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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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below!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 Apr 12, 2017, 11:16 am
  #1396  
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,916
Originally Posted by catharsis
so should people not take this in preference to the 321 as opposed to when JFK is not available?

I'd certainly look favourably on DUB-PHL-PHX-HNL in A332/A332/A321 versus DUB-JFK-LAX-HNL on 757/A321/A321 - albeit that's a personal choice.

By the way - thanks for the tip ^

I will try to make use of it ASAP
Note PHX-HNL still uses the tatty old US 757s for their range so it could be a case of swings and roundabouts
ENTP is offline  
Old Apr 12, 2017, 11:22 am
  #1397  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Gold; Accor Le Club Gold
Posts: 122
Unexpected LHR-HKG opportunity

I have an unexpected work trip from LHR-HKG for a meeting on 25 April and I have to be in London on 26 April.

Company rules are mean - claim up to £1100. With fair notice I can usually get this into Premium Economy. But availability looks really limited so I wonder about making a tier point run and going Club World.

I can fly out on Friday Saturday or Sunday so looking for advice/comments about what to do.

Currently looking at Premium Economy out on Friday 21 April A380 and then CW back on the night of 25 April. Each way comes out at £1659. Sadly I can't make the Finnair options work as they don't seem to fly every day.

Any tips?
LondonTechTraveller is offline  
Old Apr 12, 2017, 11:31 am
  #1398  
 
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
Originally Posted by LondonTechTraveller
I have an unexpected work trip from LHR-HKG for a meeting on 25 April and I have to be in London on 26 April.

Company rules are mean - claim up to £1100. With fair notice I can usually get this into Premium Economy. But availability looks really limited so I wonder about making a tier point run and going Club World.

I can fly out on Friday Saturday or Sunday so looking for advice/comments about what to do.

Currently looking at Premium Economy out on Friday 21 April A380 and then CW back on the night of 25 April. Each way comes out at £1659. Sadly I can't make the Finnair options work as they don't seem to fly every day.

Any tips?
This was me looking for two minutes so may be better out there. This is the AMS-BKK fare that is talked about I think but with fairly quick turn in BKK and then stopover in HKG on way home for your meeting. Should be 440tps I think. Can also depart on the Saturday with this fare.
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ESFLYER95 is offline  
Old Apr 12, 2017, 11:50 am
  #1399  
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: IC Amb :-(, UA silver, BA Gold, SPG Plat, A-Club Plat, Marriott Plat
Posts: 913
Originally Posted by NA-Flyer
When AA will start the A332 service between these two cities?
5 Jul to 21 august as far as I can tell from ITA

Originally Posted by ENTP
Note PHX-HNL still uses the tatty old US 757s for their range so it could be a case of swings and roundabouts
are the 321s used from LAX to HNL that much better than the 757s used from PHX? I believe I've flown both and could not remember any appreciable difference - they were both basically 'domestic f' with 2-2 seating, no IFE and were both terrible :-)

Is my memory playing tricks and/or have they upgraded the birds out of LAX?
(were they previously flying 757s out of LAX also, which might explain my confusion?)
catharsis is offline  
Old Apr 12, 2017, 12:02 pm
  #1400  
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,201
Originally Posted by LondonTechTraveller
I have an unexpected work trip from LHR-HKG for a meeting on 25 April and I have to be in London on 26 April.

Company rules are mean - claim up to £1100. With fair notice I can usually get this into Premium Economy. But availability looks really limited so I wonder about making a tier point run and going Club World.

I can fly out on Friday Saturday or Sunday so looking for advice/comments about what to do.

Currently looking at Premium Economy out on Friday 21 April A380 and then CW back on the night of 25 April. Each way comes out at £1659. Sadly I can't make the Finnair options work as they don't seem to fly every day.

Any tips?
Not as TP friendly, but eminently pleasant:

BUD-LHR-HKG on BA/CX J for £2,092. £1,084 in premium economy but only with a day flight on CX on the return. Find a travel agent through Kayak.

Last edited by Cymro; Apr 12, 2017 at 12:08 pm
Cymro is offline  
Old Apr 12, 2017, 12:15 pm
  #1401  
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,916
Originally Posted by catharsis
are the 321s used from LAX to HNL that much better than the 757s used from PHX? I believe I've flown both and could not remember any appreciable difference - they were both basically 'domestic f' with 2-2 seating, no IFE and were both terrible :-)

Is my memory playing tricks and/or have they upgraded the birds out of LAX?
(were they previously flying 757s out of LAX also, which might explain my confusion?)
New seats, good seatback IFE, good legroom in the front row
That said I have a soft spot for the old birds
ENTP is offline  
Old Apr 12, 2017, 1:22 pm
  #1402  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Gold; Accor Le Club Gold
Posts: 122
Originally Posted by ESFLYER95
This was me looking for two minutes so may be better out there. This is the AMS-BKK fare that is talked about I think but with fairly quick turn in BKK and then stopover in HKG on way home for your meeting. Should be 440tps I think. Can also depart on the Saturday with this fare.
Amazing! Which website did you use to book that - and how do I set up all those flights?

I take it I need to buy a separate flight to and from AMS to start and finish things?
LondonTechTraveller is offline  
Old Apr 12, 2017, 1:24 pm
  #1403  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Gold; Accor Le Club Gold
Posts: 122
Originally Posted by Cymro
Not as TP friendly, but eminently pleasant:

BUD-LHR-HKG on BA/CX J for £2,092. £1,084 in premium economy but only with a day flight on CX on the return. Find a travel agent through Kayak.
Thanks! Again, as a TP Run novice, I take it I need to buy a return to Budapest to tie in with the first and last flights?
LondonTechTraveller is offline  
Old Apr 12, 2017, 2:03 pm
  #1404  
 
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
Originally Posted by LondonTechTraveller
Amazing! Which website did you use to book that - and how do I set up all those flights?

I take it I need to buy a separate flight to and from AMS to start and finish things?
That screenshot was taken from the ITA matrix, which you cannot book flights from. I tried pricing out on BA but it didn't like. Your best best is probably to phone BA and quote all the flights, flight numbers and selling classes and they should match the price seen on the ITA matrix.

Yes, you will need to get yourself to Amsterdam first. If you miss the first flight in the booking it all gets cancelled. Best bet may be to the night before or do a Back to Back.

A couple of threads to get you going on EX-EU's are:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...tinations.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...ing-guide.html
ESFLYER95 is offline  
Old Apr 12, 2017, 11:41 pm
  #1405  
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,201
Originally Posted by LondonTechTraveller
Thanks! Again, as a TP Run novice, I take it I need to buy a return to Budapest to tie in with the first and last flights?
Yes, certainly the first or the whole itinerary will be cancelled. I'm afraid I don't know whether a same-plane turnaround is possible, but if it is, the lowest risk option might be to take that flight. Nothing stopping you from flying the night before and enjoying a morning in BUD either of course. To be honest, a TP run would be routing something like BUD-LHR-CAI-DOH-KUL-HKG (ideally for a low price, though that particular routing probably isn't cheap) - this is just flying business class, enjoying a few extra TPs but a much better product.
Cymro is offline  
Old Apr 13, 2017, 12:00 am
  #1406  
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: SIN and Medway, UK (so... LCY/LGW/BRU)
Programs: A3 *G, BA OWS, VS Gold, IHG Diamond Amb, Bonvoy Plat
Posts: 749
Originally Posted by LondonTechTraveller
I have an unexpected work trip from LHR-HKG for a meeting on 25 April and I have to be in London on 26 April.

Company rules are mean - claim up to £1100. With fair notice I can usually get this into Premium Economy. But availability looks really limited so I wonder about making a tier point run and going Club World.

I can fly out on Friday Saturday or Sunday so looking for advice/comments about what to do.

Currently looking at Premium Economy out on Friday 21 April A380 and then CW back on the night of 25 April. Each way comes out at £1659. Sadly I can't make the Finnair options work as they don't seem to fly every day.

Any tips?
ARN-LHR-BKK/BKK-HKG/HKG-LHR-ARN prices at 1933 GBP, but I'm not sure how to get it to book.

You could swap the end ARN point for DUB, which should be better for you, for 2110 GBP with Finnair legs from ARN to BKK, and back from ARN to DUB.

Happy flighting!
MeltingAlf is offline  
Old Apr 13, 2017, 3:08 am
  #1407  
 
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 LondonTechTraveller
I have an unexpected work trip from LHR-HKG for a meeting on 25 April and I have to be in London on 26 April.

Company rules are mean - claim up to £1100. With fair notice I can usually get this into Premium Economy. But availability looks really limited so I wonder about making a tier point run and going Club World.

I can fly out on Friday Saturday or Sunday so looking for advice/comments about what to do.

Currently looking at Premium Economy out on Friday 21 April A380 and then CW back on the night of 25 April. Each way comes out at £1659. Sadly I can't make the Finnair options work as they don't seem to fly every day.

Any tips?
I'd be doing PSA-LHR-PEK-HKG//HKG-LHR//LGW-PSA for £2220 with BA/CX (CX leg is the PEK-HKG one).

The LHR//LGW change means you would be forgiven for accidentally missing your train to LGW and just staying in London on your return.
Wozza2404 is offline  
Old Apr 13, 2017, 3:28 am
  #1408  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Gold; Accor Le Club Gold
Posts: 122
Originally Posted by ESFLYER95
That screenshot was taken from the ITA matrix, which you cannot book flights from. I tried pricing out on BA but it didn't like. Your best best is probably to phone BA and quote all the flights, flight numbers and selling classes and they should match the price seen on the ITA matrix.
I spoke to BA and the agent put in all the flights but could only book J class so the trip came up at £7000+.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance!
LondonTechTraveller is offline  
Old Apr 13, 2017, 3:58 am
  #1409  
 
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 LondonTechTraveller
I spoke to BA and the agent put in all the flights but could only book J class so the trip came up at £7000+.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance!
Hang up and call again. Ask them to make sure their POS is set to AMS and tell them you need I fare availability (the AMS-LHR and LHR-AMS legs will book into J regardless).
Wozza2404 is offline  
Old Apr 13, 2017, 4:47 am
  #1410  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Gold; Accor Le Club Gold
Posts: 122
Originally Posted by Wozza2404
Hang up and call again. Ask them to make sure their POS is set to AMS and tell them you need I fare availability (the AMS-LHR and LHR-AMS legs will book into J regardless).
Will try. My latest thought is to manage this through Geneva as I may have a meeting there following my Hong Kong trip. Not so many TPs if I do a simple ex-EU but I can get the company to cover the separate Geneva flights that way and upgrade to CE from LCY which looks dirt cheap.

Thanks to all on the forum - learning lots here!
LondonTechTraveller is offline  


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