Thanks for the advice, for some reason I'd assumed that even if the process wasn't live and instantaneous it'd still be automated and scheduled to some extent.

Noticed today that the DUB-MSP flights have now showed up when searching on BA. They seem to be only offering them EI coded though so wouldn't qualify for TPs presumably. Is there any way to purchase them BA marketed and ticketed given the extra TPs could be useful?

Other than TPs and lounge access rules at say LGW are there any other significant downsides to buying EI flights through BA as a gold card holder?

Interestingly if you look on the on-line calculator they showed up there, even with BA as the airline, long before being bookable.