If you’re planning to visit several cities, a round-the-world ticket is convenient! How to Use and Purchase Them
Opportunities for overseas travel may not come around very often in a year. If you have the chance, you might want to visit multiple tourist destinations during a single trip. In such cases, round-the-world tickets are highly recommended. While round-the-world passes for buses or trains—allowing unlimited travel for one day—are not uncommon, when it comes to airplanes, some people may not be as familiar with the concept. This article explains the concept of air round-the-world travel.
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If you’re planning to visit several cities, a round-the-world ticket is convenient! How to Use and Purchase Them
What is a Round-the-World Ticket?
A round-the-world trip (Circle Trip) refers to traveling by airplane to visit multiple cities. A round-the-world ticket arranges all the flight segments at once, and not only is it cheaper than booking each flight separately, but in some cases, the price is nearly the same as flying directly to the furthest city, while still allowing stops at intermediate cities.
However, a condition for a round-the-world trip is that all intercity movements must be by airplane. If other modes of transportation, such as trains or buses, are used between cities, then it is not considered a round-the-world ticket but rather an open-jaw ticket.
Round-the-World vs. Open-Jaw
When traveling by airplane between several cities overseas, if you use only airplanes for intercity travel, it is considered a round-the-world trip; if you also use other forms of transportation, it is called an open-jaw ticket. Alternatively, if you can trace a continuous route by airplane from departure until returning, it’s a round-the-world trip; if there’s a break in the route, it’s considered an open-jaw ticket.
For example, if your itinerary is Narita → Frankfurt → Paris → Narita and all segments are by airplane, that is a round-the-world trip; if you use a train between Frankfurt and Paris, it becomes an open-jaw ticket.
Although the definitions clearly distinguish between round-the-world and open-jaw, for travelers the difference isn’t usually significant. So if you see either option when booking, you’re all set.
Benefits of a Round-the-World Ticket
The biggest advantage of a round-the-world ticket is that it eliminates unnecessary travel. If you purchase a standard round-trip ticket, you must return to the same airport where you originally landed. That’s fine if that airport is your base, but if you plan to visit cities that are far apart, having to return to the starting point wastes time and effort.
With a round-the-world or open-jaw ticket, you can depart from the last destination or its nearest city on your way back to your country, allowing you to travel more efficiently over a wide area.
Furthermore, round-the-world tickets are much more cost-effective than booking one flight at a time. If you’re planning to visit several major cities with airports, you should consider using a round-the-world ticket.
How to Purchase a Round-the-World Ticket
You can purchase round-the-world tickets either through a travel agency or directly on an airline’s website. In addition to round-the-world and open-jaw options, you may see terms like "multi-city" or "other cities," but essentially, a field for round-the-world tickets will be available near the international flight search box.
For example, you might see a round-the-world ticket toggle button above the search boxes for airlines and online travel agencies. Click it, select the cities you want to visit, and search.
When purchasing directly from an airline, you are limited to routes served by that airline. When booking through a travel agency, you can combine flights from multiple airlines, so for a complex itinerary, the latter option may offer more choices.
Points to Note When Arranging a Round-the-World Ticket
Round-the-world and open-jaw tickets allow you to choose your departure and arrival airports freely. This flexibility is the main appeal of a round-the-world ticket, but it also comes with key points to be cautious about. Two points that are sometimes overlooked when planning your itinerary are as follows:
◆ Allow Extra Time in Your Schedule
"Arrive at the airport with plenty of time" is a phrase you often hear when flying. Since you will be repeating several flights, make sure to plan your travel schedule carefully. If you cram too many flights into a round-the-world ticket, even a single delayed or canceled flight can derail your entire itinerary.
When using a round-the-world ticket, it’s important to build in some leeway by not packing the schedule too tightly—plan for at least one night’s stay in each city.
◆ Secure Ground Transportation for Open-Jaw Segments
In the case of an open-jaw ticket, you need to arrange your own transportation between cities where you are not using a flight. Depending on the distance and available transportation options, this could take significantly more time than you expect.
You don’t need to book train or bus tickets in advance, but make sure there is a reliable way to get to your next flight in time. This is particularly important when crossing borders, mountain ranges, or large rivers, where transportation might be more inconvenient than it appears.
◎ Summary
If you plan to visit several cities overseas, a round-the-world ticket is both convenient and cost-effective. Consider using it in combination with open-jaw tickets. The ability to choose your own departure and arrival airports greatly increases your travel freedom—so go ahead and craft your own original travel route!
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