Can I book a true round-the-world ticket that includes multiple South American cities?

Yes, but it's expensive and complex. Star Alliance has the best South American coverage through Avianca and Copa. Most travelers save money by booking an RTW ticket that touches one South American hub, then adding a separate air pass or regional flights for internal South American travel.

Which airline alliance works best for South America?

Star Alliance has the strongest South American network with Avianca, Copa, and TAP Air Portugal. OneWorld relies mainly on LATAM but has good coverage. SkyTeam has limited South American options. Star Alliance generally offers the most routing flexibility.

How much can I change my RTW ticket after booking?

Alliance RTW tickets allow date changes (usually $150-300 per change) but not route changes. You must keep the same cities in the same order. Custom RTW tickets through agencies often allow more flexibility but cost more upfront. Always confirm change policies before booking.

Should I book RTW flights during South America's high season?

Avoid December-February in South America (summer) as it's peak season with higher prices and crowds. March-May and September-November offer better weather and lower costs. Northern hemisphere summer (June-August) is South America's winter — good for Brazil's northeast but cold in Patagonia.

How to Book Round-the-World Flights Including South America

Book round-the-world flights including South America through airline alliances (Star Alliance, OneWorld, SkyTeam) or specialized RTW travel agencies. Expect to pay $3,000-6,000 for 16,000-39,000 miles of travel with 3-16 stops. South America adds complexity due to limited alliance coverage, so consider mixing an RTW ticket with separate South American flights.

Choose your route strategy. Decide between airline alliance RTW tickets (Star Alliance, OneWorld, SkyTeam) or custom routing through specialized agencies like AirTreks or Round The World Flights. Alliance tickets work well for North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia but have limited South American options. Custom routing gives more flexibility for South America but costs more.
Map your South American segment. Plan your South American routing separately first. Major hubs are São Paulo (GRU), Buenos Aires (EZE), Lima (LIM), and Santiago (SCL). Star Alliance has the best South American coverage through Avianca and Copa. OneWorld covers mainly through LATAM. Consider whether to enter/exit South America from the same city or use it as a true segment of your world trip.
Calculate mileage and stops. RTW tickets are priced by total mileage (16,000-39,000 miles) and number of stops (3-16). South America to Asia segments eat up significant mileage. Use the Great Circle Mapper to calculate distances. Popular routing: North America → Europe → Asia → Australia → South America → North America uses about 35,000 miles.
Book 2-6 months ahead. Start booking 2-6 months before departure. Alliance RTW tickets require all flights to be booked at once but allow date changes (usually $150-300 per change). Book directly with the alliance or through specialized agents. For custom routing, agencies like AirTreks can mix RTW tickets with separate regional passes.
Add South American air passes if needed. Consider adding a South American air pass to your RTW ticket. LATAM offers the South American Airpass (3-16 flights for $299-1,099) for non-residents. Avianca has similar options. These must be purchased before arriving in South America and work well combined with RTW tickets that only touch one South American city.
Secure visas before booking. Get required visas before finalizing your ticket. Brazil requires visas for US citizens. Argentina and Chile don't for tourism under 90 days. Some RTW tickets have strict change policies, so confirm visa requirements for all stops. Allow 4-8 weeks for Brazilian visa processing.

Can I book a true round-the-world ticket that includes multiple South American cities?: Yes, but it's expensive and complex. Star Alliance has the best South American coverage through Avianca and Copa. Most travelers save money by booking an RTW ticket that touches one South American hub, then adding a separate air pass or regional flights for internal South American travel.
Which airline alliance works best for South America?: Star Alliance has the strongest South American network with Avianca, Copa, and TAP Air Portugal. OneWorld relies mainly on LATAM but has good coverage. SkyTeam has limited South American options. Star Alliance generally offers the most routing flexibility.
How much can I change my RTW ticket after booking?: Alliance RTW tickets allow date changes (usually $150-300 per change) but not route changes. You must keep the same cities in the same order. Custom RTW tickets through agencies often allow more flexibility but cost more upfront. Always confirm change policies before booking.
Should I book RTW flights during South America's high season?: Avoid December-February in South America (summer) as it's peak season with higher prices and crowds. March-May and September-November offer better weather and lower costs. Northern hemisphere summer (June-August) is South America's winter — good for Brazil's northeast but cold in Patagonia.