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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below!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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Jul 9, 2015, 1:05 pm

#3226

Calchas

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Mar 2013

Location: London

Posts: 17,007

Quote:

Originally Posted by henkybaby

Hence my plea to the wise and weirdly knowledgeable people who do TP runs....

I would say, you don't need it until February/March, there's nothing outstanding on sale right now, so perhaps sit tight, keep an eye on this thread, and see what comes along.

Jul 9, 2015, 1:10 pm

#3227

henkybaby

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Nov 2007

Location: The Hague, NL

Programs: GMLFL, Life 2.0 - Mucci Premiere Classe & des Chevaliers Toulousiens

Posts: 22,911

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calchas

I would say, you don't need it until February/March, there's nothing outstanding on sale right now, so perhaps sit tight, keep an eye on this thread, and see what comes along.

It's what I do. Sometimes I feel if you need/want that many TPs, you are better of flying to the US and do a TP run from there. That is generally the kind of wisdom I am looking for, if that makes sense.

Jul 9, 2015, 2:16 pm

#3228

BA038_Passenger

Join Date: Feb 2009

Location: Berkshire

Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR/LTG

Posts: 684

I'm currently in LA, and have a free weekend, so was thinking of a quick TP run. I looked at the AA website, and found that I could fly to HNL in F for approx $1400 for 420tp.

Anyone know of any better options? I can go out on Friday night or Saturday morning, and need to be back here on Sunday night.

Thanks in advance.

Jul 9, 2015, 2:59 pm

#3229

timezonehopper

Join Date: Aug 2009

Location: SZD

Programs: BAEC Gold

Posts: 674

Quote:

Originally Posted by BA038_Passenger

A quick look on ITA Matrix brings up LAX-CLT-MIA return in F for $1127 netting 540 TPs.

Jul 9, 2015, 2:59 pm

#3230

madfish

Join Date: Sep 2014

Location: Cumbria

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

Posts: 4,510

How about looking to heading towards the east coast, e.g. MIA. A quick check gives options for around $1200 and you can always do this with a connection so picking up 210+60 x2.

Jul 9, 2015, 3:06 pm

#3231

timezonehopper

Join Date: Aug 2009

Location: SZD

Programs: BAEC Gold

Posts: 674

Quote:

Originally Posted by BA038_Passenger

Alternatively, I've just found a rather nice LAX-MIA-PTY return (MIA-PTY in Business) with the LAX-MIA on a 321T. 500 TPs for $941!

Jul 9, 2015, 3:38 pm

#3232

ESFLYER95

Join Date: Sep 2012

Location: Hong Kong

Programs: BA Gold, DL PM, , Hilton Diamond (from being in a bed), SPG Plat, MR Plat

Posts: 922

Quote:

Originally Posted by timezonehopper

Alternatively, I've just found a rather nice LAX-MIA-PTY return (MIA-PTY in Business) with the LAX-MIA on a 321T. 500 TPs for $941!

You might already know this but be careful that 321T isn't the fancy three class plane used on the transcon. Just regular first class with new interior. That is a good fare though.

Jul 9, 2015, 6:48 pm

#3233

clearedforlanding

Join Date: Jan 2011

Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist

Posts: 395

There are some rather ridiculous but incredibly tier point efficient routings to PTY available at the moment. Especially for anyone who has HNL trips planned already:

I make it 1,280 TP for £753 = 0.58/TP

Of course if you're actually going to try and book it you might want to space the flights out a little bit more... if not because you couldn't deal with the itinerary then because it's doomed to end up going wrong at some point.

Jul 9, 2015, 11:31 pm

#3234

Irubi

Join Date: Jul 2010

Programs: DL DM

Posts: 765

Back from my TP run which was a fun few days - will post some thoughts about my trip in a separate thread. In the meantime though, a couple of the flights were missed in TP's and am clearing it up with BA.

I just wanted to check here - how many TP's should I have received for DUB-HEL in I class on Finnair? (I thought 80 and received 80 for the HEL-LHR the following morning on BA)?
I initially received none and have now received 40TP.
Booking was made post April 28 if that makes any difference here.

Many thanks,

Irubi

Jul 9, 2015, 11:38 pm

#3235

dutch_122

Join Date: Oct 2005

Location: @somewhere, if help needed use my email address [email protected]

Programs: BA & QR

Posts: 1,014

DUB-HEL 40TP is correct

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irubi

Jul 9, 2015, 11:41 pm

#3236

Lappe

Join Date: Jun 2013

Location: Helsinki, Finland

Programs: AMEX Plat / AY Plat, BA GGL-CCR / Bonvoy Titanium (LTP)

Posts: 474

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irubi

I just wanted to check here - how many TP's should I have received for DUB-HEL in I class on Finnair? (I thought 80 and received 80 for the HEL-LHR the following morning on BA)?
I initially received none and have now received 40TP.
Booking was made post April 28 if that makes any difference here.

DUB-HEL is 40TP, so unfortunately you received the correct amount.

Jul 10, 2015, 12:05 am

#3237

Irubi

Join Date: Jul 2010

Programs: DL DM

Posts: 765

Thanks guys for the swift replies!

Now, just to sort out the LAX-MIA with the wrong TP's and then am done

Jul 10, 2015, 1:32 am

#3238

jp_fin

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: Vantaa, Finland

Programs: BAEC GGL, Lounge Key, Accor basic, AY basic, HHonors Diamond

Posts: 163

Quote:

Originally Posted by nufnuf77

ex-ARN to BKK via DOH and HKG for about £900 in I on CX. Nets 640TPs and with positioning to ARN (2*40TPs would push you above 700 needed).

I6MPROSE expired last weekend, is there new sale?

Jul 10, 2015, 2:16 am

#3239

zat_dude

Join Date: Dec 2011

Location: DWC

Programs: OWS, *A G

Posts: 626

Arguably good value in the QR weekend sale ex OSL to BKK: 13k NOK (cca GBP 1,050).

Jul 10, 2015, 2:49 am

#3240

KARFA

Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2012

Location: Leeds, UK

Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond

Posts: 42,997

Quote:

Originally Posted by jp_fin

I6MPROSE expired last weekend, is there new sale?

Yes the CX deal was very good, but it finished on 5 July I think.

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterdudas

Arguably good value in the QR weekend sale ex OSL to BKK: 13k NOK (cca GBP 1,050).

New QR sale (who would have predicted that

), from OSL to BKK - IJNOP2NE

Quote:

TRAVEL FROM LAST STOPOVER MUST COMMENCE NO EARLIER THAN 5 DAYS AFTER DEPARTURE FROM FARE ORIGIN.

Quote:

TRAVEL FROM LAST STOPOVER MUST COMMENCE NO LATER THAN 1
MONTH AFTER DEPARTURE FROM FARE ORIGIN.

Quote:

OUTBOUND -
TRAVEL IS NOT PERMITTED 10DEC THROUGH 25DEC FOR
DEPARTURE FROM FARE ORIGIN.
INBOUND -
TRAVEL IS NOT PERMITTED 01JAN THROUGH 10JAN FOR
DEPARTURE OF FIRST INTERNATIONAL SECTOR.

Quote:

VALID FOR TRAVEL COMMENCING ON/AFTER 17AUG 15 AND ON/
BEFORE 31MAR 16.

Quote:

TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON/AFTER 10JUL 15 AND ON/BEFORE
12JUL 15.

EDIT: QR sale also running from ARN to BKK as well, fare rules shown above seem to be the same, price £1063.