World Wanderers: Go round-the-world on your way to Europe

Why stop at one continent when your ticket can take you across three? For Kiwis with big travel dreams, round-the-world (RTW) fares are a brilliant way to see more for less. Instead of a simple return flight, these tickets let you hop between continents, often at better value than booking multiple separate trips.

What is a round-the-world ticket?

RTW fares are offered through the major airline alliances – Star Alliance, oneworld and SkyTeam. They let you travel in one continuous direction, stopping in multiple cities along the way. Think Auckland–Tokyo–London–New York–home again, all on a single booking.

Air New Zealand and its partners, Qantas, and the Lufthansa Group (including Lufthansa, Swiss and Austrian Airlines) are ideal for RTW tickets, thanks to their global alliances and extensive codeshare networks. That means more flexibility, more destinations, and smoother connections along the way.

Why Kiwis love them

• Value for money: A RTW ticket is often cheaper than buying two long-haul returns.

• Flexibility: You can customise your route with stops in Asia, Europe, North America and beyond.

• Adventure factor: It’s the ultimate way to turn one holiday into many.

• Points potential: Earn frequent flyer miles across multiple airlines and alliances.
  
  

Example itineraries

• Air New Zealand + Star Alliance partners: Auckland – Tokyo – London – Vancouver – Auckland.
• Qantas + oneworld partners: Auckland – Perth – Johannesburg – London – Singapore – Melbourne – Auckland.
• Lufthansa Group (within Star Alliance): Auckland – San Francisco – Frankfurt – Rome – Zurich – Singapore – Auckland.

Things to consider

• Time: You’ll need at least three weeks, but many travellers make it a few months.

• Rules: Most tickets require you to keep travelling in one direction and include between 3–15 stops.

• Booking early: Popular cities and dates sell out fast, especially Europe in summer.
  

Why it’s worth it

For travellers who’ve always wanted to see more than one destination in a single trip, an RTW ticket is a game-changer. It’s the kind of adventure that lets you sip sake in Tokyo, wander the streets of Paris, and grab a hot dog in New York – all on one airfare.

RTW tickets often give you incredible value compared to booking each leg separately. Chat with your House of Travel consultant to tailor a route that matches your wish-list.