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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below.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
Mar 27, 2018, 11:05 pm
#1651
Join Date: May 2014
Location: BRU
Programs: BA GGL, TK E (*G), ITA exec
Posts: 4,078
I had checked also the plus fare and there was anyway a 30 difference, BA being cheaper.
As madfish said is a pleasant surprise when you find out the price is less than anticipated by ITA or Google.
Mar 28, 2018, 1:26 am
#1652
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Effectively grounded
Programs: BA GGL for a little while longer
Posts: 844
Going off at a slight tangent, I have a couple of days free in Philadelphia later this year.
I would visit the city but after 10+ visits I think I have now seen all the main points of interest...
So I was idly wondering if there are any TP-run worthy routings ex-PHL ? Happy to do several sectors in each direction with an overnight in-between if that's what it takes
I would visit the city but after 10+ visits I think I have now seen all the main points of interest...
So I was idly wondering if there are any TP-run worthy routings ex-PHL ? Happy to do several sectors in each direction with an overnight in-between if that's what it takes
Mar 28, 2018, 6:31 am
#1653
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rhineland-Palatinate
Programs: *A Gold (A3), HHonor Gold
Posts: 5,688
I need some help for a TP run. I was planning to drop to Bronze for next year but an unexpected trip where AA was most convenient pushed me to 550 TP and 2 BA flights. I think that getting 50 TP and 2 BA flights is probably worth the investment to carry Silver one more year.
End of qualification year is 8th June, and my only free weekends are the 10th-13th May and 25-27th May. Everything else is taken. Departure airport is FRA or STR.
London in CE one way ET the other way is the obvious candidate but the hotel prices jump this to a cost I do not think is sensible.
So I tried MAN but I have difficulty finding flights that would gather 50 TP or more. So here is the challenge: any european city would work (as long as it is a city with OK hotel prices, so AMS is out for example) where I can find flights gathering more than 50 TP. Codeshare with IB or HEL are good too.
After hours I am stuck, so any pointers would be great.
Thanks
End of qualification year is 8th June, and my only free weekends are the 10th-13th May and 25-27th May. Everything else is taken. Departure airport is FRA or STR.
London in CE one way ET the other way is the obvious candidate but the hotel prices jump this to a cost I do not think is sensible.
So I tried MAN but I have difficulty finding flights that would gather 50 TP or more. So here is the challenge: any european city would work (as long as it is a city with OK hotel prices, so AMS is out for example) where I can find flights gathering more than 50 TP. Codeshare with IB or HEL are good too.
After hours I am stuck, so any pointers would be great.
Thanks
Mar 28, 2018, 6:56 am
#1654
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: BCN
Programs: BA GGL, IB, LH, IHG Gold
Posts: 582
I need some help for a TP run. I was planning to drop to Bronze for next year but an unexpected trip where AA was most convenient pushed me to 550 TP and 2 BA flights. I think that getting 50 TP and 2 BA flights is probably worth the investment to carry Silver one more year.
End of qualification year is 8th June, and my only free weekends are the 10th-13th May and 25-27th May. Everything else is taken. Departure airport is FRA or STR.
London in CE one way ET the other way is the obvious candidate but the hotel prices jump this to a cost I do not think is sensible.
So I tried MAN but I have difficulty finding flights that would gather 50 TP or more. So here is the challenge: any european city would work (as long as it is a city with OK hotel prices, so AMS is out for example) where I can find flights gathering more than 50 TP. Codeshare with IB or HEL are good too.
After hours I am stuck, so any pointers would be great.
Thanks
End of qualification year is 8th June, and my only free weekends are the 10th-13th May and 25-27th May. Everything else is taken. Departure airport is FRA or STR.
London in CE one way ET the other way is the obvious candidate but the hotel prices jump this to a cost I do not think is sensible.
So I tried MAN but I have difficulty finding flights that would gather 50 TP or more. So here is the challenge: any european city would work (as long as it is a city with OK hotel prices, so AMS is out for example) where I can find flights gathering more than 50 TP. Codeshare with IB or HEL are good too.
After hours I am stuck, so any pointers would be great.
Thanks
In Madrid especially hotels tend to be cheaper on the weekends.
Mar 28, 2018, 7:02 am
#1655
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Switzerland
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, Bonvoy Plat
Posts: 843
... I think that getting 50 TP and 2 BA flights is probably worth the investment to carry Silver one more year.
End of qualification year is 8th June, and my only free weekends are the 10th-13th May and 25-27th May. Everything else is taken. Departure airport is FRA or STR.
End of qualification year is 8th June, and my only free weekends are the 10th-13th May and 25-27th May. Everything else is taken. Departure airport is FRA or STR.
Mar 28, 2018, 8:00 am
#1656
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rhineland-Palatinate
Programs: *A Gold (A3), HHonor Gold
Posts: 5,688
I would ideally like to combine the 2 BA and 50 TP in one trip. Hence my points about codeshare, for example a FRA-MAD under BA code, but all the BA booking engine throws at me are via LHR.
Mar 28, 2018, 8:01 am
#1657
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Berlin
Programs: BA Gold; Accor Plat; IHG Diamond-Amb; Meliα & HH & Marriott Gold
Posts: 5,450
timol's suggestion points the way: FRA-MAD as suggested for 40 TPs, returning MAD-LON-FRA with IB/BA in cheapo Y to get the remaining 10 TPs and two segments.
(Or the other way round if it's cheaper and/or the timing works better.)
(Or the other way round if it's cheaper and/or the timing works better.)
Last edited by IMH; Mar 28, 2018 at 8:09 am Reason: added comment in parentheses
Mar 28, 2018, 8:12 am
#1658
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rhineland-Palatinate
Programs: *A Gold (A3), HHonor Gold
Posts: 5,688
It is a good idea, however there are no cheapo Y MAD-LON-FRA. Cheapest one way is 250 EUR, and a return where I would throw away the inbound is 350 EUR.
Mar 28, 2018, 8:25 am
#1659
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Berlin
Programs: BA Gold; Accor Plat; IHG Diamond-Amb; Meliα & HH & Marriott Gold
Posts: 5,450
(Note that an IB operated flight with an IB flight number counts as a BA flight for BAEC renewal purposes. You don't need to hunt for codeshares.)
Mar 28, 2018, 8:29 am
#1660
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rhineland-Palatinate
Programs: *A Gold (A3), HHonor Gold
Posts: 5,688
Haaa yes I had forgotten that IB operated with IB flight numbers count, I thought that it had to be BA marketed. I will hunt this later today, looks good.
Mar 28, 2018, 8:57 am
#1661
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Berlin
Programs: BA Gold; Accor Plat; IHG Diamond-Amb; Meliα & HH & Marriott Gold
Posts: 5,450
Mar 28, 2018, 9:18 am
#1662
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold / OW Emerald
Posts: 753
There is a decent amount of availability for LHR-KEF coming up apparently. Just snagged a return at 342 GBP (Somehow 20 quid cheaper than on ITA) for two weeks from now, while cancelling my Icelandair ticket to hopefully get the taxes back. Since I had to go there anyway, I might as well upgrade myself and get some TPs.
Not a huge TP deal aronund 2 quid per, but this is also low(-ish) season in Iceland so a good time to visit if you wanted to go
Also, I'll be trying to get an Ex-EU "TP" run to YUL for a week in mid-october. I have to go anyway, and I'd be paying ~500-600 GBP to do so on BA in economy, so I thought I'd check for J or F fares. So far I have a INV-LHR-YUL return priced at 1272 GBP. Anything better? How much would I pay to fly something like LHR-JFK-YUL ex-EU in F?
Not a huge TP deal aronund 2 quid per, but this is also low(-ish) season in Iceland so a good time to visit if you wanted to go
Also, I'll be trying to get an Ex-EU "TP" run to YUL for a week in mid-october. I have to go anyway, and I'd be paying ~500-600 GBP to do so on BA in economy, so I thought I'd check for J or F fares. So far I have a INV-LHR-YUL return priced at 1272 GBP. Anything better? How much would I pay to fly something like LHR-JFK-YUL ex-EU in F?
Last edited by thebigben; Mar 28, 2018 at 9:24 am
Mar 28, 2018, 9:49 am
#1663
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, HH DIAMOND, AVIS Presidents Club, Karahi Express
Posts: 1,229
If you are able to fly on the 8th June and return the next day .... then why not do FRA-MAD-BIO return in CE on IB. You will be posting 40+20 TP towards retaining Silver this year and 40+20 TP towards next years collection. Prices at around 488. So cost wise its costing you 244 to retain silver and an investment of 244 towards next years collection. Happy Days.
Mar 28, 2018, 1:04 pm
#1664
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rhineland-Palatinate
Programs: *A Gold (A3), HHonor Gold
Posts: 5,688
If you are able to fly on the 8th June and return the next day .... then why not do FRA-MAD-BIO return in CE on IB. You will be posting 40+20 TP towards retaining Silver this year and 40+20 TP towards next years collection. Prices at around 488. So cost wise its costing you 244 to retain silver and an investment of 244 towards next years collection. Happy Days.
I am looking at a return FRA MAD and this seems to work well.
Mar 28, 2018, 3:26 pm
#1665
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: London
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Avis President's Club, BA GGL CCR, Amex Plat
Posts: 77
CTA-LGW 28th march midnight flight
Was on the 23:55 flight from cta to lgw and was sitting behind 2 guys who im sure are also very active on this group. They were sitting in 1c and 1d and obviously asked for champs once on board.
was too shy to intro myself incase they had no idea about this forum. Would be great to put a name to the face as im sure ive seen them on other flights.
Also big thanks to you all that helpped me book my trips this year to get to gold.
was too shy to intro myself incase they had no idea about this forum. Would be great to put a name to the face as im sure ive seen them on other flights.
Also big thanks to you all that helpped me book my trips this year to get to gold.