Jan 2, 2017, 6:09 pm
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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below!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
Apr 7, 2017, 4:54 am
#1306
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 128
Ideas for GUF run?
This may not be the right forum to ask this question, so apologies in advance but...
I've got a GUF and I'd like to take my partner on a run in F (its her birthday soon). I'm looking for ideas and availability for a not too expensive business flight that could be upgraded. I'm really struggling to find something suitable (either too expensive base fare and/or lack of available reward seats). Any suggestions? DUB-BOS is the closest I've got. Doesn't have to be US, but obviously needs to be on BA metal to use the GUF.
I've got a GUF and I'd like to take my partner on a run in F (its her birthday soon). I'm looking for ideas and availability for a not too expensive business flight that could be upgraded. I'm really struggling to find something suitable (either too expensive base fare and/or lack of available reward seats). Any suggestions? DUB-BOS is the closest I've got. Doesn't have to be US, but obviously needs to be on BA metal to use the GUF.
Apr 7, 2017, 5:14 am
#1307
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 9
Can anyone find this at a better £££ ?
Found this TP run on google flights, but would rather keep closer to the £1k mark in and around the same dates or September.
https://goo.gl/flights/WiJH
Can anyone help?
https://goo.gl/flights/WiJH
Can anyone help?
Apr 7, 2017, 5:53 am
#1308
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
Found this TP run on google flights, but would rather keep closer to the £1k mark in and around the same dates or September.
https://goo.gl/flights/WiJH
Can anyone help?
https://goo.gl/flights/WiJH
Can anyone help?
Apr 7, 2017, 7:08 am
#1310
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: The North
Posts: 1,845
Thats very helpful, thanks very much for your advice. Having explored a bit on later dates, it looks like its possible, but adding in the night at HEL on the way back takes the total to circa £400 (plus the HEL hotel cost). Think I might just put up with the early start at TLL. In a previous trip is was about 25 mins from the hotel door to the lounge door...
In addition to the higher fare, is also much cheaper to spend the night in Tallinn than Helsinki.With respect to timing, I made the following notes – inspired by corporate-wage-slave's meticulous timekeeping – on my recent trip, when I left on a Monday morning:
Code:
04:59 Taxi pickup (Park Inn Central Tallinn) 05:05 TLL arrive 05:06 Back of security queue TLL (the longest I've seen it yet, to the back of the tensa barriers, so about 25 people!) 05:11 Front of security queue 05:15 Exit security 05:17 Lounge ... 06:03 Push back (Embraer 190, so jetway boarding) 06:05 Taxi to runway TLL 06:30 Wheels down HEL 06:35 Gate arrival HEL
Apr 7, 2017, 11:20 am
#1311
formerly southsidesilver
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: San Diego,CA
Programs: BA Gold, UA Silver, HH Diamond
Posts: 996
04:59 Taxi pickup (Park Inn Central Tallinn)
05:05 TLL arrive
05:06 Back of security queue TLL (the longest I've seen it yet, to the back of the tensa barriers, so about 25 people!)
05:11 Front of security queue
05:15 Exit security
05:17 Lounge
05:05 TLL arrive
05:06 Back of security queue TLL (the longest I've seen it yet, to the back of the tensa barriers, so about 25 people!)
05:11 Front of security queue
05:15 Exit security
05:17 Lounge
I have 4 TLL trips booked from now until November. All a nice mix of timings and aircraft, ATR 72, ERJ 190, A350, A319 and a B2B on BA
This gives me a bit more insight.
Apr 7, 2017, 11:23 am
#1312
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Scotland
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 169
Need 395 TP before 8th June to reach Gold, can leave from any Scottish airport and happy to have a 1 or 2 night stopover if needed.
Any suggestions/help welcome
Any suggestions/help welcome
Apr 7, 2017, 12:45 pm
#1313
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: The North
Posts: 1,845
4 trips is even more ambitious than my 3
do you plan to stay in TLL all the time for each trip?I also wonder which FTer holds the record for TLL trips (because of this fare, as opposed to existing travel patterns). Anybody out there doing 5+?
Apr 7, 2017, 12:49 pm
#1314
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AY+ Platinum, SK Gold, BAEC Silver, airbaltic VIP, Radisson VIP
Posts: 6,530
Apr 7, 2017, 1:01 pm
#1315
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: The North
Posts: 1,845
If that was the lane on the right, it appeared to be closed but I don't know for certain. In all honesty, I joined the regular queue before I noticed it, thanks to my sleep deprivation, but no-one seemed to use it except crew. One person (I assume a passenger) went through and entered into a discussion with the security guard who seemed to be trying to turn her back.
Apr 7, 2017, 1:49 pm
#1316
formerly southsidesilver
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: San Diego,CA
Programs: BA Gold, UA Silver, HH Diamond
Posts: 996
4 trips is even more ambitious than my 3 do you plan to stay in TLL all the time for each trip?
I also wonder which FTer holds the record for TLL trips (because of this fare, as opposed to existing travel patterns). Anybody out there doing 5+?
I also wonder which FTer holds the record for TLL trips (because of this fare, as opposed to existing travel patterns). Anybody out there doing 5+?
I booked two trips going via HEL when they fares first came out. So I could fly the A350 and trip report it.
Then the other was B2B trip I thought I would try using the BA non-stops flights on a Saturday.
Then last week a friend decided it would be his Stag do destination. They all booked the non-stop Ryanair flight from Luton, I went with the business class option via HEL again for just 70 GBP more than the Ryanair flight, Obviously I got a bunch of stick from the group for flying in business class.
Apr 7, 2017, 1:53 pm
#1317
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,957
Yes, and it would have been even quicker had it not been for the security queue. The other times of day I've been through - late morning and early afternoon - there hasn't been a queue at all. Actual screening, if you're prepared for it, is barely 3 minutes!
4 trips is even more ambitious than my 3 do you plan to stay in TLL all the time for each trip?
I also wonder which FTer holds the record for TLL trips (because of this fare, as opposed to existing travel patterns). Anybody out there doing 5+?
4 trips is even more ambitious than my 3
do you plan to stay in TLL all the time for each trip?I also wonder which FTer holds the record for TLL trips (because of this fare, as opposed to existing travel patterns). Anybody out there doing 5+?
Apr 7, 2017, 1:56 pm
#1318
formerly southsidesilver
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: San Diego,CA
Programs: BA Gold, UA Silver, HH Diamond
Posts: 996
7 booked, 2 taken so far. To be fair 1 of the 7 was booked to accompany a an FT lurker friend who wanted to do his first every TP run and I wouldn't have booked it otherwise. I am staying in Tallinn each time, and not in the airport overnight!
__________________
__________________
Apr 7, 2017, 1:59 pm
#1319
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,957
I do wonder whether the crew on the HEL to TLL flights are wondering what on earth is going on and why all these BAEC members are now filling up the flights. My other theory is that this has all been a very clever promotion organised by the Tallinn tourist agency
Apr 7, 2017, 2:09 pm
#1320
Join Date: Dec 2015
Programs: BAEC Gold, HH Diamond, IC Ambassador, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 95
If that was the lane on the right, it appeared to be closed but I don't know for certain. In all honesty, I joined the regular queue before I noticed it, thanks to my sleep deprivation, but no-one seemed to use it except crew. One person (I assume a passenger) went through and entered into a discussion with the security guard who seemed to be trying to turn her back.
and actually really quick...Boarding took quite a while in TLL (no priority) and HEL (half the plane priority?)
Hope you got home well! It's been a really nice experience on the journey with two fellow FTers (especially for me as a real FT junior)