What started as a simple family trip turned into a fully-built round-the-world itinerary across five regions—South America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. This post unpacks how I designed the entire route using miles, premium cabin deals, oneworld lounges, and a series of perfectly timed connections.

No single airline can reach every corner of the globe — that’s where airline alliances come in. From Star Alliance to oneworld and SkyTeam, here’s how these global networks connect travelers — and which one I find the most rewarding to fly with.