Four months and 17 airports. Around the World with Star Alliance
Mar 20th, 2011, 09:05 AM
#21
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Great to see this thread--I've never been on the air travel forum (usually hang out in the country forums) so I'm glad to have found this. This is really useful information, Carlux and all.
My husband and I are in the beginning stages of planning a 4-month RTW trip using Star Alliance, beginning in September. Used the online fare/itinerary calculator for a first stab at it yesterday. Here's what we're thinking about:
New York-Palermo (for a 2-3-week stay in the Aeolian Islands)
Palermo-Milan (for a few days in Venice)
Milan-Istanbul (5 weeks in Turkey, including 4 weeks at a friend's villa on the coast)
Istanbul-Bali (2 weeks on Bali)
Bali-Ho Chi Minh City (some combination of 6 weeks in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, maybe Thailand)
Hanoi-San Francisco (a week staying with our son/dil)
San Francisco-New York
Economy class, that's going to run us about $6,000 each. Free ticket using FF miles would cost 160,000 miles--but that's going up to 200,000 in June, so we're checking to see if it will still be 160,000 if we buy before then (my husband has enough miles, but I don't, so it would still cost us $6,000 for one ticket). But maybe it makes sense just to spend the money and get the FF miles and continued elite status, which we like.
We're still studying the weather forecasts for S.E. Asia in November/December, which might affect the plan. Then we'll decide and make the leap! We have to be back in the States in mid-January.
Any comments?
My husband and I are in the beginning stages of planning a 4-month RTW trip using Star Alliance, beginning in September. Used the online fare/itinerary calculator for a first stab at it yesterday. Here's what we're thinking about:
New York-Palermo (for a 2-3-week stay in the Aeolian Islands)
Palermo-Milan (for a few days in Venice)
Milan-Istanbul (5 weeks in Turkey, including 4 weeks at a friend's villa on the coast)
Istanbul-Bali (2 weeks on Bali)
Bali-Ho Chi Minh City (some combination of 6 weeks in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, maybe Thailand)
Hanoi-San Francisco (a week staying with our son/dil)
San Francisco-New York
Economy class, that's going to run us about $6,000 each. Free ticket using FF miles would cost 160,000 miles--but that's going up to 200,000 in June, so we're checking to see if it will still be 160,000 if we buy before then (my husband has enough miles, but I don't, so it would still cost us $6,000 for one ticket). But maybe it makes sense just to spend the money and get the FF miles and continued elite status, which we like.
We're still studying the weather forecasts for S.E. Asia in November/December, which might affect the plan. Then we'll decide and make the leap! We have to be back in the States in mid-January.
Any comments?
Mar 20th, 2011, 10:26 AM
#22
I think it's a good plan. However, a couple of comments...
Starting in Europe the price would be closer to $4000 each; as I said upthread, the prices vary widely depending on where you start and end the trip. You could probably get round trip tickets to/from e.g. the UK or Germany for less than the difference, or you could use miles.
Second, you might do some math and look at Singapore Airlines' RTW ticket using just their own planes. The route is restrictive, for example you have to start with JFK-Frankfurt if you're going east, and you'd have to pay for internal flights within Europe and Asia on your own, <i>however</i> Singapore's <i>business class</i> RTW from the US is $5300 plus taxes, so even with extra flights (easy and affordable within both Europe and SE Asia) you might end up with a price competitive to the $6000 economy fare you're looking at, except the long haul portions would be in Singapore's business class, not too shabby. Also it would be excellent in terms of Star Alliance miles (to your United or US Air accounts, whatever) since business class will draw a cabin bonus as well as "ordinary" miles.
Just a couple of thoughts, anyway.
Starting in Europe the price would be closer to $4000 each; as I said upthread, the prices vary widely depending on where you start and end the trip. You could probably get round trip tickets to/from e.g. the UK or Germany for less than the difference, or you could use miles.
Second, you might do some math and look at Singapore Airlines' RTW ticket using just their own planes. The route is restrictive, for example you have to start with JFK-Frankfurt if you're going east, and you'd have to pay for internal flights within Europe and Asia on your own, <i>however</i> Singapore's <i>business class</i> RTW from the US is $5300 plus taxes, so even with extra flights (easy and affordable within both Europe and SE Asia) you might end up with a price competitive to the $6000 economy fare you're looking at, except the long haul portions would be in Singapore's business class, not too shabby. Also it would be excellent in terms of Star Alliance miles (to your United or US Air accounts, whatever) since business class will draw a cabin bonus as well as "ordinary" miles.
Just a couple of thoughts, anyway.
May 2nd, 2011, 04:10 PM
#24
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Mmmm!Thanks for your report Gardyloo! We couldn't do a RTW ticket justice until DH retires - he can only get 8-10 weeks at a time off. BUT when the retirement day comes, it sounds like a plan.
Who did you fly with in Australia?
Who did you fly with in Australia?
May 3rd, 2011, 08:04 AM
#26
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In Australia we flew with budget airlines - Virgin and Jetstar. It was easier for us to get cheap flights for short hauls, since Star Alliance doesn't seem to have any internal Australian flights.
Then we took the train from Sydney to Perth - highly recommended, although obviously more expensive, and longer. But how else do you see so much of Australia?
Then we took the train from Sydney to Perth - highly recommended, although obviously more expensive, and longer. But how else do you see so much of Australia?
May 26th, 2011, 05:49 PM
#27
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bookmarking. These sound like great deals; especially business class RTWs in the 6k range.
I did a RTW back in 89; it was a true rtw with unlimited segments good for one year on any airline, as long as you flew in one direction..... and it was about 2K, as best as I can recall. I only went for 6 weeks and my entire budget was about 5K.
I did a RTW back in 89; it was a true rtw with unlimited segments good for one year on any airline, as long as you flew in one direction..... and it was about 2K, as best as I can recall. I only went for 6 weeks and my entire budget was about 5K.
Jun 8th, 2011, 06:25 AM
#28
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Interesting report but if you fly a bit in the U.S. (on Star Alliance), you would know to avoid the 777 configuration on United, especially to Hawaii. And you are right, the lounge in Honolulu wasn't good in 1975, let alone now. You would think UA would be shamed into doing something better there, but apparently not.
Although I've been told Hawaii is a major moneymaking route for United, the planes and staff don't look or act like it.
Business class at UA also leaves a lot to be desired to Narita, instead choose ANA for better service and aircraft. I don't think United will get any better in the future as they continue the merger with Continental (as I see they are using smaller aircraft to Singapore this fall!).
Although I've been told Hawaii is a major moneymaking route for United, the planes and staff don't look or act like it.
Business class at UA also leaves a lot to be desired to Narita, instead choose ANA for better service and aircraft. I don't think United will get any better in the future as they continue the merger with Continental (as I see they are using smaller aircraft to Singapore this fall!).
Jun 8th, 2011, 10:21 PM
#29
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Luckily we don't fly at lot in the US, living in France, with family in Canada (and in Australia) We certainly know now to avoid United. It was the chance to be upgraded to first class, plus having friends in Hawaii that lured us there.
