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Lucrative runs that have been reported under 3/TP - current availability not guaranteed
Route | Booking class | Fare | Booking channel | TPs | /TP | credit
American Airlines
SFO-LAX-MIA-CUN | A/A/I | 498 return | aa.com | 620 TPs | 0.80/TP | chris1979
ORD-STL-DFW-SJU | A/A/I | 458 return | aa.com | 520 TPs | 0.88/TP | timezonehopper
SFO-LAX-MIA-CUN-MIA-LAX-LAS | A/A/I/I/A/A | 581 round trip | aa.com | 620 TPs | 0.94/TP | courtster
AMS-LHR-LAX-SFO-JFK-LHR-AMS | I/I/A/A/I/I | 1641 round trip | aa.com | 630 TPs | 2.60/TP | mccorry
IST-LHR/LCY-JFK-EZE-MIA-LHR-IST | I/I/I/I/I/I | 2106 round trip | aa.com | 790TPs | 2.61/TP | nth_utsera_sth_utsera
45 day advance purchase required, minimum stay 7 days.
British Airways
LGW-MLA | R | 248 return | ba.com | 160 TPs | 1.55/TP | LDNConsultant
LGW-RAK | R | 280 return | ba.com | 160 TPs | 1.75/TP | mfgr
Book by 31/12/13 for this price.
JER-LGW-AMS | J/R | 259 return | ba.com | 160 TPs | 1.62/TP | joejet
LGW-JER | R | 181 return | ba.com | 80 TPs | 2.26/TP
LGW-AMS | R | 199 return | ba.com | 80 TPs | 2.49/TP
BRU-LHR//LCY-JFK-SEA (last bit on AA) and back | I/I/A | 1,529 return | probably have to phone up | 920 TPs | 1.66/TP | stifle
Outbound 12/4-27/4 or 25/6-24/8, min stay Sat night, ticket by 2/1/14
Royal Jordanian
BEY-AMM-AQJ | D | 255 return | rj.com | 160 TPs | 1.59/TP | DeanB
Malaysia Airlines
SIN-KUL-KCH | D | S$660 return | malaysiaairlines.com | 160 TPs | 2.12/TP |HPN-HRL
DEL-KUL-BKK | Z | INR41,666 return |malaysiaairlines.com | 360TPs| 1.15/TP| Seshy
DEL-KUL-NRT | Z | INR92,395 return |malaysiaairlines.com | 560TPs| 1.64/TP| Seshy
ICN-KUL-SYD/MEL | Z | KRW1,582,600 return |malaysiaairlines.com | 560TPs| 1.65/TP| armagebedar
SIN-KUL-DXB | Z | S$1084 return | malaysiaairlines.com | 360 TPs | 1.50/TP | qasr (+long haul equipment on KUL-DXB)
SIN-KUL-TPE | Z | S$1078 return | malaysiaairlines.com | 360 TPs | 1.49/TP | qasr
SIN-KUL-DEL | Z | S$1018 return | malaysiaairlines.com | 360 TPs | 1.41/TP | qasr
SIN-KUL-KTM | Z | S$1006 return | malaysiaairlines.com | 360 TPs | 1.39/TP | qasr
Qatar Airways
CAI-DOH-BKK | 759 return | D/D/D/A | 360 TPs | 2.10/TP ExpatSomchai
DME-DOH-SGN | I | 1255 return | qatarairways.com | 560 TPs | 2.25/TP |continentalclub
Lucrative runs that have been reported under 3/TP - current availability not guaranteed
Route | Booking class | Fare | Booking channel | TPs | /TP | credit
American Airlines
SFO-LAX-MIA-CUN | A/A/I | 498 return | aa.com | 620 TPs | 0.80/TP | chris1979
ORD-STL-DFW-SJU | A/A/I | 458 return | aa.com | 520 TPs | 0.88/TP | timezonehopper
SFO-LAX-MIA-CUN-MIA-LAX-LAS | A/A/I/I/A/A | 581 round trip | aa.com | 620 TPs | 0.94/TP | courtster
AMS-LHR-LAX-SFO-JFK-LHR-AMS | I/I/A/A/I/I | 1641 round trip | aa.com | 630 TPs | 2.60/TP | mccorry
IST-LHR/LCY-JFK-EZE-MIA-LHR-IST | I/I/I/I/I/I | 2106 round trip | aa.com | 790TPs | 2.61/TP | nth_utsera_sth_utsera
45 day advance purchase required, minimum stay 7 days.
British Airways
LGW-MLA | R | 248 return | ba.com | 160 TPs | 1.55/TP | LDNConsultant
LGW-RAK | R | 280 return | ba.com | 160 TPs | 1.75/TP | mfgr
Book by 31/12/13 for this price.
JER-LGW-AMS | J/R | 259 return | ba.com | 160 TPs | 1.62/TP | joejet
LGW-JER | R | 181 return | ba.com | 80 TPs | 2.26/TP
LGW-AMS | R | 199 return | ba.com | 80 TPs | 2.49/TP
BRU-LHR//LCY-JFK-SEA (last bit on AA) and back | I/I/A | 1,529 return | probably have to phone up | 920 TPs | 1.66/TP | stifle
Outbound 12/4-27/4 or 25/6-24/8, min stay Sat night, ticket by 2/1/14
Royal Jordanian
BEY-AMM-AQJ | D | 255 return | rj.com | 160 TPs | 1.59/TP | DeanB
Malaysia Airlines
SIN-KUL-KCH | D | S$660 return | malaysiaairlines.com | 160 TPs | 2.12/TP |HPN-HRL
DEL-KUL-BKK | Z | INR41,666 return |malaysiaairlines.com | 360TPs| 1.15/TP| Seshy
DEL-KUL-NRT | Z | INR92,395 return |malaysiaairlines.com | 560TPs| 1.64/TP| Seshy
ICN-KUL-SYD/MEL | Z | KRW1,582,600 return |malaysiaairlines.com | 560TPs| 1.65/TP| armagebedar
SIN-KUL-DXB | Z | S$1084 return | malaysiaairlines.com | 360 TPs | 1.50/TP | qasr (+long haul equipment on KUL-DXB)
SIN-KUL-TPE | Z | S$1078 return | malaysiaairlines.com | 360 TPs | 1.49/TP | qasr
SIN-KUL-DEL | Z | S$1018 return | malaysiaairlines.com | 360 TPs | 1.41/TP | qasr
SIN-KUL-KTM | Z | S$1006 return | malaysiaairlines.com | 360 TPs | 1.39/TP | qasr
Qatar Airways
CAI-DOH-BKK | 759 return | D/D/D/A | 360 TPs | 2.10/TP ExpatSomchai
DME-DOH-SGN | I | 1255 return | qatarairways.com | 560 TPs | 2.25/TP |continentalclub
BA Tier Point runs | 2013 master thread
#1501
Moderator: InterContinental Hotels and Germany
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,538
Decided to squeeze a run into an already existing trip as I had to go from Seattle to Chicago in early October anyway and who says, that you cannot fly via SJU
AS 612 SEA-LAS 12:35 - 14:57 (positioning flight)
AA 2016 LAS-LAX 17:05 - 18:15 | P | 60 TP
AA 204 LAX-MCO 21:50 - 05:30 (+1) | P | 210 TP
AA 1197 MCO-MIA 07:25 - 08:30 | P | 60 TP
AA 1845 MIA-SJU 11:50 - 14:25 | I | 40 TP (night in SJU - actually the first time, as my previous runs on US were immeadiate turnarounds)
AA 633 SJU-DFW 10:45 - 14:45 | I | 140 TP
AA 2362 DFW-ORD 16:30 - 18:55 |P | 60 TP
Should be 570 TP. It would have been possible to fly DFW-STL-ORD on AA earning an additional 60 TP, but the connection time in STL would only be 35 minuntes and I did not want to miss the flight as I have to be in ORD in the evening.
It would have been also possible to catch an earlier flight out of MIA and a later ouf of LAS. My reason to book this was to have an alternative flight if something goes wrong.
Since I wanted to avoid having everything on separate tickets, I booked everything in one ticket (i.e. incl. the AS segment) on AA ticket stock using a travel agent.
Rate was the same as on AA and AS
The only thing I worry about it the weather in October ...
AS 612 SEA-LAS 12:35 - 14:57 (positioning flight)
AA 2016 LAS-LAX 17:05 - 18:15 | P | 60 TP
AA 204 LAX-MCO 21:50 - 05:30 (+1) | P | 210 TP
AA 1197 MCO-MIA 07:25 - 08:30 | P | 60 TP
AA 1845 MIA-SJU 11:50 - 14:25 | I | 40 TP (night in SJU - actually the first time, as my previous runs on US were immeadiate turnarounds)
AA 633 SJU-DFW 10:45 - 14:45 | I | 140 TP
AA 2362 DFW-ORD 16:30 - 18:55 |P | 60 TP
Should be 570 TP. It would have been possible to fly DFW-STL-ORD on AA earning an additional 60 TP, but the connection time in STL would only be 35 minuntes and I did not want to miss the flight as I have to be in ORD in the evening.
It would have been also possible to catch an earlier flight out of MIA and a later ouf of LAS. My reason to book this was to have an alternative flight if something goes wrong.
Since I wanted to avoid having everything on separate tickets, I booked everything in one ticket (i.e. incl. the AS segment) on AA ticket stock using a travel agent.
Rate was the same as on AA and AS
The only thing I worry about it the weather in October ...
#1502
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,007
AS 612 SEA-LAS 12:35 - 14:57 (positioning flight)
AA 2016 LAS-LAX 17:05 - 18:15 | P | 60 TP
AA 204 LAX-MCO 21:50 - 05:30 (+1) | P | 210 TP
AA 1197 MCO-MIA 07:25 - 08:30 | P | 60 TP
AA 1845 MIA-SJU 11:50 - 14:25 | I | 40 TP (night in SJU - actually the first time, as my previous runs on US were immeadiate turnarounds)
AA 633 SJU-DFW 10:45 - 14:45 | I | 140 TP
AA 2362 DFW-ORD 16:30 - 18:55 |P | 60 TP
AA 2016 LAS-LAX 17:05 - 18:15 | P | 60 TP
AA 204 LAX-MCO 21:50 - 05:30 (+1) | P | 210 TP
AA 1197 MCO-MIA 07:25 - 08:30 | P | 60 TP
AA 1845 MIA-SJU 11:50 - 14:25 | I | 40 TP (night in SJU - actually the first time, as my previous runs on US were immeadiate turnarounds)
AA 633 SJU-DFW 10:45 - 14:45 | I | 140 TP
AA 2362 DFW-ORD 16:30 - 18:55 |P | 60 TP
#1503
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Sussex
Programs: QF BAEC [Gold]
Posts: 536
C-W-S many thanks for the TP and lounge advice. I have yet to buy the initial LAX/LAS, so not sure I can now get this linked to my LHR/LAX trip (already booked in paid WT+), so will count this as 10TP for the moment. Looks like the entry AA fare is currently 35 for this leg, though I am a bit confused by the various economy "upsells" on the AA site.
Since as a OW Emerald, most charges (like Baggage) are waived on AA as far as I can tell, there seems nothing wrong with just going for the most basic fare. Shows as booking in O class which still attributes 50% TP if I believe the info on the BA site.
I'm guessing the best advice is to book the first possible LAX/SFO for the day to minimise risk of delays upsetting the day out.
Since as a OW Emerald, most charges (like Baggage) are waived on AA as far as I can tell, there seems nothing wrong with just going for the most basic fare. Shows as booking in O class which still attributes 50% TP if I believe the info on the BA site.
I'm guessing the best advice is to book the first possible LAX/SFO for the day to minimise risk of delays upsetting the day out.
#1504
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,362
Indeed it is best to get on the first flight (though I don't think the aircraft behind AA169 starts its day at LAS) since it's more likely to be on time for departure, and at low risk for arrival. From there on in things can deteriorate. Having said that, I had two separate US trips in the last month, though neither were TP runs (TPs are not something I need to worry about!) they did involve a series of shuttles around the US. On the 20 or so flights only one was disrupted, where I was downgraded on to a later flight, and that was due to the Asiana incident at SFO, which has now been fully resolved. The situation is a lot better than a year ago where there was an unofficial "work to rule" by staff, which was a nightmare. Staff morale has improved a lot in recent months.
Last edited by corporate-wage-slave; Jul 19, 2013 at 5:28 am Reason: missing word
#1505
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,362
For normal travellers this is a huge benefit, for TP runners it defeats the whole purpose! So my advice would be (and this applies to non TP runners too), break the tickets into "logical" break points. So in this case I would certainly break the ticket at SJU, and possiblly MCO too.
October is normally the perfect month, particularly given the airports you are using. Good luck!
#1507
Moderator: InterContinental Hotels and Germany
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,538
There's no benefit, on AA, in having it on one locator, provided you have respected AA's MCT (which are ludicrously short anyway). In fact if you have an irrop with a mass of segments it is harder for the staff to make sense of it all, and you may be rebooked on the first direct service to the end point. Furthermore after an irrop they tend to "clean" out duff sectors and that may make it difficult to argue precisely why you have a pressing need to to go SFO for 90 minutes.
For normal travellers this is a huge benefit, for TP runners it defeats the whole purpose! So my advice would be (and this applies to non TP runners too), break the tickets into "logical" break points. So in this case I would certainly break the ticket at SJU, and possiblly MCO too.
October is normally the perfect month, particularly given the airports you are using. Good luck!
For normal travellers this is a huge benefit, for TP runners it defeats the whole purpose! So my advice would be (and this applies to non TP runners too), break the tickets into "logical" break points. So in this case I would certainly break the ticket at SJU, and possiblly MCO too.
October is normally the perfect month, particularly given the airports you are using. Good luck!
Where are the advantages? For example, if there is a schedule change you have a better point of argumentation if everything is booked on one ticket instead of different ones, because then the airline has to take all flights on the PNR into account and not just the ones of one ticket. In so far, contrary to you, I recommed to book especially position flights in one ticket.
Let me give me an example. A position filght arrived at 14:00, the MR flight leaves at 16:30, usually sufficent time. Then a schedule change means the flight arriving at 14:00 got caneled, you were rebooked on a flight arriving at 15:15. A few weeks later, your MR Start flight was vicitim of a schedule change and and now leaves at 15:55. This could be close, especially if the MCT is 45 minutes.
I agree that the flight from SJU - DFW - ORD had not necessarily to be on the same PNR though. And if you book the trip with less time in advance, this could be also seen different, but I have had time changes to tickets shortly before or even during a trip ...
Believe there is a (real) reason for a longer layover ... And I usually book the later connection if the first one is close to MCT. I prefere to avoid a misconnection by having enough time to make the connection even with a delay. My experience from flights on AA, UA, US since 2007 was that people with tight connections, which have missed their flights have been rebooked on direct flights, while I made my connection without neet to rebook me.
During a run to SJU on US a few years ago, this had saved me to make a retro credit and flying transcon in Y instead of F as the flight misconnected. Of course you could argue US is not (yet) AA.
So I guess it is everybodys own preferences and own experiences in the past which matter. I fully understand your point of view, though.
Thank you for your input and sharing your point of view ^
#1508
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,964
In fact if you have an irrop with a mass of segments it is harder for the staff to make sense of it all, and you may be rebooked on the first direct service to the end point. Furthermore after an irrop they tend to "clean" out duff sectors and that may make it difficult to argue precisely why you have a pressing need to to go SFO for 90 minutes.
#1509
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: London. Or a plane.
Programs: "Only" 50,000 TPs until BA GGLfL
Posts: 2,769
If you don't fly your originally scheduled TP run through no fault of your own, rather the airlines, traditionally you can get retroactive credit on your itinerary as originally booked rather than as flown...
Back when I did MR/TP runs I therefore viewed irr-opps as the equivalent of getting out of having to do your homework....
Back when I did MR/TP runs I therefore viewed irr-opps as the equivalent of getting out of having to do your homework....
#1510
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,362
If you don't fly your originally scheduled TP run through no fault of your own, rather the airlines, traditionally you can get retroactive credit on your itinerary as originally booked rather than as flown...
Back when I did MR/TP runs I therefore viewed irr-opps as the equivalent of getting out of having to do your homework....
Back when I did MR/TP runs I therefore viewed irr-opps as the equivalent of getting out of having to do your homework....
#1512
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,362
Yes, this has never been an issue for me at least, sometimes it gets added without asking for the original routing credit. Also because BA is so London centric, most of the alternative routings end up the same TPs anyway. Most recent example was in November when Jack Frost and GGL sent me on Virgin to the US. Got BA's original credit without asking (and I may have had some from SunRise Boy too, but I am not sure I want to admit to that here).
#1513
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,964
Yes, this has never been an issue for me at least, sometimes it gets added without asking for the original routing credit. Also because BA is so London centric, most of the alternative routings end up the same TPs anyway. Most recent example was in November when Jack Frost and GGL sent me on Virgin to the US. Got BA's original credit without asking (and I may have had some from SunRise Boy too, but I am not sure I want to admit to that here).
#1514
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: LCY
Programs: BAEC Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,208
After some advice in another thread, I'm now considering a tier point run while in USA next month. Thr best seems to be a Saturday day-trip JFK-BOS for just over 300, (fixt class) according to American airlines
Just to make sure I'm getting this right: is it enough that I make the booking on aa.com and supply my BAEC number? I gather all AA flights attract tier points. Or is it safer to make the booking over the phone?
I only need to make 100 points for silver, so any other recommendations for flights out of NYC are welcome.
Just to make sure I'm getting this right: is it enough that I make the booking on aa.com and supply my BAEC number? I gather all AA flights attract tier points. Or is it safer to make the booking over the phone?
I only need to make 100 points for silver, so any other recommendations for flights out of NYC are welcome.
#1515
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,362
Just to make sure I'm getting this right: is it enough that I make the booking on aa.com and supply my BAEC number? I gather all AA flights attract tier points. Or is it safer to make the booking over the phone?
I only need to make 100 points for silver, so any other recommendations for flights out of NYC are welcome.
I only need to make 100 points for silver, so any other recommendations for flights out of NYC are welcome.
You can do cheaper trips per TP, but you'd either need more time or be in a better location that NYC. If you wanted a day trip to BOS anyway then you've made a reasonable choice. Other options include Washington (ideally the DCA service, not all services have a First cabin) or Chicago, which is much further away. If you want ideas, just download the AA timetable in pdf format, and double check the service offers First.