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One big secret you should know to save on around the world business class flights

If you ever considered taking an around the world trip, you may have experienced sticker shock. The world’s leading airline alliances, such as One World and Star Alliance, rarely discount their published Around the World fares. One way to find lower Around the World fares is through offshore origination: in other words, changing the country your flight originates from. Although it may seem to be an out-of-the-box strategy, international business and first-class travelers have been SAVING BIG OFFSHORE for decades. There is currently a gap of more than $6,000 between the least expensive and most expensive Around the World tickets; the only difference is the country the flight originates from. In addition to the initial cost savings on your ticket, there are also intangible benefits realized over the lifespan of the trip, such as additional segments, that add to the lower total cost. Where are the best and worst places to originate an around the world trip? The global economy plays a major role in determining the cost of travel to and from different countries. Knowledge of how fares have changed in recent years and how Around the World business fares compare in different parts of the world can help you make an informed decision in choosing the best travel fares for your needs. Where fares increased Since 2015, Around the World business fares have increased from several countries. In South Africa, Around the World business class fares through One World Alliance increased by $2,069 over the course of two years from $4,190 in 2015 to $6,259 in 2017. That’s an increase of almost 50%! Star Alliance’s South African Around the World Business fare increased by $1,363 from $6,990 to $8,353 over the same time period. Japan, a recent hotbed for Around the World fares, has also seen notable price increases. Star Alliance’s business class fares rose by $767 from $5,643 to $6,410. One World’s fare from Japan rose from $5,355 in 2015 to $5,963 in 2017, an increase of over $600. Price hikes from Japan can be attributed to changes in U.S. Dollar/Yen exchange rates. Where fares fell After the United Kingdom‘s exit from the European Union, the decreased value of the pound led to lower fares. In 2015, the One World Alliance 3 continent business fare was $8,260. The same ticket from Star Alliance sold for $8,808. As of June 2017, prices from both countries have fallen to an average of just $7,000. U.S. fares also fell slightly from $10,199 from One World in 2015 and $10,172 from Star Alliance to identical prices of $9,699 in 2017. Where fares remained largely unchanged One World Alliance’s fare increased modestly between 2015 and 2017 in the Euro Zone from $6,819 to $7,187. Star Alliance’s Euro Zone fare increased by an estimated $400 to the 2017 price of $7,172 for business class. One World’s fare from Israel has remained the same at $6,200 while Star Alliance’s fares from Israel fell slightly by about $150. Impact on global travel For some travelers, choosing another country of origin with a lower Around the World fare could ultimately save more money than simply flying from home. Our Australian members, for example, are able to take advantage of the lower U.S. prices, while U.S. members frequently originate trips from the EU, Israel or Jordan. Travelers from South Korea can choose to fly out of nearby Japan to save more than $1,400 on Star Alliance fare. It is also important to know the rules and regulations of each carrier and country as well as carefully plan the logistics of getting to your offshore destination in a timely fashion to ensure you select the ticket with the greatest value and convenience to you. If you are considering an Around the World ticket, it may be wise to research this seldom-used technique to save thousands on your ticket. Using miles, low-cost one-way flights, or a good old-fashioned road trip, traveling to another originating city for your Around the World trip not only allows you to see even more of the world, but also save thousands in the process. Lars Condor is the Managing Director of Passport Premiere. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

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2 Comments

  1. I admit that I’m so terrible with finding deals, and organising flights and trips – I wish I had the patience! It’s pretty difficult to keep up to date with knowing where’s cheapest etc. This is very helpful though, especially the part about fares remaining unchanged! I’d love to go to Israel sometime soon

  2. Fascinating stuff. Loads of insider knowledge here which could save world travellers some serious money. But I see this dates from 2017. Has the market changed much over the last couple of years?

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