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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below.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
Jan 3, 2018, 2:41 pm
#61
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
Dutch, Ross, Is it safe to assume that if I can piece together the itinerary I want using ExpertFlyer and confirming I availability segment by segment (and on the BA codeshares where necessary) that I can book an itinerary which combinesmaximising TPs using AA flights internal to NA with a stopover in Dublin(or london) and a stopover in LAX along something like the following lines?
Cai-LHR(STOPOVER, surface segment) DUB-LHR-JFK-LAX-HNL//HNL-LAX(stopover)LAX-JFK-LHR-CAI ?
I believe that is what you both stated but the stopover piece and the routing piece were answered slightly separately and I'm seeking to combine them by maximising TPs AND adding a stopover.
Thanks in advance for any help clarifying,
Cai-LHR(STOPOVER, surface segment) DUB-LHR-JFK-LAX-HNL//HNL-LAX(stopover)LAX-JFK-LHR-CAI ?
I believe that is what you both stated but the stopover piece and the routing piece were answered slightly separately and I'm seeking to combine them by maximising TPs AND adding a stopover.
Thanks in advance for any help clarifying,
Does this help you?
Jan 3, 2018, 2:57 pm
#62
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: BCN
Programs: BA GGL, IB, LH, IHG Gold
Posts: 582
Jan 3, 2018, 3:37 pm
#65
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: IC Amb :-(, UA silver, BA Gold, SPG Plat, A-Club Plat, Marriott Plat
Posts: 913
thanks ross, but I know it was possible to route via Toronto, but 5 hours in an AA 'business' seat from yyz to lax is significantly different from the transcon jfk-lax, which was what I asked about, I do not think you can price an itin inside the us on a BA prime with a stopover (perhaps because of cabotage?) but I was asking whether it was possible by calling BA as I think was being suggested by Dutch
Jan 3, 2018, 4:29 pm
#66
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2017
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 325
The same reason stops it being priced manually too, it's not just an online thing. BA has no rights to sell domestic US tickets, either standalone or as part of a wider itinerary. It can only be done as an actual connection (<24hrs). If anything is reserved it is unlikely to be ticketed; if by some mistake it falls through it will be caught and cancelled later.
Jan 3, 2018, 4:32 pm
#67
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2017
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 325
While booking through any agent is always more 'dangerous' than booking direct with an airline, the one TA I am most likely to use is Amex. They get almost all my non-BA travel. Unlike most online outfits they have actual people who can and will help you if anything is cancelled/changed and needs rebooking - and the leisure support staff are the same ones who deal with the corporate support too, with the high reputation they come with. They also work hard to maintain a good relationship with airlines (especially BA), which means they can occasionally get some favours in return if they need them.
Jan 3, 2018, 4:42 pm
#68
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 2,447
thanks ross, but I know it was possible to route via Toronto, but 5 hours in an AA 'business' seat from yyz to lax is significantly different from the transcon jfk-lax, which was what I asked about, I do not think you can price an itin inside the us on a BA prime with a stopover (perhaps because of cabotage?) but I was asking whether it was possible by calling BA as I think was being suggested by Dutch
I have CAI-LHR-JFK-LAX-HNL-PHX-JFK-LHR-CAI.
(Yes, bit shonky on the way back due to PHX, but not much I can do about it now).
Jan 4, 2018, 12:48 am
#69
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
thanks ross, but I know it was possible to route via Toronto, but 5 hours in an AA 'business' seat from yyz to lax is significantly different from the transcon jfk-lax, which was what I asked about, I do not think you can price an itin inside the us on a BA prime with a stopover (perhaps because of cabotage?) but I was asking whether it was possible by calling BA as I think was being suggested by Dutch
Calling BA would be a waste of time in my opinion - always best to price out what you want (/can get) on ITA Matrix before calling.
Jan 4, 2018, 12:50 am
#70
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
Jan 4, 2018, 1:08 am
#71
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: ±38,000 feet
Programs: LH HON, BA GGL, AF Plat, EK Plat
Posts: 6,428
Unlikely as this would be a BA fare on BA ticket - and BA is not as flexible as AA in changing your routings.
Jan 4, 2018, 5:36 am
#73
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 12
I hope someone here can help i have booked a number of flights on American Airlines using both myAA number and my wifes and am wondering should i use my AA account or my BA executive account to gain air miles and tier points.
the flights are
BHD – Heathrow, Heathrow – Dallas, Dallas – Los Angeles, and then Tampa – Miami, Miami – Heathrow , and Heathrow – Belfast . These are all on one ticket booked using two $500 vouchers i received for a delayed flight last year,
thanks for reading
the flights are
BHD – Heathrow, Heathrow – Dallas, Dallas – Los Angeles, and then Tampa – Miami, Miami – Heathrow , and Heathrow – Belfast . These are all on one ticket booked using two $500 vouchers i received for a delayed flight last year,
thanks for reading
Jan 4, 2018, 7:42 am
#74
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: BHD
Programs: BAEC Gold, Radisson VIP, Hertz Gold, Accor Plat
Posts: 162
I hope someone here can help i have booked a number of flights on American Airlines using both myAA number and my wifes and am wondering should i use my AA account or my BA executive account to gain air miles and tier points.
the flights are
BHD – Heathrow, Heathrow – Dallas, Dallas – Los Angeles, and then Tampa – Miami, Miami – Heathrow , and Heathrow – Belfast . These are all on one ticket booked using two $500 vouchers i received for a delayed flight last year,
thanks for reading
the flights are
BHD – Heathrow, Heathrow – Dallas, Dallas – Los Angeles, and then Tampa – Miami, Miami – Heathrow , and Heathrow – Belfast . These are all on one ticket booked using two $500 vouchers i received for a delayed flight last year,
thanks for reading
Jan 4, 2018, 8:37 am
#75
Join Date: Aug 2015
Programs: BA Gold/ Star Alliance Gold
Posts: 401
Hi there, I have a question for the TP run masters:
We have booked a flight OSL-LHR-JFK-LAX-LAS/ LAS-LAX-JFK-LHR-OSL
Now - due to a schedule change - AA has 'optimized' my route to OSL-LHR-JFK-LAX-LAS/ LAS-LHR-OSL
What do you suggest?
1. Shall I ask for original routing back, as it also includes A Class LAX-JFK?
2. If not, the route they offer now would have been much cheaper if booked so from the start?
3. And, lastly, what happens to TP earning?
Thanks for your advise.
We have booked a flight OSL-LHR-JFK-LAX-LAS/ LAS-LAX-JFK-LHR-OSL
Now - due to a schedule change - AA has 'optimized' my route to OSL-LHR-JFK-LAX-LAS/ LAS-LHR-OSL
What do you suggest?
1. Shall I ask for original routing back, as it also includes A Class LAX-JFK?
2. If not, the route they offer now would have been much cheaper if booked so from the start?
3. And, lastly, what happens to TP earning?
Thanks for your advise.