Avoiding America
For unfathomable reasons an increasing number of Round The World travellers want to fly a Round The World itinerary which avoids the United States of America.
As a Round The World ticket requires crossing both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans this means routing via either Canada or South America. This limits your flight options dramatically.
The details below presume flying across the Atlantic and then the Pacific, but also apply in reverse.
Oneworld
Oneworld do not have any members based in Canada or South America, however the Canada based Westjet can be used on Global Explorer tickets. This enables internal flights within Canada.
Crossing The Atlantic
Oneworld airlines fly into Canada from their Europe/Middle East hubs at Amman, Casablanca, Doha, London Heathrow and Madrid. Plus from May 2026 there will be a Northern Summer only link from Helsinki – Toronto.
Additionally passengers on Global Explorer tickets can fly to Canada from Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dublin, Edinburgh, Paris and Rome.
British Airways operates a network of flights from London to the Caribbean.
Oneworld airlines fly to Mexico and Central America from London and Madrid.
Oneworld airlines fly into South America from Casablanca, Doha, London Heathrow and Madrid, from where Iberia operate an extensive network of South American flights.
Within The Americas
Westjet operates flights within Canada and from Canada to the Caribbean and Mexico. These can only be used on Global Explorer tickets.
From 8th November 2026 Westjet will also operate flights from Calgary to Sao Paulo. This route can also be used on Global Explorer tickets.
British Airways operates a Fifth Freedom flight between Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires.
Crossing The Pacific
Oneworld Airlines operate flights from Toronto to Hong Kong and from Vancouver to Hong Kong, Nadi, Sydney and Tokyo Narita.
Qantas operate flights from Santiago de Chile to Sydney.
Star Alliance
Star Alliance have member airlines based in Canada, Central America and South America.
Crossing The Atlantic
Star Alliance airlines fly into Canada from most major European cities and from Addis Ababa.
Cities in Central America can be reached from Frankfurt, Lisbon and Istanbul.
Cities in South America can be reached from Addis Ababa, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Istanbul, London, Madrid, Lisbon and Zurich.
Within The Americas
Air Canada offers flights within Canada and from Canada to Central and South America.
Copa Airlines operates an extensive network between Panama City and Canada, Central and South America.
Avianca operates an extensive network from Bogota within South America and to Central America and has secondary hubs at Cali, Cartagena and Medellin.
Air Canada, Ethiopian Airlines and Swiss operate fifth freedom flights between Sao Paulo Guarulhos and Buenos Aires. Turkish Airlines operate a Fifth Freedom flight between Sao Paulo Guarulhos and Santiago de Chile.
Crossing The Pacific
Star Alliance carriers operate an extensive network from Canada to Asia and the South West Pacific and also offer a Mexico City – Tokyo route.
Star Alliance carriers do not offer any flights from South America to Asia or the South West Pacific.