XP Runs - Share your tips and flights to farm XPs
 

Following the introduction of XPs, and a recent spike of interest in how to get a lot of XP for cheap, it's time to leave the good old Mileage Runs for FB - best routes thread, and have a dedicated thread for farming XPs.

This thread could be turned into a wiki, not sure if I have the right to do so.

Basic informations:
- FAQ about XP - In short, each flight grants XP depending on the length and the traveling class.
- XP Calculator - Gives you the chart to know. Economy and Business are the two most relevant lines on the chart.
- Chart shows that domestic flights (AF flights France-France, Delta flights USA-USA) are to be avoided as much as possible - LYS, MRS or NCE pax should transit through AMS instead of CDG, for example.
- All partners. Not all of them grant XP, so take the time to review them. All flights that are AF coded or KL coded grant XP, all flights operated by a Skyteam partner grant XP, a few selected partner companies grant XP even though they don't belong to Skyteam. This means that an Alitalia coded flight (Skyteam) operated by Etihad (neither Skyteam nor a priviledged partner) will not grant any XP, sadly.
- Google Flights, Skyscanner, ITA Matrix are among the best tools to find crazy itinaries at the best price.
- For each flight in economy, the same flight in Business grants triple the amount of XP (exception: flights booked with miles grant 0 XP). The goal is to look for Business flights that cost far less than triple the price of an Economy flight (unless you are desperate for XPs).
- Intra-europe flights that do XXX-CDG-AMS-YYY (or vice-versa) and return in Business are amongst the cheapest XP runs, going around or under 6e spent per XP (less than 500€ for 90 XP). Those can be completed during a week-end only, and will require you to arrange one night of sleep (or none - we won't judge what you do with your nights).
- Companies in a bad financial shape tend to drop good Business class deals - I'm looking at you, Alitalia and your monthy 20% off codes.
- From experience, some partners (neither AF nor KLM) may show affordable long-haul business trips. Because they are long-haul, those are easier to choose if you already planned to travel to a specific location in the first place, while intra-europe Business trips can be decided "on the fly".


For XXX-CDG-AMS-YYY (and vice-versa) itinaries

Some cities connect more easily (or exclusively) with CDG, some others with AMS. The goal is to select two cities, so that the XXX-CDG-AMS-YYY itinary is likely to show up, for a small or no increased cost, than a faster XXX-CDG/AMS-YYY.
The following is a list of cities that got good deals multiple times, and may have some again.

Cities that connect more easily with CDG - the XXX part:
Mostly cities from Western Germany. MUC, STR, FRA, DUS, NUE.
Some Spanish cities might also work, if they have more connections with CDG than AMS. We have yet to find which ones.

Cities that connect more easily with AMS - the YYY part:
Cities in Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norways are good candidates. Some cities in UK work also.
Quoting this post from the Mileage Run thread - Cities to connect from DUS :

For pax based in CDG or AMS

Air France and KLM itinaries departing from the hub are often more expensive than if you started from another city.
LYS-CDG/AMS-BKK and return can be up to 300€ cheaper than CDG-BKK, grants you more XP, and all it takes for you is to book a cheap OUIGO ticket to join LYS.
On the other hand, it gives you the option to book the trip from CDG/AMS to said airport with AF/KL in Economy (any XP is a good XP), then start the Business itinary, and after the Business itinary go back home on the Economy flight. If the Economy flight is roughly the same price as the difference from starting outside CDG/AMS, that could be worth it.
Otherwise, if you decide to join the targeted airport with another way, look at low cost flights, trains or even coach buses.

If there is anything to correct, anything to add, or you happen to find a good XP run, feel free to share!

I don't know that we need a new thread... esp. now, two years into XP running...

either way, I feel the need to add some notes:

Only if the fare is earning! Many Skyteam flights are non-earning, including some business fares like on UX. Always double-check if the fare you book is earning. If in doubt, book KL or AF marketed flights.

That is still triple the amount of XP, as 0XP x 3 = 0XP :)
As normal, award flights don't give XP.

Just a quick question for other discount card holders (carte d'abonnement):

Do ALL domestic flights get the 2XP bonus or just those bought at this fare?

ALL domestic flights are concerned: light...

Just to be 100% sure:
A "light"(= cheapest) fare ORY-BOD rtn in fortnight during the week end will earn the same as a €350 pp ticket?

What about Twinjet or Chalair routes?

Hello,
Do you have an update of this topic?
It seems that finding international trips in Europe with at least 2 stops is quite impossible now

It's all in the former thread https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-...st-routes.html that didn't relinquish the spotlight when it comes to discussing XP/mileage runs.