Fly Business Class Around the World on Points 2026: The 5-stop, 280k-mile itinerary
Around-the-world business class on cash retail: $25,000+. On points: as low as 280,000 miles + ~$500 cash. Here is the 2026 framework for booking a 5-stop RTW itinerary on the cheapest path.
- Up to 8 stops (in addition to the origin/destination)
- Must travel in one direction (east or west) consistently — backtracking is not allowed
- One free open-jaw allowed (i.e., depart Madrid, return from Barcelona)
- Stopovers must be at least 24 hours; layovers can be shorter
Around-the-world business class travel on cash typically runs $20,000-$30,000+ per traveler. On points, the same itinerary can be booked for as low as 280,000 airline miles + $500 in cash co-pays. The cheapest path is ANA's Round-the-World Award via Star Alliance — but it requires planning, advance bookings, and acceptance of routing constraints. Here is the 2026 framework.
The cheapest path: ANA Round-the-World Award
ANA Mileage Club publishes a Round-the-World award chart based on total flown distance:
| Total flown miles | ANA miles required (Business Class) |
|---|---|
| 20,001-22,000 miles | 132,000 ANA miles |
| 22,001-25,000 miles | 165,000 ANA miles |
| 25,001-29,000 miles | 200,000 ANA miles |
| 29,001-34,000 miles | 240,000 ANA miles |
| 34,001-50,000 miles | 280,000 ANA miles |
For a 5-stop itinerary covering ~25,000 miles total flown distance, the cost is 200,000 ANA miles + ~$500 in YQ surcharges. Cheapest known business-class RTW redemption in points travel.
The ANA RTW rules
- Up to 8 stops (in addition to the origin/destination)
- Maximum 12 segments
- Must travel in one direction (east or west) consistently — backtracking is not allowed
- One free open-jaw allowed (i.e., depart Madrid, return from Barcelona)
- Stopovers must be at least 24 hours; layovers can be shorter
- Must use Star Alliance carriers exclusively
- Tickets are valid for 1 year from departure
How to earn 200,000 ANA miles
ANA miles are not a typical transfer partner of major US bank-points programs. The paths to ANA miles:
- Amex Membership Rewards (1:1, occasional 25-30% transfer bonus): Most accessible from a US points stack. With a 30% bonus, 154,000 Amex points = 200,000 ANA miles.
- Capital One Miles (1:1): Direct transfer to ANA. No regular bonuses.
- Citi ThankYou Points (1:1): Direct transfer to ANA. No regular bonuses.
- Buy ANA miles directly: ANA periodically sells miles at ~2¢/mile. 200,000 miles = ~$4,000 in cash. Combined with the YQ, total trip cost ~$4,500. Still meaningfully cheaper than $25,000 cash.
- ANA Mileage Mall promotions: Earn ANA miles via flights, shopping portal, or co-brand cards. Slow accumulation; not the fastest path.
The 5-stop sample itinerary
An example 25,000-mile RTW routing:
- NYC (JFK) → Frankfurt (FRA) on Lufthansa business — ~3,800 miles
- Frankfurt → Tokyo (HND) on Lufthansa business — ~5,800 miles
- Tokyo → Bangkok (BKK) on ANA business — ~3,000 miles
- Bangkok → Cape Town (CPT) on Singapore Airlines business — ~5,500 miles
- Cape Town → São Paulo (GRU) on multi-leg connections — ~5,200 miles
- São Paulo → New York (JFK) on Latam-codeshared partner — ~4,800 miles
Total flown: ~25,000 miles. ANA RTW cost: 200,000 ANA miles + ~$600 YQ.
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Other RTW paths in 2026
| Program | Miles for 5-stop business class RTW | YQ + taxes |
|---|---|---|
| ANA Mileage Club RTW | 200,000-240,000 | ~$500-$700 |
| Avianca LifeMiles (multi-segment) | ~280,000-320,000 | ~$200 (LifeMiles waives YQ) |
| Aeroplan multi-segment | ~350,000-450,000 (depending on routing rules) | ~$1,200 (Aeroplan passes YQ) |
| Star Alliance booked separately on each segment | ~280,000-380,000 across various programs | ~$300-$1,000 |
ANA Mileage Club's RTW chart is the cheapest published rate. LifeMiles' multi-segment booking is the cheapest with no-YQ savings, but typically requires more total miles.
The booking process
- Plan the itinerary 6+ months in advance
- Verify Star Alliance partner saver inventory on each segment
- Earn the required ANA miles (transfer Amex/Capital One/Citi or buy)
- Book by phone with ANA Mileage Club (RTW awards typically can't be booked online)
- Confirm all segments before paying YQ
The phone-booking requirement is the most-cited friction point. Plan for a 1-2 hour call with the ANA Mileage Club agent.
Bottom line
An around-the-world business class trip on points is achievable for 200,000-280,000 miles + $500-$1,000 in cash co-pays — saving $20,000+ vs cash retail. ANA Mileage Club's published RTW chart is the cheapest path; LifeMiles multi-segment is the cleanest alternative with no YQ. Plan 6+ months in advance, transfer Amex/Capital One/Citi to ANA at 1:1, and book by phone. For travelers with the time and flexibility, this is one of the most-aspirational redemptions in points travel.
Plan your RTW itinerary on Pointify →
Last verified by the Pointify research team on May 1, 2026, against current ANA Mileage Club RTW award chart and Star Alliance partner saver pricing. ANA RTW chart and routing rules may shift; verify with ANA before transferring miles.
About the author
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The Pointify team analyzes loyalty programs, fare data, and booking strategies across 300+ airlines and major award programs. Our goal: help you get maximum value from every point and mile.
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