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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below.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
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
May 7, 2018, 9:28 am
#2236
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL, HH Diamond, IHG Spire, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 160
Hi, I am trying to build a trip to maximize Tier points and use my GUF1, can someone with better knowledge help me as I think I've got quite a good route but am still very much a novice with ITA (and the removal of searching all european destinations hasn't helped!)
By trying different departure points, and using this forum to confirm how to search for Premium economy (thank you!) I think Copenhagen is my best bet (unless anyone can suggest a better departure point!) and I've got CPH - LHR - PHL - RSW (Fort Myers) and return for £1,047 with the CPH-LHR and LHR-PHL and returns both in economy/premium economy which is perfect as I can upgrade to club. The PHL - RSW in economy will be fine (it can't be upgraded).
My questions are two really... is there a way to force ITA to search for operated by BA for the international leg? I found the flight by just searching through one by one which was time-consuming.. The code I put in was LHR, PHL (opposite in the return section) in the first box and f bc=t in the second.
Secondly are there any other european hops that I can build into this? I don't particularly want to add USA legs (unless no price effect), it's the european legs if on BA that I can upgrade.
Thank you so much for your time!
By trying different departure points, and using this forum to confirm how to search for Premium economy (thank you!) I think Copenhagen is my best bet (unless anyone can suggest a better departure point!) and I've got CPH - LHR - PHL - RSW (Fort Myers) and return for £1,047 with the CPH-LHR and LHR-PHL and returns both in economy/premium economy which is perfect as I can upgrade to club. The PHL - RSW in economy will be fine (it can't be upgraded).
My questions are two really... is there a way to force ITA to search for operated by BA for the international leg? I found the flight by just searching through one by one which was time-consuming.. The code I put in was LHR, PHL (opposite in the return section) in the first box and f bc=t in the second.
Secondly are there any other european hops that I can build into this? I don't particularly want to add USA legs (unless no price effect), it's the european legs if on BA that I can upgrade.
Thank you so much for your time!
May 7, 2018, 10:20 am
#2237
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Wolverhampton
Programs: BA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Marriot Gold, Radisson Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 1,608
Just tried booking the PDX fare, and I suspect the agent did something wrong at BA, GLA-LHR-JFK-LAX-PDX over on 14/15 of July back 20th, but he was thinking that only J was on both the early and late flight back from LAX to JFK. It being that way struck me as funny to me.
A couple of things:
1) I was considering trying AA for this, but that won't get me extra points from my BA Credit card right, it has to be with BA? Doesn't work with any other online travel agents, right? For BA 3 points per £?
2) Is the fare done tomorrow? By tomorrow or by end of tomorrow?
Considering a HUCA...
A couple of things:
1) I was considering trying AA for this, but that won't get me extra points from my BA Credit card right, it has to be with BA? Doesn't work with any other online travel agents, right? For BA 3 points per £?
2) Is the fare done tomorrow? By tomorrow or by end of tomorrow?
Considering a HUCA...
May 7, 2018, 10:27 am
#2238
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: BCN
Programs: BA GGL, IB, LH, IHG Gold
Posts: 582
Without the specific dates, and access to the fare rules, the best advice is to read the fare rules on ITA (check outbound and inbound as they may be different).
You can get BA operated over the Atlantic in one of two ways
Disallowing codeshares
CPH
LHR ba PHL // -CODESHARE; bc=t
RSW
Specifying the operating carrier
CPH
LHR O:ba PHL // bc=t
RSW
In case two transfers are allowed in Europe by the fare rules, ensure both are on BA operated, to be able to upgrade both - best options to get two BA legs in Europe is a CPH to UK, then UK to London (I am unaware of flights from CPH to UK regions, other more experienced can let us know).
You can use ITA Matrix help you to find intermediary points
CPH
x o:ba LHR O:ba PHL // bc=t
RSW
You can get BA operated over the Atlantic in one of two ways
Disallowing codeshares
CPH
LHR ba PHL // -CODESHARE; bc=t
RSW
Specifying the operating carrier
CPH
LHR O:ba PHL // bc=t
RSW
In case two transfers are allowed in Europe by the fare rules, ensure both are on BA operated, to be able to upgrade both - best options to get two BA legs in Europe is a CPH to UK, then UK to London (I am unaware of flights from CPH to UK regions, other more experienced can let us know).
You can use ITA Matrix help you to find intermediary points
CPH
x o:ba LHR O:ba PHL // bc=t
RSW
May 7, 2018, 11:38 am
#2239
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Wolverhampton
Programs: BA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Marriot Gold, Radisson Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 1,608
Well, I HUCA'ed on the PDX fare. At least the second agent made some attempt and got it down to £2300, other one stuck it at above 5K per person. I guess I'm abandoning it. Don't seem to be bookable over the BA phone line, or at least their all I fare comes in at 2.3K.
May 7, 2018, 11:47 am
#2240
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,968
if you have it priced up on itamatrix are you able to use ita power tools to transfer it on to aa.com and pay for it there?
May 7, 2018, 12:11 pm
#2241
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Wolverhampton
Programs: BA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Marriot Gold, Radisson Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 1,608
The website has never worked for me on previous attempts and first attempt with the addon wasn't great.
Not really looked at ita power tools before, is it this? ITA-Matrix-PowerTools - Userscript for Orbitz/DL/UA/AA/BA/CZ/IB/LA/LH/LX/TK
I guess no 3 points per pound for that. I suppose that's the rub, eh?
May 7, 2018, 1:38 pm
#2242
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,968
I tried with bookwithmatrix website and their addon. Website never attempted to do anything after cut and paste, and addon just opened the website and had the waiting thing, which I gave up after 20 minutes of waiting.
The website has never worked for me on previous attempts and first attempt with the addon wasn't great.
Not really looked at ita power tools before, is it this? ITA-Matrix-PowerTools - Userscript for Orbitz/DL/UA/AA/BA/CZ/IB/LA/LH/LX/TK
I guess no 3 points per pound for that. I suppose that's the rub, eh?
The website has never worked for me on previous attempts and first attempt with the addon wasn't great.
Not really looked at ita power tools before, is it this? ITA-Matrix-PowerTools - Userscript for Orbitz/DL/UA/AA/BA/CZ/IB/LA/LH/LX/TK
I guess no 3 points per pound for that. I suppose that's the rub, eh?
Yes so no opportunity to GUF/UuA on an AA ticket and no 3x avios unfortunately.
May 7, 2018, 3:21 pm
#2243
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Glasgow / London
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 3,457
I tried with bookwithmatrix website and their addon. Website never attempted to do anything after cut and paste, and addon just opened the website and had the waiting thing, which I gave up after 20 minutes of waiting.
The website has never worked for me on previous attempts and first attempt with the addon wasn't great.
Not really looked at ita power tools before, is it this? ITA-Matrix-PowerTools - Userscript for Orbitz/DL/UA/AA/BA/CZ/IB/LA/LH/LX/TK
I guess no 3 points per pound for that. I suppose that's the rub, eh?
The website has never worked for me on previous attempts and first attempt with the addon wasn't great.
Not really looked at ita power tools before, is it this? ITA-Matrix-PowerTools - Userscript for Orbitz/DL/UA/AA/BA/CZ/IB/LA/LH/LX/TK
I guess no 3 points per pound for that. I suppose that's the rub, eh?
May 7, 2018, 3:23 pm
#2244
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Wolverhampton
Programs: BA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Marriot Gold, Radisson Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 1,608
Thanks, I've got through to somewhere. Got to work out how to get two people in it...
May 7, 2018, 8:59 pm
#2245
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SIN
Posts: 196
Book by 7 May (a few hours left), travel by 30 Jun.
But SSA-GRU-LIM-LAX-MIA rtn on LA/AA is 880 TPs for $1,275 i.e. at £1.07 / TP
Potential to optimise further. Unlimited transfers. Thread on premium fares forum. Had previously posted, but the edit cleared it all out. Oops.
But SSA-GRU-LIM-LAX-MIA rtn on LA/AA is 880 TPs for $1,275 i.e. at £1.07 / TP
Potential to optimise further. Unlimited transfers. Thread on premium fares forum. Had previously posted, but the edit cleared it all out. Oops.
Last edited by CX_newbie; May 7, 2018 at 9:13 pm
May 8, 2018, 12:43 am
#2246
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Wolverhampton
Programs: BA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Marriot Gold, Radisson Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 1,608
I take it I phone them up? Roughly how much is the fee? Because AA is charging in dollars (amex card would take about £75 in fees for currency conversion alone).
May 8, 2018, 1:54 am
#2247
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL, HH Diamond, IHG Spire, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 160
Without the specific dates, and access to the fare rules, the best advice is to read the fare rules on ITA (check outbound and inbound as they may be different).
You can get BA operated over the Atlantic in one of two ways
Disallowing codeshares
CPH
LHR ba PHL // -CODESHARE; bc=t
RSW
Specifying the operating carrier
CPH
LHR O:ba PHL // bc=t
RSW
In case two transfers are allowed in Europe by the fare rules, ensure both are on BA operated, to be able to upgrade both - best options to get two BA legs in Europe is a CPH to UK, then UK to London (I am unaware of flights from CPH to UK regions, other more experienced can let us know).
You can use ITA Matrix help you to find intermediary points
CPH
x o:ba LHR O:ba PHL // bc=t
RSW
You can get BA operated over the Atlantic in one of two ways
Disallowing codeshares
CPH
LHR ba PHL // -CODESHARE; bc=t
RSW
Specifying the operating carrier
CPH
LHR O:ba PHL // bc=t
RSW
In case two transfers are allowed in Europe by the fare rules, ensure both are on BA operated, to be able to upgrade both - best options to get two BA legs in Europe is a CPH to UK, then UK to London (I am unaware of flights from CPH to UK regions, other more experienced can let us know).
You can use ITA Matrix help you to find intermediary points
CPH
x o:ba LHR O:ba PHL // bc=t
RSW
I think I must be doing it wrong though as it's saying bad command.
eg disallowing codeshare example I put the whole string in the first box but got a list of results in economy only (it seemed to remove the bc=t part). Then I tried again and this time it moved the / -CODESHARE; bc=t into the second box...
I'm so sorry I'm obviously doing something wrong can you help? I think the screenshot is working this time... this is what ITA matrix did when I put the whole string in the first box... Thank you so much again!
May 8, 2018, 3:08 am
#2248
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: BCN
Programs: BA GGL, IB, LH, IHG Gold
Posts: 582
Thank you so much ubiest. And sorry, I was trying to attach a screenshot but couldn't see how to do it...
I think I must be doing it wrong though as it's saying bad command.
eg disallowing codeshare example I put the whole string in the first box but got a list of results in economy only (it seemed to remove the bc=t part). Then I tried again and this time it moved the / -CODESHARE; bc=t into the second box...
I'm so sorry I'm obviously doing something wrong can you help? I think the screenshot is working this time... this is what ITA matrix did when I put the whole string in the first box... Thank you so much again!
I think I must be doing it wrong though as it's saying bad command.
eg disallowing codeshare example I put the whole string in the first box but got a list of results in economy only (it seemed to remove the bc=t part). Then I tried again and this time it moved the / -CODESHARE; bc=t into the second box...
I'm so sorry I'm obviously doing something wrong can you help? I think the screenshot is working this time... this is what ITA matrix did when I put the whole string in the first box... Thank you so much again!
Just remove the initial / from the second box in your screenshot and you’ll be good to go.
May 8, 2018, 9:38 am
#2249
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL, HH Diamond, IHG Spire, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 160
Thank you so mcuh ubiest - I've got it now... off to have hours of fun learning how to work with these (!!) Really appreciated...
May 8, 2018, 9:59 am
#2250
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: London / Brighton
Programs: BAEC Gold / M-Life Gold / HH Diamond
Posts: 1,634
How to book from ITA Matrix in UK
I have been trying to book a deal that I've found with ITA matrix (JER-LGW-LHR-PHL-CLT-PDX-LAX-JFK-LHR), priced up over there at £1,084. Tried to use BookWithMatrix, but that directs through to aa.com - I get all the way through seat selection and to payment then it falls flat on it's arse because I've got a UK credit card, it directs me to the UK AA site, but I'm unable to recreate the itinerary as it's got 9 sectors (the AA multi-city page only handles 6).
Any ideas? I believe this JER-PDX fare is only around until the end of today
Any ideas? I believe this JER-PDX fare is only around until the end of today