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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below.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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 11, 2018, 2:02 pm
#331
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: BAEC, Mileage Plus, Aeroplan, SPG
Posts: 62
Thanks Karfa - that makes sense - however there are still routes that fly domestically in the US that would have 3 separate cabin classes correct? If so - how would I find that out? Just asking so I know what to look for when evaluating TP runs.
Jan 11, 2018, 2:10 pm
#333
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: BAEC, Mileage Plus, Aeroplan, SPG
Posts: 62
Gotcha - Thanks. That makes it easy.
It's probably 1 year too late for this but: "Damnnnnn that sucksssssss".
It's probably 1 year too late for this but: "Damnnnnn that sucksssssss".
Jan 11, 2018, 2:57 pm
#334
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA GGL, A3 Gold, M&M SEN, FlyingBlue Gold, AS MVP Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Amb
Posts: 902
Jan 11, 2018, 3:01 pm
#335
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: In between BRU, AMS, DUS and LUX...
Programs: AF/KL Plat, BA Gold, A3 Gold, IHG Diamond, MR Gold, HH Diamond, ALL Platinum
Posts: 1,044
Oh there are actually quite a few, like JFK-LAX or PHX, BOS-LAX or PHL-LAS or PHL-LAX just to name a few.
Edit : Sorry misread the initial message - did not notice the 3 cabin aircraft request. Is DFW-HNL 3 class also when operated by a 777 ? (Still domestic 😀
Edit : Sorry misread the initial message - did not notice the 3 cabin aircraft request. Is DFW-HNL 3 class also when operated by a 777 ? (Still domestic 😀
Jan 11, 2018, 3:07 pm
#336
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL / GfL
Posts: 3,266
Pilot37
Jan 12, 2018, 4:55 am
#338
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 21
Hi all,
Booking a week in Chicago for work, and trying to maximize the number of TP's while trying to remain sane (both in price and number of stops).
I'm in London (but can do an ex-EU assuming I can put the two flights back to back), planning to fly out on Sun 28th Jan and back on Friday 2nd.
From what I see, it's easy to add an east coast leg at the end (stopping in PHL or JFK or MIA), and same for the return flight, but I struggle to get more stops (and more TPs) in a reasonable timeframe (without leaving on saturday basically, and while still being in Chicago at most on Monday morning).
Any idea how to fit more segments ?
Booking a week in Chicago for work, and trying to maximize the number of TP's while trying to remain sane (both in price and number of stops).
I'm in London (but can do an ex-EU assuming I can put the two flights back to back), planning to fly out on Sun 28th Jan and back on Friday 2nd.
From what I see, it's easy to add an east coast leg at the end (stopping in PHL or JFK or MIA), and same for the return flight, but I struggle to get more stops (and more TPs) in a reasonable timeframe (without leaving on saturday basically, and while still being in Chicago at most on Monday morning).
Any idea how to fit more segments ?
Last edited by djwam; Jan 12, 2018 at 5:00 am
Jan 12, 2018, 5:01 am
#339
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Cumbria
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 4,510
Hi all,
Booking a week in Chicago for work, and trying to maximize the number of TP's while trying to remain sane (both in price and number of stops).
I'm in London (but can do an ex-EU assuming I can put the two flights back to back), planning to fly out on Sun 28th Jan and back on Friday 2nd.
From what I see, it's easy to add an east coast leg at the end (stopping in PHL or JFK or MIA), and same for the return flight, but I struggle to get more stops (and more TPs) in a reasonable timeframe (without leaving on saturday basically, and while still being in Chicago at most on Monday morning).
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Booking a week in Chicago for work, and trying to maximize the number of TP's while trying to remain sane (both in price and number of stops).
I'm in London (but can do an ex-EU assuming I can put the two flights back to back), planning to fly out on Sun 28th Jan and back on Friday 2nd.
From what I see, it's easy to add an east coast leg at the end (stopping in PHL or JFK or MIA), and same for the return flight, but I struggle to get more stops (and more TPs) in a reasonable timeframe (without leaving on saturday basically, and while still being in Chicago at most on Monday morning).
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Jan 12, 2018, 6:22 am
#340
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 21
I don't mind the saturday night, but any flight arriving before the night on saturday would have to leave early on saturday.
Price isn't so much of an issue. As long as it's comparable to the "normal" price of the return flight (which stands at £3500 right now in J), this should be fine.. It's more about scheduling (assuming I don't get too far off that price, which seems doable especially with an ex-EU compared to a London start)
Price isn't so much of an issue. As long as it's comparable to the "normal" price of the return flight (which stands at £3500 right now in J), this should be fine.. It's more about scheduling (assuming I don't get too far off that price, which seems doable especially with an ex-EU compared to a London start)
Jan 12, 2018, 6:41 am
#341
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,683
I don't mind the saturday night, but any flight arriving before the night on saturday would have to leave early on saturday.
Price isn't so much of an issue. As long as it's comparable to the "normal" price of the return flight (which stands at £3500 right now in J), this should be fine.. It's more about scheduling (assuming I don't get too far off that price, which seems doable especially with an ex-EU compared to a London start)
Price isn't so much of an issue. As long as it's comparable to the "normal" price of the return flight (which stands at £3500 right now in J), this should be fine.. It's more about scheduling (assuming I don't get too far off that price, which seems doable especially with an ex-EU compared to a London start)
Jan 12, 2018, 10:25 am
#342
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 21
Beautiful. Makes me leave on a saturday, and from checking it it's even doable to just leave London on saturday evening, get to Helsinki for the night, and then on to the rest. I'll see if leaving on saturday is doable. Thanks a lot !
Jan 13, 2018, 1:50 am
#343
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 3
Ignore if this has been spotted before, but just playing around with the OTP-PHX fare and noticed decent pricing for first class. Was able to find a routing via LHR, JFK and LAX, including first class on the transatlantic and transcon flights, for £1,577 over Easter. Details below. Do I calculate correctly that this would be 80 + 210 + 210 + 40 + 40 + 210 + 210 + 80 TPs, at £1.46/TP?
Seems to be the same fare basis as the business class flight, ILN8T8S4. Is this one of those dual inventory fares mentioned earlier?
Bucharest (OTP) to London (LHR) — Fri, Mar 30
American 6358 Dep: 8:30 am Arr: 10:05 am Business (I)
London (LHR) to New York (JFK) — Fri, Mar 30
American 105 Dep: 2:30 pm Arr: 5:25 pm 7h 55m First (A)
New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) — Fri, Mar 30
American 293 Dep: 8:15 pm Arr: 12:01 am First (A)
Los Angeles (LAX) to Phoenix (PHX) — Sat, Mar 31
American 595 Dep: 6:15 am Arr: 7:48 am First (I)
Phoenix (PHX) to Los Angeles (LAX) — Sat, Apr 7
American 2996 Dep: 6:00 am Arr: 7:45 am First (I)
Los Angeles (LAX) to New York (JFK) — Sat, Apr 7
American 172 Dep: 10:30 am Arr: 7:18 pm First (A)
New York (JFK) to London (LHR) — Sat, Apr 7
American 6135 Dep: 9:30 pm Arr: 9:35 am First (A)
London (LHR) to Bucharest (OTP) — Sun, Apr 8
American 6649 Dep: 11:40 am Arr: 5:00 pm Business (I)
Cost per passenger (including taxes & fees) £1,577.14
Seems to be the same fare basis as the business class flight, ILN8T8S4. Is this one of those dual inventory fares mentioned earlier?
Bucharest (OTP) to London (LHR) — Fri, Mar 30
American 6358 Dep: 8:30 am Arr: 10:05 am Business (I)
London (LHR) to New York (JFK) — Fri, Mar 30
American 105 Dep: 2:30 pm Arr: 5:25 pm 7h 55m First (A)
New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) — Fri, Mar 30
American 293 Dep: 8:15 pm Arr: 12:01 am First (A)
Los Angeles (LAX) to Phoenix (PHX) — Sat, Mar 31
American 595 Dep: 6:15 am Arr: 7:48 am First (I)
Phoenix (PHX) to Los Angeles (LAX) — Sat, Apr 7
American 2996 Dep: 6:00 am Arr: 7:45 am First (I)
Los Angeles (LAX) to New York (JFK) — Sat, Apr 7
American 172 Dep: 10:30 am Arr: 7:18 pm First (A)
New York (JFK) to London (LHR) — Sat, Apr 7
American 6135 Dep: 9:30 pm Arr: 9:35 am First (A)
London (LHR) to Bucharest (OTP) — Sun, Apr 8
American 6649 Dep: 11:40 am Arr: 5:00 pm Business (I)
Cost per passenger (including taxes & fees) £1,577.14
Jan 13, 2018, 2:17 am
#344
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: BA GGL, A3*G, Mucci de l'expertise des Apps
Posts: 3,367
Ignore if this has been spotted before, but just playing around with the OTP-PHX fare and noticed decent pricing for first class. Was able to find a routing via LHR, JFK and LAX, including first class on the transatlantic and transcon flights, for £1,577 over Easter. Details below. Do I calculate correctly that this would be 80 + 210 + 210 + 40 + 40 + 210 + 210 + 80 TPs, at £1.46/TP?
Seems to be the same fare basis as the business class flight, ILN8T8S4. Is this one of those dual inventory fares mentioned earlier?
Bucharest (OTP) to London (LHR) — Fri, Mar 30
American 6358 Dep: 8:30 am Arr: 10:05 am Business (I)
London (LHR) to New York (JFK) — Fri, Mar 30
American 105 Dep: 2:30 pm Arr: 5:25 pm 7h 55m First (A)
New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) — Fri, Mar 30
American 293 Dep: 8:15 pm Arr: 12:01 am First (A)
Los Angeles (LAX) to Phoenix (PHX) — Sat, Mar 31
American 595 Dep: 6:15 am Arr: 7:48 am First (I)
Phoenix (PHX) to Los Angeles (LAX) — Sat, Apr 7
American 2996 Dep: 6:00 am Arr: 7:45 am First (I)
Los Angeles (LAX) to New York (JFK) — Sat, Apr 7
American 172 Dep: 10:30 am Arr: 7:18 pm First (A)
New York (JFK) to London (LHR) — Sat, Apr 7
American 6135 Dep: 9:30 pm Arr: 9:35 am First (A)
London (LHR) to Bucharest (OTP) — Sun, Apr 8
American 6649 Dep: 11:40 am Arr: 5:00 pm Business (I)
Cost per passenger (including taxes & fees) £1,577.14
Seems to be the same fare basis as the business class flight, ILN8T8S4. Is this one of those dual inventory fares mentioned earlier?
Bucharest (OTP) to London (LHR) — Fri, Mar 30
American 6358 Dep: 8:30 am Arr: 10:05 am Business (I)
London (LHR) to New York (JFK) — Fri, Mar 30
American 105 Dep: 2:30 pm Arr: 5:25 pm 7h 55m First (A)
New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) — Fri, Mar 30
American 293 Dep: 8:15 pm Arr: 12:01 am First (A)
Los Angeles (LAX) to Phoenix (PHX) — Sat, Mar 31
American 595 Dep: 6:15 am Arr: 7:48 am First (I)
Phoenix (PHX) to Los Angeles (LAX) — Sat, Apr 7
American 2996 Dep: 6:00 am Arr: 7:45 am First (I)
Los Angeles (LAX) to New York (JFK) — Sat, Apr 7
American 172 Dep: 10:30 am Arr: 7:18 pm First (A)
New York (JFK) to London (LHR) — Sat, Apr 7
American 6135 Dep: 9:30 pm Arr: 9:35 am First (A)
London (LHR) to Bucharest (OTP) — Sun, Apr 8
American 6649 Dep: 11:40 am Arr: 5:00 pm Business (I)
Cost per passenger (including taxes & fees) £1,577.14
PERMITTED 01JUL THROUGH 31AUG OR 22NOV THROUGH 30NOV OR 18DEC THROUGH 02JAN
OR 27MAR THROUGH 11APR FOR EACH TRANSATLANTIC SECTOR.
So basically just available for those 2 weeks over the Easter holidays.
Jan 13, 2018, 2:46 am
#345
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: BA GGL, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Marriott Platinum, IHG Spire
Posts: 160
This is a much nicer fare - no need for the extra HEL flights to get the same TPs. Seems to need a longer stay though.
Last edited by annihilation; Jan 13, 2018 at 2:54 am