Old Jan 1, 2018, 5:20 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below.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
  • from JER to PDX IKN8T1S6 reported in this post, e.g. PDX Ł1,082, 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 - Ł1,296, see linked post for details
  • from AMS to BKK INCEU60 reported here, e.g. BKK - Ł1,340, 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.

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This thread lists attractive tier point (TP) runs under Ł3 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
From North, Central and South America

23Sep Ł1.48/TP Ł650 (US$853) 440 TPs JFK-CLT/BOS-LAX-LAS and return all I class aa.com
6Sep Ł1.50/TP US$457 240TPs RIC-CLT-DCA-BOS, BOS-LGA/PHL-CLT-RIC all I class aa.com
Jan/Feb wide open Ł1.94/TP Ł700(US$883) 360 TPs SEA-CLT-MCO-PHX-SEA all I class aa.com



From Middle East, Asia and Australasia
18Jan Ł1.58/TP Ł883 560 CMB-xHKG-CGK return I cathaypacific.com ermen CX
28Feb Ł1.44/TP Ł575 400 MCT-DOH-BKK-DOH-MCT A/R/R/A travel.americanexpress.co.uk QR
21Feb Ł1.53/TP Ł860 560 HKG-CMB-MEL return I Expedia.com.hk Firemin UL
16Mar Ł1.22/TP Ł687 560 CGK-CMB-DXB return I srilankan.com Firemin UL
01Apr Ł0.87/TP Ł314 360 PEN-KUL-KTM return Malaysian.com cgtechuk MH
01Apr Ł1.19/TP Ł335 280 KUL-PER return Malaysian.com cgtechuk MH
01Apr Ł1.28/TP Ł335 360 PEN-KUL-PER return Malaysian.com cgtechuk MH
05Apr Ł2.00/TP Ł320 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 Ł300 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 Ł500.

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 Ł520.
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
Print Wikipost

BA Tier Point Runs | 2018 master thread

Old Mar 2, 2018, 8:41 am
  #1306  
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 141
Originally Posted by madfish
@AlmostBritish hopefully see you in LAX on 1/4.
@madfish

Let me know, I am sure we will be both enjoying ourselves in the Flagship lounge
AlmostBritish is offline  
Old Mar 4, 2018, 4:52 am
  #1307  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: HHonors Diamond, BA Gold, IHG Spire
Posts: 33
Originally Posted by AlmostBritish
So I booked my OTP to PHX Tier Point run, and it couldn't be at a better time. On the 8th of March my membership year ends and I am flying already at the end of the month! Really excited about that, as it will give me the boost to get back to Silver, and sufficient time to save and book another Tier point run later this year. Thanks to the Matrix tool and Book with Matrix, and not to mention so many of your posts here, I have been able to book the flights I wanted. I was really considering going via HEL due to the extra points, however I know from experience that AA is flying around with a lot of aircraft with old configurations, and I genuinely wanted to try the Transcon flights between JFK and SFO/LAX. Please note that I specifically chose a long layover in SFO, so I can see some friends over there (Now let's hope they will be around haha). Knowing it is Easter, I might be able to change some of the flights as they are probably overbooked.

This is my itinerary. If you happen to be on any of these flights, give me a shout:

AA6358 Bucharest - London Heathrow
THU 29MAR
Dep: 8:30 AM Arr: 10:05 AM
OPERATED BY BRITISH AIRWAYS

AA6142 London Heathrow - New York Kennedy
THU 29MAR
Dep: 1:10 PM Arr: 4:00 PM
OPERATED BY BRITISH AIRWAYS

AA85 New York Kennedy - San Francisco
THU 29MAR
Dep: 6:50 PM Arr: 10:49 PM

AA1543 San Francisco - Phoenix
FRI 30MAR
Dep: 12:20 PM Arr: 2:23 PM

AA2996 Phoenix - Los Angeles
SUN 01APR
Dep: 5:40 AM Arr: 7:17 AM
OPERATED BY SKYWEST AIRLINES AS AMERICAN EAGLE

AA172 Los Angeles - New York Kennedy
SUN 01APR
Dep: 10:45 AM Arr: 7:19 PM

AA6135 New York Kennedy - London Heathrow
SUN 01APR
Dep: 9:30 PM Arr: 9:35 AM
OPERATED BY BRITISH AIRWAYS

AA6649 London Heathrow - Bucharest
MON 02APR
Dep: 11:40 AM Arr: 5:00 PM
OPERATED BY BRITISH AIRWAYS
Looks like we may be on some of the same flights

I'm doing

28/3
BA884 LHR/OTP 19:00 00:15

29/3
AA6358 OTP/LHR 08:30 10:05
AA6136 LHR/JFK 14:30 17:25

30/3
AA009 JFK/SFO 07:00 10:49
AA1543 SHO/PHX 12:20 14:23

31/3
AA686 PHX/SFO 17:15 19:26
AA18 SFO/JFK 23:50 08:22

1/4
AA6141 JFK/LHR 19:30 07:45

2/4
AA6649 LHR/OTP 11:40 17:00
rknight20772 is offline  
Old Mar 4, 2018, 5:05 am
  #1308  
Hilton Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Cumbria
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 4,510
Originally Posted by rknight20772
Looks like we may be on some of the same flights

I'm doing

28/3
BA884 LHR/OTP 19:00 00:15

29/3
AA6358 OTP/LHR 08:30 10:05
AA6136 LHR/JFK 14:30 17:25

30/3
AA009 JFK/SFO 07:00 10:49
AA1543 SHO/PHX 12:20 14:23

31/3
AA686 PHX/SFO 17:15 19:26
AA18 SFO/JFK 23:50 08:22

1/4
AA6141 JFK/LHR 19:30 07:45

2/4
AA6649 LHR/OTP 11:40 17:00
Feel free to add your flights to the PHX do thread.

PHX mini DO Aug 2018
madfish is offline  
Old Mar 4, 2018, 5:30 am
  #1309  
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: LON
Programs: BA GFL, OW Gold, CX/MP Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 258
Tp run 2018

Hi Team,
First of all thank you to all committed members.
I've been browsing for a while now. I'm in need of a TP Run for 800TP between OCT and NOV and wonder if you could help, preferably under Ł1200?
Many Thanks!
Y.
IAANN is offline  
Old Mar 4, 2018, 5:37 am
  #1310  
Hilton Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Cumbria
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 4,510
Originally Posted by IAANN
Hi Team,
First of all thank you to all committed members.
I've been browsing for a while now. I'm in need of a TP Run for 800TP between OCT and NOV and wonder if you could help, preferably under Ł1200?
Many Thanks!
Y.
Welcome. The obvious answer would be OTP/PHX. Assuming you are based in Europe.

If you can give some preferred dates then somebody may be able to give a more realistic price and routing.



madfish is offline  
Old Mar 4, 2018, 5:49 am
  #1311  
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: LON
Programs: BA GFL, OW Gold, CX/MP Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 258
Originally Posted by madfish


Welcome. The obvious answer would be OTP/PHX. Assuming you are based in Europe.

If you can give some preferred dates then somebody may be able to give a more realistic price and routing.



Yes I was looking at the OTP-PHX but couldn't find the right price (and I'm new to ITA Matrix).
I'm London based
Basically anytime between October and November or even January next year really. Preferably leaving on a Sunday?

Many Thanks!
Yann
IAANN is offline  
Old Mar 4, 2018, 5:54 am
  #1312  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
Originally Posted by IAANN
Yes I was looking at the OTP-PHX but couldn't find the right price (and I'm new to ITA Matrix).
I'm London based
Basically anytime between October and November or even January next year really. Preferably leaving on a Sunday?
Leaving on a Sunday will be your biggest issue - you'll need a Saturday night at the destination in order to take advantage of the cheapest fare, therefore this means you do you TATL return flight on the Sunday. This means departing EU on the Saturday at the latest.

OTP-PHX is your best bet - there is a very easy to follow post on how to search and book these fares in this thread.
rossmacd is offline  
Old Mar 4, 2018, 6:00 am
  #1313  
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: LON
Programs: BA GFL, OW Gold, CX/MP Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 258
Originally Posted by rossmacd
Leaving on a Sunday will be your biggest issue - you'll need a Saturday night at the destination in order to take advantage of the cheapest fare, therefore this means you do you TATL return flight on the Sunday. This means departing EU on the Saturday at the latest.

OTP-PHX is your best bet - there is a very easy to follow post on how to search and book these fares in this thread.
Thanks @rossmacd ! Leaving on a Saturday is not an issue, just didn't want to leave in the middle of the week. Would you mind sharing a matrix screenshot/link?
Also, what is TATL?
IAANN is offline  
Old Mar 4, 2018, 6:15 am
  #1314  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
Originally Posted by IAANN
Thanks @rossmacd ! Leaving on a Saturday is not an issue, just didn't want to leave in the middle of the week. Would you mind sharing a matrix screenshot/link?
Also, what is TATL?
This post will help you the most: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29240873-post36.html

TATL means transatlantic, so the flight that carries you both ways across the Atlantic Ocean from EU to US.

This is an example of a routing in November, with the search credentials needed to display this:



Note, that this fare is only available as follows:

PERMITTED 01JUL THROUGH 31AUG OR 22NOV THROUGH 29NOV OR
24DEC THROUGH 31DEC OR 24MAR THROUGH 08APR FOR EACH
TRANSATLANTIC SECTOR.
rossmacd is offline  
Old Mar 4, 2018, 6:25 am
  #1315  
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: LON
Programs: BA GFL, OW Gold, CX/MP Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 258
Thanks a lot, fantastic. If my calc are good, that's 800 TP right? what would it take to push to 1000?
IAANN is offline  
Old Mar 4, 2018, 6:35 am
  #1316  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
Originally Posted by IAANN
Thanks a lot, fantastic. If my calc are good, that's 800 TP right? what would it take to push to 1000?
That is indeed 800 TPs.

You can push it further to 1,040 TPs, but does of course take more time (and $$), and less desirable product between the US East Coast and PHX, as per below:

rossmacd is offline  
Old Mar 4, 2018, 6:43 am
  #1317  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
It is also worth saying that you can do variations on the above 2 itineraries for a "hybrid" number of TPs, in order to balance time and cost (including requirement for hotels):

OTP-LHR-HEL-LHR-JFK-PHX-LAX-JFK-LHR-OTP = 920 TPs
OTP-LHR-JFK-LAX-PHX-JFK-LHR-HEL-LHR-OTP = 920 TPs

This takes advantage of the maximum number of transfers on each fare component.

rossmacd is offline  
Old Mar 4, 2018, 6:43 am
  #1318  
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: BAEC GGL/CR; Hilton Diamond; Mucci des Puccis
Posts: 5,573
Bear in mind you can also put 160 points on using the positioning flight to OTP and B2B return. It won't be frantically cost effective but as you have to do the flights anyway you might as well get the TPs.
oxtailsoup likes this.
bisonrav is offline  
Old Mar 4, 2018, 6:49 am
  #1319  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
Originally Posted by bisonrav
Bear in mind you can also put 160 points on using the positioning flight to OTP and B2B return. It won't be frantically cost effective but as you have to do the flights anyway you might as well get the TPs.
That is if you are positioning from London, which not everyone does
Calchas likes this.
rossmacd is offline  
Old Mar 4, 2018, 6:54 am
  #1320  
 
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'm doing LHR-OTP-LHR-JFK-LAX-PHX-JFK-LHR-OTP-LHR leaving on the 23rd of November. 820 points only though, the first and last leg are in ET as I only need 800 TP.
flyuk is offline  

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