Airline Travel- Cheap tickets, Airlines, Airways, airfare and air travel tips

Around-the-world travel isn't just for the young or the independently wealthy. Students, retirees and even working folks with a few weeks of vacation time can take advantage of the convenient pricing and flexibility of around-the-world tickets. You can travel around the world for nearly any length of time, from a few days to a few years. Your trip can involve a couple of brief stops or dozens of stopovers and side trips.

And it needn't cost as much as you might think: Economy-class fares for the most basic around-the-world itineraries start around $1,500.

An around-the-world ticket is a special fare (or a series of point-to-point tickets) that allows you to fly to multiple cities and continents. These tickets are sold through airline alliances and agencies that specialize in around-the-world travel, and they can help you save money and organize your itinerary. Read on for a run-down on where to buy your tickets, how they work and what they cost.

When to Consider an Around-the-World Ticket
Around-the-world tickets are not only ideal for travelers planning 15 different stops on six continents; they could also save you money on shorter multi-city trips, particularly in business or first class.

For instance, in a recent search, we found a business-class flight on American Airlines from Los Angeles to Hong Kong for $7,857 (before taxes); a flight from Los Angeles to London was $3,687.50. But a three-continent around-the-world fare in business class from Oneworld -- the airline alliance to which American belongs -- would only cost an estimated $7,500 plus taxes, and allow you to fly from Los Angeles to both Europe and Asia in one trip. By buying a global ticket and coordinating appointments, an executive with clients in both Hong Kong and London could save a bundle.

Consider an around-the-world ticket if you're traveling to multiple continents within the same trip. (If you're focusing on a single continent, an air pass may be a better bet.) Plot out your preferred countries or cities, along with a rough idea of how long you'd like to spend in each place, and then turn to one of the providers listed below for help in planning your itinerary.