Jan 1, 2018, 5:20 am
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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below.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
Advanced Promotion Fares
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:
Please see the links at the bottom of the wiki for archives of runs from previous years.
From Europe
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
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Historic information
2017 Archive
2016 Archive
2015 Archive (6 months Jul to Dec)
2015 Archive (6 months Jan to Jun)
2014 Archive
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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Historic information
2017 Archive
2016 Archive
2015 Archive (6 months Jul to Dec)
2015 Archive (6 months Jan to Jun)
2014 Archive
BA Tier Point Runs | 2018 master thread
Jan 7, 2018, 11:47 am
#196
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: The North
Posts: 1,848
Not done it myself, as NCL is my nearest airport, but it should be pretty easy. Once you're off the airbridge the waiting area for Gate 3, the usual BA gate, is on your left. You have to go right past the entrance in order to exit to arrivals anyhow. I hope the attached diagram, adapted from the airport website, is helpful - red is to/from the aircraft, purple the 'shared' route of people both exiting and entering, and blue the arrivals.
I don't know whether you'd have time to nip into the BA Lounge – I suspect not, as from memory it isn't long at all after the previous passengers disembark that you board – but if you do, I've indicated the approximate location on the map too (I've yet to actually go in!). The entrance is in the corridor, on the way to arrivals.
BA Gate 3 and waiting area at Newcastle (NCL)
I don't know whether you'd have time to nip into the BA Lounge – I suspect not, as from memory it isn't long at all after the previous passengers disembark that you board – but if you do, I've indicated the approximate location on the map too (I've yet to actually go in!). The entrance is in the corridor, on the way to arrivals.
BA Gate 3 and waiting area at Newcastle (NCL)
Jan 7, 2018, 2:42 pm
#197
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Berkshire / London
Programs: BAEC Gold, Nandos
Posts: 1,011
Not done it myself, as NCL is my nearest airport, but it should be pretty easy. Once you're off the airbridge the waiting area for Gate 3, the usual BA gate, is on your left. You have to go right past the entrance in order to exit to arrivals anyhow. I hope the attached diagram, adapted from the airport website, is helpful - red is to/from the aircraft, purple the 'shared' route of people both exiting and entering, and blue the arrivals.
I don't know whether you'd have time to nip into the BA Lounge – I suspect not, as from memory it isn't long at all after the previous passengers disembark that you board – but if you do, I've indicated the approximate location on the map too (I've yet to actually go in!). The entrance is in the corridor, on the way to arrivals.
BA Gate 3 and waiting area at Newcastle (NCL)
I don't know whether you'd have time to nip into the BA Lounge – I suspect not, as from memory it isn't long at all after the previous passengers disembark that you board – but if you do, I've indicated the approximate location on the map too (I've yet to actually go in!). The entrance is in the corridor, on the way to arrivals.
BA Gate 3 and waiting area at Newcastle (NCL)
If it's the same aircraft can't I just stay on
Also, I've never thought about this but perhaps an expert here will know - is there a place to leave my luggage for Prague (lounge/somewhere secure in T5 for £x) whilst I do my Newcastle leg so it's one less worry?
Because they're B2Bs do I have to phone BA as doing it online isn't possible with the 120min turn around rule?
Last edited by TPRun; Jan 7, 2018 at 3:29 pm
Jan 7, 2018, 2:58 pm
#198
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: BA Silver, Cathay Gold, HHonours Diamond, AMEX Platimum
Posts: 85
GLA to IST including a night in Ritz Carlton for £410 for 240 TPS, when taking off the £200 Amex platinum travel offer.
Jan 7, 2018, 3:28 pm
#199
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: London
Programs: BA bronze, Hertz pres circle, Marriott Platinum, hilton diamond
Posts: 2,537
Is there any level on HNL fare where the stopover element is more reasonable? I wouldnt mind a few days in HNL, but would want to stop in LAX for a couple of weeks on the way back....
Jan 7, 2018, 3:35 pm
#200
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
Jan 7, 2018, 3:44 pm
#201
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Dorset, UK
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 635
Afraid not. No stopovers permitted on the cheaper fares. There are similar fares (within a few pounds) filed to LAX though.
Jan 7, 2018, 4:27 pm
#202
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: The North
Posts: 1,848
Glad to be of help!
Don't know about Prague, but I don't believe so in T5.
I'm not sure about this, having never done it. I defer to someone with more knowledge than me… it must be possible somehow, as plenty of people seem able to do B2Bs quite happily.
I'm not sure about this, having never done it. I defer to someone with more knowledge than me… it must be possible somehow, as plenty of people seem able to do B2Bs quite happily.
Jan 7, 2018, 4:33 pm
#203
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,977
Generally you would have to phone BA to book a b2b. Ba.com doesn't offer them usually whether using the multi city tool or not. As long at the turnaround time for the aircraft at the outstation is longer than the mct (if you priced it on itamatrix that suggests it is) then it should be fine to book over the phone.
Jan 7, 2018, 4:48 pm
#204
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Cumbria
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 4,510
Jan 7, 2018, 8:18 pm
#205
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
There is currently a INCSALE fare that's coming up on matrix instead of this standard advance purchase fare. However it looks to me to be the same pricing and rules except needs to be ticketed by 4 February 2018. Do people concur that this fare is largely the same fare? (See spoiler below for details)
Essentially what I'm looking at booking is:
AMS-HKG
HKG-BKK
BKK-HKG
HKG-LHR
LHR-AMS
And it's coming up at EUR 1,784. Does this fare sound the same as the standard advance purchase fare?
Essentially what I'm looking at booking is:
AMS-HKG
HKG-BKK
BKK-HKG
HKG-LHR
LHR-AMS
And it's coming up at EUR 1,784. Does this fare sound the same as the standard advance purchase fare?
Spoiler
Jan 7, 2018, 10:04 pm
#206
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: The Garden of England
Programs: BA Silver AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 662
Spike
Jan 8, 2018, 1:19 am
#207
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Surrey, UK
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 484
Quote:
Originally Posted by TPRun
Also, I've never thought about this but perhaps an expert here will know - is there a place to leave my luggage for Prague (lounge/somewhere secure in T5 for £x) whilst I do my Newcastle leg so it's one less worry?
There is the Excess Baggage Company in T2, T3, T4 and T5. I have used the one in T5 and it was fine. The prices on their website are cumulative which I hadn't realised so it worked out a bit more than I expected. The only thing I have found to worry about is if a delay meant I didn't have time to go and get the bag before my onward flight.
Originally Posted by TPRun
Also, I've never thought about this but perhaps an expert here will know - is there a place to leave my luggage for Prague (lounge/somewhere secure in T5 for £x) whilst I do my Newcastle leg so it's one less worry?
There is the Excess Baggage Company in T2, T3, T4 and T5. I have used the one in T5 and it was fine. The prices on their website are cumulative which I hadn't realised so it worked out a bit more than I expected. The only thing I have found to worry about is if a delay meant I didn't have time to go and get the bag before my onward flight.
Jan 8, 2018, 1:56 am
#208
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: BKK
Programs: BRK-B
Posts: 580
Any good combinations of flight from BKK to South America that has optimal TP earning rate? and how is the method of finding that?
Jan 8, 2018, 2:19 am
#209
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: BA Silver, Cathay Gold, HHonours Diamond, AMEX Platimum
Posts: 85
Jan 8, 2018, 3:21 am
#210
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: BAEC, Avis Preferred Plus
Posts: 1
Newb DUB/BFS/BHD<-->SFO/SJC
Hi Guys,
First time poster so please go easy :-) I've been reading these threads for a few years but never asked any questions.
I'm booked to fly from BHD-LHR-SJC on 15/01, returning on 27/01. I usually try to get business class and up until now have been fairly lucky, flying on the 747 upper deck (64A+K) on 4 occasions in the last year or 2 with no status and and no real cost over WT+. My best status was only ever silver for 1 year, but I don't do a huge amount of (long haul) traveling compared to many here. (I do lot's of short haul mainly with Flybe or easyJet but need to get smarter with this too!)
My existing booking only nets me 210 TP's and I'm only traveling in WT+...My question is what options did I have in order to maximise my points haul and fly in comfort? I was fairly flexible with dates and start/end points listed in the title and willing to make connections where necessary.
I did find Virgin Atlantic/BA flights on google flights for £1100 return in business class but when I called VA they said BA wouldn't release the cheap seats to them :-)
Sorry I'm not using the correct terminology but I'm a quick learner :-)
Thanks in advance,
Mark.
First time poster so please go easy :-) I've been reading these threads for a few years but never asked any questions.
I'm booked to fly from BHD-LHR-SJC on 15/01, returning on 27/01. I usually try to get business class and up until now have been fairly lucky, flying on the 747 upper deck (64A+K) on 4 occasions in the last year or 2 with no status and and no real cost over WT+. My best status was only ever silver for 1 year, but I don't do a huge amount of (long haul) traveling compared to many here. (I do lot's of short haul mainly with Flybe or easyJet but need to get smarter with this too!)
My existing booking only nets me 210 TP's and I'm only traveling in WT+...My question is what options did I have in order to maximise my points haul and fly in comfort? I was fairly flexible with dates and start/end points listed in the title and willing to make connections where necessary.
I did find Virgin Atlantic/BA flights on google flights for £1100 return in business class but when I called VA they said BA wouldn't release the cheap seats to them :-)
Sorry I'm not using the correct terminology but I'm a quick learner :-)
Thanks in advance,
Mark.