WHICH direction, RTW East or West?
Either way works, but an alliance round-the-world ticket makes you keep going in one direction. West is easier on the body: AirTreks puts jet lag recovery at about a day per time zone flying east, and two-thirds of a day flying west.
RTW East or West
If you are on a quick round the world tour, then going westward is important, because you don't have to keep getting up 'early' to catch the next plane. So choose West if you don't want to suffer jet lag.
The advantage to go East is that when you end your tour, you'll have gained one day of life! As Phileas Fogg did, in the book Around the World in 80 Days.
How much the jet lag differs
Sleep research backs this up. The AirTreks guide to choosing your RTW direction puts recovery at roughly one day per time zone crossed going east, and about two-thirds of a day going west. Flying west asks you to stay up later. Flying east asks you to fall asleep earlier, and most people find that much harder.
You cross all 24 time zones whichever way you go. What changes is when the hard jumps come. Head east from North America and the first one is the Atlantic: a red-eye from New York lands in London at 7am, when your body thinks it's 2am, and most of that first day goes to recovery. Head west and you start by crossing the Pacific with the sun, landing in the evening with a night's sleep ahead of you.
Your ticket may decide for you
On an alliance round-the-world ticket you have to keep going one way. Star Alliance's rules say your travel "must follow one global direction only (East or West)", and the Atlantic and the Pacific must each be crossed exactly once. oneworld Explorer works the same way. Inside a region you can zigzag, but you can't turn round and go back.
Which flights you can actually get matters more than the direction. AirTreks tested Sydney to New York direct on round-the-world fares 235 times and never found a seat it could book. Sydney to Los Angeles came back bookable 80% of the time. So whichever way you go, cross the Pacific via the US West Coast.
Summer is the other catch. The transatlantic legs from June to August are the most sought-after in the whole RTW system, so an eastward trip starting in July needs booking early. AirTreks books peak-season legs 8 to 11 months ahead.
So which way?
If jet lag flattens you, go west. If you live in North America and want an easy start, go east: Europe first is the gentler introduction, and by the time you reach Asia you'll have your packing and airport routine sorted. And if you want Fogg's extra day, east is the only way to get it.
See also WHEN to go?, HOW long do you need? and travel around the world in 80 days.
Tags: east or west, rtw direction, rtw east or west, travel rtw direction
Planning a round-the-world trip? AirTreks has built multi-stop itineraries since 1987. See sample routes or ask a specialist.