How Many Airline Miles Does it Take to Fly Around the World?

A few years ago, my husband mentioned taking time off work to finish a mountaineering list he had been working on that would require a bit of commitment and time. Since he would already be quitting his job, I mentioned the thought of also taking a round-the-world trip after his list was complete. 

But the kicker was, I wanted to see if we could save enough airline miles to fly around the world without spending thousands of dollars on flights. I’ve always loved to travel hack and travel cheaply, and this seemed like the perfect chance for a new challenge. 

Living in Wyoming, our local airport is small. Two flights per day, and we only have one airline carrier: United Airlines. 

At first, it can sound like a major bummer, but it actually works out extremely well. Since we only fly with United, we are completely loyal to their airline program. Josh has their United Explorer Card (annual fee $95), and I have the United Club Card (annual fee $695).  We are deeply loyal to them, and loyalty REALLY pays off. 

For my work, I also take about 40 flights/year with United. Leading up to the trip, Josh was only taking 2-3 trips per year that required planned travel. 

(Also, this is not sponsored by United. They are my dream partner, but let’s be real, I had to earn every mile LOL).

We saved up for 4 years. When time came, this was our combined mileage pool of United Airlines miles: 

Me: 569,000 miles 

Josh: 120,000 miles 

Total combined starting miles: 669,000 miles. 

How to Earn Airline Miles With an Airline Credit Card 

Most of our airline miles came from credit card spending, not flying. Which means you don’t have to be some vagabond world traveler to make this happen. We put everything on our United credit cards, from groceries to dinner to coffee. Everything. 

For United Airlines, the process looks something like this: 

When you want to earn airline miles with an airline credit card, the basic idea is simple: you use the card for everyday spending and travel purchases, and the miles you earn go directly into your United MileagePlus account, which you can then redeem for free flights, seat upgrades, hotel stays, and more. 

The more you pay for your credit card, the faster you earn miles. As mentioned earlier, Josh has the United Explorer Card, and I have the United Club Card. I earn miles at double the rate of his card. 

United Explorer Card ($95 annual fee)

• 2x miles on United purchases, dining, and hotel stays
• 1x mile on everything else
• Large welcome bonus that can easily cover a round-trip domestic flight
• Free first checked bag for you and a companion on United flights
• Priority boarding so you can snag overhead bin space
• Two United Club one-time lounge passes each year
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
• Perfect for: casual to moderate United flyers who want to earn miles fast without a high annual fee

United Club Card ($695 annual fee)

• 4x miles on United purchases, 2x on dining and travel, 1x on everything else
• Bigger welcome bonus for a faster mileage boost
• Full United Club membership with unlimited lounge access for you and eligible guests
• Free checked bags for you and a companion
• Premier Access including priority check-in, security, and boarding
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
• Extra travel and lifestyle statement credits that can offset the high fee
• Perfect for: frequent United flyers who want luxury perks, lounge access every trip, and maximum mileage earning
  

It does pay to play when it comes to miles, but for me, the $700 annual fee is more than worth it. It provides me access to all United Club Lounges in the country, which means I haven’t paid for a meal or a drink in an airport in over 3 years. Every lounge has complimentary alcohol, drinks, and a full buffet. Some even have showers. 

It also makes it easier for me to earn PQP for the year, which directly impacts my airline status, allowing me to gain status faster than if I used the Explorer card. It’s $700/year, but it saves me thousands through miles, free food + drink, status, and free upgrades.

How Far Ahead of Time We Booked Flights for Our Trip Around the World

We did not plan ahead for this trip whatsoever. We found one-way tickets from Michigan to Japan for 42,500 miles each and booked that as a starting point.

Touching down in Japan, we had no future tickets booked, which was both a blessing and a curse when it came to booking last-minute flights using points & miles. 

The Pros: We got some cheaper last-minute discounts on upcoming flights. 

The Cons: Some flights sold out, which forced us to rework plans. 

In general, we booked most of our flights 7 to 10 days before the departure date. 

Total Mileage Cost to Fly Around the World Using Airline Miles

We spent 580,400 miles total (290,200 each) over 10 weeks. We took 19 flights, across 10 countries, to 5 continents. 

This total included a splurge on two United Polaris Business Class seats during our final flight back home. We had the extra miles, so why not! 

Here is a breakdown of everything we paid for (including taxes and fees) per person: 

United States - Japan: 42,700 miles (+11.20 fees)

Japan - Taiwan: $60 USD 

Taiwan - Indonesia: 22,500 miles (+$16.50 fees) 

Indonesia - Thailand: 22,500 miles (+$16.10 fees) 

Thailand - Sri Lanka: 17,500 miles (+$24.50 fees)

Sri Lanka - Maldives: $142.83

Maldives - New Zealand: 35,000 miles (+$737.66)

New Zealand - Australia: 22,500 miles (+$104.60 fees) 

Australia - Morocco: 60,000 miles (+$105.60)

Morocco - Spain: $105 

Spain - United States: 80,000 miles (+71.83) United Polaris Business Class 

TOTAL: 290,200 EACH 

How Much Did We Pay Out of Pocket for Flights Around the World

We spent 290,200 miles each. 

And paid $1,385.

Even when you pay for a flight with miles, you have to pay for fees. Fees often range from $10 - $110 per flight. 

Our most expensive flight fees came from New Zealand and Australia, where we were paying an average of $100 per person per flight, even when using miles. 

There were also a few places where we paid for flights out of pocket for various reasons. These were: 

$700 flight from the Maldives to New Zealand (I messed up - more on that below)

$60 flight from Japan to Taiwan (Cheap nonstop flight we found) 

$110 flight from Sri Lanka to the Maldives (Miles could only get us to Sri Lanka, and I had to be in the Maldives for a work trip. So we booked Thailand - Sri Lanka on miles and stayed for two nights before flying onward to the Maldives, booking the cheapest flight from Sri Lanka. 

What Went Wrong, And What Went Right 

Overall, this trip was easier than expected. After backpacking Europe on $20/day, that should’ve been expected! However, it did come with a lot of lessons! 

What went right: 

• We came home with over 100,000 miles to spare, which was unexpected! 
• We spent a total of $1,300 per person for flights to fly around the world, including one business class ticket. That’s less than an average round-trip ticket to Europe! We saved $15,000+ dollars by using our miles for flights. 
• It was easier than expected to find flights with miles, as long as we kept an open mind. 

What went wrong: 

• I had to be in New Zealand for a partnership on a specific date, and we were coming from the Maldives, where I hosted a group trip. There were flights available for 50,000 miles when we were pre-planning the trip, which is why I chose the dates. I should’ve booked the flights right then, but I didn’t. Sure enough, all flight options on points disappeared. We were forced to spend $700 on flights to get there. If not for this mistake, we easily would’ve flown around the world for under $1,000 each! 
• It was stressful at times to research flights and destinations on multiple levels. For example, there would be a good flight deal to Indonesia, but before we would book it, we would also have to research onward flights out of the destination to make sure there were plenty of options. 
• I had two prearranged responsibilities during this adventure: a hosted group trip in the Maldives and a van partnership in New Zealand. Both of them caused the most headaches for planning and logistics. If you can, travel freely and have zero responsibilities! 

How Many United Miles Does it Take to Fly Around the World?

So how many airline miles do you need to fly around the world on an epic three-month lifetime adventure? With United Airlines, about 250,000. 

Which may sound like a lot, but it truly isn’t. 

United Airlines usually gives bonuses when signing up for its Explorer Credit Card, which is up to 100,000 miles. 

So with the credit card bonus, you’re already 40% of the way there!