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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below.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
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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
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
Jun 7, 2018, 2:55 pm
#2611
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: AA EXP/LTP, BA GGL/CCR/GfL, HH D/LTD, SPG/MR Plat/LTP
Posts: 10,075
It was easier and cheaper if flights were specified in the search. Tried to do it again just now, but ITA keeps timing out
Jun 7, 2018, 3:08 pm
#2612
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Taif, KSA
Programs: BA GGL, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,903
Thanks for that, I see the rules have changed and require >24 hours in PTY
Jun 8, 2018, 11:45 am
#2613
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Oxford (&Western Isles )
Programs: BA GGL, CCR; RyanAir MillionMiler :( ;
Posts: 754
LAX-PTY multi stop
Sorry to resurrect this here if it's not going to work. I will be in US again in the autumn and was looking at the posts around 1444 in this thread and a lot of the helpful advice from rossmacd and tried to setup a mega-run. I dont know if the Fares have changed, but struggling to get much better than the route below.
I've read through the Fare Rules and there is mention of 2 stops allowed (1 free, 1x125$) from hubs. When i try to add in CLT or RDU or JAX etc, then it just says "no flights available". I've tried putting a long string of intermediate stops, but that fails too and have tried a number of different combinations. Driving me mad now!
Is there an alternative Fare that I should look at? I've definately covered the 24+hrs stop in PTY. As ever, any help much appreciated.
Am I doing something obviously wrong - or should I give up and spend a week in San Diego instead
I've read through the Fare Rules and there is mention of 2 stops allowed (1 free, 1x125$) from hubs. When i try to add in CLT or RDU or JAX etc, then it just says "no flights available". I've tried putting a long string of intermediate stops, but that fails too and have tried a number of different combinations. Driving me mad now!
Is there an alternative Fare that I should look at? I've definately covered the 24+hrs stop in PTY. As ever, any help much appreciated.Am I doing something obviously wrong - or should I give up and spend a week in San Diego instead
Jun 9, 2018, 2:35 am
#2614
Join Date: May 2016
Location: UK
Programs: British Airways Executive Club Gold, Global Entry
Posts: 363
I'm sure this has been answered a few times on the forum but cannot find it.
Can I pay for an Ex-EU fare in GBP? ba.com obviously quotes the fare in the starting country currency and I can't see a way to switch it.
Thanks.
Can I pay for an Ex-EU fare in GBP? ba.com obviously quotes the fare in the starting country currency and I can't see a way to switch it.
Thanks.
Jun 9, 2018, 4:20 am
#2615
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,680
You can on the phone. They'll tell you the GBP and the exchange rate always seems fine to me.
Jun 9, 2018, 6:21 am
#2616
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Diamond
Posts: 7,747
Does that script still work with ITA that let you select country/currency?
Jun 9, 2018, 6:38 am
#2617
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,457
If you mean Powertools, then I think so as I still have it working. Doesn't so much allow choice of currency though from what I've seen? Just a choice of which top level domain to land on...? AA seems to change to currency of residence from most[/all?] of the country sites though, been a while since I booked anything though.
Jun 9, 2018, 8:56 am
#2618
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 1,577
Choose to pay by PayPal, don’t complete the transaction, call up to make payment?
(this way you can avoid the phone booking charge)
(this way you can avoid the phone booking charge)
Jun 9, 2018, 9:39 am
#2619
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Peterborough, UK
Programs: BA Silver; IHG Spire; Avis P+; Global Entry
Posts: 1,505
Ive just booked an exAMS for me and the wife to see the in laws in the summer.
This was
AMS-LHR-HEL-LHR-JFK-YUL(Y)-PHL-ORD-LHR-AMS
This gets me 620 tier points and we used our $150 AA travel vouchers making a price of £1412, approx £2.30 per tier point.
Im pretty happy with that and it gets me on the A350 and the A380.
This is the ILN8C1S4 advanced fare if anyone is looking
This was
AMS-LHR-HEL-LHR-JFK-YUL(Y)-PHL-ORD-LHR-AMS
This gets me 620 tier points and we used our $150 AA travel vouchers making a price of £1412, approx £2.30 per tier point.
Im pretty happy with that and it gets me on the A350 and the A380.
This is the ILN8C1S4 advanced fare if anyone is looking
Jun 9, 2018, 12:05 pm
#2620
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Oxford (&Western Isles )
Programs: BA GGL, CCR; RyanAir MillionMiler :( ;
Posts: 754
LAX-PTY multi stop
[SOLVED}
16 segments, 840 TPs, 28k Avios, Sat 2pm - Wed 10.30pm, 2nights & 1 full day in Panama, 1,026 GBP, £1.22/TP
(probably delete RDU on return to reduce total trip time by 5-6hrs)
SNN0NSI1, NNN2DSI1 were the Fare Codes
PS Make sure you change the ITA Matrix search Stops and Extra Stops to "No Limit" from the dropdown menu.
Happy Days
[SOLVED}
16 segments, 840 TPs, 28k Avios, Sat 2pm - Wed 10.30pm, 2nights & 1 full day in Panama, 1,026 GBP, £1.22/TP
(probably delete RDU on return to reduce total trip time by 5-6hrs)
SNN0NSI1, NNN2DSI1 were the Fare Codes
PS Make sure you change the ITA Matrix search Stops and Extra Stops to "No Limit" from the dropdown menu.
Happy Days
Jun 9, 2018, 12:30 pm
#2621
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Diamond
Posts: 7,747
That's a good £300 more than the last time I did a 16 sector LAX-PTY run.
Jun 9, 2018, 2:43 pm
#2622
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Oxford (&Western Isles )
Programs: BA GGL, CCR; RyanAir MillionMiler :( ;
Posts: 754
Jun 9, 2018, 11:23 pm
#2623
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: 8,944
I'll be writing a Live Trip Report on the LAX-PTY run...but I'll start it in the morning when I have more energy!
Currently about to fly on the redeye from PHX-PHL on an ex-US Airways A321 with no IFE or In-seat power.
M
Currently about to fly on the redeye from PHX-PHL on an ex-US Airways A321 with no IFE or In-seat power.
M
Jun 9, 2018, 11:32 pm
#2624
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Edi
Posts: 2,203
LAX-PTY multi stop
[SOLVED}
16 segments, 840 TPs, 28k Avios, Sat 2pm - Wed 10.30pm, 2nights & 1 full day in Panama, 1,026 GBP, £1.22/TP
(probably delete RDU on return to reduce total trip time by 5-6hrs)
SNN0NSI1, NNN2DSI1 were the Fare Codes
PS Make sure you change the ITA Matrix search Stops and Extra Stops to "No Limit" from the dropdown menu.
Happy Days
[SOLVED}
16 segments, 840 TPs, 28k Avios, Sat 2pm - Wed 10.30pm, 2nights & 1 full day in Panama, 1,026 GBP, £1.22/TP
(probably delete RDU on return to reduce total trip time by 5-6hrs)
SNN0NSI1, NNN2DSI1 were the Fare Codes
PS Make sure you change the ITA Matrix search Stops and Extra Stops to "No Limit" from the dropdown menu.
Happy Days
What happened to good old DUB-LHR-JFK-LAX-HNL return for £1200:’(
Jun 9, 2018, 11:45 pm
#2625
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Diamond
Posts: 7,747
Easy 2-3 day jaunt (especially if you're in LA) and with AA schedule changes, always some scope for improvement if times well.
If you get good timings for LAX, JFK, MIA etc., and have lounge access, at least you can shower, recharge devices and eat / drink there and not being forced into 40 mins connections on every flight.
There's the 737MAX? flying between MCO and MIA on occasion so that's something different to try out.
Yes the DUB-HNL jaunt would be nice, but can't see that one coming back, at least at what we were paying.
Prices for these runs in general aren't as attractive as they used to be which doesn't help. Still a good £ to TP ratio but not quite the <50p/TP we used to get.