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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below.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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
Jan 26, 2018, 4:02 am
#841
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Sapporo, Japan
Programs: Junior Jet Club, Nando's Card 1 Red Chilli, Tesco Clubcard, BAEC Gold, TK M&S Elite
Posts: 520
Booked this through AA for about £1380 with an economy LHR-OTP wrapper. Thanks to all for your help. Had to fudge the credit card for a non UK billing address, but that went through fine.
Jan 26, 2018, 4:05 am
#842
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Berkshire / London
Programs: BAEC Gold, Nandos
Posts: 1,011
@FlyUK, how many TPs is that pls?
Jan 26, 2018, 4:09 am
#844
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Ayrshire
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, IHG Spire Ambassador, HH Diamond, Scandic Top Floor
Posts: 139
Jan 26, 2018, 4:19 am
#845
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Sapporo, Japan
Programs: Junior Jet Club, Nando's Card 1 Red Chilli, Tesco Clubcard, BAEC Gold, TK M&S Elite
Posts: 520
800 + 20 from the positioning flights. This takes me to 1540, so I hit gold on the LHR-OTP flight.
Jan 26, 2018, 4:21 am
#846
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Berkshire / London
Programs: BAEC Gold, Nandos
Posts: 1,011
Jan 26, 2018, 4:33 am
#847
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: LHR
Programs: BA GGL, KLM Platinum, SQ Silver, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, IHG Platinum
Posts: 15
Hi bisonrav
Thanks for the comments on biz travel. I often by the personal upgrades and it has never been an issue (of perception or explanation) with other travellers etc, but I appreciate the concern which may stem from your experience with your employer. There is no issue with my employer on airline choice, routings or timings . I would be making the same trip on the same airline (possibly at the same times) so it is not an issue from that perspective and the company is fine with personally bought upgrades (same applies for hotels, car hire etc).
I have no issue with flying ET; but as I do not fly much for pleasure/holidays as my wife has a flying phobia, I try to maximise my TPs on business travel opportunities by flying CE/CW - meaning I don't do the vacation TP runs many on here undertake.
In this case, it is unusual as I am possibly buying a totally replacement ticket - my open question is only about the viability of having two seats in different classes on the outbound and inbound flights. I guess I could maybe just ring the BA helpdesk and ask them what would happen?
Thanks for the comments on biz travel. I often by the personal upgrades and it has never been an issue (of perception or explanation) with other travellers etc, but I appreciate the concern which may stem from your experience with your employer. There is no issue with my employer on airline choice, routings or timings . I would be making the same trip on the same airline (possibly at the same times) so it is not an issue from that perspective and the company is fine with personally bought upgrades (same applies for hotels, car hire etc).
I have no issue with flying ET; but as I do not fly much for pleasure/holidays as my wife has a flying phobia, I try to maximise my TPs on business travel opportunities by flying CE/CW - meaning I don't do the vacation TP runs many on here undertake.
In this case, it is unusual as I am possibly buying a totally replacement ticket - my open question is only about the viability of having two seats in different classes on the outbound and inbound flights. I guess I could maybe just ring the BA helpdesk and ask them what would happen?
Jan 26, 2018, 4:47 am
#848
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: ±38,000 feet
Programs: LH HON, BA GGL, AF Plat, EK Plat
Posts: 6,428
I would definitely not attempt that connection!
Jan 26, 2018, 10:20 am
#849
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 192
I've got a direct UL contact number for whoever they have on the ground in CGK, I'm currently attempting to ask them to keep the check in open as late as possible for me for a B2B I'm attempting in 2 weeks, I'll let you know if I get anywhere but as far as I can tell the issue is with getting a physical boarding pass issued - they won't let you fly on a mobile pass or printed pass through CGK so you must get the printed pass from the check in counter.
Will report back any progress.
Will report back any progress.
Jan 26, 2018, 10:45 am
#850
Join Date: May 2017
Location: U.K.
Programs: BA Exec; Miles&More; FlyingBlue; DragonPass; Hilton; SPG; Marriott; Hyatt; A-Club; Carlson; Avis
Posts: 13
Hi Buzz,
You misunderstood, what I do is use my employers ticket and then when I get to the airport I ask at check in if there is an AUP (Airport upgrade) available, there is a Wiki and various threads which you can search for here that explains how it works. Basically it is only available on the day you are travelling and is subject to there being space available, depending on what ticket you already have and the cost (which seems to be dynamic now ?) it can be good value to gather increased TPs (and you also get the increased Avios for the cabin you upgrade to) you just pay with your own credit card and they give you a new boarding pass.
Hope this helps,
DtB
You misunderstood, what I do is use my employers ticket and then when I get to the airport I ask at check in if there is an AUP (Airport upgrade) available, there is a Wiki and various threads which you can search for here that explains how it works. Basically it is only available on the day you are travelling and is subject to there being space available, depending on what ticket you already have and the cost (which seems to be dynamic now ?) it can be good value to gather increased TPs (and you also get the increased Avios for the cabin you upgrade to) you just pay with your own credit card and they give you a new boarding pass.
Hope this helps,
DtB
I understood that very well, I have successfully upgraded during the online check-in process (recently did that on return from Malta - which gets double CE TPs!); or where I have not, I always ask at the Exec Club check in desk and usually score there too (recently upgraded the overnight return from D.C. from WT+ to CW by asking at the desk); before I lost Gold last summer, there were often upgrades for free, but obviously no extra TPs.
In the end, being concerned to just book a "parallel" ticket in CE, I just rang BAEC and asked about options. I asked about what would happen if I just went on the BA.com site and booked a fresh CE ticket on the same flights; resulting in being the same traveller in 2 classes/seats. She said they would normally alert the TA and me; and I said I would prefer that didn't happen. So on other options, the very helpful lady said yes, I could wait for online check-in option or she could look now. She offered me £43.10 + 7,500 TPs to move into CE; but no increase in TPs and as I am on an O/Q ticket, that is measly TP score, but little cost to U/G even for a short-haul. So I asked about options to get the full CE TPs with cash or cash+avios. She looked and said yes it was available as cash only, but I would need to go my Travel Agent to process the change. I explained they will not do it, but do not object to me personally upgrading. So she checked with her supervisor and they agreed I could pay them the cash. So now I get the full 40+40 TPs, a bit pricey per TP bit as I am travelling anyway (and will do the same trip a month later) its a time efficient way to pick up additional TP's!
Thanks for all the inputs.
Buzz0000
Jan 26, 2018, 10:49 am
#851
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: London Town
Programs: BA Silver, AF Silver
Posts: 465
Can anyone help me? Since my posts a week or so ago I've been desperately searching for a US trip that will bag me close to 600TPs. I'm thinking ex-DUB and ending up in LAX before heading back. Pretty flexible on dates but don't want to be away for more than a week. I only have Google Flights, and I've not found anything for less than £2500. Does anyone have a better tool who could maybe search availability to see if I can get this for closer to £1500? Thanks!
Jan 26, 2018, 10:58 am
#852
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL / GfL
Posts: 3,265
Can anyone help me? Since my posts a week or so ago I've been desperately searching for a US trip that will bag me close to 600TPs. I'm thinking ex-DUB and ending up in LAX before heading back. Pretty flexible on dates but don't want to be away for more than a week. I only have Google Flights, and I've not found anything for less than £2500. Does anyone have a better tool who could maybe search availability to see if I can get this for closer to £1500? Thanks!
Pilot37
Jan 26, 2018, 11:18 am
#853
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Spire Ambassador, Le Club Platinum
Posts: 62
Thanks to rossmacd I am now on the OTP-LHR-JFK-SFO-PHX-LAX-JFK-LHR-OTP in August. The trip will be between 23 and 28 Aug.
Anyone travelling on these dates by any chance?
Also, I am playing with the idea of doing a b2b on the LHR-OTP-LHR on 28 Aug. Flight will arrive at 17:10 and return at 17:55. I saw someone’s post above saying it is doable, but it is VERY tight! Any thoughts? Decisions, decisions ....
Anyone travelling on these dates by any chance?
Also, I am playing with the idea of doing a b2b on the LHR-OTP-LHR on 28 Aug. Flight will arrive at 17:10 and return at 17:55. I saw someone’s post above saying it is doable, but it is VERY tight! Any thoughts? Decisions, decisions ....
Jan 26, 2018, 11:23 am
#854
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Cumbria
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 4,510
Thanks to rossmacd I am now on the OTP-LHR-JFK-SFO-PHX-LAX-JFK-LHR-OTP in August. The trip will be between 23 and 28 Aug.
Anyone travelling on these dates by any chance?
Also, I am playing with the idea of doing a b2b on the LHR-OTP-LHR on 28 Aug. Flight will arrive at 17:10 and return at 17:55. I saw someone’s post above saying it is doable, but it is VERY tight! Any thoughts? Decisions, decisions ....
Anyone travelling on these dates by any chance?
Also, I am playing with the idea of doing a b2b on the LHR-OTP-LHR on 28 Aug. Flight will arrive at 17:10 and return at 17:55. I saw someone’s post above saying it is doable, but it is VERY tight! Any thoughts? Decisions, decisions ....
PHX mini DO Aug 2018
B2B at OTP should be fine. It’s the same aircraft. I’m doing the same.
Jan 26, 2018, 11:24 am
#855
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
Can anyone help me? Since my posts a week or so ago I've been desperately searching for a US trip that will bag me close to 600TPs. I'm thinking ex-DUB and ending up in LAX before heading back. Pretty flexible on dates but don't want to be away for more than a week. I only have Google Flights, and I've not found anything for less than £2500. Does anyone have a better tool who could maybe search availability to see if I can get this for closer to £1500? Thanks!
If you are specific with exact dates, someone may be able to help you.