Star Alliance RTW points redemptions - how do you do it?

[juddles]

Hello all,

does the Star Alliance have a Round The World option for a ticket using points? Anyone ever done such a thing, or know how to do it? I am a Lifemiles (Avianca) member and would really like to do such a thing if it exists. I have looked at some airline sites but the info is minimal.

Edit: And would really love F sectors where possible - J at minimum.

 

[AnnaB]

Not really RTW, but I transferred to SQ and got tickets from PER-LAX-SFO-JFK-FRA-SIN-PER, leg between SFO-JFK was paid in cash with Delta but rest is redemption in either J or F. Total cost around 175,000 points + taxes. First redemption PER-SFO (in J), second JFK-PER (F + J).

But as I understand it, a few other members has done way better, adding it as stopovers, rather then a final destination like I did.

 

[geoffb78]

Singapore Airlines offers a Star Alliance RTW award for 240,000 KrisFlyer points in J. When researching, I noticed Lufthansa offers a similar option but for a higher number of points. They also have different rules. I assume most of the Star Alliance airlines offer something similar. Try looking at Flyer Talk forums for more info for Avianca.

I have booked with SQ for Sep 2017 SIN-BKK-VIE-xFRA-xMAN-IAH//YVR-TPE-DPS-SIN. The SQ ticket allows seven stops but is highly restrictive in terms of routing rules - including only allowing continuous travel in the same direction. In my experience with the SQ call centre, this applies to transit points too. So, for example, if you were travelling westwards from SYD, you could not travel to Japan via SIN as it would involve changing from westbound to eastbound. This was never explicitly stated but the segments I was permitted to book seemed to be afflicted by this very strict 'continuous direction' limitation.

Otherwise, excellent seat availability at the opening of the booking window, especially with Turkish, SQ and ANA. I used Expert Flyer and ANA website to track down seats.

Hope this helps.

 

[cxthomps]

I have just booked a Star Alliance RTW in J for 2 passengers using Singapore Airlines. 240,000 points each as stated before gets you J all the way. I believe per other RTW awards you cannot do F unless you pay the higher points cost for the whole trip. I used Round The World - Star Alliance to plan it out and check if I was within the rules. Booking was a pain as I wanted to book as each leg became available (i.e. max days) but this was near impossible because a) you have to call to get the booking changed to add flights ($20USD per ticket/change) and b) even though I could search other airlines award inventory I found Singapore could not see it frequently (e.g. I could search for 2 seats, they could only see 1).

BTW: I have also recently booked a One World RTW in J through Qantas, so much easier to book, just more expensive to change (5000 points per ticket/change).

Good luck if you intend to book one.

C.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I have just booked a Star Alliance RTW in J for 2 passengers using Singapore Airlines. 240,000 points each as stated before gets you J all the way. I believe per other RTW awards you cannot do F unless you pay the higher points cost for the whole trip. I used Round The World - Star Alliance to plan it out and check if I was within the rules. Booking was a pain as I wanted to book as each leg became available (i.e. max days) but this was near impossible because a) you have to call to get the booking changed to add flights ($20USD per ticket/change) and b) even though I could search other airlines award inventory I found Singapore could not see it frequently (e.g. I could search for 2 seats, they could only see 1).

BTW: I have also recently booked a One World RTW in J through Qantas, so much easier to book, just more expensive to change (5000 points per ticket/change).

Good luck if you intend to book one.

C.

Out of interest what was your route?

 

[cxthomps]

We booked Sydney to London (13-Dec), London to Toronto (2-Jan), Chicago to Tokyo (7-Jan), Tokyo to London (15-Jan).
Not the most exciting RTW but we only have a month before I need to be back at work and we wanted to visit family in the uk for christmas.

C.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

We booked Sydney to London (13-Dec), London to Toronto (2-Jan), Chicago to Tokyo (7-Jan), Tokyo to London (15-Jan).
Not the most exciting RTW but we only have a month before I need to be back at work and we wanted to visit family in the uk for christmas.

C.

Thanks....and all that matters is that you are visiting places that you want to. And yes there is no pointing flying so much that you have little time to explore your destinations.

And back to Sydney from London too? Or is London the end point. Interesting that you were able to backtrack to London as well.

 

[cxthomps]

Oops that last one should have been Tokyo to Sydney , not london.

 

[Mattg]

RTW awards are not something that's really something that's offered by Star Alliance itself, rather through the programs of individual member airlines. Lifemiles has no such award, but SQ, OZ, AC and LH do.

The SQ J award is pretty good value at 240K miles. There is some more info on Singapore Airlines RTW redemptions on this thread: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....190k-krisflyer-miles-star-alliance-73772.html

 

[Willsmere]

My newbie question to this is whats the actual mechanics of making this sort of booking. I use Krisflyer mainly. Do you have to use the call centre to do these bookings? Or through star alliance itself? Not sure how you actually start researching or booking it. Thanks in advance.

 

[Mattg]

My newbie question to this is whats the actual mechanics of making this sort of booking. I use Krisflyer mainly. Do you have to use the call centre to do these bookings? Or through star alliance itself? Not sure how you actually start researching or booking it. Thanks in advance.

You would need to call Singapore Airlines and make the booking through KrisFlyer. Award availability should be the same as it would be for any other KrisFlyer booking.

 

[alexy23]

Would I be possible to claim the tickets as they come available - then once you have all your segments - ring up to get it converted to a RTW ticket?

 

[jmphoto]

Any news on a RTW points increase redemption following the general points increases?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Any news on a RTW points increase redemption following the general points increases?

Are you talking of the Krisflyer point increase?

Star Alliance redemptions are different and as far as I know there are no changes to it announced.