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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below.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
Sep 10, 2018, 1:23 am
#3721
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,888
in any case I have done it before and checked the bags for the long haul before doing the b2b so it is possible. Failing that, you can leave your bags at left luggage (landside ground floor opposite giraffe) and on return from your b2b retrieve and check them in for the long haul.
Sep 10, 2018, 1:33 am
#3722
Join Date: Oct 2004
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,008
in any case I have done it before and checked the bags for the long haul before doing the b2b so it is possible. Failing that, you can leave your bags at left luggage (landside ground floor opposite giraffe) and on return from your b2b retrieve and check them in for the long haul.
I've done this a number of times too - however more recently (since FLY was introduced), the First check-in agent tried but could not get this to work using FLY - after about 30mins of trying and speaking to people on the phone (FLY support team) she gave up - The manager of the First wing, then walked off with our information, returned 10mins later with labels etc saying he had to use the old system as FLY no longer allows this but they were dual running at the time (this must be a year ago i think!) so he was able to use that to 'store' our bags for the longhaul flight, which were released when we spoke to the lounge agent.
(I was on an ex-EU, separate tickets, going from AMS to HKG i recall with a separate ticket for the LHR>AMS positioning)
Sep 10, 2018, 1:36 am
#3723
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,888
Hi KARFA,
I've done this a number of times too - however more recently (since FLY was introduced), the First check-in agent tried but could not get this to work using FLY - after about 30mins of trying and speaking to people on the phone (FLY support team) she gave up - The manager of the First wing, then walked off with our information, returned 10mins later with labels etc saying he had to use the old system as FLY no longer allows this but they were dual running at the time (this must be a year ago i think!) so he was able to use that to 'store' our bags for the longhaul flight, which were released when we spoke to the lounge agent.
(I was on an ex-EU, separate tickets, going from AMS to HKG i recall with a separate ticket for the LHR>AMS positioning)
I've done this a number of times too - however more recently (since FLY was introduced), the First check-in agent tried but could not get this to work using FLY - after about 30mins of trying and speaking to people on the phone (FLY support team) she gave up - The manager of the First wing, then walked off with our information, returned 10mins later with labels etc saying he had to use the old system as FLY no longer allows this but they were dual running at the time (this must be a year ago i think!) so he was able to use that to 'store' our bags for the longhaul flight, which were released when we spoke to the lounge agent.
(I was on an ex-EU, separate tickets, going from AMS to HKG i recall with a separate ticket for the LHR>AMS positioning)
Sep 10, 2018, 2:12 am
#3724
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BHX
Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,327
I've done it a couple of times in the past year or so and both times the bags didn't make it onto the plane. I've decided this isn't coincidence, but a weird computer issue - especially as it took a while to get the bags back - so I don't bother anymore; just use left luggage.
Sep 10, 2018, 2:49 am
#3725
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, EY Silver, AF/KL Silver
Posts: 211
BA UK can't book flights/holidays with a different Point Of Sale (POS). So I think you need to call the BA number for the specific EU country you're looking to start from.
This was my case before when trying to book an ex-OSL fare to SYD. We couldn't work out why it wasn't pricing correctly and then the agent confirmed it was based on UK POS. I phoned BA Norway and booked it then.
Now you may ask an obvious question - BA's website isn't located in every country around the world, so how come the 'website' has access to all those different Points Of Sale and yet agents don't?
This was my case before when trying to book an ex-OSL fare to SYD. We couldn't work out why it wasn't pricing correctly and then the agent confirmed it was based on UK POS. I phoned BA Norway and booked it then.
Now you may ask an obvious question - BA's website isn't located in every country around the world, so how come the 'website' has access to all those different Points Of Sale and yet agents don't?
Sep 10, 2018, 5:52 am
#3726
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Dorset, UK
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 633
I've checked bags before I've flown the first short haul segment a few times under FLY. On every occasion it hasn't been an issue and the bags have successfully made it, but I have however verified that they were accepted for the flight and cleared whatever it is they need to clear in the lounge or at the gate.
The only time it's been an issue checking a bag in before the first segment was flown was for a colleague who had declared he was checking 2 bags in, and FLY had created the bag records from the origin. This meant he was technically over for the long haul segment by 2 bags... eventually sorted after an hour.
The only time it's been an issue checking a bag in before the first segment was flown was for a colleague who had declared he was checking 2 bags in, and FLY had created the bag records from the origin. This meant he was technically over for the long haul segment by 2 bags... eventually sorted after an hour.
Sep 10, 2018, 6:06 am
#3727
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: AMS / DUS / DXB
Programs: BAEC Silver | Flying Blue Gold | Accor Gold
Posts: 107
Hi. I'm fairly new to BA and all this but I want to hit gold this week and I need 160 TP for this. However, I've to rely on same day returns because of work.
I've found AMS-LGW and LGW-AMS with a 2 day stay for a reasonable price. If I nest those tickets so I can do two same day returns on seperate tickets: (eg: AMS-LGW on Ticket A and LGW-AMS the same day on Ticket B and vice versa two days later)
Firstly, is such ticket nesting allowed by BA, I remember it wasn't on some airlines?
Secondly, would I have to clear security at LGW?
Sorry if this is a newbish question.
I've found AMS-LGW and LGW-AMS with a 2 day stay for a reasonable price. If I nest those tickets so I can do two same day returns on seperate tickets: (eg: AMS-LGW on Ticket A and LGW-AMS the same day on Ticket B and vice versa two days later)
Firstly, is such ticket nesting allowed by BA, I remember it wasn't on some airlines?
Secondly, would I have to clear security at LGW?
Sorry if this is a newbish question.
Last edited by InsomniaBA; Sep 16, 2018 at 2:18 pm
Sep 10, 2018, 6:10 am
#3728
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Dorset, UK
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 633
This kind of nesting is perfectly fine on BA but you will need to clear security at LGW.
Sep 10, 2018, 7:36 am
#3729
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,707
I've checked bags before I've flown the first short haul segment a few times under FLY. On every occasion it hasn't been an issue and the bags have successfully made it, but I have however verified that they were accepted for the flight and cleared whatever it is they need to clear in the lounge or at the gate.
The only time it's been an issue checking a bag in before the first segment was flown was for a colleague who had declared he was checking 2 bags in, and FLY had created the bag records from the origin. This meant he was technically over for the long haul segment by 2 bags... eventually sorted after an hour.
The only time it's been an issue checking a bag in before the first segment was flown was for a colleague who had declared he was checking 2 bags in, and FLY had created the bag records from the origin. This meant he was technically over for the long haul segment by 2 bags... eventually sorted after an hour.
Sep 10, 2018, 7:50 am
#3731
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, HHonors Diamond, IHG Uninspired, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, UK AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,152
I've got a trip to Bangalore in India in November, that I'm trying to turn into a bit of a tier point run. In the past, I've normally found good deals flying down to Spain (Madrid or Barcelona), then booking an eu-EU from there to Bangalore, via either BA or Qatar. Once I've found a cheap deal eu-CDG with Sri Lankan. Typically it has been around GBP 1200 + positioning flights during a sale, GBP 1400 otherwise. (Need to avoid flying east on Sunday/Monday, and west on Friday/Saturday to get those prices)
Try as I might, I can't seem to find anything close to that right now. Spain to Bangalore seems to be coming in at over GBP 1550, CDG-BLR at GBP 2100, AMS-BLR GBP 1850, FRA-BLR at GBP 2100, MXP-BLR at GBP 1650 etc
Delhi looks quite a bit cheaper than Bangalore, but then there'd be no TPs on the Delhi-Bangalore leg, and I find swapping planes in Madrid or Barcelona a hell of a lot quicker and less stress than changing in Delhi! Finnair also only seem to want to give me a decent price if I have a 30+ hour layover in Helsinki on the way, or head out of Madrid and have the extra change.
Anyone have any other ideas for turning LHR-BLR into LHR-...-BLR for a fair number extra TPs, and staying all-in say under £1600? Any EU cities with a sale or at least not-too-expensive oneworld flight pricing to Bangalore (BLR) that anyone knows of?
(LHR-MAD-HEL-DEL-BLR-DEL-HEL-LHR being my non-ideal fallback right now!)
Try as I might, I can't seem to find anything close to that right now. Spain to Bangalore seems to be coming in at over GBP 1550, CDG-BLR at GBP 2100, AMS-BLR GBP 1850, FRA-BLR at GBP 2100, MXP-BLR at GBP 1650 etc
Delhi looks quite a bit cheaper than Bangalore, but then there'd be no TPs on the Delhi-Bangalore leg, and I find swapping planes in Madrid or Barcelona a hell of a lot quicker and less stress than changing in Delhi! Finnair also only seem to want to give me a decent price if I have a 30+ hour layover in Helsinki on the way, or head out of Madrid and have the extra change.
Anyone have any other ideas for turning LHR-BLR into LHR-...-BLR for a fair number extra TPs, and staying all-in say under £1600? Any EU cities with a sale or at least not-too-expensive oneworld flight pricing to Bangalore (BLR) that anyone knows of?
(LHR-MAD-HEL-DEL-BLR-DEL-HEL-LHR being my non-ideal fallback right now!)
Sep 10, 2018, 7:56 am
#3732
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: living near Malaga
Programs: BA Gold , Mucci recipient. Coffee Drinker, Blue Sky Thinker
Posts: 2,109
Hardly stellar but booked a nice little runaround in CE today from my current hometown Malaga
AGP-LGW/LHR-AMS-LGW-JER-LGW-AGP
6 x CE flights all in 1A for £550 pp on one PNR. Good connections over 5 days with 2 nights in AMS and 2 nights in JER next march.
240TPS @ £2.30 per TP to renew Gold.
AGP-LGW/LHR-AMS-LGW-JER-LGW-AGP
6 x CE flights all in 1A for £550 pp on one PNR. Good connections over 5 days with 2 nights in AMS and 2 nights in JER next march.
240TPS @ £2.30 per TP to renew Gold.
Sep 10, 2018, 8:58 am
#3733
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, Kris Flyer, Skywards, Accor Gold, Radisson Gold
Posts: 98
Need 585TP's by the 8th October to get gold, planning a TP run on the last weekend of September...
Any idea what's my best bet? Don't really want to do multiple HEL trips would rather do something state side or far east on a QR
Budget is ideally sub £1.5K
Any idea what's my best bet? Don't really want to do multiple HEL trips would rather do something state side or far east on a QR
Budget is ideally sub £1.5K
Sep 10, 2018, 9:02 am
#3734
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,246
Sep 10, 2018, 9:45 am
#3735
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, Kris Flyer, Skywards, Accor Gold, Radisson Gold
Posts: 98
ALG - LAX at £1,350ish on the 28th Sept returning 1st Oct seems the best, but not 100% sure about a B2B in ALG...
I am in NCE on the 27th September but you never seem to get many deals from the South of France
I am in NCE on the 27th September but you never seem to get many deals from the South of France