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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below!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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Feb 6, 2015, 3:11 pm

#796

Jamier45

Join Date: Apr 2014

Location: Taif, KSA

Programs: BA GGL, HH Diamond

Posts: 1,909

If we do ALC it should be for several days then we can go to my villa

Feb 6, 2015, 3:30 pm

#797

whole9yards

Join Date: Apr 2009

Location: Bath, UK

Programs: BAEC Silver, CX Gold

Posts: 182

Gutted that I missed the QR flash sale!!

Feb 7, 2015, 1:24 am

#798

Hannibal Lecter

Join Date: Oct 2009

Posts: 5,041

AY: DEL from Germany £742 I0PFDE02 Book by 28FEB 15

BA: ARN/GOT-LHR-HKG/SIN/KUL-BKK £1,132 INCEURS Book by 16FEB 15
2 FREE STOPOVERS PERMITTED IN EACH DIRECTION

Feb 7, 2015, 5:12 am

#799

littlevoices

Join Date: Jul 2008

Location: HKG

Programs: Marriott Ambassador (Titanium Lifetime), BA Gold, Ex-Hertz 5* PC, Ex-HH Diamond, Ex-BD*G

Posts: 3,062

I'm looking for a mixture of TP run and holiday and like the idea of Japan (plus 7 day rail pass) over Easter (need 400 TPs to get my wife and I to gold before the impending executive club changes).

The best pricing from across Europe (approx £1372) I've been able to find is a:XTSEU21 PRG to TYO / XTSEU TYO to BUD
Going direct would, I think earn 360TPs, so even with positioning flight (presuming economy) I'd be a bit short.

However I can see that I could add an Air France flight (via CDG) and then connect into a domestic JAL flight (to ITM for example) for about the same price, but theoretically earning those extra few TPs (if only AF was in oneworld)...

Is anyone able to confirm the following:
If booking a JL codeshare on Air France am I right I still do NOT earn TPs/Avios, for example:
Japan Airlines 5316 Business (X) OPERATED BY AIR FRANCE
What is the earning rate for a domestic JL flight (e.g. HND-ITM) - on ba.com it says 0 avios but 40TPs?

Or can anyone suggest an alternative mechanism to get to Japan on oneworld earning over 400TPs, or for a better price (maybe waiting for the next AY sale)?

Thanks for any views!

Last edited by littlevoices; Feb 7, 2015 at 5:23 am Reason: I think you don't earn TPs for non oneworld codeshares when not BA

Feb 7, 2015, 5:30 am

#800

dmp1991

Join Date: Feb 2015

Programs: BA Gold, IHG

Posts: 88

Quote:

Originally Posted by SadKingBilly

Not as good a deal as the sale, but you can still take advantage of ILR28AP fare during low-fare periods (March 27 - April 12th and July/August)

Am I doing something wrong with the BA's flight checker, or do the SNN flights really not earn TP for some reason? If the 2,000+ segments all earned 140 TPs as I expected, this would be 980TP, right?

Not sure how to post my own images on here yet. My own searches came up with DUB-LHR-LAX-HNL-LAX-YYZ-LHR-DUB for 780 TP at £1,392.19, but I didn't actually check it for availability since I first want to try to expand the route out to have more connections -- I view it as a missed opportunity on the long haul between LHR and LAX. But I can't seem to get ITA Matrix to insert a connection through JFK & PHX, it just tells me no flights found. I must be doing something wrong!

Feb 7, 2015, 6:01 am

#801

madfish

Join Date: Sep 2014

Location: Cumbria

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

Posts: 4,510

The LCY/JFK flights perform a technical stop at SNN. It is classed as one flight and at present awards 210TP. (Bookings after 28/4 will see only 140TP) This may well explain why you cannot see TP for this as a separate flight. Assuming this is what you were referring to.

DUB-LHR-LAX-HNL-LAX-YYZ-LHR-DUB should be
40+140+210+210+140+140+40 = 920TP assuming this is all booked in J with LAX/HNL booked with AA codes rather than BA as this gives 210TP rather than 140Tp if on BA codes. Is LAX/YYZ in J or f?

If you routed via JFK on the outbound you could add another 140TP to that by using the AA Trancon from JFK/LAX.

Feb 7, 2015, 6:04 am

#802

dutch_122

Join Date: Oct 2005

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

Programs: BA & QR

Posts: 1,014

LAX-YYZ is booked in I.

Quote:

Originally Posted by madfish

Feb 7, 2015, 6:57 am

#803

Calchas

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Mar 2013

Location: London

Posts: 17,007

Quote:

Originally Posted by madfish

Is LAX/YYZ in J or f?

AA/US international flights are Y and J only (unless there is also a three-class F cabin).

Feb 7, 2015, 7:52 am

#804

madfish

Join Date: Sep 2014

Location: Cumbria

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

Posts: 4,510

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calchas

AA/US international flights are Y and J only (unless there is also a three-class F cabin).

I was thinking along the lines of the domestic flights which give 210TP where there is only two class. Didn't know if it was the same for international flights.

I can put this down as the new thing I have learnt today from FT. Always plenty of those!

Feb 7, 2015, 3:51 pm

#805

chris1979

Join Date: Apr 2005

Location: London

Programs: BA Lifetime Gold & GGL & CCR, HH Diam, Bonvoy Titanium, IHG Spire, Tastecard

Posts: 7,549

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hannibal Lecter

AY: DEL from Germany £742 I0PFDE02 Book by 28FEB 15

BA: ARN/GOT-LHR-HKG/SIN/KUL-BKK £1,132 INCEURS Book by 16FEB 15
2 FREE STOPOVERS PERMITTED IN EACH DIRECTION

I can't get the Germany - DEL to price. what are the travel dates? min night requirements?

have tried 7 nights (and less) in a few different months on matrix.

Feb 7, 2015, 4:01 pm

#806

madfish

Join Date: Sep 2014

Location: Cumbria

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

Posts: 4,510

Quote:

Originally Posted by madfish

Due to AA making various changes to my flights I have changed my daytime return from JFK on 31/3 to BA02 the same evening, so won't be arriving until 1/4 into LCY. However, this was not before I had paid out for a saver rate room at Premier Inn T5, and this is now going to be empty.

Does anybody know if there is a problem giving this room to somebody else? If not I am willing to offer it up to any FT member who can make use of the room. There are a few on TP runs at this time so if you can make use of it just let me know.

UPDATE. I phoned Premier Inn to see if they could do anything for me, given that the issue was due to a flight cancellation and this is an airport hotel. The agent advised me to email in which I did. Not knowing if I sent the email to the correct address, I also submitted the information online. Received a negative response a couple of days later. I further responded as unhappy that the agent who I spoke to could have given the standard response, i.e. Nothing they could/would do rather than asking me to email in and therefore wasting my time.

I then received a phone message so tried calling back but the agent who I had to speak to then did not return my call. A couple of days later I received an email saying that she was simply requesting further information but that her colleague had dealt with the issue and the matter had been closed. Clearly rules did not seem to be being followed as one agent could make a decision based on the situation and another needed more information! Another email sent to which they responded by cancelling and refunding the room booking cost!

Happy with this, but would have simply accepted being told an outright no when I originally called.

So, the upshot is that the room is now cancelled and I have the money back - or should have it back - which I have duly spent on another PI booking at LGW for July.

Feb 7, 2015, 4:11 pm

#807

madfish

Join Date: Sep 2014

Location: Cumbria

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

Posts: 4,510

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris1979

I can't get the Germany - DEL to price. what are the travel dates? min night requirements?

have tried 7 nights (and less) in a few different months on matrix.

Found some from DUS departing in April for this price, but was based on 7 nights. Tuesday departures on AY via HEL. Return via HEL to MUC.

Edit. Also available on Tuesdays only throught May. All other days jump to £1k.

Feb 7, 2015, 4:19 pm

#808

tim0409

Join Date: Oct 2014

Location: Edinburgh

Posts: 246

Quote:

Originally Posted by SadKingBilly

Not as good a deal as the sale, but you can still take advantage of ILR28AP fare during low-fare periods (March 27 - April 12th and July/August), for example:

I am heading to MIA via DUB-LCY in July but would like to do a pure TP run in August - aim is 900+ TP so HNL ret via LAX/JFK. How do I go about searching for this using the fare code you mention?

Thanks

Feb 7, 2015, 4:26 pm

#809

SadKingBilly

Join Date: Sep 2014

Posts: 333

Quote:

Originally Posted by tim0409

Try the following on matrix:

From: DUB :: LCY JFK LAX /alliance oneworld;nochange
To: HNL :: LAX JFK LCY /alliance oneworld;nochange

Use low fare calendar for August and "Business class or higher".

Note that to get 210 TPs on LCY-JFK segments you need to book before April 28th, after that it's 140. Also, going JFK-LAX-HNL is suboptimal as JFK-LAX is three-class service, so you'll get booked into and get TPs for business class, i.e. 140 instead of 210 for a first class segment on a two-class flight, like JFK-PHX.

Feb 7, 2015, 4:28 pm

#810

madfish

Join Date: Sep 2014

Location: Cumbria

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

Posts: 4,510

Not sure if this is the best way, but I would start by using ita matrix.

Departing from DUB :: LCY JFK PHX / alliance oneworld
Destination HNL :: PHX JFK LCY

Select calendar view and you date range, for example 1-4.

Uncheck 'airport changes' and then see what it gives you. If you get a price on there you can then book it via AA.com or call BA.