Have $150,000 to spend? This tour company flies around the world on a luxury Airbus A321
It’s one thing to book a lie-flat business-class seat to travel overseas with some added comfort. What might qualify as "next-level," though, is doing so on a private jet that will fly you around the world, stopping on every continent (excluding Antarctica) along the way.
Tour operator TCS World Travel is out with its 2024 slate of excursions, each to be flown on its custom-configured Airbus A321 aircraft.
Though a spot on one of these high-end tours might be well beyond the budgetary limits for many of us, it's certainly an intriguing way to consider traveling if you don't want to use your points and miles to book your own around-the-world trip.
TCS World Travel is one of several tour companies offering these high-end around-the-world tours on retrofitted, commercial-size jets. Four Seasons offers its own similar tour on its custom-built version of the A321. And last year, TPG got a look at the all-first-class Boeing 757 used by tour operator Abercrombie & Kent.
A signature, 24-day "Around the World" tour with TCS World Travel includes visits to Machu Picchu, Easter Island, Fiji, the Great Barrier Reef, the Taj Mahal, Egypt and Morroco (among other stops). The price tag is nearly $136,000 per person.
The trips are completely all-inclusive, from the flight and accommodations to the food and excursions on land.
But AvGeeks — and, really, anyone with an appreciation for luxury travel — will likely marvel at the means of transportation.
Custom Airbus A321 jet
TCS World Travel’s A321 aircraft seats a total of 52 guests. For context, that's roughly half of what you’d find, for instance, on American Airlines’ three-cabin, transcontinental version of the jet and about a quarter of what its standard A321 holds.
Arranged in a 2-2 configuration, every seat on the plane is business class-style, with lie-flat capability and, as you can see, pretty ample legroom.
An 18-person staff, including a chef and a physician, attend to guests throughout the trip.
TCS World Travel points out that its aircraft also burns 30% less fuel than the Boeing 757 used by many in the travel sphere.
Trips for 2024 and beyond
Along with the aforementioned "Around the World" tour, which departs from Orlando on Dec. 30, 2024, TCS World Travel offers a variety of other excursions.
There’s one called “Ancient Crossroads of Asia & the Middle East,” which starts and ends in London. It features stops at the pyramids of Egypt, Jerusalem, Bangkok, Bhutan, Nepal, Vietnam and Oman, among other destinations.
The 23-day February 2024 trip will cost you nearly $150,000 per person.
There’s also a “Best of Africa” tour with a few stops, including Ghana, Victoria Falls, Cape Town, the Seychelles and Cairo.
Meanwhile, a “President’s Journey by Air, Land and Sea” tour in July 2024 starts and ends in Reykjavik. Tourists embark on a Greenland cruise and stop in places like Estonia, Copenhagen and Switzerland.
Both excursions also fall between $140,000 and $150,000 per person.
A full list of the company's excursions and 2024 tour dates (plus some for 2025) is available on the company's website.
Bottom line
The cost of an ultra-luxury private jet tour might put TCS World Travel's menu of excursions out of reach for many of us. However, for those saving up for the trip of a lifetime who are comfortable traveling on a group tour (the lie-flat seats don’t hurt) and don’t want to have to worry about planning every detail of the trip, it’s a compelling option.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
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- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.