Jan 2, 2015, 8:37 am

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Welcome to the thread — please read the wiki first as it contains lots of information which may answer your question. We keep track of other prices, as well as useful reference information for those planning tier point runs.

This is a community-maintained wiki post. Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below!

Current Promotions of Interest

from DUB to US IJN8S4Z1 reported here, e.g. JFK - €1,074, MIA - €1,119, LAS - €1,224, LAX - €1,296, HNL - €1,623, needs to be booked by 2 February, for outbound travel over Easter and summer 2016, see linked post for details
from DUB to US ILN8S4Z1 reported here, e.g. JFK - €920, MIA - €958, LAS - €1,048, LAX - €1,110, needs to be booked by 2 February, for outbound travel over November and Christmas & New Year 2016, see linked post for details
from DUB to US ILR28AP reported here, e.g. JFK - €1,538, MIA - €1,601, LAS - €1,751, LAX - €1,854, HNL - €1,834, this is an advanced purchase fare so no book by deadline, no stopovers, see linked post for details
from DUB to US ILN8S4E1 reported here, e.g. JFK - €1,538, MIA - €1,601, LAS - €1,751, LAX - €1,854, HNL - €1,834, this is an advanced purchase fare so no book by deadline, allows stopovers for €75, see linked post for details
from CPH to US ILR21AP reported here, e.g. JFK - £890, MIA - £1,132, ORD - £942, LAX - £1,277, HNL - £1,361, this is an advanced purchase fare so no book by deadline, no stopovers, see linked post for details
from CPH to US ILN2S4E1 reported here, JFK - £890, MIA - £1,132, ORD - £942, LAX - £1,277, HNL - £1,361, this is an advanced purchase fare so no book by deadline, allows stopovers for €75, see linked post for details
ILN2S4Z1 from OSL to HNL (19.5k/21.5k NOK (£1,520/£1,675) via. LON or via. HEL & LON)
PERMITTED 23NOV 15 THROUGH 28NOV 15 OR 22DEC 15 THROUGH
01JAN 16 OR 27MAR 16 THROUGH 31MAR 16 ON THE OUTBOUND
TRANSATLANTIC SECTOR.

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This thread lists attractive tier point (TP) runs under £3 per TP grouped within different (departure) geographies

Please note the following:

Current availability is not guaranteed.
All prices include taxes.

Convert currencies to GBP, rounding to the nearest pound.
Post full routes and full booking classes.
Note any restrictions on booking in the Notes section.
List in order of price per tier point within the relevant departure area.

From Europe
17DEC | £0.75/TP | £909 | 1200 | DUB-LHR-JFK-PHX-HNL-PHX-JFK-LHR-DUB | I/I/A/A/A/A/I/I | aa.com | perthflyer | BA AA
30JUL | £0.93/TP | £335 | 360 | JER-LGW-SSH-LGW-JER | J/I/I/J | ba.com | dom462 | CE | BA
01 NOV | £0.99/TP | £1343 | 1360 | CPH-HEL-LHR-JFK-PHX-HNL-PHX-JFK-LHR-HEL-CPH | I/I/I/A/P/P/A/I/I/I | ITA Matrix | MrMutton
19 AUG | £1.01/TP | £1,375 (1938 EUR) | 1360 | DUB-HEL-LON-JFK-PHX-HNL-PHX-JFK-LHR-HEL-DUB | IIIAAAAIII | OttoMH | J/F | AY BA AA
16 AUG | £1.22/TP | £1,675 (21.5k NOK) | 1360 | OSL-HEL-LON-JFK-PHX-HNL-PHX-JFK-LHR-HEL-OSL | IIIAAAAIII | OttoMH | J/F | AY BA AA
16 AUG | £1.27/TP | £1,518 (19.5k NOK) | 1200 | OSL-LON-JFK-PHX-HNL-PHX-JFK-LHR-OSL | IIAAAAII | OttoMH | J/F | BA AA
14AUG | £1.31/TP | £470 | 360 | OSL-HEL-AGP-HEL-OSL | I-I-I-I | ITA | Flythe96flag | SH J cabin + possible red-eye (!) | AY
04 SEP | £1.31/TP | £1,220 (1681 EUR) | 910 | DME-MAD-JFK-LAX-MIA-MAD-DME | all in I | iberia.com | henkybaby | J | BA AA IB | works till 6/16 so far
23AUG | £1.34/TP | £1148 | 860 | DUB-PHL-PHX-LAS-PHX-JFK-LHR,LCY-DUB | I/P/P/P/P/I/I | ticketed on aa.com | megaloman | AA & BA (UD on 747 JFK-LHR)
17AUG | £1.67/TP | £1408 |840 |BHX-JFK-PHX-LAS & back | I-A-A-A-A-I | aa.com |Swiss Tony | AA ski slope bed on TATL | AA
26JUL | £1.81/TP | £72.70 | 40 | MAD-FRA | Z | lan.com | Prospero | 787 flat bed | LA
23NOV | £1.89/TP | £377 | 200 | DUB-LHR-MAD-SVQ r/t | I-I-I-I-I-I | ITA | Lorcancoyle | IM0B IB DUB to SVQ | BA and IB flights (I2 for domestic under IB code), random dates in December available, A340 on some dates (helpfully pointed out by Temps that domestic Spain is only 20 TPs)
17 AUG | £1.89/TP | £1818 | 960 | OSL-LON-KUL//SIN-SYD/SYD-PER/PER-SYD-SIN/SIN-LHR-OSL | BugAlugs | J | BA QF | INCSALE ended 14thSep - (Applied GUF via TA (moves J to F on BA longhaul and scores 1260 TPS in total)
31 DEC | £1.91/TP | £1220 | 640 | AMS-LHR-MIA-SCL // EZE-JFK-LHR-BCN | J/I/I-I/I/J | AA.com | nufnuf77 (can also return to LHR for £20 less but 40TP less
13NOV | £2.56/TP | £410 | 160 | LHR-HEL | ? | BA.com | Lorcancoyle | wide open as flight+hotel, can reduce with TCB cash back | BA
1JAN | £1.85/TP | £444 | 240 | JER-LGW/LHR-HEL | J/I/I/J | ITA Matrix | flatlander | Available most weekends first half of 2016, fare IM0R
24NOV | £1.91/TP | £765.00 | 400 | BUD-DOH-SHJ | I/A/I/A | QR.com | Wozza2404 | A320 | QR
7DEC | £2.24/TP | £942 | 420 | MAD-MIA-SXM-CLT-JFK-LHR | I/I/I/A/I | ticketed on aa.com | megaloman | other routings possible earning more TPs could have lower the price with added LHR-CDG leg to £865 (£2.06/TP)
22JAN | £2.29/TP | £640 | 280 | FCO-CMB-FCO | I/I | book on SriLankan website | theultimateflyer

From North, Central and South America
31JUL | £0.39/TP | £484 | 1240 | HNL-LAX-BOS-MIA-BAQ-MIA-PHL-LAX-HNL | AAAIIAAA | ITA Matrix | Pawel Siewko | AA
16OCT | £0.55/TP | £298.50 | 540 | JFK-LAX-DEN-LAX-JFK | P-P-P-P | aa.com | Calum | AA A321t F seat between JFK & LAX (FARE GONE)
16JUL | £0.57/TP | £554 | 980 | LAX-LAS-PHX-PHL-CLT-TPA-MIA-PTY-MIA-PHL-PHX-LAS-LAX | PPPPPPIIPPPP | aa.com | Airprox | AA + US
27JUL | £0.80/TP | £15.94 | 20 | VVC-BOG-MDE | A | lan.com | JohnnyColombia | A is economy on LA | LA
08NOV | £0.84/TP | £772.50 | 920 | KOA-LAX-CLT-SJU-CLT-LAX-KOA | AAIIAA | aa.com | Lappe | Same day turnarounds available
30SEP | £0.87/TP | £808.00 | 920 | BOG-MIA-LAX-HNL-LAX-MIA-BOG | I-P-P-P-P-I | aa.com | JohnnyColombia | No comments
20SEP | £1.00/TP | £663.20 | 660 | LGA-BOS-LAX-PHX-LAX-BOS-LGA | P-P-P-P-P-P | americanairlines.co.uk | njf63 | TCON on 737 so not too comfortable but good availability next Mar/Apr
21AUG | £1.05 | £253 | 240 | BOS-PHL-PIT-PHL-BOS | PPPP | aa.com | Simon Schus | AA op by US
02NOV | £1.27/TP | £1250 | 980 | MCO-MIA-LAX-HNL | A | AA | Mr 1A
05AUG | £1.37/TP | £578 | 420 | LAS-PHL-LAS | A/P | aa.com | Lucanesque | First | AA op by US
28JUL | £1.43/TP | £400 | 280 | SCL-IPC-SCL | Z | lan.com - Chilean version | moonman85 | 787 flat bed | LAN
06NOV | £1.67/TP | £66.00 | 40 | JFK-YYZ | Z | tam.com.br | frb98mf | Fifth Freedom flight every Wed/Fri/Sun, 767 flat bed
13NOV | £1.06/TP | £705 | 660 | RIC-CLT-PHL-PHX-PHL-CLT-RIC | A | AA.com | wenzlydale | 2 trips this year - mixture of A320s and B757s not a lot of food offered but all the G&Ts you could wish for
07JAN|£1.24/TP | £668 | 540 | SEA-MIA-ATL-CLT-SEA | P/P/P/P | aa.com | EsherFlyer | 24h transcon bounce. All I could fit in...

From Middle East, Asia and Australasia
18AUG | £1.25/TP | £440.00 | 360 | BKK-KUL-ICN Return | Z | www.malaysiaairlines.com | Wozza2404 | A330 Angle Flat for long haul sectors | MH
12OCT | £1.68/TP | £1,546 | 920 | TLV-MAD-LHR-JFK-LAX-JFK-LHR-MAD-TLV | I/I/I/I/I/I/I | iberia.com | frb98mf | Business (bonus: A330/A340 on the TLV legs!) | IB
24NOV | £1.43/TP | £803 | 560 | CTS-HKG-DPS-HKG-CTS | I/I/I/I | cathaypacific.com | zeltergiset | One 24hr+ stopover in HKG allowed | CX
06JAN | £1.86/TP | £856 | 460 | HND-HKG-DPS-HKG-CTS | I/I/I/I | cathaypacific.com | Gastrocnemius | One 24hr+ stopover in HKG allowed | CX
11JAN | £1.26/TP | £707 | 560 | KTM-KUL-TPE-KUL-KTM | D/D/D/D | malaysiaairlines.com | zeltergiset | MH
11JAN | £1.68/TP | £940 | 560 | TPE-KUL-KTM-KUL-TPE | D/D/D/D | malaysiaairlines.com | zeltergiset | MH

From Africa
11AUG | £0.89/TP | £748 | 840 | ACC-LHR-MIA-LAX-MIA-LHR-ACC | I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I | iberia call centre | njf63 | CW / AA J | IB
15NOV | £2.00/TP | £1200 | 600 | CPT-DOH-JFK-DOH-CPT | I/I/I/I | QR Website | Calum | QR J on the B788/A350 & 46hrs of flying | QR

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Need a year-end TP run (ex-LON) to make / retain status?

Some tips for searching for the year-end TP run for newcomers, the below is indicative only, but hopefully provides a bit of guidance for relatively straightforward runs ex-LON. Prospero's guide to using ITA matrix in post 3 (here along with these ideas, might come in handy. Feel free to share results, problems or general questions in the thread as these may not always work and there might be better deals out there...

For overnight trips remember to check BA and Iberia for their flights and hotel option as well, can get hotel for almost no extra cost at times

Need 80 TPs or less
Club Europe return somewhere close by is best - DUB, AMS and JER usually cheapest. AMS and JER easier than DUB for an immediate turnaround. The BA.com low fare finder can be very useful.

If you need as few as 45 TPs you might consider booking economy flights and hoping for a proactive online upgrade offer - but they're not guaranteed to materialise (so not one if you have no more time left in your TP collection year)

Or a slightly more interesting fun run

Need 85-120 TPs
Iberia flights via MAD to regional Spanish airports will get you 120 TPs as the domestic Spanish flights are 20 TPs in business. Under £300 including hotel can be available. Check BIO, GRX, VLC, BCN, SVQ etc. Example here

Need 125-160 TPs
Take a look at the shorthaul plus routes earning 80 TPs each way in business listed in the first post (here) MLA, IST, HEL and RAK are usually available. If time sensitive take a look at BA flight and hotel option to HEL, where you can usually get the last BA flight out on a Saturday, airport hotel and first return Sunday for well under £500.

Alternative options include positioning to JER and flying JER-LGW-XXX (AMS usually works well and avoids switching airports)

Need more than 160 TPs
You'll most likely be heading north then - OSL or VLL via HEL will get you 240 TPs, as will JER-LGW/LHR-HEL e.g. LHR-HEL-OSL for £520
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Historic information
2015 Archive (6 months Jan to Jun)
2014 Archive

BA Tier Point Runs | 2015 master thread

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Mar 16, 2015, 1:27 pm

#1516

benjaminfry

Join Date: May 2014

Posts: 16

I'm not sure if this is against forum rules but are there people who can give advice and make bookings for TP runs on a commercial basis?

Mar 16, 2015, 1:44 pm

#1517

madfish

Join Date: Sep 2014

Location: Cumbria

Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold

Posts: 4,510

Since I have been posting on here and following this thread I have had lots of advice, and have used this myself and to pass on information to others. Not once have I heard of anybody getting anything out of this other than a thanks. People will help with finding fares and checking availability using ITA and often aa.com, but the advice is always to book with the airline, so in most cases BA by phone as their website does not handle complex bookings, or aa.com as this is usful for TP runs.

Mar 16, 2015, 2:13 pm

#1518

Calchas

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Mar 2013

Location: London

Posts: 17,007

Quote:

Originally Posted by benjaminfry

I'm not sure if this is against forum rules but are there people who can give advice and make bookings for TP runs on a commercial basis?

The advice given here is free. We all benefit from the exchange of information. e.g., blindy was asking for advice a few days ago and now he has come back with a useful run and how to book it ^.

Obviously if someone wants to retain me on a permanent basis to provide TP run advice I am open to the idea

In terms of making bookings, if you or anyone can recommend a quality travel agent it would be great to know. Even if there was a fee attached. Most of our runs here are bookable by telephone to BA or buyable on the carrier's website.

Mar 16, 2015, 2:23 pm

#1519

Calchas

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Mar 2013

Location: London

Posts: 17,007

btw, if you have a job you think would suit the sort of quirky individual we entertain here, you can post it here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/commu...yertalker.html

Mar 16, 2015, 3:40 pm

#1520

hyperspace

Join Date: Mar 2015

Location: LAX/MXP

Programs: BAEC

Posts: 564

Hi everyone, as a fairly newby FTer I am just learning about TP runs.
I live in US but travel at least once roundtrip to europe via BA. This year I will be able to travel a second time in F. This will push me to Silver for the first time, I've never been anything but blue.
Reading around it seems like AA has great value for TP runs.
I started getting familiar with the Matrix tool and google flights, but I never seem to get even close to the very tempting rates that some FTer are posting, such as less than $1 per TP.
I will hit 600 TP in may and before October I am considering doing a TP run to get to Gold.
The best I could figure out is a LAX-MIA-SEA-PHL-LAS-LAX over a weekend. All First Class with AA but SEA-PHL-LAS as First Class with US airways. . Total comes up to $2115, or $2.35 per TP (total 900TP), all booked as multi-city trip via aa.com.
Any suggestions? any tips?is this just plain crazy?

Mar 16, 2015, 4:14 pm

#1521

madfish

Join Date: Sep 2014

Location: Cumbria

Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold

Posts: 4,510

Quote:

Originally Posted by hyperspace

Hi everyone, as a fairly newby FTer I am just learning about TP runs.

The best I could figure out is a LAX-MIA-SEA-PHL-LAS-LAX over a weekend. All First Class with AA but SEA-PHL-LAS as First Class with US airways. . Total comes up to $2115, or $2.35 per TP (total 900TP), all booked as multi-city trip via aa.com.
Any suggestions? any tips?is this just plain crazy?

Have you had a look in the wiki post at the top of the thread. I assume you have. Only problem is that these fares may be out of date, but won't know unless you look. Only other thing to bear in mind, prices are likely to be quoted in sterling (£) on here rather than dollars which may impact the prices that you are seeing - although only to some extent.

Edit. Also worth posting dates that interest you as this may give others some ideas of what may be available.

Mar 16, 2015, 4:45 pm

#1522

hyperspace

Join Date: Mar 2015

Location: LAX/MXP

Programs: BAEC

Posts: 564

Quote:

Originally Posted by madfish

Last edited by hyperspace; Mar 16, 2015 at 5:15 pm

Mar 16, 2015, 5:28 pm

#1523

ExpatSomchai

Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: LHR

Programs: Accor PLT,Thai Silver, HH Dia, SPG Titanium (LT Gold), Aegean Gold, BA Silver

Posts: 5,120

Ex CAI sale on QR until 20th with travel until 10th July

Example CAI-BKK £535 First/Business

http://www.qatarairways.com/eg/en/of...CID=EMEG496100

Mar 16, 2015, 10:21 pm

#1524

perthflyer

Join Date: Jul 2008

Location: Glasgow

Programs: BA Gold, QF NB

Posts: 675

I gladly booked an August ARN-DOH-HKG-DOH-ARN with QR (CX prime DOH-HKG-DOH) for £1323. 560TPs and an overall gain of ~1000 Avios (after factoring in a RFS to ARN). Also saved me the 90k Avios + GUF that I was going to use when I was considering a redemption exGLA on BA. Departing HKG on CX metal means I can check in with my parents at the same time and then lounge hop with them for a few hours before their flight to PER which departs a few hours before my flight. Also a bonus of trying QR (787) and CX J as opposed to the familiar CW.

My folks rave about the Wing Flounge, but I'm personally looking forwards to the QF lounge and the newly revamped Pier Flounge which should be open by the time I'm there. ^

Mar 17, 2015, 1:10 am

#1525

Hoch

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: East Anglia, England

Programs: BA Gold

Posts: 2,056

Quote:

Originally Posted by hyperspace

Unfortunately, the examples provided may not longer be valid/available at the quoted price, as you discovered.

Keeping the Wiki updated has been discussed but it is not such an easy task. It may be that it provides guidance rather than actual routing prices.

H

Mar 17, 2015, 1:34 am

#1526

madfish

Join Date: Sep 2014

Location: Cumbria

Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold

Posts: 4,510

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoch

Although I agree with what you say about not being valid/up-to-date, a quick check of the original route quoted (HNL/LAX/MIA/SAP) is showing on ITA for various dates (I used 1/5/15 as a starting point) for £757 in P/P/I/I/P/P although there is a minimum stay attached to this fare attached to this. Not drastically different in price, but what is unknown is the conditions under which the entry in the wiki was booked under.

I have not checked hyperspace's routing as suspect this would need to be done as a multi-city rather than an easier to find and price on various dates return.

Mar 17, 2015, 2:10 am

#1527

EuropeanPete

Join Date: Feb 2008

Location: In the air

Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite

Posts: 8,720

Hmm, it's looking like I might have to wait a month or two before getting my Gold mojo back. I'm going to keep my eyes peeled on this thread.

Mar 17, 2015, 4:37 am

#1528

blindy

Join Date: Dec 2011

Location: Reading, UK

Programs: BA Gold,, Hilton HHonors Gold

Posts: 399

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExpatSomchai

Ex CAI sale on QR until 20th with travel until 10th July

Example CAI-BKK £535 First/Business

http://www.qatarairways.com/eg/en/of...CID=EMEG496100

I thought I missed a trick when I booked AMS-DOH-BKK-DOH-LHR-AMS just hours before this post. But then realised that CAI-DOH in business earns only 40 TPs instead of 140TPs from any other destination. Also I am not sure how difficult it is to get from UK to CAI.