How We’re Flying Around the World for $3.5K Each (Yes, Really)
Booking round-the-world flights for a family of five sounds like a logistical nightmare — and a financial one. So when we say we’re flying across three continents for just $3,500 AUD per person, the response is usually “Tell me your secrets!”
Spoiler alert: it’s not a mistake fare. No magic, either. Just some savvy planning, an incredible travel agent, and a not-so-obvious airline choice.
Here’s exactly how we did it — and how you might be able to, too.
PS: This post covers flights only. Accommodation, insurance, and other travel costs are separate — we’ll cover that in future posts.
Why We Didn’t DIY Our Flights
When we first floated the idea of full-time family travel, I imagined myself hunched over the laptop with 20 browser tabs open, trying to patch together one-way flights from Perth to, well, somewhere.
That idea lasted two nights.
Coordinating multi-country travel for five people was becoming a full-time job, and we already have those.
Enter RoundAbout Travel: an Aussie travel agency that only books round-the-world (RTW) and multi-continent airfares. I’d seen them recommended in travel forums and Facebook groups, and decided to give them a try. One phone call later, and we were hooked.
They took our chaotic wishlist and turned it into a perfectly timed RTW itinerary using Finnair (more on that curveball in a sec). Every flight on one ticket, with expert support to guide us through options, stopovers, and savings.
We didn’t just get value. We got peace of mind.
The Agent Advantage
I’ll admit — I’m usually a DIY gal. But using RoundAbout Travel saved us time, money, and so many headaches.
Here’s why it worked:
- They know the rules. Want to sneak in a stopover in Helsinki without blowing the budget? They’ll tell you how.
- They optimise your route. Open-jaw flights, strategic airport swaps — they find the magic mix.
- They hold your hand. Dedicated consultants (shoutout to ours, Michelle) walked us through every change, question, and crazy idea.
Instead of juggling airlines, currencies, and error pages, we got one clear itinerary, one payment, and one point of contact. Dream.
Why We’re Flying Finnair (Yes, the Finnish Airline)
Would you expect a family from Fremantle to be flying Finnair around the world? Neither did we. But now we’re huge fans. Finnair is part of the Oneworld Alliance, which means our flights are a mix of top-tier airlines — Qantas, Japan Airlines, British Airways, American Airlines — all on one Finnair-issued ticket.
Here’s why it worked for us:
- Serious value: RoundAbout Travel’s Finnair-based RTW fare came in at ~$3.5k pp. That’s less than a typical return flight to Europe.
- Seamless routing: Three continents, multiple cities, one ticket. No need to manage point-to-point bookings or risk missed connections.
- Qantas points: Because of Oneworld, every leg we fly earns us Qantas Frequent Flyer points and status credits.
- Kid-friendly transits: Finnair’s hub at Helsinki Airport is known for being efficient, calm, and even has a kids’ play area. Sign. Me. Up.
Finnair flies some of the most modern, comfortable long-haul aircraft in the game, including the Airbus A350 — a plane that’s become a bit of a fan favourite for long journeys. Think quiet cabins, larger windows, and better air pressure (read: less jet lag and dehydration).
If we’re going to be hopping continents for the next 12 months, we’re glad it’s with an airline that makes the getting there part actually enjoyable.
Our Booking Process (In a Nutshell)
If you’re a parent wondering how this actually works IRL, here’s how it played out:
- We set a budget. $20K max for 5 people. Flights alone could’ve eaten that entire amount — but RoundAbout Travel came in at $17.5K total, including taxes. Under budget = huge win.
- We sent over our wishlist. Think “Japan, Europe, the US… not too rushed… maybe gelato?” (the kids were very invested in that last part).
- They built our dream route. With clever tweaks we wouldn’t have known to make — like flying into USA via LAX, and out via Vancouver, Canada, to maximise time and flexibility. We even scored a free stopover in Helsinki (outside of our allotted stop count), which we’re using to chase the Northern Lights. ✨
- We locked it in. A $220 deposit per person held our seats, but the full balance was due shortly after to officially secure our fares. Worth noting: these kinds of tickets often need to be paid in full up front to lock in pricing — not a surprise, just something to plan for.
- We booked dummy dates. Because flights hadn’t opened for the tail end of our trip yet, we locked in placeholder dates. But our agent is already on it — they’ve set a reminder to rebook and finalise those as soon as new dates become available. One less thing for us to keep track of — and a huge perk of having a travel pro in our corner.
- We did a happy dance. Five round-the-world tickets confirmed — and the travel nerves instantly dropped. From here, it was time to plan everything else (accommodation, visas, packing chaos… you know the drill).
Having a real human (not a chatbot or booking engine) guiding us, adjusting our route, and being available down the track to help tweak things? That kind of support is gold when you’re planning something this big.
Who Should Consider RTW Fares?
Honestly? Probably more people than you think.
Families:
Flying five people point-to-point gets expensive fast. RTW fares give you better value, better connection protection, and take the pressure off. Plus, you’re earning points on every leg.
Couples:
Planning a honeymoon or sabbatical? This is how you stretch your dollars across multiple dream destinations without burning out on bookings.
Solo travellers:
If you’re flexible and spontaneous, RTW fares can be the ultimate bucket-list unlock. You’ll get more destinations for less, and a clear structure to work from.
Overwhelmed planners:
If your brain breaks just thinking about flight research, outsource it. Let the experts create a smarter itinerary, and keep your sanity intact.
Key Takeaways
- Book early: Seats are limited. We booked 10 months out.
- Stay open-minded: Small city swaps (like Helsinki > London) can save you hundreds.
- Use a specialist: RoundAbout Travel’s expertise saved us time, stress, and cash.
- Go alliance: Finnair + Oneworld = seamless flights and great carriers.
- Keep flights separate in your budget: $3.5K pp was just for flights. Visas, insurance, and daily expenses — all extra.
Ready to Try It?
We never thought we’d be “round-the-world ticket” people. But here we are, booked, buzzing, and one step closer to our dream of full-time family travel.
If you’re dreaming of a big trip, but the logistics feel like a mountain — trust me, there’s help out there. And if you want to use the exact team we did? Check out RoundAbout Travel — they’re the real MVPs.
Next up: Where we’re staying (and how we’re planning that side of the trip). Stay tuned.
Have any questions about the flights or process? Drop them in the comments or shoot us a message.
See you in the skies.
