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Old Jan 1, 2018, 5:20 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: OWBA
Welcome to the thread. This is a continuation of the highly popular 2017 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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below.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 JER to PDX IKN8T1S6 reported in this post, e.g. PDX £1,082, needs to be booked by 8 May, see linked post for details

Advanced Promotion Fares
  • from OTP to PHX ILN8C8S4 reported here, e.g. PHX - £1,296, see linked post for details
  • from AMS to BKK INCEU60 reported here, e.g. BKK - £1,340, see linked post for details

See here in post #9 for a 2018 archive of exEU sale fare, and see this post in the 2017 thread for last years’ 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
Code:
3Feb 200TPs DUB-LHR-HEL/HEL-LHR all I class ba.com
From North, Central and South America

23Sep £1.48/TP £650 (US$853) 440 TPs JFK-CLT/BOS-LAX-LAS and return all I class aa.com
6Sep £1.50/TP US$457 240TPs RIC-CLT-DCA-BOS, BOS-LGA/PHL-CLT-RIC all I class aa.com
Jan/Feb wide open £1.94/TP £700(US$883) 360 TPs SEA-CLT-MCO-PHX-SEA all I class aa.com



From Middle East, Asia and Australasia
18Jan £1.58/TP £883 560 CMB-xHKG-CGK return I cathaypacific.com ermen CX
28Feb £1.44/TP £575 400 MCT-DOH-BKK-DOH-MCT A/R/R/A travel.americanexpress.co.uk QR
21Feb £1.53/TP £860 560 HKG-CMB-MEL return I Expedia.com.hk Firemin UL
16Mar £1.22/TP £687 560 CGK-CMB-DXB return I srilankan.com Firemin UL
01Apr £0.87/TP £314 360 PEN-KUL-KTM return Malaysian.com cgtechuk MH
01Apr £1.19/TP £335 280 KUL-PER return Malaysian.com cgtechuk MH
01Apr £1.28/TP £335 360 PEN-KUL-PER return Malaysian.com cgtechuk MH
05Apr £2.00/TP £320 160 CAN-HKG-TPE return CathayPacific.com littlevoices CX/KA (flexible fare, bookable up to 24 hours in advance, allows stopovers, book with CX directly)

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. Some information on how to use ITA matrix is in post #4 of this thread (or just click 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 along with UK domestic returns. Additionally you may find that trips in to mainland Europe require a one night stay whereas the cheapest domestic CE returns do not have any minimum stay so can be booked as a same day return. If doing a back to back AMS and JER can be easier than DUB for an immediate turnaround - more information can be found in the back to back thread listed in the forum dashboard. 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). UK domestic route, Bilbao, Jersey and Amsterdam seem 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 of this thread, 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.
DUB-LHR-HEL return (or return to LHR) is currently a very efficient way of hitting 200-240 TPs
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Historic information
2017 Archive
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 | 2018 master thread

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Old Apr 4, 2018, 8:37 am
  #1771  
Moderator: Qatar Airways
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
Posts: 8,950
Originally Posted by madfish


I’ve not come across one. Would be interested to read. Although with 25 flights I suspect you will spend most of your time writing it!
Well seeing as most of the flights will have WiFi, I figure I might as well try and do something constructive with the time - albeit I'd be amusing people wanted to read it.

I'll try it when I fly in June.

M
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Old Apr 4, 2018, 9:44 am
  #1772  
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Glasgow, UK
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Posts: 1,551
Originally Posted by madfish


I’ve not come across one. Would be interested to read. Although with 25 flights I suspect you will spend most of your time writing it!

Not a trip report per se but I did a 24 sector one of these 2 yuears agoi, which even involved sleeping in Atlanta airport and IRROPS if anyone needs any advice! Including a 21 min connection at CLT! great fun, would lvoe to do ti again
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Old Apr 4, 2018, 12:53 pm
  #1773  
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: BA Executive Club
Posts: 124
Originally Posted by joequimby
Had a quick look for your dates, could get a 15 segment
12/05 LAX SAN PHX PHL RDU CLT TPA MIA PTY
14/05 PTY MIA TPA CLT RDU PHL PHX LAX
751 gbp

Suspect no I availability on PHX-SAN/LAS
Thank you Joequimby. I suspect you’re quite right with the availability.
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Old Apr 4, 2018, 1:18 pm
  #1774  
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: BA Silver, SPG Platinum
Posts: 24
Originally Posted by msm2000uk
Are there any Trip Reports for the LAX-PTY routing?

If not, I'll try and write one up when I do mine in June - 25 sectors in 5 days from ARN-PTY (the very long way)!

M
Originally Posted by joequimby
Had a quick look for your dates, could get a 15 segment
12/05 LAX SAN PHX PHL RDU CLT TPA MIA PTY
14/05 PTY MIA TPA CLT RDU PHL PHX LAX
751 gbp

Suspect no I availability on PHX-SAN/LAS
Originally Posted by AlphaXray

Thank you Joequimby. I suspect you’re quite right with the availability.
Hi all,
Just came back from my first TP run, LAX-PTY
Did 2 positioning flights and 15 during the run.
I did all flights in I and the cost was 728GBP.
LAX-LAS-PHX-PHL-RDU-CLT-JAX-MIA-PTY
PTY-MIA-TPA-CLT-PHL-PHX-LAS-LAX
It was bearable due to biz class. I didn't get too much sleep the night before the trip, so I strongly suggest that.
Most flights have Wifi, so I just bought a monthly Gogo pass. The PHX-PHL redeye is short af, so prepare for that.
My overnight stays in PTY and PHL were too short to get sleep, 3h each night...
It wasn't that bad overall for Silver.
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Old Apr 4, 2018, 3:10 pm
  #1775  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: Mucci, BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Stena Gold
Posts: 1,094



Planning a TP run to HNL, and this is the best I can do, given my limited skills with the Matrix.

can any of our resident experts improve on this? (points, timings, cabins etc)

Thank you
Gastrocnemius is offline  
Old Apr 4, 2018, 3:17 pm
  #1776  
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Glasgow, UK
Programs: Seigneur des Tarifs Utils First Class Mucci with Honours :) - BA GGL / CCR
Posts: 1,551
Good effort, What I would suggest though is that you get a different flight out of HNL, The HNL flights are not flat beds to LAX they are the Domestic first class seats and they suck on an overnight sector, If you already have status might want to spend slightly longer in LAX to enjoy a lounge, Other than that good price.exDUB
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Old Apr 4, 2018, 3:29 pm
  #1777  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, IHG Platinum, HH Diamond, Hertz PC,
Posts: 1,986
Originally Posted by Gastrocnemius
Planning a TP run to HNL, and this is the best I can do, given my limited skills with the Matrix.

can any of our resident experts improve on this? (points, timings, cabins etc)

Thank you
Looks like you are planning to be there at the same time as me - my itinerary is below:



I’ve gone for the morning flight from HNL to avoid an overnight flight on the horrible seats (drones once before and never again) - also means plenty of time in the Qantas lounge at LAX
Physci is offline  
Old Apr 4, 2018, 3:30 pm
  #1778  
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold / Hilton Diamond / IHG Diamond Ambassador / Marriot Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,536
I can’t suggest a better price but would perhaps look at s different routing especially on the way home.

The redeye from the Islands to LA can be painful but you can do HNL LAX JFK LHR with just one night in the air and on the flat bed from LA to JFK.

You can also get there in a day but you need take the BA117 at 8.25 so best to get from DUB the night before.

BA117 AA341 AA2205

good luck
binman is offline  
Old Apr 4, 2018, 3:36 pm
  #1779  
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Cumbria
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 4,510
Originally Posted by Gastrocnemius



Planning a TP run to HNL, and this is the best I can do, given my limited skills with the Matrix.

can any of our resident experts improve on this? (points, timings, cabins etc)

Thank you
You flights in US are in D class which is probably bumpingbthr price.

There is usually a sale on flights around the dates you want to coincide with thanks giving. Good luck.
madfish is offline  
Old Apr 4, 2018, 3:38 pm
  #1780  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Dorset, UK
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 635
Booking in D class buckets is pretty normal for AA I class transatlantic tickets... it was their fallback when BA booked into A instead. I don't see any obvious way of improving the price on that one.
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Old Apr 4, 2018, 3:40 pm
  #1781  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
Originally Posted by madfish


You flights in US are in D class which is probably bumpingbthr price.
Not always true. More so D will be used, especially since AA drastically reduced I class particularly on Transcons.
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Old Apr 4, 2018, 3:42 pm
  #1782  
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Cumbria
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 4,510
Originally Posted by rossmacd


Not always true. More so D will be used, especially since AA drastically reduced I class particularly on Transcons.
Especially if you can decipher my awful typing!

madfish is offline  
Old Apr 4, 2018, 4:22 pm
  #1783  
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 2
#myfirstpost

Some outstanding advice on here. My first post - long time lurker, first time poster. Work/social diary has cleared a week in a fortnights time to think about doing some crazy TP run. Only stipulation is stateside as I must visit someone so the wife doesn't question my motives too much...

Im struggling at step 1 - premium oneworld flights UK-US are way more than I've seen/booked before. Am I just being thick?!
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Old Apr 4, 2018, 4:32 pm
  #1784  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: Mucci, BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Stena Gold
Posts: 1,094
Originally Posted by binman
I can’t suggest a better price but would perhaps look at s different routing especially on the way home.

The redeye from the Islands to LA can be painful but you can do HNL LAX JFK LHR with just one night in the air and on the flat bed from LA to JFK.

You can also get there in a day but you need take the BA117 at 8.25 so best to get from DUB the night before.

BA117 AA341 AA2205

good luck

I can only see the redeye flights back from the islands- is there any way to force/ see better timed flights?

Considering the "doing it in a day" flights, but I'll be gold by then so could spend a bit more time in the T3 CX lounge. Decisions, decisions
Gastrocnemius is offline  
Old Apr 4, 2018, 5:28 pm
  #1785  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, IHG Platinum, HH Diamond, Hertz PC,
Posts: 1,986
Originally Posted by Gastrocnemius
I can only see the redeye flights back from the islands- is there any way to force/ see better timed flights?
either use the advance routing codes to force the selection of the flight number you want or try amending the departure time from HNL to start early morning
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