Currently accessible through a link on the Star Alliance homepage, the Round the World Mileage Calculator is an online travel planning tool that allows Star Alliance customers to create round the world itineraries using the Star Alliance carriers. Help is available for users via a world map and the calculator will indicate problems with the itinerary so that users can fix them. The itinerary can then be e-mailed to a reservations office of one of the member carriers, be printed out and faxed to a travel agent or saved on the computer for future use. This new travel tool is available in addition to the former downloadable version and has the distinct advantage of real-time schedule information retrieved directly through the Internet. The round the world routing can cover a total distance of 39,000 miles with a maximum of 15 stopovers (minimum three stopovers). The fare is available in all classes of service and there is a special fare, available for travel in coach, that has a maximum of 26,000 miles with three to five stopovers, and must be purchased seven days prior to departure. Mileage credit is available on round the world discounted fares. With the recent addition of South African Airways as an alliance member, flyers can now take advantage of more travel options, especially within Africa, across the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean.