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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below.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
Nov 22, 2018, 12:39 pm
#4741
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 302
May any not be best routing, but is cheaper, in business and gets more TP.
More than open to better routing with more TPs.
Thabks
Nov 22, 2018, 2:50 pm
#4742
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 28
Shouldn't be a problem. Assuming you're starting in London, you could try either checking your luggage in at LHR for LHR-LAX before you fly to OSL, which may or may not be allowed. Failing that, drop it in the Left Luggage desk at T5 arrivals, and schedule enough time at LHR to land, immigrate, grab your bags and check them in. Alternatively, schedule an overnight <24hr stop at Heathrow in the first place.
On the way back, the airline will want to check your bags all the way to OSL again. Get around this by scheduling your LHR-OSL leg for the day (<24hrs again) after you land at Heathrow.
On the way back, the airline will want to check your bags all the way to OSL again. Get around this by scheduling your LHR-OSL leg for the day (<24hrs again) after you land at Heathrow.
On the return, I stand to be corrected, but even with an overnight, less than 24 hour connection, they will check your bags to OSL.
Assuming that you plan to skip the last leg then you might want to price up departing from OSL but returning to Bilund, that way you can do LAX - LHR / LCY - BLL and that way collect your bags at LHR.
Nov 22, 2018, 5:00 pm
#4743
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 1,578
A million edits: Apparently, LHR will store bags overnight if requested, but pax have the option of short checking them for overnight connections, in which case, one would be able to abandon the last leg.
Last edited by armouredant; Nov 22, 2018 at 5:17 pm
Nov 22, 2018, 5:21 pm
#4744
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,683
thank you for the feedback. It’s not 100% tier point run. But utilities the methods. Some back ground, I’ve been called to go to the west coast for work. Must be there from 5th December until 13th at the minimum. I’m choose to extend both ends. Our travel policy is W only, however if I can prove business is justified by being cheaper (no regulation on where the flight must start) then we can book business. So doing this route will be cheaper, in business and get me more TPs than going direct In W.
May any not be best routing, but is cheaper, in business and gets more TP.
More than open to better routing with more TPs.
Thabks
Nov 23, 2018, 3:56 am
#4745
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Plymouth, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,159
I am looking at booking a RTW but it would involve 5 separate bookings
1) Positioning return flight LHR - AGP - LHR BA (using Avios)
2) AGP - HEL - DEL one-way AY
3) DEL - KUL - NRT / HND - JFK one-way MH
4) JFK - LHR one-way BA (using Avios)
5) LHR - AGP one-way BA (using Avios - for meetup)
I realise that whenever I book cheap tickets then they are generally non-refundable or at least limited refundability/changability. But is there any trick to booking sequences of flights in this way so that once I have booked the first, and so committed to the trip, that I can reduce the chances of me not being able to book the other flights? I have checked availability of the individual airline web sites and would like to book directly with each airline concerned (BA, AY, MH, BA, BA).
Is this a foolish thing to try to put together?
1) Positioning return flight LHR - AGP - LHR BA (using Avios)
2) AGP - HEL - DEL one-way AY
3) DEL - KUL - NRT / HND - JFK one-way MH
4) JFK - LHR one-way BA (using Avios)
5) LHR - AGP one-way BA (using Avios - for meetup)
I realise that whenever I book cheap tickets then they are generally non-refundable or at least limited refundability/changability. But is there any trick to booking sequences of flights in this way so that once I have booked the first, and so committed to the trip, that I can reduce the chances of me not being able to book the other flights? I have checked availability of the individual airline web sites and would like to book directly with each airline concerned (BA, AY, MH, BA, BA).
Is this a foolish thing to try to put together?
Nov 23, 2018, 3:59 am
#4746
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,709
I am looking at booking a RTW but it would involve 5 separate bookings
1) Positioning return flight LHR - AGP - LHR BA (using Avios)
2) AGP - HEL - DEL AY
3) DEL - KUL - NRT / HND - JFK MH
4) JFK - LHR BA (using Avios)
5) GIB - LHR BA (using Avios - for meetup)
I realise that whenever I book cheap tickets then they are generally non-refundable or at least limited refundability/changability. But is there any trick to booking sequences of flights in this way so that once I have booked the first, and so committed to the trip, that I can reduce the chances of me not being able to book the other flights? I have checked availability of the individual airline web sites and would like to book directly with each airline concerned (BA, AY, MH, BA, BA).
Is this a foolish thing to try to put together?
1) Positioning return flight LHR - AGP - LHR BA (using Avios)
2) AGP - HEL - DEL AY
3) DEL - KUL - NRT / HND - JFK MH
4) JFK - LHR BA (using Avios)
5) GIB - LHR BA (using Avios - for meetup)
I realise that whenever I book cheap tickets then they are generally non-refundable or at least limited refundability/changability. But is there any trick to booking sequences of flights in this way so that once I have booked the first, and so committed to the trip, that I can reduce the chances of me not being able to book the other flights? I have checked availability of the individual airline web sites and would like to book directly with each airline concerned (BA, AY, MH, BA, BA).
Is this a foolish thing to try to put together?
Nov 23, 2018, 4:02 am
#4747
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Plymouth, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,159
Nov 23, 2018, 4:58 am
#4749
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Helsinki
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 143
BA will not allow you to check bags for your LHR-LAX leg before you fly to OSL, but if you are staying overnight in OSL then that should not be a problem?
On the return, I stand to be corrected, but even with an overnight, less than 24 hour connection, they will check your bags to OSL.
Assuming that you plan to skip the last leg then you might want to price up departing from OSL but returning to Bilund, that way you can do LAX - LHR / LCY - BLL and that way collect your bags at LHR.
On the return, I stand to be corrected, but even with an overnight, less than 24 hour connection, they will check your bags to OSL.
Assuming that you plan to skip the last leg then you might want to price up departing from OSL but returning to Bilund, that way you can do LAX - LHR / LCY - BLL and that way collect your bags at LHR.
Nov 24, 2018, 12:06 pm
#4750
Join Date: May 2014
Location: BRU
Programs: BA GGL, TK E (*G), ITA exec
Posts: 4,100
I found a couple of alternatives to the last route I posted for the ARN-MIA fare on the end of December, for a total of 600 TPs.
I am unsure if 1h49m is enough to connect in CLT INT-DOM, since I would like to skip the night in MIA... as all hotels near the airport seems quite pricey.
I am also evaluating if using FK on the outbound could be less risky in case of bad weather...
CLT on outbound & DFW for inbound option. Via DFW the TATL is on the 787, but it's also 100 eur more...
JFK on outbound & CLT for inbound option
I am unsure if 1h49m is enough to connect in CLT INT-DOM, since I would like to skip the night in MIA... as all hotels near the airport seems quite pricey.
I am also evaluating if using FK on the outbound could be less risky in case of bad weather...
CLT on outbound & DFW for inbound option. Via DFW the TATL is on the 787, but it's also 100 eur more...
JFK on outbound & CLT for inbound option
Nov 24, 2018, 2:46 pm
#4751
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: BA Executive Club and OnBusiness
Posts: 720
ARN-MIA is also possible to route via New Orleans (5.5 hour stopover) and Chicago on the way back, with Babybus and Helsinki on both the outward and return journeys e,g,
https://goo.gl/flights/pH8ZL
Or for £1,200 it can be done with a night in Aruba in the Caribbean on the way back (still includes 2 x Helsinki) e.g.
https://goo.gl/flights/a54rw
Or a night in San Juan (SJU - Puerto Rico) for £1,138
https://goo.gl/flights/swyns
And for £1,165 you can route back via the Cayman Islands (no overnight stay though) and Chicago for anyone chasing Avios e.g.
https://goo.gl/flights/i4tWA
Cancun (Mexico), Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Toronto, even Denver all work as well so looks like ARN-HEL-LHR/LCY-SNN-JFK-MIA-XXX-YYY-LHR-HEL-ARN has many different possibilities
https://goo.gl/flights/pH8ZL
Or for £1,200 it can be done with a night in Aruba in the Caribbean on the way back (still includes 2 x Helsinki) e.g.
https://goo.gl/flights/a54rw
Or a night in San Juan (SJU - Puerto Rico) for £1,138
https://goo.gl/flights/swyns
And for £1,165 you can route back via the Cayman Islands (no overnight stay though) and Chicago for anyone chasing Avios e.g.
https://goo.gl/flights/i4tWA
Cancun (Mexico), Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Toronto, even Denver all work as well so looks like ARN-HEL-LHR/LCY-SNN-JFK-MIA-XXX-YYY-LHR-HEL-ARN has many different possibilities
Last edited by Ned1968; Nov 25, 2018 at 2:12 pm
Nov 24, 2018, 3:46 pm
#4752
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold / Hilton Diamond / IHG Diamond Ambassador / Marriot Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,534
This has proved to be a very lucrative fare from a tier point point of views. Great work on the routings by those who have the patience. I am booked on a relatively easy and comfortable routing for the last weekend of the year on lieflat from and to London including JFK MIA.
used some AA vouchers and £347 to retain gold. Very happy
used some AA vouchers and £347 to retain gold. Very happy
Nov 24, 2018, 4:31 pm
#4753
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 250
I just booked a trip in the Easter 2019 from GOT-HEL-LHR-PHL-MIA and return is MIA-JFK-LHR-HEL-GOT. I paid 1050£ so I think this was a good deal in Easter. Could maybe have managed to include one more flight, but the 600TP from these flights is enough for me to renew the Gold card. I also managed to upgrade the LHR-PHL flight on BA to F. This will be the first time i fly F with BA so I look forward to that a lot. 
Same with the Concorde room, I have 3h30m connection at LHR so hopefully will have some time there. I also have the A350 to and from HEL with AY. Flight between PHL and MIA is with AA on the 767, so hopefully those seats are better than the seats on the 737.
I live near Oslo so GOT is a bit further for me to drive. I read that if AA changes the flights, they will allow a change of departure / arrival airport? Is it then possible I can fly from OSL instead of GOT and change with no extra fees?
Same with the Concorde room, I have 3h30m connection at LHR so hopefully will have some time there. I also have the A350 to and from HEL with AY. Flight between PHL and MIA is with AA on the 767, so hopefully those seats are better than the seats on the 737.I live near Oslo so GOT is a bit further for me to drive. I read that if AA changes the flights, they will allow a change of departure / arrival airport? Is it then possible I can fly from OSL instead of GOT and change with no extra fees?
Nov 24, 2018, 9:01 pm
#4754
Join Date: Nov 2015
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 132
Is this definite now? Last time I tried to check a bag for the long-haul flight before the B2B ex-eu flight I was unable too, but then got a call from a Premier Customer Service person (something like that) who worked in the airport who apologised and said it absolutely was possible and he didn’t know why the checkin staff didn’t do it. This was back in March, but it would be good to know if it’s possible or not before booking some upcoming flights!
Nov 25, 2018, 12:30 am
#4755
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,968
Is this definite now? Last time I tried to check a bag for the long-haul flight before the B2B ex-eu flight I was unable too, but then got a call from a Premier Customer Service person (something like that) who worked in the airport who apologised and said it absolutely was possible and he didn’t know why the checkin staff didn’t do it. This was back in March, but it would be good to know if it’s possible or not before booking some upcoming flights!