Qantas website gives an advance purchase fare of $1875 return to Frankfurt for next October (from Oct 4).
Return fares to LA are around $1900. To Dallas, still $2277 but I seem to remember that that dropped to around $1800 around this time last year.
This is relevant because round-the-world fares with Qantas start at well over $4000.
It would be cheaper to fly to Essen, fly home and then fly back for BGG.con – although we wouldn’t get the amazing baggage allowance. (20 kilos per passenger in or out of Australia, compared with 2 bags, each up to 32 kg, in or out of the US. By flying home through the US, we would get a whopping 44 kilos extra baggage allowance EACH).
It is possible that “divide and conquer” might be a valid strategy.
dracomjb
October 26, 2007 at 11:22 pm
you should check out One World and Star Alliance RTW fares. They may work out cheaper. Check with a travel agent rather than quoting directly with an airline as well, they may be able to work out a better or cheaper routing.
melissainau
October 27, 2007 at 9:10 am
That’s what I wondered, Mark. Travel agents often seem to know the clever stuff – and I’m sure it never used to be this much more expensive to go RTW. The RTW fares seem to be structured for people who want to make multiple stops – great if you want to go Melbourne – Sydney – Singapore – London – Paris – Moscow – LA – Dallas – Vancouver – Hawaii – Melbourne or similar, but for a simple Melbourne – Frankfurt – Dallas – Melbourne it’s a very pricey option. (Or even Mel – Fra – LA – Mel and pick up a local flight for the intra-US leg).