Last edit by: EsherFlyer
** AA Domestic First on two cabin will earn business TPs and avios for departures on or after 11 January 2017 - see reference posts for more details **
** Note that the practice of AA Domestic 3-class service flights booking into A for 210 TPs when I was no longer available ceased in September 2017. Discussion here. **
Welcome to the thread. This is a continuation of the highly popular 2016 Tier Point thread. We keep track of other prices, as well as useful reference information for those planning tier point runs.
Please read the first few posts in this thread first as it contains lots of information which may answer your question.
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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below!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
Sale Fares
Advanced Promotion Fares
See here in post # 8 for a 2017 archive of exEU sale fare, and see here in post # 445 for a 2016 archive of exEU sale fares.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This thread lists attractive tier point (TP) runs under £3 per TP grouped within different (departure) geographies
Please note that current availability is not guaranteed and all prices include taxes. Please use the following convention when adding tier point runs to this wiki post:
Date fare checked Price per Tier Point Total Price Total Tier Points Route Booking Classes Booking Channel Credit Notes (if applicable) Airlines
Please remember to:
Please see the links at the bottom of the wiki for archives of runs from previous years.
From Europe
24APR £0.90/TP £400 440 TLL-BA/AY-HEL-LON-GLA-KOI-ABZ ; TLL-BA/AY-HEL-LON-GLA-SDZ-ABZ (see post #1221)
02NOV £1.33/TP £583 440 LHR-HEL-TLL/TLL-HEL-LHR-NCL//NCL-LHR-HEL-TLL/TLL-HEL-LHR IIIIIIIIII Google Flights armouredant 2 nested tickets, both other a Saturday night. BA ticket, BA & AY metal, AY A350 possible LHR-HEL
08FEB £1.33/TP £346 260 JER-LGW-RAK-LGW-RAK I/I/I/I BA.com ramops
14AUG £1.65/TP £593 360 OSL-HEL-AGP-HEL-OSL I-I-I-I ITA Flythe96flag SH J cabin + possible red-eye (!) AY
26JUL £1.81/TP £72.70 40 MAD-FRA Z lan.com Prospero 787 flat bed LA
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
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)
24NOV £1.91/TP £765.00 400 BUD-DOH-SHJ I/A/I/A QR.com Wozza2404 A320 QR
11AUG £2.10/TP £420 200 AMS-LHR-GLA-LSI-ABZ-LSI-GLA-LHR-AMS I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I ITA Matrix --> Priceline.com MrMutton
13NOV £2.56/TP £410 160 LHR-HEL ? BA.com Lorcancoyle wide open as flight+hotel, can reduce with TCB cash back BA
From North, Central and South America
26Jan £1.50/TP £960 640 LGA-CMH-DCA-PHL-RDU-CLT-ATL-MIA-PTY and return I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I ITA Matrix--> BookWithMatrix dot com --> AA.com HPN-HRL other routings available; reverse routing is £40 more - see post 388 AA
10MAY £2.50/TP £203 80 ORF-CLT-ORD I/I AA.com
21MAY £2.08/TP £250 120 YYZ-PHL/LGA-CLT-ORF/PHF I/I/I AA.com
22NOV £1.43/TP £172 120 DCA-(LGA/BOS/PHL)-CLT-RDU (one way, reverse works as well) I/I/I ITA->BWM->priceline.com
From Middle East, Asia and Australasia
23Feb £0.99/TP £356 360 TPE-xKUL-PEN(JHB)-xKUL-TPE Z http://www.malaysiaairlines.com ermen two day min stay, promo fare MH
04JAN £1.10/TP £44 40 KUL-PEN D http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/uk/en.html fitch Works in both directions, rtn £80 if you can make the timnings work MH
11Nov £0.85/TP £307 360 TPE-KUL-SIN-KUL-TPE Z http://www.malaysiaairlines.com neofung
From Africa
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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. The guide to using ITA matrix in post #4 (see 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 fewer
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). Alternatively, booking a return to one of the 40 tier point destinations with one way in CE and the return in ET (or vice versa if cheaper). Bilbao, Jersey and Amsterdam seems the most cost effective for this.
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 VNO via HEL will get you 240 TPs, as will JER-LGW/LHR-HEL e.g. LHR-HEL-OSL for £520. Also the BA fare for LHR-HEL-TLL at ~£235 is still available and would get 200 TPs for a return.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Historic information
2016 Archive
2015 Archive (6 months Jul to Dec)
2015 Archive (6 months Jan to Jun)
2014 Archive
.
** Note that the practice of AA Domestic 3-class service flights booking into A for 210 TPs when I was no longer available ceased in September 2017. Discussion here. **
Welcome to the thread. This is a continuation of the highly popular 2016 Tier Point thread. We keep track of other prices, as well as useful reference information for those planning tier point runs.
Please read the first few posts in this thread first as it contains lots of information which may answer your question.
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
Sale Fares
- from AMS/RTM to US ILN4T7S6/INX6T7S6 reported in this post and this post, e.g. NYC - €1,461, ORD - €1,492, LAS - €1,460, needs to be booked by 25 September, see linked post for details
- from PRG to US ILN4T8S6 reported in this post, e.g. IAD - £1,033, MIA - £1,133, ATL - £1,080, needs to be booked by 21 September, see linked post for details
Advanced Promotion Fares
- from DUB to US ILN8C1S6 reported here, e.g. NYC - €1,472, MIA - €1,578, see linked post for details
- froM DUB to US ILN8S4C1 reported here, e.g. JFK - €1,427, MIA - €1,532, LAS - €1,667, LAX - €1,795, HNL - €2,095, this is an advanced purchase fare so no book by deadline, see linked post for details
- from OTP to PHX ILN8R4C1 reported here, e.g. PHX - £1,252, see linked post for details
- from AMS to BKK INCEU60 reported here, e.g. BKK - £1,216, see linked post for details
See here in post # 8 for a 2017 archive of exEU sale fare, and see here in post # 445 for a 2016 archive of exEU sale fares.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This thread lists attractive tier point (TP) runs under £3 per TP grouped within different (departure) geographies
Please note that current availability is not guaranteed and all prices include taxes. Please use the following convention when adding tier point runs to this wiki post:
Date fare checked Price per Tier Point Total Price Total Tier Points Route Booking Classes Booking Channel Credit Notes (if applicable) Airlines
Please remember to:
- 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.
Please see the links at the bottom of the wiki for archives of runs from previous years.
From Europe
24APR £0.90/TP £400 440 TLL-BA/AY-HEL-LON-GLA-KOI-ABZ ; TLL-BA/AY-HEL-LON-GLA-SDZ-ABZ (see post #1221)
02NOV £1.33/TP £583 440 LHR-HEL-TLL/TLL-HEL-LHR-NCL//NCL-LHR-HEL-TLL/TLL-HEL-LHR IIIIIIIIII Google Flights armouredant 2 nested tickets, both other a Saturday night. BA ticket, BA & AY metal, AY A350 possible LHR-HEL
08FEB £1.33/TP £346 260 JER-LGW-RAK-LGW-RAK I/I/I/I BA.com ramops
14AUG £1.65/TP £593 360 OSL-HEL-AGP-HEL-OSL I-I-I-I ITA Flythe96flag SH J cabin + possible red-eye (!) AY
26JUL £1.81/TP £72.70 40 MAD-FRA Z lan.com Prospero 787 flat bed LA
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
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)
24NOV £1.91/TP £765.00 400 BUD-DOH-SHJ I/A/I/A QR.com Wozza2404 A320 QR
11AUG £2.10/TP £420 200 AMS-LHR-GLA-LSI-ABZ-LSI-GLA-LHR-AMS I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I ITA Matrix --> Priceline.com MrMutton
13NOV £2.56/TP £410 160 LHR-HEL ? BA.com Lorcancoyle wide open as flight+hotel, can reduce with TCB cash back BA
From North, Central and South America
26Jan £1.50/TP £960 640 LGA-CMH-DCA-PHL-RDU-CLT-ATL-MIA-PTY and return I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I ITA Matrix--> BookWithMatrix dot com --> AA.com HPN-HRL other routings available; reverse routing is £40 more - see post 388 AA
10MAY £2.50/TP £203 80 ORF-CLT-ORD I/I AA.com
21MAY £2.08/TP £250 120 YYZ-PHL/LGA-CLT-ORF/PHF I/I/I AA.com
22NOV £1.43/TP £172 120 DCA-(LGA/BOS/PHL)-CLT-RDU (one way, reverse works as well) I/I/I ITA->BWM->priceline.com
From Middle East, Asia and Australasia
23Feb £0.99/TP £356 360 TPE-xKUL-PEN(JHB)-xKUL-TPE Z http://www.malaysiaairlines.com ermen two day min stay, promo fare MH
04JAN £1.10/TP £44 40 KUL-PEN D http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/uk/en.html fitch Works in both directions, rtn £80 if you can make the timnings work MH
11Nov £0.85/TP £307 360 TPE-KUL-SIN-KUL-TPE Z http://www.malaysiaairlines.com neofung
From Africa
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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. The guide to using ITA matrix in post #4 (see 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 fewer
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). Alternatively, booking a return to one of the 40 tier point destinations with one way in CE and the return in ET (or vice versa if cheaper). Bilbao, Jersey and Amsterdam seems the most cost effective for this.
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 VNO via HEL will get you 240 TPs, as will JER-LGW/LHR-HEL e.g. LHR-HEL-OSL for £520. Also the BA fare for LHR-HEL-TLL at ~£235 is still available and would get 200 TPs for a return.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Historic information
2016 Archive
2015 Archive (6 months Jul to Dec)
2015 Archive (6 months Jan to Jun)
2014 Archive
.
BA Tier Point Runs | 2017 master thread
#2132
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,990
It is a long distance European route, its just short of 1100 miles. There are other short haul + routes of very similar lengths.
#2135
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: London
Programs: Newbie BA Gold
Posts: 570
Has anyone done the OSL-HEL-AGP run? Am thinking of doing something like this by myself in summer (family away, yay!) as I need 380TP to get to gold so this works out very nicely.
I've got below planned out sandwiched by 0745-1055 LHR-OSL on the 4th and returning 1725-1850 OSL-LHR on the 7th. I'd like to maximise time in OSL and Malaga (done HEL already!) which I think this does reasonably well? The early flight to AGP is very attractive as anything on another day is a crazy midnight flight. Is two full days in Malaga too much or shall I just leave same day to save myself taking monday off? Any tips?
Oslo (OSL) to Helsinki (HEL) — Fri, Aug 4
Finnair 660
Dep: 5:40 pm
Arr: 8:00 pm
1h 20m
Airbus A319
Business (I)
Meal
Layover in HEL
10h 0m
Helsinki (HEL) to Malaga (AGP) — Sat, Aug 5
Finnair 733
Dep: 6:00 am
Arr: 9:45 am
4h 45m
Airbus A321 (Sharklets)
Business (I)
Meal
Malaga (AGP) to Helsinki (HEL) — Mon, Aug 7
Finnair 736
Dep: 1:05 am
Arr: 6:40 am
4h 35m
Airbus A321
Business (I)
Meal
Layover in HEL
0h 55m
Helsinki (HEL) to Oslo (OSL) — Mon, Aug 7
Finnair 651
Dep: 7:35 am
Arr: 8:05 am
1h 30m
Airbus A321
Business (I)
Meal
Mileage
5,112 total miles
Airport Information
Oslo Gardermoen (OSL)
Malaga (AGP)
Helsinki-Vantaa (HEL)
Cost per passenger (including taxes & fees)
£557.60
Total cost for 1 passenger
£557.60
I've got below planned out sandwiched by 0745-1055 LHR-OSL on the 4th and returning 1725-1850 OSL-LHR on the 7th. I'd like to maximise time in OSL and Malaga (done HEL already!) which I think this does reasonably well? The early flight to AGP is very attractive as anything on another day is a crazy midnight flight. Is two full days in Malaga too much or shall I just leave same day to save myself taking monday off? Any tips?
Oslo (OSL) to Helsinki (HEL) — Fri, Aug 4
Finnair 660
Dep: 5:40 pm
Arr: 8:00 pm
1h 20m
Airbus A319
Business (I)
Meal
Layover in HEL
10h 0m
Helsinki (HEL) to Malaga (AGP) — Sat, Aug 5
Finnair 733
Dep: 6:00 am
Arr: 9:45 am
4h 45m
Airbus A321 (Sharklets)
Business (I)
Meal
Malaga (AGP) to Helsinki (HEL) — Mon, Aug 7
Finnair 736
Dep: 1:05 am
Arr: 6:40 am
4h 35m
Airbus A321
Business (I)
Meal
Layover in HEL
0h 55m
Helsinki (HEL) to Oslo (OSL) — Mon, Aug 7
Finnair 651
Dep: 7:35 am
Arr: 8:05 am
1h 30m
Airbus A321
Business (I)
Meal
Mileage
5,112 total miles
Airport Information
Oslo Gardermoen (OSL)
Malaga (AGP)
Helsinki-Vantaa (HEL)
Cost per passenger (including taxes & fees)
£557.60
Total cost for 1 passenger
£557.60
#2136
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold (woohoo)
Posts: 189
Quick question - trying to simulate a Matrix ITA routing in the BA engine. Can "Book with matrix" the routing into AA.com but call me old fashioned....
Trying to secure LHR - BOS - LGA but BA keeps correcting LGA to JFK. Is it something I'm doing or is BA limited to locations it serves?
Trying to secure LHR - BOS - LGA but BA keeps correcting LGA to JFK. Is it something I'm doing or is BA limited to locations it serves?
#2137
Quick question - trying to simulate a Matrix ITA routing in the BA engine. Can "Book with matrix" the routing into AA.com but call me old fashioned....
Trying to secure LHR - BOS - LGA but BA keeps correcting LGA to JFK. Is it something I'm doing or is BA limited to locations it serves?
Trying to secure LHR - BOS - LGA but BA keeps correcting LGA to JFK. Is it something I'm doing or is BA limited to locations it serves?
#2138
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: Mucci, BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Stena Gold
Posts: 1,094
exDUB ILN8S4T1 Sale Fare
I am toying with doing a run to HNL next year.
The transatlantic sector could be on BA (probably a 747) or AA (probably a 777)
any thoughts as to which is preferable?
Thank you
I am toying with doing a run to HNL next year.
The transatlantic sector could be on BA (probably a 747) or AA (probably a 777)
any thoughts as to which is preferable?
Thank you
#2139
#2140
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
BA 747 UD CW from JFK on the way back (ideally 64K) - sleep the full way back from wheels up to 20 mins out - no service required (therefore no disappointment).
#2141
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,990
I am going to be the lone voice and say BA 747 over AA 77W (and yes I have tried the AA 77W) - there may be UuA opportunities to F too on BA which you won't get on AA. Also how about the babybus?
#2142
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: BA Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 57
I completed the OSL-HEL-AGP run last year. However I Opted for the B2B AGP midnight flight. The B2B was seamless, up the jet bridge into the boarding area. I had time to Change and quickly make a call home before boarding again, much to the amusement of the Finnair Cabin Crew.
I think you are taking the right approach splitting the trip. It's a long slog B2B in the A321 J and I had a horrible attempt at sleeping.
During taxing at AGP, I seriously questioned what I was doing, putting myself through this.
However the run went fine. All flights were on time and the service was decent. Food can be a little hit and miss imo.
It it was worth it in the end though.
I think you are taking the right approach splitting the trip. It's a long slog B2B in the A321 J and I had a horrible attempt at sleeping.
During taxing at AGP, I seriously questioned what I was doing, putting myself through this.
However the run went fine. All flights were on time and the service was decent. Food can be a little hit and miss imo.
It it was worth it in the end though.
#2143
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Gold, BA Silver, Hertz President's Club
Posts: 486
Nothing dramatically special from me as usual but here's a high-TP (relatively speaking) run to South-East Asia
DME-LHR/LGW-HKG-(CGK,DPS,SUB)-HKG-LHR-DME I/I/I/I/I/I
All legs are 2000+ miles meaning 840TP at £1,840-ish. £2.19/TP so it's not that good, nor convenient. Might interest a few of you nevertheless.
DME-LHR/LGW-HKG-(CGK,DPS,SUB)-HKG-LHR-DME I/I/I/I/I/I
All legs are 2000+ miles meaning 840TP at £1,840-ish. £2.19/TP so it's not that good, nor convenient. Might interest a few of you nevertheless.
#2144
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: London - SW4
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 320
Not sure as to whether Tallinn is 40 or 80 but just booked LHR-TLL/HEL-LHR IN CE for £228 12-19 September... not a great TP run as it's a week but cannot complain about the price for CE + 120/160 TPs.
#2145
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: near Heathrow
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL (OWE), SA LifePlat (*G), BD Gold to the end, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,915