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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below.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
#5116
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: UK
Programs: BA Nada, HH Diamond, IHG Spire AMB, Marriott Plat, Accor Gold
Posts: 510
Any revenue segment on BA will do the trick. I'm seeing MAN-LHR same day return on Sundays in early March for £81 which will take you to 305TP.
How much travel have you got planned in the next year where you would benefit from the bronze benefits of priority boarding and seating? Can the cost be justified?
How much travel have you got planned in the next year where you would benefit from the bronze benefits of priority boarding and seating? Can the cost be justified?
#5117
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: London
Programs: BAEC-GGL, GFL, *A Gold, Hilton Diamond , IHG Diamond/Ambassador
Posts: 244
July Weekend in Miami - and TP Run
Just booked a $1400 fare with 520 TP for me GGL, wife G daughter G for a weekend in Miami with lunch in NY...
Not the ultimate number of flights (skipped an east coast stop on way back) but nice seats and flights.
LHR-GOT-LHR LHR-JFK <lunch break in Manhattan> EWR-CLT-MIA <3 nights> MIA-LHR-HEL-GOT-LHR
using IAANN's guide at https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30442579-post4652.html
- but using LHR vs LCY
Propeller Travel managed the booking - getting if validated with BA for extra avios
Wondering if 1 of us should upgrade to F using Avios on the JFK flight so all 3 of us can use CCR (only I have CCR card)….
Not the ultimate number of flights (skipped an east coast stop on way back) but nice seats and flights.
LHR-GOT-LHR LHR-JFK <lunch break in Manhattan> EWR-CLT-MIA <3 nights> MIA-LHR-HEL-GOT-LHR
using IAANN's guide at https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30442579-post4652.html
- but using LHR vs LCY
Propeller Travel managed the booking - getting if validated with BA for extra avios
Wondering if 1 of us should upgrade to F using Avios on the JFK flight so all 3 of us can use CCR (only I have CCR card)….
#5119
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: London, England
Programs: BA:Gold; IHG: Platinum;
Posts: 69
I make that 1820 TPs ..... 3x210 + 2x140?
Inspired routing! Now checking the price all in J!
SORRY .... just saw the use of DEL instead of DOH on the return, knocking 100TPs off the itinerary,.
Inspired routing! Now checking the price all in J!
SORRY .... just saw the use of DEL instead of DOH on the return, knocking 100TPs off the itinerary,.
#5120
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Aspen, CO
Posts: 792
Yeah, have to route via DEL or BOM on the return as BA doesn't sell A fares on LHR-DOH if you try forcing a routing via DOH on the return, it'll change the entire fare to F which is v expensive!
#5122
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold / OW Emerald
Posts: 753
I will likely be going to montreal next september, but the best origin as far as hassle/price is concerned seems to be London for ~1600 GBP... ex-EU doesn't seem to make it much cheaper. Am I missing something? I miss the 1330 GBP ex-AMS fare
#5123
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 164
Hi,
I am planning a trip to HKG in Nov 2019 and the best that I can find is CDG-AMM-BKK-HKG return at ~1500 GBP. As the trip is still some time away am I right in thinking that I am likely to bag a better deal in the coming days?
Thank you.
I am planning a trip to HKG in Nov 2019 and the best that I can find is CDG-AMM-BKK-HKG return at ~1500 GBP. As the trip is still some time away am I right in thinking that I am likely to bag a better deal in the coming days?
Thank you.
#5124
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Shoreham By Sea
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,334
If I’m correct in thinkng that LHR to SOF is 160 tp return in CE I’ve managed to secure an upcoming city break trip in T p run territory.
£598 over a weekend. 5 star hotel added less than £100 which of course opened up the BA holiday deposit option.
£598 over a weekend. 5 star hotel added less than £100 which of course opened up the BA holiday deposit option.
#5125
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, Avis PC
Posts: 261
it is a 160TP return route.
#5126
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: BAEC Bronze
Posts: 253
Merry Christmas everyone,
Please help set my expectations....
Turns out that May 2020 is 'inked' in as a girls week in Dubai for the wife and daughter. My son and I have zero ambition to go along so we're hatching a plan. Can we make Gold in a week? I guess Tier Point runs are the best method but for now any ideas if any of the following could be achieved?
Regards,
Lee
Please help set my expectations....
Turns out that May 2020 is 'inked' in as a girls week in Dubai for the wife and daughter. My son and I have zero ambition to go along so we're hatching a plan. Can we make Gold in a week? I guess Tier Point runs are the best method but for now any ideas if any of the following could be achieved?
- enough TP for Gold
- 6 days max.
- all destinations acceptable
- cost <£1600 each
- time would be late may (school holidays) 2020
- are these things best booked via a Travel Agent or is specialist software required.
Regards,
Lee
#5127
Join Date: Sep 2018
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 136
Merry Christmas everyone,
Please help set my expectations....
Turns out that May 2020 is 'inked' in as a girls week in Dubai for the wife and daughter. My son and I have zero ambition to go along so we're hatching a plan. Can we make Gold in a week? I guess Tier Point runs are the best method but for now any ideas if any of the following could be achieved?
Regards,
Lee
Please help set my expectations....
Turns out that May 2020 is 'inked' in as a girls week in Dubai for the wife and daughter. My son and I have zero ambition to go along so we're hatching a plan. Can we make Gold in a week? I guess Tier Point runs are the best method but for now any ideas if any of the following could be achieved?
- enough TP for Gold
- 6 days max.
- all destinations acceptable
- cost <£1600 each
- time would be late may (school holidays) 2020
- are these things best booked via a Travel Agent or is specialist software required.
Regards,
Lee
1500TP is required for Gold so it would be helpful to understand how many you need. How many TP will you have prior to this proposed Tier Run?
If you need the entire 1500TP for £1600 (at £1.067/TP), while not impossible it would be very difficult. For that sort of price, you would need to be looking at US domestics or something like LAX-PTY (currently dead but may come back) or the MH sale fares in Asia.
There's been some ex-EU fares to the US (OTP-PHX) with lie-flats which have been good value, but those tend to price out at ~£1.60/TP
You would need to use ITA Matrix to find the fare, routing and flight numbers, then calling the airline. If they can't book it, a good travel agent (such as Propeller Travel) can help.
#5128
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: England
Programs: BAEC Gold, UA Mileage Plus, Hotels.com Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Pizza Express Gold
Posts: 603
Merry Christmas everyone,
Please help set my expectations....
Turns out that May 2020 is 'inked' in as a girls week in Dubai for the wife and daughter. My son and I have zero ambition to go along so we're hatching a plan. Can we make Gold in a week? I guess Tier Point runs are the best method but for now any ideas if any of the following could be achieved?
Regards,
Lee
Please help set my expectations....
Turns out that May 2020 is 'inked' in as a girls week in Dubai for the wife and daughter. My son and I have zero ambition to go along so we're hatching a plan. Can we make Gold in a week? I guess Tier Point runs are the best method but for now any ideas if any of the following could be achieved?
- enough TP for Gold
- 6 days max.
- all destinations acceptable
- cost <£1600 each
- time would be late may (school holidays) 2020
- are these things best booked via a Travel Agent or is specialist software required.
Regards,
Lee
You might be better off just picking somewhere you'd like to go - you can get J to most places for 6 days for £1600
#5129
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Cumbria
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 4,510
Merry Christmas everyone,
Please help set my expectations....
Turns out that May 2020 is 'inked' in as a girls week in Dubai for the wife and daughter. My son and I have zero ambition to go along so we're hatching a plan. Can we make Gold in a week? I guess Tier Point runs are the best method but for now any ideas if any of the following could be achieved?
Regards,
Lee
Please help set my expectations....
Turns out that May 2020 is 'inked' in as a girls week in Dubai for the wife and daughter. My son and I have zero ambition to go along so we're hatching a plan. Can we make Gold in a week? I guess Tier Point runs are the best method but for now any ideas if any of the following could be achieved?
- enough TP for Gold
- 6 days max.
- all destinations acceptable
- cost <£1600 each
- time would be late may (school holidays) 2020
- are these things best booked via a Travel Agent or is specialist software required.
Regards,
Lee
Take a look at this very timely article on Turning Left For Less.
https://www.turningleftforless.com/b...ne-hit-almost/
#5130
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,051
I booked a YVR-PTY two weeks ago, although some overnights were required to get the price down to £1.30 per TP...
But it is indeed true that £1 per TP is quite difficult to find these days and, when found, probably requires positioning and hotels.
Even though you may have a freedom pass for May 2020, I would only consider a Gold TP run if both of your new TP years will have recently started and you aren't actually Gold at the moment. That way you'd get nearly two years of Gold status out of one TP run.
It's also pretty tough to find TP runs anywhere near £1 per TP.
But it is indeed true that £1 per TP is quite difficult to find these days and, when found, probably requires positioning and hotels.
Even though you may have a freedom pass for May 2020, I would only consider a Gold TP run if both of your new TP years will have recently started and you aren't actually Gold at the moment. That way you'd get nearly two years of Gold status out of one TP run.
It's also pretty tough to find TP runs anywhere near £1 per TP.