Around The World With The oneworld Alliance

"Last week Hungarian national carrier presented a Malév traveller setting off on an around-the-world trip. Dénes Katz is one customer taking advantage of the oneworld airline alliance's Round-the-World tariff, oneworld Explorer, to discover distant continents


As from 1 April, Malév has been offering its customers a series of special oneworld travel tariffs i.e. Global Explorer and oneworld Explorer designed for globe-trotting trips, Circle Explorer for travel between continents, and oneworld Visit Pass tariffs to explore several destinations within one continent. All of these packages come with flexible conditions and are extremely favourably priced. Passengers make their own travel plans, which - taking into consideration the fact that oneworld member airlines fly to 700 destinations in 150 countries - can be virtually unlimited in scope.

Dénes Katz, who leaves in September, has chosen the oneworld Explorer option. In this round trip package, the fare is based on the number of oneworld continents visited or passed through, and the class of travel. The lowest fare rate is for travel through three continents in Economy Class.

The highest fare category allows the traveller to fly first class across six continents. The route from one continent to another must move forward in a continuous westward or eastward direction. However, travellers are free to roam locally at will within a continent so long as the maximized flight segments within the different continents is not exceeded. A minimum 3, maximum 20 flight segments can be used throughout the entire trip; travel must last at least 10 days and a maximum one year.

Dénes Katz starts off by flying Malév to Bangkok and then he will be away for more than 3 months on his around-the-world trip, which will take him to four continents. The route: Budapest - Bangkok - Singapore - Hong Kong - Shanghai - Tokyo - Melbourne - Ayers Rock - Sydney - Cairns - Sydney - Auckland - Santiago - Punta Arenas - Santiago - Buenos Aires - Lima - Santiago - Rio de Janeiro - Madrid - Budapest, which involves 20 flights with six airlines.

Members of the Malév Duna Club frequent flyer programme accrue miles during their travels because Malév, as a full-right member of the oneworld airline alliance, is able to ensure that its regular customers receive the opportunity to build up points travelling with all oneworld airlines.

Global Explorer is a classic Round-the-World product, letting the customer fly around the globe in one direction only - crossing both oceans.

There are four fare tiers based on the total air miles flown. The four tiers are: up to 26,000 miles, 29,000 miles, 34,000 miles and 39,000 miles. With the exception of the 34,000 mile fare tier, all travel must be in Economy Class. It is possible to fly First Class and Business Class as well as Economy Class in the 34,000 mile tier (naturally fares vary according to travel class). The minimum and maximum number of stopovers are dictated by the tier. An around-the-world trip can take a minimum 10 days, but it may not exceed one year.

In addition to the services of oneworld member airlines, travel can also be conducted on flights operated by Aer Lingus, Air Pacific and Gulf Air.

Example itineraries and fares with a Budapest departure, in Economy Class:

oneworld Explorer
Budapest - Athens - London - New York - Toronto - Los Angeles - Honolulu - Tokyo - Hong Kong - Beijing - Hong Kong - Bangkok - Budapest
Fare: HUF 496,400 plus en route airport duties.

Global Explorer
Budapest - Bangkok - Sydney - Auckland - Santiago - Dallas - Chicago - New York - Paris - Budapest
Fare: HUF 637,700 plus en route airport duties.

Further information and reservations are available at Malév Customer Service Centre, the Malév Call Center and in partner travel agencies."

Source: Malév 


25.09.2007