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Covers Star Alliance RTW, oneworld Explorer, Lufthansa M&M, Qantas, Cathay, JAL, Aeroplan, and Iberia charts.","borski\u002Ftravel-hacking-toolkit","borski","https:\u002F\u002Favatars.githubusercontent.com\u002Fu\u002F207674?v=4","01M74YKQ7FZM71RB1ET5KSXBZT","Michael Borohovski","01M74YKQ85N97DKHKHJCDECJT5",935,"MIT","https:\u002F\u002Fgithub.com\u002Fborski\u002Ftravel-hacking-toolkit\u002Fblob\u002Fmain\u002Fplugins\u002Ftravel-hacking-toolkit\u002Fskills\u002Fround-the-world\u002FSKILL.md",[],[],"2026-11-11 17:32:24",false,"---\nname: round-the-world\ndescription: Round-the-world, Circle Pacific, and distance-based award products across alliances. Covers Star Alliance RTW, oneworld Explorer, Lufthansa M&M, Qantas, Cathay, JAL, Aeroplan, and Iberia charts.\ncategory: reference\nsummary: RTW + Pacific Circle + Asia-Pacific Circle + regional distance-award reference. 13 active programs, 4 discontinued.\n---\n\n# Round the World, Circle Pacific, and Distance-Based Awards\n\nThe RTW universe is collapsing. Four programs ended in the last 18 months: ANA Star RTW (June 2025), Singapore KrisFlyer Star RTW (May 2024), SkyTeam Go Round (2024-25), Singapore KrisFlyer Pacific Circle (likely 2024-25). What's left is concentrated in Star Alliance, oneworld, and a few regional distance-based programs.\n\nThis skill provides:\n- Comprehensive coverage of every active RTW and Circle product\n- Historical charts for discontinued programs (so the agent doesn't get fooled by stale blog posts)\n- Distance-based regional alternatives that often beat RTW pricing for shorter trips\n- Decision rules for picking the right product\n\n**Data file:** `data\u002Frtw-awards.json`. Contains 17 programs with confidence markers (VERIFIED \u002F LIKELY) and primary-source citations.\n**Distance helper:** `scripts\u002Fcalc_distance.py` (haversine, supports cumulative multi-segment routes, with built-in distance-band lookups for Star Alliance \u002F Qantas \u002F oneworld Global Explorer).\n\n## Quick Decision Tree\n\n```\nWant to actually circle the globe?\n  └→ Want to pay cash? → oneworld Explorer (3-6 continents, online bookable; LIKELY ~$3.6K-$6.9K economy per Upgraded Points 2026; verify on rtw.oneworld.com)\n  └→ Want to use miles?\n       ├→ Star Alliance RTW (online bookable; Special Business 26k-mile distance band, USD price varies by routing\u002Forigin, historically a strong J value)\n       ├→ Lufthansa M&M (fixed 195k Y \u002F 400k J \u002F 540k F miles, phone only)\n       └→ Qantas oneworld Classic Reward RTW (35k mi cap, 132,400\u002F318,000 Y\u002FJ pts)\n\nWant to circle the Pacific Rim only?\n  ├→ Star Alliance Circle Pacific (online via member; 22k or 26k mi)\n  └→ oneworld Circle Pacific (travel agent only)\n\nWant a multi-carrier oneworld trip but not full RTW?\n  ├→ Cathay Asia Miles oneworld multi-carrier (13 distance bands; cheapest J at 60k mi \u003C1000mi)\n  ├→ JAL Mileage Bank multi-carrier (10 bands; sweet spot 25k Y \u002F 48k J \u003C4000mi)\n  └→ Qantas oneworld Classic (separate from its RTW config)\n\nJust want regional flights cheap?\n  ├→ Aeroplan distance-based (NA: 6k Y starting \u003C500mi; Atlantic: 32.5k Y starting \u003C4000mi)\n  └→ Iberia Plus Avios (intra-Europe: 3,500 Y under 650mi off-peak)\n```\n\n## Active Products\n\n### Star Alliance RTW — `staralliance.com\u002Ftnc-rtw`\n\nThe most flexible RTW still on the market. Three fare types:\n\n| Fare type        | Distance bands (mi)        | Cabins              | Stopovers | Notes |\n|------------------|----------------------------|---------------------|-----------|-------|\n| Normal RTW       | 29k \u002F 34k \u002F 39k            | Y \u002F W \u002F J \u002F F       | 2-15      | Globally available |\n| Special Economy  | 26k \u002F 29k \u002F 34k \u002F 39k      | Y                   | 3-12      | NOT from Japan |\n| Special Business | 26k                        | J                   | 5         | NOT from Japan; pricing varies by origin\u002Frouting — historically a strong J value (LIKELY) |\n\n**Rules:**\n- Origin\u002Fdestination same country\n- Single direction (E or W)\n- Each Traffic Conference crossed once\n- Up to 16 segments, 5 surface sectors\n- Min stay 10 days, max 1 year\n- Reroute fee $125, cancel fee $150\n- Purchase ≥72 hrs before first departure\n\n**Two separate products live under the \"Star Alliance RTW\" umbrella, do not conflate:**\n\n1. **Star Alliance RTW paid fare** — a cash USD\u002Flocal currency fare bookable directly at staralliance.com\u002Fen\u002Fbook-fly, priced by distance band and cabin (Normal vs Special). Not a points redemption.\n2. **Member-program mileage RTW awards** — each Star Alliance member program (Aeroplan up to its 2020 discontinuation, ANA up to its 2025 discontinuation, Lufthansa Miles & More, Avianca LifeMiles, etc.) historically had its own RTW or multi-stop award chart with its own mileage cost and rules. Most have been killed or restricted. See the per-program entries below for current state.\n\nFor the Star Alliance paid RTW fare specifically, the Normal\u002FSpecial distance bands cap how far you can fly, but the actual USD price varies by origin country, routing, and currency conversion. Always verify current pricing at staralliance.com\u002Fen\u002Fbook-fly.\n\n### Star Alliance Circle Pacific — `staralliance.com\u002Ftnc-cp`\n\nSame product family as RTW but constrained to Pacific Rim:\n- 22,000 or 26,000 mi distance bands\n- Must touch Asia, North America, **and** South West Pacific\n- 3-15 stopovers\n- 7 days min, 6 months max\n- Reroute $75, cancel 10% of fare\n- Customer Service or member airline only (not online self-service)\n\n### oneworld Explorer — `rtw.oneworld.com`\n\nContinent-based (not distance-based). Online bookable. Cabin pricing scales with continent count.\n\n| Continents | Economy USD (LIKELY, per Upgraded Points 2026) |\n|-----------|-------------------------------------------------|\n| 3         | ~$3,599 |\n| 4         | ~$4,999 |\n| 5         | ~$5,699 |\n| 6         | ~$6,899 |\n\n**Source:** primary `rtw.oneworld.com` for the structure; secondary [Upgraded Points 2026 RTW guide](https:\u002F\u002Fupgradedpoints.com\u002Ftravel\u002Fairlines\u002Fbest-round-the-world-tickets\u002F) for the specific economy rates above. Business and First class rates exist but are not surfaced in the public booking flow without a search; verify on rtw.oneworld.com for current cabin pricing.\n\n**Rules:** 16 max segments, 2-15 stopovers. Premium economy upgrades available.\n\n### oneworld Global Explorer — `rtw.oneworld.com`\n\nDistance-based alternative to Explorer. 39,000-mile cap. **Travel agent only** (not bookable on rtw.oneworld.com self-service).\n\n### oneworld Circle Pacific — `rtw.oneworld.com`\n\nPacific-bordering circle product. 4 regions: Asia (incl. Indian subcontinent + Central Asian -stans), Australia, New Zealand & SW Pacific, North America. **Travel agent only.** Specific cap and pricing not surfaced publicly.\n\n### Lufthansa Miles & More RTW — `miles-and-more.com`\n\nFixed-mile pricing, no distance bands:\n\n| Cabin    | Miles   |\n|----------|---------|\n| Economy  | 195,000 |\n| Business | 400,000 |\n| First    | 540,000 |\n\n**Rules:** Up to 10 segments, 7 stopovers. Must cross Atlantic AND Pacific. Min 10 days between first\u002Flast intercontinental flight. Phone only.\n\n### Qantas oneworld Classic Reward (RTW config) — `qantas.com`\n\n| Cabin    | Points  |\n|----------|---------|\n| Economy  | 132,400 |\n| Business | 318,000 |\n\n**Rules:** 35,000 mi distance cap. Must combine 2+ oneworld carriers. Bookable online or phone (US: 800-227-4220). Fuel surcharges apply.\n\n### Cathay Asia Miles oneworld Multi-Carrier — `flights.cathaypacific.com`\n\n13 distance bands (post-May 2026 chart):\n\n| Band | Max mi | Y      | J       | F       |\n|------|--------|--------|---------|---------|\n| 1    | 1,000  | 30,000 | 60,000  | 75,000  |\n| 5    | 7,500  | 60,000 | 125,000 | 165,000 |\n| 9    | 22,000 | 110,000| 215,000 | 280,000 |\n| 13   | 50,000 | 160,000| 280,000 | 380,000 |\n\n**Rules:** 2 stopovers + 2 transfers max. Must combine 2+ oneworld carriers (excluding Cathay).\n\n### JAL Mileage Bank Single-Partner — `jal.co.jp\u002Fjp\u002Fen\u002Fjalmile\u002Fuse\u002Fpartner_air\u002Fp_jmb\u002Fjmb_mile.html`\n\nUse this when flying ONE partner airline (not JAL, not multi-carrier oneworld). 13 distance bands.\n\n| Band | Max mi | Y      | W      | J       | F       |\n|------|--------|--------|--------|---------|---------|\n| 1    | 1,000  | 12,000 | 17,000 | 24,000  | 36,000  |\n| 5    | 7,000  | 35,000 | 45,000 | 60,000  | 90,000  |\n| 9    | 22,000 | 95,000 | 115,000| 160,000 | 240,000 |\n| 13   | 50,000 | 150,000| 180,000| 210,000 | 330,000 |\n\n**Caveats:** F not available on MH, AF, KE, EK. F priced at business cost on AA 2-class + AS + HA. Fuel surcharges apply. IATA TPM distance.\n\n### JAL Mileage Bank oneworld Multi-Carrier — `jal.co.jp\u002Fjp\u002Fen\u002Fjalmile\u002Fuse\u002Fpartner_air\u002Foneworld\u002Fmiles.html`\n\n10 distance bands. **Sweet spot at band 1.**\n\n| Band | Max mi | Y       | J       | F       |\n|------|--------|---------|---------|---------|\n| 1    | 4,000  | 25,000  | 48,000  | 72,000  |\n| 5    | 18,000 | 75,000  | 138,000 | 207,000 |\n| 8    | 30,000 | 130,000 | 195,000 | 293,000 |\n| 10   | 50,000 | 160,000 | 220,000 | 330,000 |\n\nExamples: AA Flagship transcon JFK-LAX\u002FSFO + return = ~5,000 mi RT = band 2 = 41k Y \u002F 78k J. Or 25k Y \u002F 48k J if it's a tight regional itinerary under 4,000 mi total.\n\n### Aeroplan Flight Reward — `aircanada.com` (June 2026 chart)\n\nDynamic pricing on Air Canada + Select Partners (UA, EK, FZ, EY, Canadian North, Calm Air, Bearskin, PAL). Distance-based. \"Starting at\" is the floor; \"Median\" is realistic mid-point pricing.\n\n**Within North America (4 distance bands):**\n- ≤500 mi: 6,000 Y \u002F 15,000 J starting\n- ≤1,500 mi: 10,000 Y \u002F 20,000 J\n- ≤2,750 mi: 12,500 Y \u002F 25,000 J\n- >2,750 mi: 17,500 Y \u002F 35,000 J\n\n**North America ↔ Atlantic:**\n- ≤4,000 mi: 32,500 Y \u002F 60,000 J \u002F 90,000 F\n- ≤6,000 mi: 42,500 Y \u002F 70,000 J \u002F 100,000 F\n- ≤8,000 mi: 55,000 Y \u002F 80,000 J \u002F 120,000 F\n- >8,000 mi: 70,000 Y \u002F 90,000 J \u002F 130,000 F\n\n**North America ↔ Pacific:**\n- ≤6,000 mi: 32,500 Y \u002F 65,000 J \u002F 90,000 F\n- ≤8,000 mi: 45,000 Y \u002F 80,000 J \u002F 110,000 F\n- ≤10,000 mi: 50,000 Y \u002F 95,000 J \u002F 130,000 F\n- >10,000 mi: 70,000 Y \u002F 110,000 J \u002F 150,000 F\n\nOnline bookable at aircanada.com. Best for short-haul NA: 6k Y starting under 500mi.\n\n### Iberia Plus Avios (Club Iberia Plus) — `iberia.com\u002Fus\u002Fiberiaplus\u002Fpurchase-flights-avios\u002F`\n\n**Distance-based on TOTAL TRIP miles** (not per-segment). Two charts: Iberia metal vs partner unified.\n\n**Iberia Metal Off-Peak:**\n| Max mi | Y      | W      | J      |\n|--------|--------|--------|--------|\n| 650    | 3,500  | -      | 9,750  |\n| 1,150  | 7,000  | -      | 16,500 |\n| 2,000  | 11,000 | -      | 23,250 |\n| 4,000  | 18,000 | 35,000 | 51,750 |\n| 7,000  | 27,000 | 51,000 | 84,750 |\n| >7,000 | 41,000 | 71,000 | 97,000 |\n\n**Partner Unified (oneworld + non-alliance):**\n| Max mi  | Y       | W       | J       | F       |\n|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|\n| 650     | 6,000   | 9,000   | 12,500  | 24,000  |\n| 1,150   | 9,000   | 13,500  | 18,000  | 36,000  |\n| 4,000   | 22,500  | 33,750  | 45,000  | 90,000  |\n| 7,000   | 41,000  | 61,500  | 82,000  | 164,000 |\n| 11,770  | 51,500  | 77,250  | 103,000 | 206,000 |\n\n**Sweet spots:**\n- US East Coast → MAD off-peak J: **40,500 Avios** + ~$100\n- BCN ↔ MAD air bridge year-round: **9,000 Avios round-trip** economy\n- AA Flagship First SFO\u002FLAX-JFK: **103,000 Avios** + $20 RT\n\n**Transfers from:** Amex MR (1:1), Chase UR (1:1), Bilt (1:1), Wells Fargo (1:1), Citi TYP (1:0.7, no fee).\n**Avios pool combines with:** BA, Aer Lingus, Finnair, Qatar.\n**Caveat:** Partner awards are **non-refundable**. Iberia metal awards have a EUR 25 change fee but are refundable.\n\n### Aeromexico Club Premier RTW (LIKELY — RARELY ACTUALLY BOOKABLE)\n\n| Cabin    | Kilometers (NOT miles) |\n|----------|------------------------|\n| Economy  | 244,000                |\n| Business | 352,000                |\n\nPhone only (US: 800-237-6639). **Practical reality: this is rarely bookable.** Agents frequently can't pull up the option in the system, may not be trained on the product, and many community attempts in 2024-2026 ended without confirmation. The km figures come from Upgraded Points secondary reporting, not Aeromexico's own published terms. Amex MR transfers at 1:1.6.\n\n**Recommendation:** Do not confidently quote these km figures to a user. Note that Aeromexico Club Premier RTW exists on paper as the only RTW survivor for SkyTeam-aligned travelers since SkyTeam Go Round was killed, but plan an alternative — booking it requires significant phone effort with uncertain outcome. Most users will be better served by Star Alliance via Lufthansa M&M or oneworld Explorer.\n\n## Discontinued Products (reference)\n\nThe agent should NOT recommend any of these. They're preserved so stale blog posts about them don't get accepted.\n\n- **ANA Star Alliance RTW** — discontinued 2025-06-23. Two replacement paths depending on what you want: (a) for the **paid Star Alliance RTW** cash fare, book directly at staralliance.com\u002Fen\u002Fbook-fly (it's a cash booking, not a mileage award); (b) for a **miles-priced** Star Alliance RTW award, Lufthansa Miles & More is the only major survivor (United\u002FAeroplan\u002FANA mileage RTW programs are all discontinued).\n- **Singapore KrisFlyer Star Alliance RTW** — discontinued 2024-05-01.\n- **Singapore KrisFlyer Pacific Circle** — likely discontinued ~2024-05-01.\n- **SkyTeam Go Round** — retired 2024-2025.\n\n## Distance Calculation\n\nUse `scripts\u002Fcalc_distance.py` to estimate great-circle distances:\n\n```bash\n# Single segment\npython3 scripts\u002Fcalc_distance.py SFO LAX\n\n# Multi-segment cumulative (RTW or Circle Pacific)\npython3 scripts\u002Fcalc_distance.py JFK LHR FRA NRT HKG SYD LAX JFK --json\n```\n\nThe helper handles 6,072 IATA airport codes (OpenFlights data) and computes haversine distances.\n\n**Caveats:**\n- **TPM vs great-circle:** JAL, Star Alliance, oneworld use IATA TPM (Ticketed Point Mileage). Aeroplan uses actual flown distance. TPM can differ from gcmap.com great-circle by a few percent and affects which distance band you fall into. Use calc_distance.py for an estimate, but verify with the airline before committing.\n- **gcmap.com** (great-circle map service) is the authoritative external check.\n- **MileCalc.com** offers TPM lookups but is client-side JS-rendered and not scrapable. Bookmark for manual checks.\n\n## Key Decision Rules\n\n(also encoded in `data\u002Frtw-awards.json` `decision_rules`)\n\n1. **Cheap business class RTW:** Star Alliance RTW Special Business 26k-mile distance band paid fare (cash, not miles). USD price varies by origin\u002Frouting — historically reported in the $6.5K-$10K range for 5-stop J across recent years. Verify current pricing at staralliance.com\u002Fen\u002Fbook-fly. At the low end of that range, the per-segment cost compares favorably to many one-off intercontinental J fares, but always verify the user's specific cash alternatives before recommending — a single one-off direct J ticket on a discounted route can sometimes match the per-segment rate.\n\n2. **For pure around-the-world goals:** Star Alliance RTW (most flexible, online bookable) or oneworld Explorer (continent-based, online via rtw.oneworld.com).\n\n3. **For miles-only RTW:** Lufthansa M&M (fixed 400k J \u002F 540k F) is most accessible. Qantas (35k mi cap, 318k for J) is cheaper for shorter band trips.\n\n4. **For Pacific-Rim multi-stop:** Star Alliance Circle Pacific OR oneworld Circle Pacific (travel agent only) OR JAL multi-carrier (cheapest at 25k Y \u002F 48k J under 4,000mi).\n\n5. **For regional NA:** Aeroplan distance-based (6k Y starting \u003C500mi) or Iberia partner chart for AA short hops (12k Y for under 650mi RT).\n\n6. **For intra-Europe:** Iberia Plus on Iberia metal off-peak (3,500 Avios under 650mi). Cheapest intra-EU after BA Avios.\n\n7. **Avoid:** Aeromexico Premier (kilometers, phone only, painful agents); Iberia partner awards (non-refundable, hassle); SkyTeam (no RTW product anymore).\n\n8. **Stopover definition:** 24+ hour layover per most programs. Shorter is a connection.\n\n9. **Purchase deadline:** Star Alliance RTW requires purchase ≥72 hours before first departure. oneworld Explorer similar. Plan ahead.\n\n10. **Child pricing:** Star Alliance RTW: 75% for ages 2-11, 10% for infants without seat. Other programs vary.\n\n## Cross-References\n\n- **stopovers** skill: per-program stopover rules, including programs that DON'T allow stopovers (BA, AA, Delta, JetBlue, Iberia partner-style).\n- **partner-awards** skill: who can ticket whom across alliances and bilateral partnerships.\n- **alliances** skill: alliance membership and recent shifts.\n- **transfer-partners** skill: which credit card points reach which RTW programs.\n- **transfer-bonuses** skill: current promotional bonuses to apply when transferring to an RTW program. RTW awards take large transfers, so a 30% bonus saves real points.\n- **points-valuations** skill: CPP rules to evaluate whether an RTW makes sense.\n- **booking-guidance** skill: hold-before-transfer rules and phone-booking phone numbers.\n- **award-holds** skill: per-program hold rules. Lufthansa M&M (the main miles-priced RTW survivor) requires phone booking and the hold-before-transfer pattern; their normal 5-day hold may not apply to multi-segment RTW awards. The paid Star Alliance RTW cash fare is purchased online, not held. Critical to verify per-product before transferring large balances.\n\n## Source Hierarchy\n\nWhen sources disagree, use this priority:\n1. **Airline's own award rules \u002F chart PDF** (primary source)\n2. **Frequent Miler** (most respected secondary; dives deep into devaluations)\n3. **One Mile at a Time** (good for sweet spots and recent changes)\n4. **Upgraded Points** (mainstream summary)\n5. **The Points Guy** (often stale on charts; use for valuation only)\n\nIf primary is unavailable and secondaries disagree, mark the entry `confidence: LIKELY` and note the discrepancy in `notes`.\n","# Round the World, Circle Pacific, and Distance-Based Awards\n\nThe RTW universe is collapsing. Four programs ended in the last 18 months: ANA Star RTW (June 2025), Singapore KrisFlyer Star RTW (May 2024), SkyTeam Go Round (2024-25), Singapore KrisFlyer Pacific Circle (likely 2024-25). What's left is concentrated in Star Alliance, oneworld, and a few regional distance-based programs.\n\nThis skill provides:\n- Comprehensive coverage of every active RTW and Circle product\n- Historical charts for discontinued programs (so the agent doesn't get fooled by stale blog posts)\n- Distance-based regional alternatives that often beat RTW pricing for shorter trips\n- Decision rules for picking the right product\n\n**Data file:** `data\u002Frtw-awards.json`. Contains 17 programs with confidence markers (VERIFIED \u002F LIKELY) and primary-source citations.\n**Distance helper:** `scripts\u002Fcalc_distance.py` (haversine, supports cumulative multi-segment routes, with built-in distance-band lookups for Star Alliance \u002F Qantas \u002F oneworld Global Explorer).\n\n## Quick Decision Tree\n\n```\nWant to actually circle the globe?\n  └→ Want to pay cash? → oneworld Explorer (3-6 continents, online bookable; LIKELY ~$3.6K-$6.9K economy per Upgraded Points 2026; verify on rtw.oneworld.com)\n  └→ Want to use miles?\n       ├→ Star Alliance RTW (online bookable; Special Business 26k-mile distance band, USD price varies by routing\u002Forigin, historically a strong J value)\n       ├→ Lufthansa M&M (fixed 195k Y \u002F 400k J \u002F 540k F miles, phone only)\n       └→ Qantas oneworld Classic Reward RTW (35k mi cap, 132,400\u002F318,000 Y\u002FJ pts)\n\nWant to circle the Pacific Rim only?\n  ├→ Star Alliance Circle Pacific (online via member; 22k or 26k mi)\n  └→ oneworld Circle Pacific (travel agent only)\n\nWant a multi-carrier oneworld trip but not full RTW?\n  ├→ Cathay Asia Miles oneworld multi-carrier (13 distance bands; cheapest J at 60k mi \u003C1000mi)\n  ├→ JAL Mileage Bank multi-carrier (10 bands; sweet spot 25k Y \u002F 48k J \u003C4000mi)\n  └→ Qantas oneworld Classic (separate from its RTW config)\n\nJust want regional flights cheap?\n  ├→ Aeroplan distance-based (NA: 6k Y starting \u003C500mi; Atlantic: 32.5k Y starting \u003C4000mi)\n  └→ Iberia Plus Avios (intra-Europe: 3,500 Y under 650mi off-peak)\n```\n\n## Active Products\n\n### Star Alliance RTW — `staralliance.com\u002Ftnc-rtw`\n\nThe most flexible RTW still on the market. Three fare types:\n\n| Fare type        | Distance bands (mi)        | Cabins              | Stopovers | Notes |\n|------------------|----------------------------|---------------------|-----------|-------|\n| Normal RTW       | 29k \u002F 34k \u002F 39k            | Y \u002F W \u002F J \u002F F       | 2-15      | Globally available |\n| Special Economy  | 26k \u002F 29k \u002F 34k \u002F 39k      | Y                   | 3-12      | NOT from Japan |\n| Special Business | 26k                        | J                   | 5         | NOT from Japan; pricing varies by origin\u002Frouting — historically a strong J value (LIKELY) |\n\n**Rules:**\n- Origin\u002Fdestination same country\n- Single direction (E or W)\n- Each Traffic Conference crossed once\n- Up to 16 segments, 5 surface sectors\n- Min stay 10 days, max 1 year\n- Reroute fee $125, cancel fee $150\n- Purchase ≥72 hrs before first departure\n\n**Two separate products live under the \"Star Alliance RTW\" umbrella, do not conflate:**\n\n1. **Star Alliance RTW paid fare** — a cash USD\u002Flocal currency fare bookable directly at staralliance.com\u002Fen\u002Fbook-fly, priced by distance band and cabin (Normal vs Special). Not a points redemption.\n2. **Member-program mileage RTW awards** — each Star Alliance member program (Aeroplan up to its 2020 discontinuation, ANA up to its 2025 discontinuation, Lufthansa Miles & More, Avianca LifeMiles, etc.) historically had its own RTW or multi-stop award chart with its own mileage cost and rules. Most have been killed or restricted. See the per-program entries below for current state.\n\nFor the Star Alliance paid RTW fare specifically, the Normal\u002FSpecial distance bands cap how far you can fly, but the actual USD price varies by origin country, routing, and currency conversion. Always verify current pricing at staralliance.com\u002Fen\u002Fbook-fly.\n\n### Star Alliance Circle Pacific — `staralliance.com\u002Ftnc-cp`\n\nSame product family as RTW but constrained to Pacific Rim:\n- 22,000 or 26,000 mi distance bands\n- Must touch Asia, North America, **and** South West Pacific\n- 3-15 stopovers\n- 7 days min, 6 months max\n- Reroute $75, cancel 10% of fare\n- Customer Service or member airline only (not online self-service)\n\n### oneworld Explorer — `rtw.oneworld.com`\n\nContinent-based (not distance-based). Online bookable. Cabin pricing scales with continent count.\n\n| Continents | Economy USD (LIKELY, per Upgraded Points 2026) |\n|-----------|-------------------------------------------------|\n| 3         | ~$3,599 |\n| 4         | ~$4,999 |\n| 5         | ~$5,699 |\n| 6         | ~$6,899 |\n\n**Source:** primary `rtw.oneworld.com` for the structure; secondary [Upgraded Points 2026 RTW guide](https:\u002F\u002Fupgradedpoints.com\u002Ftravel\u002Fairlines\u002Fbest-round-the-world-tickets\u002F) for the specific economy rates above. Business and First class rates exist but are not surfaced in the public booking flow without a search; verify on rtw.oneworld.com for current cabin pricing.\n\n**Rules:** 16 max segments, 2-15 stopovers. Premium economy upgrades available.\n\n### oneworld Global Explorer — `rtw.oneworld.com`\n\nDistance-based alternative to Explorer. 39,000-mile cap. **Travel agent only** (not bookable on rtw.oneworld.com self-service).\n\n### oneworld Circle Pacific — `rtw.oneworld.com`\n\nPacific-bordering circle product. 4 regions: Asia (incl. Indian subcontinent + Central Asian -stans), Australia, New Zealand & SW Pacific, North America. **Travel agent only.** Specific cap and pricing not surfaced publicly.\n\n### Lufthansa Miles & More RTW — `miles-and-more.com`\n\nFixed-mile pricing, no distance bands:\n\n| Cabin    | Miles   |\n|----------|---------|\n| Economy  | 195,000 |\n| Business | 400,000 |\n| First    | 540,000 |\n\n**Rules:** Up to 10 segments, 7 stopovers. Must cross Atlantic AND Pacific. Min 10 days between first\u002Flast intercontinental flight. Phone only.\n\n### Qantas oneworld Classic Reward (RTW config) — `qantas.com`\n\n| Cabin    | Points  |\n|----------|---------|\n| Economy  | 132,400 |\n| Business | 318,000 |\n\n**Rules:** 35,000 mi distance cap. Must combine 2+ oneworld carriers. Bookable online or phone (US: 800-227-4220). Fuel surcharges apply.\n\n### Cathay Asia Miles oneworld Multi-Carrier — `flights.cathaypacific.com`\n\n13 distance bands (post-May 2026 chart):\n\n| Band | Max mi | Y      | J       | F       |\n|------|--------|--------|---------|---------|\n| 1    | 1,000  | 30,000 | 60,000  | 75,000  |\n| 5    | 7,500  | 60,000 | 125,000 | 165,000 |\n| 9    | 22,000 | 110,000| 215,000 | 280,000 |\n| 13   | 50,000 | 160,000| 280,000 | 380,000 |\n\n**Rules:** 2 stopovers + 2 transfers max. Must combine 2+ oneworld carriers (excluding Cathay).\n\n### JAL Mileage Bank Single-Partner — `jal.co.jp\u002Fjp\u002Fen\u002Fjalmile\u002Fuse\u002Fpartner_air\u002Fp_jmb\u002Fjmb_mile.html`\n\nUse this when flying ONE partner airline (not JAL, not multi-carrier oneworld). 13 distance bands.\n\n| Band | Max mi | Y      | W      | J       | F       |\n|------|--------|--------|--------|---------|---------|\n| 1    | 1,000  | 12,000 | 17,000 | 24,000  | 36,000  |\n| 5    | 7,000  | 35,000 | 45,000 | 60,000  | 90,000  |\n| 9    | 22,000 | 95,000 | 115,000| 160,000 | 240,000 |\n| 13   | 50,000 | 150,000| 180,000| 210,000 | 330,000 |\n\n**Caveats:** F not available on MH, AF, KE, EK. F priced at business cost on AA 2-class + AS + HA. Fuel surcharges apply. IATA TPM distance.\n\n### JAL Mileage Bank oneworld Multi-Carrier — `jal.co.jp\u002Fjp\u002Fen\u002Fjalmile\u002Fuse\u002Fpartner_air\u002Foneworld\u002Fmiles.html`\n\n10 distance bands. **Sweet spot at band 1.**\n\n| Band | Max mi | Y       | J       | F       |\n|------|--------|---------|---------|---------|\n| 1    | 4,000  | 25,000  | 48,000  | 72,000  |\n| 5    | 18,000 | 75,000  | 138,000 | 207,000 |\n| 8    | 30,000 | 130,000 | 195,000 | 293,000 |\n| 10   | 50,000 | 160,000 | 220,000 | 330,000 |\n\nExamples: AA Flagship transcon JFK-LAX\u002FSFO + return = ~5,000 mi RT = band 2 = 41k Y \u002F 78k J. Or 25k Y \u002F 48k J if it's a tight regional itinerary under 4,000 mi total.\n\n### Aeroplan Flight Reward — `aircanada.com` (June 2026 chart)\n\nDynamic pricing on Air Canada + Select Partners (UA, EK, FZ, EY, Canadian North, Calm Air, Bearskin, PAL). Distance-based. \"Starting at\" is the floor; \"Median\" is realistic mid-point pricing.\n\n**Within North America (4 distance bands):**\n- ≤500 mi: 6,000 Y \u002F 15,000 J starting\n- ≤1,500 mi: 10,000 Y \u002F 20,000 J\n- ≤2,750 mi: 12,500 Y \u002F 25,000 J\n- >2,750 mi: 17,500 Y \u002F 35,000 J\n\n**North America ↔ Atlantic:**\n- ≤4,000 mi: 32,500 Y \u002F 60,000 J \u002F 90,000 F\n- ≤6,000 mi: 42,500 Y \u002F 70,000 J \u002F 100,000 F\n- ≤8,000 mi: 55,000 Y \u002F 80,000 J \u002F 120,000 F\n- >8,000 mi: 70,000 Y \u002F 90,000 J \u002F 130,000 F\n\n**North America ↔ Pacific:**\n- ≤6,000 mi: 32,500 Y \u002F 65,000 J \u002F 90,000 F\n- ≤8,000 mi: 45,000 Y \u002F 80,000 J \u002F 110,000 F\n- ≤10,000 mi: 50,000 Y \u002F 95,000 J \u002F 130,000 F\n- >10,000 mi: 70,000 Y \u002F 110,000 J \u002F 150,000 F\n\nOnline bookable at aircanada.com. Best for short-haul NA: 6k Y starting under 500mi.\n\n### Iberia Plus Avios (Club Iberia Plus) — `iberia.com\u002Fus\u002Fiberiaplus\u002Fpurchase-flights-avios\u002F`\n\n**Distance-based on TOTAL TRIP miles** (not per-segment). Two charts: Iberia metal vs partner unified.\n\n**Iberia Metal Off-Peak:**\n| Max mi | Y      | W      | J      |\n|--------|--------|--------|--------|\n| 650    | 3,500  | -      | 9,750  |\n| 1,150  | 7,000  | -      | 16,500 |\n| 2,000  | 11,000 | -      | 23,250 |\n| 4,000  | 18,000 | 35,000 | 51,750 |\n| 7,000  | 27,000 | 51,000 | 84,750 |\n| >7,000 | 41,000 | 71,000 | 97,000 |\n\n**Partner Unified (oneworld + non-alliance):**\n| Max mi  | Y       | W       | J       | F       |\n|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|\n| 650     | 6,000   | 9,000   | 12,500  | 24,000  |\n| 1,150   | 9,000   | 13,500  | 18,000  | 36,000  |\n| 4,000   | 22,500  | 33,750  | 45,000  | 90,000  |\n| 7,000   | 41,000  | 61,500  | 82,000  | 164,000 |\n| 11,770  | 51,500  | 77,250  | 103,000 | 206,000 |\n\n**Sweet spots:**\n- US East Coast → MAD off-peak J: **40,500 Avios** + ~$100\n- BCN ↔ MAD air bridge year-round: **9,000 Avios round-trip** economy\n- AA Flagship First SFO\u002FLAX-JFK: **103,000 Avios** + $20 RT\n\n**Transfers from:** Amex MR (1:1), Chase UR (1:1), Bilt (1:1), Wells Fargo (1:1), Citi TYP (1:0.7, no fee).\n**Avios pool combines with:** BA, Aer Lingus, Finnair, Qatar.\n**Caveat:** Partner awards are **non-refundable**. Iberia metal awards have a EUR 25 change fee but are refundable.\n\n### Aeromexico Club Premier RTW (LIKELY — RARELY ACTUALLY BOOKABLE)\n\n| Cabin    | Kilometers (NOT miles) |\n|----------|------------------------|\n| Economy  | 244,000                |\n| Business | 352,000                |\n\nPhone only (US: 800-237-6639). **Practical reality: this is rarely bookable.** Agents frequently can't pull up the option in the system, may not be trained on the product, and many community attempts in 2024-2026 ended without confirmation. The km figures come from Upgraded Points secondary reporting, not Aeromexico's own published terms. Amex MR transfers at 1:1.6.\n\n**Recommendation:** Do not confidently quote these km figures to a user. Note that Aeromexico Club Premier RTW exists on paper as the only RTW survivor for SkyTeam-aligned travelers since SkyTeam Go Round was killed, but plan an alternative — booking it requires significant phone effort with uncertain outcome. Most users will be better served by Star Alliance via Lufthansa M&M or oneworld Explorer.\n\n## Discontinued Products (reference)\n\nThe agent should NOT recommend any of these. They're preserved so stale blog posts about them don't get accepted.\n\n- **ANA Star Alliance RTW** — discontinued 2025-06-23. Two replacement paths depending on what you want: (a) for the **paid Star Alliance RTW** cash fare, book directly at staralliance.com\u002Fen\u002Fbook-fly (it's a cash booking, not a mileage award); (b) for a **miles-priced** Star Alliance RTW award, Lufthansa Miles & More is the only major survivor (United\u002FAeroplan\u002FANA mileage RTW programs are all discontinued).\n- **Singapore KrisFlyer Star Alliance RTW** — discontinued 2024-05-01.\n- **Singapore KrisFlyer Pacific Circle** — likely discontinued ~2024-05-01.\n- **SkyTeam Go Round** — retired 2024-2025.\n\n## Distance Calculation\n\nUse `scripts\u002Fcalc_distance.py` to estimate great-circle distances:\n\n```bash\n# Single segment\npython3 scripts\u002Fcalc_distance.py SFO LAX\n\n# Multi-segment cumulative (RTW or Circle Pacific)\npython3 scripts\u002Fcalc_distance.py JFK LHR FRA NRT HKG SYD LAX JFK --json\n```\n\nThe helper handles 6,072 IATA airport codes (OpenFlights data) and computes haversine distances.\n\n**Caveats:**\n- **TPM vs great-circle:** JAL, Star Alliance, oneworld use IATA TPM (Ticketed Point Mileage). Aeroplan uses actual flown distance. TPM can differ from gcmap.com great-circle by a few percent and affects which distance band you fall into. Use calc_distance.py for an estimate, but verify with the airline before committing.\n- **gcmap.com** (great-circle map service) is the authoritative external check.\n- **MileCalc.com** offers TPM lookups but is client-side JS-rendered and not scrapable. Bookmark for manual checks.\n\n## Key Decision Rules\n\n(also encoded in `data\u002Frtw-awards.json` `decision_rules`)\n\n1. **Cheap business class RTW:** Star Alliance RTW Special Business 26k-mile distance band paid fare (cash, not miles). USD price varies by origin\u002Frouting — historically reported in the $6.5K-$10K range for 5-stop J across recent years. Verify current pricing at staralliance.com\u002Fen\u002Fbook-fly. At the low end of that range, the per-segment cost compares favorably to many one-off intercontinental J fares, but always verify the user's specific cash alternatives before recommending — a single one-off direct J ticket on a discounted route can sometimes match the per-segment rate.\n\n2. **For pure around-the-world goals:** Star Alliance RTW (most flexible, online bookable) or oneworld Explorer (continent-based, online via rtw.oneworld.com).\n\n3. **For miles-only RTW:** Lufthansa M&M (fixed 400k J \u002F 540k F) is most accessible. Qantas (35k mi cap, 318k for J) is cheaper for shorter band trips.\n\n4. **For Pacific-Rim multi-stop:** Star Alliance Circle Pacific OR oneworld Circle Pacific (travel agent only) OR JAL multi-carrier (cheapest at 25k Y \u002F 48k J under 4,000mi).\n\n5. **For regional NA:** Aeroplan distance-based (6k Y starting \u003C500mi) or Iberia partner chart for AA short hops (12k Y for under 650mi RT).\n\n6. **For intra-Europe:** Iberia Plus on Iberia metal off-peak (3,500 Avios under 650mi). Cheapest intra-EU after BA Avios.\n\n7. **Avoid:** Aeromexico Premier (kilometers, phone only, painful agents); Iberia partner awards (non-refundable, hassle); SkyTeam (no RTW product anymore).\n\n8. **Stopover definition:** 24+ hour layover per most programs. Shorter is a connection.\n\n9. **Purchase deadline:** Star Alliance RTW requires purchase ≥72 hours before first departure. oneworld Explorer similar. Plan ahead.\n\n10. **Child pricing:** Star Alliance RTW: 75% for ages 2-11, 10% for infants without seat. Other programs vary.\n\n## Cross-References\n\n- **stopovers** skill: per-program stopover rules, including programs that DON'T allow stopovers (BA, AA, Delta, JetBlue, Iberia partner-style).\n- **partner-awards** skill: who can ticket whom across alliances and bilateral partnerships.\n- **alliances** skill: alliance membership and recent shifts.\n- **transfer-partners** skill: which credit card points reach which RTW programs.\n- **transfer-bonuses** skill: current promotional bonuses to apply when transferring to an RTW program. RTW awards take large transfers, so a 30% bonus saves real points.\n- **points-valuations** skill: CPP rules to evaluate whether an RTW makes sense.\n- **booking-guidance** skill: hold-before-transfer rules and phone-booking phone numbers.\n- **award-holds** skill: per-program hold rules. Lufthansa M&M (the main miles-priced RTW survivor) requires phone booking and the hold-before-transfer pattern; their normal 5-day hold may not apply to multi-segment RTW awards. The paid Star Alliance RTW cash fare is purchased online, not held. Critical to verify per-product before transferring large balances.\n\n## Source Hierarchy\n\nWhen sources disagree, use this priority:\n1. **Airline's own award rules \u002F chart PDF** (primary source)\n2. **Frequent Miler** (most respected secondary; dives deep into devaluations)\n3. **One Mile at a Time** (good for sweet spots and recent changes)\n4. **Upgraded Points** (mainstream summary)\n5. **The Points Guy** (often stale on charts; use for valuation only)\n\nIf primary is unavailable and secondaries disagree, mark the entry `confidence: LIKELY` and note the discrepancy in `notes`.\n",{"name":5,"summary":24,"category":25,"description":7},"RTW + Pacific Circle + Asia-Pacific Circle + regional distance-award reference. 13 active programs, 4 discontinued.","reference","main","30b091178a3e4b02ff2c31bb43eb4186c4bf9d8a","plugins\u002Ftravel-hacking-toolkit\u002Fskills\u002Fround-the-world",113,"https:\u002F\u002Fgithub.com\u002Fborski\u002Ftravel-hacking-toolkit","https:\u002F\u002Fgithub.com\u002Fborski","I run the Agentic Red Team @ DeepMind (Google)","2026-11-09 22:54:02",{"source":8,"skillName":5,"commands":35,"prompt":45,"zipAvailable":46},[36,39,42],{"tool":37,"command":38},"npx","npx skills add borski\u002Ftravel-hacking-toolkit --skill round-the-world",{"tool":40,"command":41},"bunx","bunx skills add borski\u002Ftravel-hacking-toolkit --skill round-the-world",{"tool":43,"command":44},"pnpm","pnpm dlx skills add borski\u002Ftravel-hacking-toolkit --skill round-the-world","安装技能，技能地址：https:\u002F\u002Fgithub.com\u002Fborski\u002Ftravel-hacking-toolkit\u002Fblob\u002Fmain\u002Fplugins\u002Ftravel-hacking-toolkit\u002Fskills\u002Fround-the-world\u002FSKILL.md",true,[],[49,56,63,70,77,84],{"skillNo":50,"name":51,"nameZh":6,"description":52,"descriptionZh":6,"repositoryFullName":8,"ownerLogin":9,"ownerAvatarUrl":10,"ownerAccountNo":11,"ownerDisplayName":12,"repositoryNo":13,"starsCount":14,"licenseSpdxId":15,"licenseFileUrl":6,"sourceHtmlUrl":53,"categories":54,"keywords":55,"publishedAt":19},"01M74YSPQMTR5MVRP5DPXM6F73","wikipedia-airports","Discover destinations served from any airport via Wikipedia. Sanity-check whether an airline flies a specific route, find regional service that fare tools miss, identify late-split-return airport options.","https:\u002F\u002Fgithub.com\u002Fborski\u002Ftravel-hacking-toolkit\u002Fblob\u002Fmain\u002Fplugins\u002Ftravel-hacking-toolkit\u002Fskills\u002Fwikipedia-airports\u002FSKILL.md",[],[],{"skillNo":57,"name":58,"nameZh":6,"description":59,"descriptionZh":6,"repositoryFullName":8,"ownerLogin":9,"ownerAvatarUrl":10,"ownerAccountNo":11,"ownerDisplayName":12,"repositoryNo":13,"starsCount":14,"licenseSpdxId":15,"licenseFileUrl":6,"sourceHtmlUrl":60,"categories":61,"keywords":62,"publishedAt":19},"01M74YSK14ZG02D6DT18N3X4GM","wheretocredit","Mileage earning rates by airline and booking class via wheretocredit.com. Redeemable and qualifying miles across 50+ programs. Use when deciding where to credit a flight or comparing earning rates.","https:\u002F\u002Fgithub.com\u002Fborski\u002Ftravel-hacking-toolkit\u002Fblob\u002Fmain\u002Fplugins\u002Ftravel-hacking-toolkit\u002Fskills\u002Fwheretocredit\u002FSKILL.md",[],[],{"skillNo":64,"name":65,"nameZh":6,"description":66,"descriptionZh":6,"repositoryFullName":8,"ownerLogin":9,"ownerAvatarUrl":10,"ownerAccountNo":11,"ownerDisplayName":12,"repositoryNo":13,"starsCount":14,"licenseSpdxId":15,"licenseFileUrl":6,"sourceHtmlUrl":67,"categories":68,"keywords":69,"publishedAt":19},"01M74YSDZJZ70SN5A9GG16NQC0","vrbo","Search VRBO (Vrbo \u002F Expedia Group) vacation rentals including entire homes, condos, and cabins via Patchright browser automation. VRBO sits behind Akamai Bot Manager so plain HTTP and standard Playwright get a 429 bot wall. Use for whole-home or group stays, multi-bedroom rentals, and Airbnb-vs-VRBO comparisons. Trigger phrases include search VRBO, Vrbo rentals, vacation rental, cabin rental, whole house, condo for the group.","https:\u002F\u002Fgithub.com\u002Fborski\u002Ftravel-hacking-toolkit\u002Fblob\u002Fmain\u002Fplugins\u002Ftravel-hacking-toolkit\u002Fskills\u002Fvrbo\u002FSKILL.md",[],[],{"skillNo":71,"name":72,"nameZh":6,"description":73,"descriptionZh":6,"repositoryFullName":8,"ownerLogin":9,"ownerAvatarUrl":10,"ownerAccountNo":11,"ownerDisplayName":12,"repositoryNo":13,"starsCount":14,"licenseSpdxId":15,"licenseFileUrl":6,"sourceHtmlUrl":74,"categories":75,"keywords":76,"publishedAt":19},"01M74YSAXWPG81WK20XTQS0K04","tripadvisor","TripAdvisor Content API for hotel ratings, restaurant search, attraction reviews, rankings, and nearby locations. Use when evaluating hotels or researching destinations. 5K calls\u002Fmonth.","https:\u002F\u002Fgithub.com\u002Fborski\u002Ftravel-hacking-toolkit\u002Fblob\u002Fmain\u002Fplugins\u002Ftravel-hacking-toolkit\u002Fskills\u002Ftripadvisor\u002FSKILL.md",[],[],{"skillNo":78,"name":79,"nameZh":6,"description":80,"descriptionZh":6,"repositoryFullName":8,"ownerLogin":9,"ownerAvatarUrl":10,"ownerAccountNo":11,"ownerDisplayName":12,"repositoryNo":13,"starsCount":14,"licenseSpdxId":15,"licenseFileUrl":6,"sourceHtmlUrl":81,"categories":82,"keywords":83,"publishedAt":19},"01M74YS7174Q6WJRWVK4TPJQED","trip-planner","Full trip planning orchestration. Combines flight search, hotel search, and points optimization into one cost analysis. Use when the user says \"plan a trip\" or wants the complete picture for a destination.","https:\u002F\u002Fgithub.com\u002Fborski\u002Ftravel-hacking-toolkit\u002Fblob\u002Fmain\u002Fplugins\u002Ftravel-hacking-toolkit\u002Fskills\u002Ftrip-planner\u002FSKILL.md",[],[],{"skillNo":85,"name":86,"nameZh":6,"description":87,"descriptionZh":6,"repositoryFullName":8,"ownerLogin":9,"ownerAvatarUrl":10,"ownerAccountNo":11,"ownerDisplayName":12,"repositoryNo":13,"starsCount":14,"licenseSpdxId":15,"licenseFileUrl":6,"sourceHtmlUrl":88,"categories":89,"keywords":90,"publishedAt":19},"01M74YS3QM1ED7D6Q6X3JK2783","trip-log","Save flight searches, itineraries, and booked trips to the trips\u002Flogs\u002F directory for future reference. OPT-IN — use when the user asks to log a trip or look up past searches, or on every search only if the user has said they want automatic logging. Also use to update status when a trip is booked or completed.","https:\u002F\u002Fgithub.com\u002Fborski\u002Ftravel-hacking-toolkit\u002Fblob\u002Fmain\u002Fplugins\u002Ftravel-hacking-toolkit\u002Fskills\u002Ftrip-log\u002FSKILL.md",[],[]]