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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below.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
#5026
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: BAEC OW Gold/Emerald
Posts: 540
That is correct and I have used fast track twice since October as regular security line was quite long and looked slow. According to INV airport press relations you can buy a fast track pass but I don’t know cost or from who.
#5027
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC, Eurostar
Posts: 3,294
Is that for Silvers too? Or only CE and Golds?
#5028
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: BAEC OW Gold/Emerald
Posts: 540
I used the fast track as Silver. While this thread is 99.9% about Tier Point runs in CE/CW and above, paupers like me do the best they can in WTP. To copy some of the email from press relations at INV "The fast track lane here at Inverness is available to: British Airways silver cards and above, also passengers traveling in their Club Europe or Club World cabins. KLM Platinum and Gold cards, skypriority passengers, Europe and World Business passengers and their Sky Team Elite members. Easyjet Plus card holders and passengers traveling on a Flexi Fare or plus card. Loganair passengers on a Fly Flex ticket. You can also buy a fast track pass on the Inverness airport site."
Last edited by IntVic; Dec 11, 2018 at 8:57 am Reason: clarification
#5029
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Germany
Programs: BA GGL, CCR - TK G
Posts: 809
Can't find anything . Anyone know of a cheap cw deal?
#5030
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: BER
Programs: BA GGL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,843
hey folks, thanks for all the input. i'm already onboard the babybus train..
im looking for a total TP and Avios trip in oktober (3rd - 20th possible, duration around a week). Maybe something in Asia? Never been there. Budget +- 1500 EUR. start would be TXL or any different European city. (positioning is kinda easy in Europe - thanks Easyjet/Ryanair).
Some suggestion?
im looking for a total TP and Avios trip in oktober (3rd - 20th possible, duration around a week). Maybe something in Asia? Never been there. Budget +- 1500 EUR. start would be TXL or any different European city. (positioning is kinda easy in Europe - thanks Easyjet/Ryanair).
Some suggestion?
#5031
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: LHR
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 484
hey folks, thanks for all the input. i'm already onboard the babybus train..
im looking for a total TP and Avios trip in oktober (3rd - 20th possible, duration around a week). Maybe something in Asia? Never been there. Budget +- 1500 EUR. start would be TXL or any different European city. (positioning is kinda easy in Europe - thanks Easyjet/Ryanair).
Some suggestion?
im looking for a total TP and Avios trip in oktober (3rd - 20th possible, duration around a week). Maybe something in Asia? Never been there. Budget +- 1500 EUR. start would be TXL or any different European city. (positioning is kinda easy in Europe - thanks Easyjet/Ryanair).
Some suggestion?
QR AMS-DOH-BKK-DOH-AMS. 560TP
BA/CX AMS-LHR-HKG-BKK-HKG-LHR-AMS. 440TP
AY AMS-HEL-BKK-HEL-AMS. 360TP.
All these can be had for around the 1500EUR ex AMS !!
#5032
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: BER
Programs: BA GGL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,843
if my calculations are correct - i'll need 820. so maybe AMS-DOH-BKK-DOH-AMS with a BA business positioning or a short trip ex BKK?
#5033
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: LHR
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 484
For another 260TP you will be spending at least another 500EUR !! Somewhere.
#5034
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,709
#5035
Join Date: May 2014
Location: BRU
Programs: BA GGL, TK E (*G), ITA exec
Posts: 4,113
If someone needs over 600 TPs in one trip I think going west is still the best value, apart from flash sales and the intern intervention...
#5036
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 302
Evening FTyers,
Me again (Sorry), as I am about to commence the return of my TP run (up-thread), SFO > JFK > LHR > OSL > LHR. On my outbound BA allowed me to check my bags from LHR to LAX then onto SFO despite my ticket starting in OSL. Now my question is, will BA/AA allow me to check my bag to LHR only and not onto OSL as I am doing B2B in OSL and wont have time to recheck bags back.
If it helps, im on the AA16 Ticketed with BA, then AA104 again ticketed with BA. Then BA766 to OSL.
Thanks
Me again (Sorry), as I am about to commence the return of my TP run (up-thread), SFO > JFK > LHR > OSL > LHR. On my outbound BA allowed me to check my bags from LHR to LAX then onto SFO despite my ticket starting in OSL. Now my question is, will BA/AA allow me to check my bag to LHR only and not onto OSL as I am doing B2B in OSL and wont have time to recheck bags back.
If it helps, im on the AA16 Ticketed with BA, then AA104 again ticketed with BA. Then BA766 to OSL.
Thanks
#5037
formerly mattking2000
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: DXB
Programs: BA|AC|AZ|SPG|H|FPC
Posts: 1,187
I have an upcoming TP run combined with personal vacation coming up and am thoroughly confused by the fare rules -- if anyone could shed some light on this it would be very much appreciated.
The routing is SOF-LHR-YYZ-LHR-AMM booked through Priceline because I couldn't get it to price through ba.com or even aa.com. I'd like to move my inbound flight a few days later but I don't have the original fare rules; Priceline spat out four separate price rules (one for each leg). In the first part, it says (bold my emphasis):
But slightly further down it says (bold my emphasis):
Can anyone shed any light on whether this is changeable after flying the first leg? I know it's I class but I don't have the exact fare basis other than it's a 7 day minimum stay, 28 day min advance purchase. Ticket is 125-plated.
Thanks!
The routing is SOF-LHR-YYZ-LHR-AMM booked through Priceline because I couldn't get it to price through ba.com or even aa.com. I'd like to move my inbound flight a few days later but I don't have the original fare rules; Priceline spat out four separate price rules (one for each leg). In the first part, it says (bold my emphasis):
Code:
------ CANCELLATION REPRICING CONDITIONS----- REPRICE USING ANY FARE TYPE EXCEPT ERU AND EOU. FLOWN COUPONS MUST BE REPRICED USING HISTORICAL FARES IN EFFECT ON THE PREVIOUS TICKETING DATE. THE FARE FOR THE JOURNEY TRAVELLED MUST BE CAPPED AT THE TOTAL FARE AMOUNT PLUS CARRIER IMPOSED CHARGE PAID ON THE TICKET BEING PRESENTED FOR REFUND. FULLY FLOWN FARE COMPONENTS MAY BE REPRICED USING ANY BOOKING CODE WITHIN THE SAME CABIN PROVIDED THE NEW FARE AMOUNT IS EQUAL OR HIGHER THAN ORIGINAL. PARTIALLY FLOWN FARE COMPONENTS MUST BE REPRICED USING THE SAME OR HIGHER BOOKING CODE. CHANGES ANY TIME CHANGES NOT PERMITTED. NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING. A CHANGE IS A DATE/FLIGHT/ROUTING/BOOKING CODE CHANGE.
Code:
Penalties
Code:
Penalties
Code:
BE VALID FOR REFUND IF APPLICABLE. -------------------------------------------------- WHEN MORE THAN ONE FARE COMPONENT IS CHANGED THE HIGHEST PENALTY OF ALL CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS WITHIN THE JOURNEY APPLIES. -------------------------------------------------- --- REPRICING CONDITIONS --- A. WHEN THE FIRST FARE COMPONENT IS CHANGED THE ITINERARY MUST BE RE-PRICED USING CURRENT FARES IN EFFECT ON THE DATE THE TICKET IS REISSUED. B. WHEN CHANGES ARE TO BOOKING CODE ONLY IN THE FIRST FARE COMPONENT AND RESULT IN A HIGHER FARE THE ITINERARY MUST BE RE-PRICED USING HISTORICAL FARES IN EFFECT ON THE PREVIOUS TICKETING DATE OR USING CURRENT FARES IN EFFECT ON THE DATE THE TICKET IS REISSUED - WHICHEVER IS LOWER. C. WHEN THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO THE FIRST FARE COMPONENT BUT OTHER FARE COMPONENTS ARE CHANGED THE ITINERARY MUST BE RE-PRICED USING HISTORICAL FARES IN EFFECT ON THE PREVIOUS TICKETING DATE OR USING CURRENT FARES IN EFFECT ON THE DATE THE TICKET IS REISSUED - WHICHEVER IS LOWER. ---------------------------------------------- NEW TICKET VALUE MUST BE EQUAL OR HIGHER THAN PREVIOUS AND MUST COMPLY WITH ALL PROVISIONS OF THE NEW FARE BEING APPLIED. ---------------------------------------------- WHEN THE NEW ITINERARY RESULTS IN A HIGHER FARE THE DIFFERENCE WILL BE COLLECTED. ANY APPLICABLE CHANGE FEE STILL APPLIES. ---------------------------------------------- ANY NON-REFUNDABLE AMOUNT FROM A PREVIOUS TICKET REMAINS NON-REFUNDABLE FOLLOWING A CHANGE. -------------------------------------------------- NO-SHOWS FOR A FLIGHT ARE CONSIDERED A CANCELLATION AFTER DEPARTURE AND CHANGES ARE NOT PERMITTED. -------------------------------------------------- TICKET IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANOTHER PERSON. AFTER DEPARTURE CHARGE CAD 500.00 FOR REISSUE/REVALIDATION. NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TICKETS CHANGED IN THE US ANY PENALTY FEE MUST BE COLLECTED VIA AN EMD. REFER TO SPEEDBIRDCLUB.COM OR BATRAVELTRADE.COM AND YOUR GDS FOR INSTRUCTIONS. -------------------------------------------------- CHARGE APPLIES PER TRANSACTION - PER PERSON FOR FOR ALL PASSENGER TYPES. INFANTS WITHOUT A SEAT - NO CHARGE. --------------------------------------------------
Thanks!
#5038
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Somewhere around Europe...
Programs: BA Gold; MB Ti; HH Diamond; IHG Plat; RR Gold
Posts: 530
AA has also recently reminded their agents of the necessity to catch those people trying to drop the last sector (see @JonNYC’s tweets on this topic), and use short-checking of baggage as a red flag.
You can go try going to the Baggage Service desk at Heathrow and requesting they retrieve your case, however this can easily take an hour (so shouldn’t be relied on).
#5039
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 302
If the agent follows company policy, then no. You’re through checked on the same day, so your bag will be checked to OSL.
AA has also recently reminded their agents of the necessity to catch those people trying to drop the last sector (see @JonNYC’s tweets on this topic), and use short-checking of baggage as a red flag.
You can go try going to the Baggage Service desk at Heathrow and requesting they retrieve your case, however this can easily take an hour (so shouldn’t be relied on).
Any advice on this