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Old Jan 2, 2017, 6:09 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below!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
  • 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.

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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


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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.

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Historic information
2016 Archive
2015 Archive (6 months Jul to Dec)
2015 Archive (6 months Jan to Jun)
2014 Archive

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BA Tier Point Runs | 2017 master thread

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Old Jul 20, 2017, 2:09 pm
  #2641  
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL (for now) and Lifetime Gold, Marriott fan thanks to Bonvoy Moments
Posts: 5,115
Originally Posted by callahan44
Hello TP Gurus - I would like to put together a first class journey (A) & (F) only - consisting of 210+210+210+210 TP's - ex London (Travel from 11/9) and forward anytime in Sept for 4-8 nights. Besides LHR via JFK to SFO or LAX, does anybody know of any other 4 leg trips I could look at to suit? Much appreciated!
QR F to Asia? Pretty difficult to get TP-run price per TP I think, unless you're willing to leave from elsewhere
lorcancoyle is offline  
Old Jul 20, 2017, 2:11 pm
  #2642  
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 40
Thanks Lorcancoyle - so as long as I go LHR-DOH - (somewhere else >2,000 miles) in F it will be 210 each leg will it? I am figuring on £3-£5k so if it's within that range job done.
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Old Jul 20, 2017, 3:20 pm
  #2643  
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,201
CDG also has QR F and tends to be cheaper.

There aren't that many F routes on the A380 with QR, in fact: Europe only has LHR and CDG; Asia and Australia have BKK, MEL, SYD, and CAN (Guangzhou). QR's other long-haul planes tend not to have F (not sure if any 777s still have it...)

Predictably, CDG-BKK is the cheapest at £3k. If time is at a premium then this route might make sense, but I can't see it being twice as good as QR's J product.

As for going west... if all legs need to be in F, not many... maybe some AA routes to South America; LHR-MIA-LAX would work if you get the one flight per day on a three-class product (and even then, anecdotally it doesn't always post properly), plus LHR-SEA-Alaska is an option, operated by Alaska on a code share.

LHR-SIN-SYD works, too (as long as you change planes) - as does LHR-DXB-[Australia] on a QF flight number (could even be operated by Emirates). In fact, that should also work to BKK. QR ex-CDG is cheaper to BKK, but QF (with at least partially Emirates metal) is £3,600 ex-LHR.

Last edited by Cymro; Jul 20, 2017 at 3:27 pm
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Old Jul 20, 2017, 3:43 pm
  #2644  
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 40
Cymro - thank you great detail there! I will def look at those new options! Any other suggestions from others appreciated - if there are in fact many other options - seems like maybe not!?
callahan44 is offline  
Old Jul 20, 2017, 4:27 pm
  #2645  
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BHX
Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,330
Originally Posted by callahan44
Cymro - thank you great detail there! I will def look at those new options! Any other suggestions from others appreciated - if there are in fact many other options - seems like maybe not!?
Aside from doing a OSL-LHR-SIN-SYD return using a GUF1 via a TA (assuming you have a GUF1), QR is basically your only option heading East.
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Old Jul 20, 2017, 7:27 pm
  #2646  
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 1,178
You can try Brazil on your dates. Here's one going to GRU for just a tad over 3k. Fare basis ANN2NMN1. Although, check cabins twice as some itineraries book into biz.
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Old Jul 21, 2017, 2:46 am
  #2647  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Great Britain
Programs: Air: QR Silver. BA Silver Emirates, Hotels: CC Gold, IHG Spire AMB, Hilton Diamond.
Posts: 1,488
Originally Posted by Cymro
but I can't see it being twice as good as QR's J product..
Yeah, it's not. It's very nice of course but with such a good J class it just doesn't go far enough to differentiate itself. Suites like Etihads (not flown them) would make it a worthwhile jump in product between cabins.
Sisyphus1carus is offline  
Old Jul 21, 2017, 2:55 am
  #2648  
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 40
Thanks Wozza2404 and zoqfotpik - GRU - interesting one I had not considered! Sisyphus1carus - noted re F vs J! If that's all the options for a 4 leg trip = 840TPs, then I now know where to focus. Thanks again
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Old Jul 21, 2017, 2:57 am
  #2649  
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: In the sticks
Programs: VS FC Gold, BA EC Gold, Amex Centurion, EK Gold, ex-G-ATVK driver
Posts: 1,832
Originally Posted by Cymro
CDG also has QR F and tends to be cheaper.

There aren't that many F routes on the A380 with QR, in fact: Europe only has LHR and CDG; Asia and Australia have BKK, MEL, SYD, and CAN (Guangzhou). QR's other long-haul planes tend not to have F (not sure if any 777s still have it...)

Predictably, CDG-BKK is the cheapest at £3k. If time is at a premium then this route might make sense, but I can't see it being twice as good as QR's J product.

As for going west... if all legs need to be in F, not many... maybe some AA routes to South America; LHR-MIA-LAX would work if you get the one flight per day on a three-class product (and even then, anecdotally it doesn't always post properly), plus LHR-SEA-Alaska is an option, operated by Alaska on a code share.

LHR-SIN-SYD works, too (as long as you change planes) - as does LHR-DXB-[Australia] on a QF flight number (could even be operated by Emirates). In fact, that should also work to BKK. QR ex-CDG is cheaper to BKK, but QF (with at least partially Emirates metal) is £3,600 ex-LHR.
I've done the QR CDG-DOH-BKK a number of times now because it's significantly cheaper than LHR-DOH-BKK. However more recently, I've moved to using QF/(EK on QF code share) LHR-DXB-BKK as that is more convenient.

The problem I found with the CDG route (other than having to get there of course) is that there's only one QR F flight each day, and that often doesn't tie in well with connecting F routes to/from DOH. The Al Safwa lounge is very nice though, and worth a visit, it's one of my favourite lounges, but note that the sleeping rooms, while perfectly reasonable, are no different to a Travelodge without drinking water.

The options with QF/EK ex-LON are far wider with much better connections, and, in the case of IRROPS, there are far more solutions immediately available to you.
Howard Long is offline  
Old Jul 21, 2017, 3:18 am
  #2650  
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
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Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,330
Originally Posted by Howard Long
but note that the sleeping rooms, while perfectly reasonable, are no different to a Travelodge without drinking water.
I like that it's done this way. Those rooms are there for you to sleep, and they deliberately don't put anything in there to encourage you to stay in there unless you're sleeping.
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Old Jul 21, 2017, 3:34 am
  #2651  
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,201
Originally Posted by Howard Long
I've done the QR CDG-DOH-BKK a number of times now because it's significantly cheaper than LHR-DOH-BKK. However more recently, I've moved to using QF/(EK on QF code share) LHR-DXB-BKK as that is more convenient.
I can absolutely see the appeal of EK F vs. EK J, and I guess it depends on price to an extent (particularly as QR J can run EK F close out of London), but why do you choose QR F over QR J?

AA and QR, in particular, seem to suffer from having an excellent 1-2-1 J product and an F product that's just not that different - which is great for the likes of me but less so for those who regularly get to be in F.
Cymro is offline  
Old Jul 21, 2017, 6:27 am
  #2652  
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 40
Thank you Howard - to clarify - when buying F on QF - LHR-DXB-BKK for example - how does one ensure you get 2 x 210TP x 2? It was mentioned to change planes - does that mean that one cannot fly the A380 all the way through because it will still be the same plane despite the stop in DXB?

Also, if you buy this flight on QF website - it is available as a mix of QF and EK metal - all with QF flight numbers which is fine - but it's £5K+, while on the EK website the same flight(s) are £3,600 HOWEVER, one cannot then get ticketed with QF flight numbers and therefore be unable to credit my BAEC with the said TP's - is there a way of buying for £3,600 but still getting the QF flights numbers and TP's?
callahan44 is offline  
Old Jul 21, 2017, 6:42 am
  #2653  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,007
Originally Posted by callahan44
Thank you Howard - to clarify - when buying F on QF - LHR-DXB-BKK for example - how does one ensure you get 2 x 210TP x 2? It was mentioned to change planes
You need to change flights, specifically change the flight number. If you use the same flight number (whether the plane is the same or not) then it counts as one through-flight for Avios/TP and the stop will be ignored.

For instance, flying QF 1 SYD-DXB and then "connecting to" QF 1 DXB-LHR is considered to be a single unbroken direct flight, SYD-LHR (if they are on the same day).

Originally Posted by callahan44
Also, if you buy this flight on QF website - it is available as a mix of QF and EK metal - all with QF flight numbers which is fine - but it's £5K+, while on the EK website the same flight(s) are £3,600 HOWEVER, one cannot then get ticketed with QF flight numbers and therefore be unable to credit my BAEC with the said TP's - is there a way of buying for £3,600 but still getting the QF flights numbers and TP's?
Maybe yes, maybe no. What are your travel dates? You do need to have QF flight numbers, the price on the EK flight numbers is irrelevant. But if EK sells the ticket at that price it suggests that QF might do the same under other circumstances.
Calchas is offline  
Old Jul 21, 2017, 6:47 am
  #2654  
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 40
Thanks Calchas - flight number must change got it. And re getting QF flight numbers, I guess it means that it can only be bought on QF website in that case. So it's £5K+ or £3,600 for EK flight numbers - which would do me no good anyway! Dates: anytime from Sept 11 to end of Sept for 4-8 nights.
callahan44 is offline  
Old Jul 21, 2017, 6:55 am
  #2655  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,007
Originally Posted by callahan44
Thanks Calchas - flight number must change got it. And re getting QF flight numbers, I guess it means that it can only be bought on QF website in that case. So it's £5K+ or £3,600 for EK flight numbers - which would do me no good anyway! Dates: anytime from Sept 11 to end of Sept for 4-8 nights.
Matrix suggests there is wide open availability for LHR-QF-DXB-QF-BKK over that period for around £3800.

I had a quick look on Expedia.com and it seemed easy to find many examples of these prices, with QF flight numbers.

I do not know why QF's own website is taking the higher fare. Probably an availability or point of sale issue.
Calchas is offline  


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