit card points. If an overarching cash ticket costs $12,000 and you redeem 250,000 miles, you achieve an exceptional 4.8 cents per point in value.
This guide breaks down the exact routing rules, distance bands, and active award charts you need to fly around the planet for pennies on the dollar.
The End of ANA Round-The-World (June 2025)
For over a decade, All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club offered the undisputed best Round-The-World Award Fares in the travel industry. You could fly 22,000 miles in Business Class for just 125,000 ANA miles.
That era is officially over. ANA completely stopped ticketing Star Alliance round-the-world awards on June 24, 2025.
If you see blogs or social media posts telling you to transfer American Express points to ANA for a global ticket in 2026, they are sharing expired information. You must pivot your strategy to the remaining active programs to avoid stranding your points.
The Top Strategy: Cathay Pacific Oneworld Multi-Carrier
With ANA’s exit, the Cathay Pacific Asia Miles program now wears the crown for the best dedicated multi-carrier award chart. The “Oneworld Multi-Carrier Award” allows you to build massive itineraries using airlines like Qatar Airways, Qantas, Japan Airlines, and British Airways.
The rules for this ticket are strict but highly rewarding. To qualify, your itinerary must include at least two Oneworld airlines (if Cathay Pacific is not flown) or three or more Oneworld airlines (if Cathay Pacific is included).
You are allowed a maximum of five stopovers, two layovers, and two open-jaws. This gives you the flexibility to build a truly staggering global vacation. I remember drafting a 24,000-mile Oneworld route across five continents and realizing the taxes were significantly cheaper by routing through Tokyo instead of London.
The total price of the ticket is dictated by the combined distance of all your flight segments. You must return to the original point of departure to complete the circuit.
| Total Distance (Miles) | Economy Class Cost | Business Class Cost | First Class Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14,001 – 18,000 | 105,000 Miles | 210,000 Miles | 310,000 Miles |
| 18,001 – 20,000 | 115,000 Miles | 230,000 Miles | 330,000 Miles |
| 20,001 – 25,000 | 126,000 Miles | 250,000 Miles | 350,000 Miles |
| 25,001 – 35,000 | 140,000 Miles | 265,000 Miles | 365,000 Miles |
| 35,001 – 50,000 | 160,000 Miles | 280,000 Miles | 380,000 Miles |
The most optimal sweet spot on this chart is the 20,001 to 25,000-mile band. For 250,000 miles for a 25,000-mile business class journey, you can easily cross the Atlantic, tour Europe, jump to the Middle East, fly through Asia, and return across the Pacific.
If you mix cabins (e.g., flying four segments in Business and one in First), the entire itinerary will price at the highest cabin class. Always ensure consistent award space across your route to avoid overpaying.
The Alternative: Aeroplan’s 5,000-Point Stopovers
Air Canada’s Aeroplan does not publish a traditional multi-carrier global chart. Instead, they offer the most generous individual stopover policy in the Star Alliance, allowing you to build a custom global itinerary.
Aeroplan allows you to add a stopover to a one-way award ticket for just 5,000 points. You can add two stopovers on a round-trip ticket, meaning you get three distinct destinations for a massive discount.
The primary rule is that stopovers cannot occur within the United States or Canada. However, you can stop anywhere else in the world for up to 45 days per stopover.
Because Aeroplan uses a hybrid zone-and-distance award chart, you calculate the cost by adding the distance between your regions and simply attaching an extra 5,000 points per stopover. This flexibility is detailed extensively in our Aeroplan Stopover rules guide.
Using the Air Canada website, you can sometimes piece these together online. However, for complex routings involving four or more segments, you will need to call the Aeroplan contact center to price and ticket the award manually.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Build Your Route
Booking Round-The-World Award Fares requires meticulous planning. You cannot simply log into an airline portal and expect the system to generate a 25,000-mile trip automatically.
Step 1: Map the Distances. You must know the exact physical distance of your intended flights. Use the Great Circle Mapper to input airport codes (e.g., JFK-LHR-DOH-NRT-LAX-JFK) and calculate the total mileage to see which award band you fall into.
Step 2: Search Segment by Segment. Never search for your entire trip at once. Look for one-way award availability for each individual leg using tools like the ITA Matrix advanced guide or airline-specific calendars.
Step 3: Write Everything Down. As you find available award space, document the airline, flight number, date, and time. Award space is highly volatile, so you must have backup dates prepared.
Step 4: Call to Book. Once you have verified that every segment has open award space, call the airline’s loyalty desk. Feed the agent the exact flight numbers segment by segment to construct the ticket.
Best Credit Cards to Earn RTW Miles
To afford a 250,000-point redemption, you need a highly optimized credit card strategy. Relying on flight miles alone will take years, whereas flexible bank points can get you there in months.
For Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, your best transfer partners are Capital One, Citi, and Bilt. These programs transfer to Cathay Pacific at a standard 1:1 ratio.
You must factor in recent devaluations. As of March 2026, American Express reduced its transfer ratio to Cathay Pacific to 5:4. This means transferring 100,000 Amex Membership Rewards points will only yield 80,000 Asia Miles, drastically altering the math of your global ticket.
For Aeroplan stopovers, Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express, and Capital One all transfer at a 1:1 ratio. This makes Aeroplan the more accessible program for travelers with diverse credit card portfolios.
If you live outside a major hub, consider booking Positioning Flights with cash or separate miles to start your global itinerary from a major gateway like New York, Los Angeles, or London.
Common Mistakes and Surcharge Gotchas
The most devastating mistake you can make when booking Round-The-World Award Fares is ignoring carrier-imposed fuel surcharges. While the ticket might cost 250,000 miles, the taxes can easily eclipse $1,500 if you choose the wrong airlines.
British Airways and Qatar Airways are notorious for levying massive surcharges on premium cabin redemptions. If you route through London Heathrow (LHR), you will also be hit with the UK’s exorbitant Air Passenger Duty (APD).
To minimize cash outlays, prioritize flying on airlines with low or nonexistent surcharges. Japan Airlines, Qantas, and Finnair generally offer much more palatable fee structures within the Oneworld alliance.
Another common mistake is violating maximum mileage rules. Cathay Pacific’s chart strictly caps itineraries at 50,000 total flown miles. Exceeding this by even a single mile will force the agent to price the itinerary as separate, drastically more expensive tickets.
Finally, avoid booking open-jaws between distinct award zones if it breaks routing rules. Always verify that your overland travel (the un-flown distance between two airports) does not push your total calculated distance into a higher, more expensive award tier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly Star Alliance for a Round-The-World ticket in 2026?
Yes, but the options are highly limited. Since ANA discontinued their Star Alliance RTW chart in June 2025, your best remaining option is using Air Canada Aeroplan’s 5,000-point stopover rule to manually build a multi-region itinerary.
How do I calculate the distance for a Cathay Pacific Oneworld ticket?
You calculate the total distance by summing the exact mileage of every single flight segment. You should use a tool like Great Circle Mapper (gcmap.com) to input your airport codes and find the total distance to match against Cathay’s award tiers.
What is the difference between a layover and a stopover?
A layover is a connection that lasts less than 24 hours on an international itinerary. A stopover is a deliberate break in your journey that exceeds 24 hours, allowing you to leave the airport and explore the city before continuing your trip.
Can I mix First Class and Business Class on a global ticket?
Yes, you can mix cabins on a Round-The-World ticket, but doing so comes with a severe penalty. The entire itinerary will be priced based on the highest cabin class flown, meaning a single First Class segment will force you to pay the First Class rate for the whole trip.
