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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below.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
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
#1051
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
I have a question that someone might be able to answer on this thread...
I'm planning on doing the OTP-PHX-OTP run with an LHR-OTP-LHR wrapped around it. I have a b2b with 50min turnaround at OTP, but this is LHR-OTP on a BA booking, and OTP-LHR on an AA Booking. Usually, with the turnaround thread info, it doesn't look like it'd be a problem, but I'm a bit concerned I need to be checked in on the AA journey before I get to OTP if I'm going to make it before the check in close.
I'm wondering, can I check in online for the OTP-PHX-OTP journey with AA, travel the first leg of the LHR-OTP-LHR leg and stay airside to start the OTP-PHX-OTP journey? I'll be hand luggage only.
I'm planning on doing the OTP-PHX-OTP run with an LHR-OTP-LHR wrapped around it. I have a b2b with 50min turnaround at OTP, but this is LHR-OTP on a BA booking, and OTP-LHR on an AA Booking. Usually, with the turnaround thread info, it doesn't look like it'd be a problem, but I'm a bit concerned I need to be checked in on the AA journey before I get to OTP if I'm going to make it before the check in close.
I'm wondering, can I check in online for the OTP-PHX-OTP journey with AA, travel the first leg of the LHR-OTP-LHR leg and stay airside to start the OTP-PHX-OTP journey? I'll be hand luggage only.
#1052
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,945
I have a question that someone might be able to answer on this thread...
I'm planning on doing the OTP-PHX-OTP run with an LHR-OTP-LHR wrapped around it. I have a b2b with 50min turnaround at OTP, but this is LHR-OTP on a BA booking, and OTP-LHR on an AA Booking. Usually, with the turnaround thread info, it doesn't look like it'd be a problem, but I'm a bit concerned I need to be checked in on the AA journey before I get to OTP if I'm going to make it before the check in close.
I'm wondering, can I check in online for the OTP-PHX-OTP journey with AA, travel the first leg of the LHR-OTP-LHR leg and stay airside to start the OTP-PHX-OTP journey? I'll be hand luggage only.
I'm planning on doing the OTP-PHX-OTP run with an LHR-OTP-LHR wrapped around it. I have a b2b with 50min turnaround at OTP, but this is LHR-OTP on a BA booking, and OTP-LHR on an AA Booking. Usually, with the turnaround thread info, it doesn't look like it'd be a problem, but I'm a bit concerned I need to be checked in on the AA journey before I get to OTP if I'm going to make it before the check in close.
I'm wondering, can I check in online for the OTP-PHX-OTP journey with AA, travel the first leg of the LHR-OTP-LHR leg and stay airside to start the OTP-PHX-OTP journey? I'll be hand luggage only.
#1053
I have a question that someone might be able to answer on this thread...
I'm planning on doing the OTP-PHX-OTP run with an LHR-OTP-LHR wrapped around it. I have a b2b with 50min turnaround at OTP, but this is LHR-OTP on a BA booking, and OTP-LHR on an AA Booking. Usually, with the turnaround thread info, it doesn't look like it'd be a problem, but I'm a bit concerned I need to be checked in on the AA journey before I get to OTP if I'm going to make it before the check in close.
I'm wondering, can I check in online for the OTP-PHX-OTP journey with AA, travel the first leg of the LHR-OTP-LHR leg and stay airside to start the OTP-PHX-OTP journey? I'll be hand luggage only.
I'm planning on doing the OTP-PHX-OTP run with an LHR-OTP-LHR wrapped around it. I have a b2b with 50min turnaround at OTP, but this is LHR-OTP on a BA booking, and OTP-LHR on an AA Booking. Usually, with the turnaround thread info, it doesn't look like it'd be a problem, but I'm a bit concerned I need to be checked in on the AA journey before I get to OTP if I'm going to make it before the check in close.
I'm wondering, can I check in online for the OTP-PHX-OTP journey with AA, travel the first leg of the LHR-OTP-LHR leg and stay airside to start the OTP-PHX-OTP journey? I'll be hand luggage only.
#1054
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
That's my question. I'm confident I can make the flight as it's on the same metal, but if they do not allow online check-in, I need to go to the desk to do so, and I suspect check-in will have closed by the time I get through passport control. If I can check in online, I can just stay airside. I was wondering if anyone had done the OTP-PHX-OTP run under an AA booking (like me), and managed this.
#1055
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
I have had my fair share of problems with AA online check-in when international journey and codeshares are involved. If you can't check in with BA at T5 I recommend heading over to T3 AA counter before departing for OTP, as that will be your ultimate last chance. Notice the check in will close before you land at OTP so HBO/Airside/Landside won't matter, you need to be checked in by deadline 1h before OTP-LHR-PHX...
#1056
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, *A Gold, Hertz President's Circle, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 529
Is there that much of a difference between the Galleries Club and Galleries First lounges at LHR. Only ever had Silver as the business trips I often do rack up enough for Silver, but not Gold - hence why I am doing a OTP-PHX TP run as part of my holiday to get Gold this year
But the F wing, gold priority rewards, blocked seats next to you in Y, extra bag in any cabin, extra avios availability all make it worth getting Gold. Plus if you fly on other OW carriers, being OWE counts for something.
#1057
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,945
That's my question. I'm confident I can make the flight as it's on the same metal, but if they do not allow online check-in, I need to go to the desk to do so, and I suspect check-in will have closed by the time I get through passport control. If I can check in online, I can just stay airside. I was wondering if anyone had done the OTP-PHX-OTP run under an AA booking (like me), and managed this.
1. try online/BA app using the BA PNR which covers the OTP-LHR flight
2. try at T5 and ask BA to check you in and issue a bp
3. if 1 & 2 fail then get someone at BA to call OTP and check you in for your OTP-LHR flight - you can collect the actual bp at the gate in OTP
#1058
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
It's up to BA though for check in to OTP-LHR, not AA. BA are your operating airline for the first leg of your booking. Your options are:
1. try online/BA app using the BA PNR which covers the OTP-LHR flight
2. try at T5 and ask BA to check you in and issue a bp
3. if 1 & 2 fail then get someone at BA to call OTP and check you in for your OTP-LHR flight - you can collect the actual bp at the gate in OTP
1. try online/BA app using the BA PNR which covers the OTP-LHR flight
2. try at T5 and ask BA to check you in and issue a bp
3. if 1 & 2 fail then get someone at BA to call OTP and check you in for your OTP-LHR flight - you can collect the actual bp at the gate in OTP
#1059
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 192
Live report here if anyone is interested:
Live Trip report LHR-DOH-CMB-CGK-CMB-DOH-CMB-CGK-CMB-DPH-LHR
#1060
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Glasgow, UK
Programs: Seigneur des Tarifs Utils First Class Mucci with Honours :) - BA GGL / CCR
Posts: 1,551
I see that OSL - DOH - MEL | SYD is £1.3k each in J on the campanion sales,
I seem to remember managing to get some Qantas flights plugged into the end to increase the TPs,
Sure it was something like OSL - DOH - PER - MEL but I could be wrong? Any ideas how I would get the combos to work with QR?
I seem to remember managing to get some Qantas flights plugged into the end to increase the TPs,
Sure it was something like OSL - DOH - PER - MEL but I could be wrong? Any ideas how I would get the combos to work with QR?
#1061
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,471
I see that OSL - DOH - MEL SYD is £1.3k each in J on the campanion sales,
I seem to remember managing to get some Qantas flights plugged into the end to increase the TPs,
Sure it was something like OSL - DOH - PER - MEL but I could be wrong? Any ideas how I would get the combos to work with QR?
I seem to remember managing to get some Qantas flights plugged into the end to increase the TPs,
Sure it was something like OSL - DOH - PER - MEL but I could be wrong? Any ideas how I would get the combos to work with QR?
May have been that SYD/MEL have been possible on fares further back. I couldn't find much availablility for MEL or SYD in R when I was looking yesterday - plenty for ADL.
#1062
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Godalming, Surrey, UK.
Programs: Nowt of note.
Posts: 1,628
I see that OSL - DOH - MEL | SYD is £1.3k each in J on the campanion sales,
I seem to remember managing to get some Qantas flights plugged into the end to increase the TPs,
Sure it was something like OSL - DOH - PER - MEL but I could be wrong? Any ideas how I would get the combos to work with QR?
I seem to remember managing to get some Qantas flights plugged into the end to increase the TPs,
Sure it was something like OSL - DOH - PER - MEL but I could be wrong? Any ideas how I would get the combos to work with QR?
I seem to recall back then they weren't yet flying to SYD, but codeshares were available. Can't remember why DOH-HKG was available on CX metal, perhaps a similar reason.
#1063
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Glasgow, UK
Programs: Seigneur des Tarifs Utils First Class Mucci with Honours :) - BA GGL / CCR
Posts: 1,551
If you mean recently, this could be done on BNE - tried but failed to get it to work on SYD. Only those two give you another 140TP sector [for +120TPs since DOH-PER isn't an ultra leg]. Relies on I on QF I think, and allowed 72 or 96 hr stopover for the BNE ones.
May have been that SYD/MEL have been possible on fares further back. I couldn't find much availablility for MEL or SYD in R when I was looking yesterday - plenty for ADL.
May have been that SYD/MEL have been possible on fares further back. I couldn't find much availablility for MEL or SYD in R when I was looking yesterday - plenty for ADL.
Have you been able to get this to work with BNE recently? I quite fancy Australia but want more TPs haha
What was a sample routing OSL => DOH => BNE => MEL r/t
#1064
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,471
You will probably have difficulty getting super TP runs to MEL [assuming the HKG options mentioned by dsf are not coming back] - DOH-PER is just short of the 160TP threshold and PER-MEL is less than 2000 miles so DOH-PER-MEL would only get you +20 compared with DOH-MEL direct. I think it's only SYD and BNE that get 140TPs.
#1065
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: HKG
Programs: BAEC Gold, CX MPC Gold, Avis preferred plus, MyWaitrose card
Posts: 287
the destinations covered by the 3-legged UL runs are quite broad generally speaking all of UL’s destinations in Asia - most of the Indian subcontinent, Maldives MLE and GAN, South-East Asia and East Asia.
Most routes are 640 TPs, but you can max out at 840 TPs at destinations over 2000 miles from CMB.
Those are HKG / CAN / CGK / PVG / PEK / NRT also MEL, however that is a much higher fare.
Another good starting point for these runs is DME, which earns the same TPs; however, on most routes you’ll spend 300-400 EUR less than from MUC, and is easy to position with RFS. Visa may be needed if you want to leave the airport and explore Moscow.
Considering a nested run of:
CGK-CMB-DOH (Ticket 1 o/b)
DOH-CMB-HKG/CAN-CMB-DOH (ticket 2)
DOH-CMB-CGK/HKG (ticket 1 i/b)
Which should net me either 1120 tps, or 1160 if I can get HKG-CAN to price (without the HKG-CAN leg Google flights reckons the total cost is ~£1470 if my last flight is back to CMB (i.e. £1.31/TP), or ~£1785 if my last leg is back to HKG (so £1.59/TP). Would need to get avios positioning (from HKG) to CGK but shouldn't be an issue.