Originally Posted by
alanw
It turns out there are a few different routes that are reasonably priced that have similar earning and TP capabilities: PAR to BKK, JNB, SIN and others all coming in at about 2700€, booked on IB with QR flights. All earn 2000 EPs and a ton of Avios. Plus you're 90% of the way to Gold. Just need to find an excuse to visit Asia!
MAD-PAR also earns 230 EP return in R and I so basically just 20 EP short of gold once you count the re-positioning flights, assuming those are on IB. (LHR-CDG on BA earns less, just 150 EP return, as that's distance-based rather than zone-based.)