Star Alliance introduces four new RTW business class fares

Star Alliance is aiming to provide the benefits of cheaper fares to its customers for travel in business class by reducing international travel costs significantly. The leading global airline alliance wants to grab a major share in the corporate and business travel market and has introduced 4 new Round The World (RTW) fares.

Under the new RTW fares, Star Alliance has designed a business class package for a travel distance of 26,000 miles offering between 3 and 15 stopovers. The base rate of this package will be about $10,000 (exclusive of surcharges and taxes).

Earlier, Star Alliance’s RTW business class fares were offered to the customers in three pricing bands. These fares were termed ‘Star One’, ‘Star Two’ and ‘Star Three’, and were based on travel up to 29,000 miles, 34,000 miles or 39,000 miles respectively. These fare bands still exist. The new ‘Star Special’ RTW fare will be cheaper and based on 26,000 mile band, while customers will still be allowed up to 15 stopovers.

For example, if you are traveling from Sydney, then the RTW itinerary for traveling in business class will be the following:  Los Angeles-Sydney with United Airlines; New York-Los Angeles with United Airlines; Toronto-New York with United Airlines or Air Canada; London-Toronto with Air Canada; Bangkok-London with Thai Airways; Singapore-Bangkok with Thai Airways or Singapore Airlines; or Sydney-Singapore with Singapore Airlines.
 
When booked as a Star One trip, the customers will be required to pay $11,876 (excluding surcharges, taxes and other add-ons). However, this will become somewhat cheaper under the new ‘Star Special’ fare. For Sydney-based travelers, this RTW 24,156-mile trek will incur a cost of $11,275.65 (inclusive of taxes, fees and surcharges).

When booking RTW fare for embarking on next business trip, the customers should consider some important things for a hassle free travel. Remember that a RTW fare cannot be used to travel from London to New York and onwards to Frankfurt. This is because you will be required to travel only in one direction – either west or east – and cross the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans only once.

A stopover in at least three cities will be required for at least 24 hours. The RTW fare doesn’t allow a week-long stay only in one country followed by a number of short stops for day meetings. This isn’t permitted at all even though you are ready to fight jetlag.

When booking RTW fares, there are some airlines that impose surcharges on a particular aircraft. This also includes on Air Canada and Singapore Airlines.