Travel Around the World for Cheap

by Richard Quest

Flying all Around the World may cost you much less than you think.

If you are willing to do some detective work and put in a little time for research (your local travel agent would help tremendously in this case) – then your dream of visiting different countries around the world is within reach. You have to be prepared to sacrifice an inch or two of legroom, pack really light with only one carry on bag, fly on the low season and stock up on snacks, you could do the trip for as little as the attainable cost of US$2,345 on a variety of low-cost carriers (do note the following quoted fares are subject to change at any time).

CNNMoney’s Editor at Large – Richard Quest has just embarked on such a trip. Using 10 Low Cost Airlines, his journey during the low season month of March took in nine countries in eight days.

The total price of Mr. Quest’s flights came to US$2,345 – roughly half what he would have paid using traditional airlines. He booked the cheapest available seats and opted not to pay and eat airline food.

The same trip using carriers from the Star Alliance, which includes Lufthansa (DLAKY) and United Airlines, would cost at least $4,227. Flying with Sky Team, which groups Delta Airlines (DAL), Air France (AFLYY) and KLM, would be at least US$4,606.

Mr. Quest began his trip and set off from London England one Saturday, stopped in Belgium, the Czech Republic and the United Arab Emirates and then headed to Sri Lanka. He flew on via Malaysia, Singapore and Australia, before touching down in Hawaii, then hopping via Los Angeles to New York for the final leg to London.

The cheapest journey on Quest’s itinerary is a flight from London to Brussels, which was just $24 with EasyJet Airline (ESYJY). Another short flight from Brussels to Prague cost just $25.60 with Ryanair (RYAAY), Europe’s biggest budget airline. Then from Prague on FlyDubai to Dubai for $183.11, onwards on Air Arabia to Sri Lanka’s main city of Colombo for US$120.58, then Air Asia to Singapore for US$121.98, Scoot Air to Sydney for US$230.93, Jetstar Airways to Honolulu for US$348.49 and then flying to the mainland on Allegiant Air to Los Angeles for US$365.75.

The most costly leg of the trip is the one way domestic flight between Los Angeles and New York, which cost US$482 with JetBlue (JBLU). It was the cheapest ticket available but not the cheapest they would normally offer. Then for the final leg back to London where he started this around the world journey, he flew on Norwegian Air for US$442.20.

The cheapest legs of Mr. Quest’s trip cost about US$0.06 per mile, the most expensive US$0.19.

“Do not go where the path leads, travel instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”   @wbbrjp

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