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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below.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 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:
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 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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 22, 2018, 7:34 am
#2416
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: BA Executive Club
Posts: 124
I read this as meaning "if there is a stopover then the return date must be at least 3 days after departure from the stopover. In all cases the return must be >24 hours after arrival".
A quick search for a simpler routing of LAX-MIA-PTY//PTY-MIA-LAX indeed shows that you can depart from PTY only 2 days after leaving LAX for the same price (as long as the >24 hour rules is satisfied). The rules also limit the stopover to the US gateway, so what it means in practice is that you can't use the fare for trip to MIA with a quick turn around in PTY to bring down the price.
A quick search for a simpler routing of LAX-MIA-PTY//PTY-MIA-LAX indeed shows that you can depart from PTY only 2 days after leaving LAX for the same price (as long as the >24 hour rules is satisfied). The rules also limit the stopover to the US gateway, so what it means in practice is that you can't use the fare for trip to MIA with a quick turn around in PTY to bring down the price.
May 22, 2018, 9:33 am
#2417
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: BAEC silver
Posts: 55
Hi
now the Lax-Pty is back could I ask a couple of questions.
i was thinking of doing this in reverse, pty-lax as I will be staying in Orlando and this will be my starting point. I was planning on not returning to pty and ending my trip in either Mco or Mia on the return ..any problems with doing this? Be travelling HBO.
i would only need a one way from mco to pty would this then be a problem at immigration?
Is 47 mins at CLT enough time, same with 58 mins at PHX . ? If I was to miss my connection would AA put me on the next flight or try send me straight to Lax? As this is a TP this would defeat the purpose as I have seen they arent too good with getting ORC.
All advice welcome , I am taking the longest layover at Mco so as to go sleep in my own bed plus reduce the costs as noted above having to stay extra day.
now the Lax-Pty is back could I ask a couple of questions.
i was thinking of doing this in reverse, pty-lax as I will be staying in Orlando and this will be my starting point. I was planning on not returning to pty and ending my trip in either Mco or Mia on the return ..any problems with doing this? Be travelling HBO.
i would only need a one way from mco to pty would this then be a problem at immigration?
Is 47 mins at CLT enough time, same with 58 mins at PHX . ? If I was to miss my connection would AA put me on the next flight or try send me straight to Lax? As this is a TP this would defeat the purpose as I have seen they arent too good with getting ORC.
All advice welcome , I am taking the longest layover at Mco so as to go sleep in my own bed plus reduce the costs as noted above having to stay extra day.
May 22, 2018, 10:16 am
#2418
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Glasgow, UK
Programs: Seigneur des Tarifs Utils First Class Mucci with Honours :) - BA GGL / CCR
Posts: 1,551
Hi
now the Lax-Pty is back could I ask a couple of questions.
i was thinking of doing this in reverse, pty-lax as I will be staying in Orlando and this will be my starting point. I was planning on not returning to pty and ending my trip in either Mco or Mia on the return ..any problems with doing this? Be travelling HBO.
i would only need a one way from mco to pty would this then be a problem at immigration?
Is 47 mins at CLT enough time, same with 58 mins at PHX . ? If I was to miss my connection would AA put me on the next flight or try send me straight to Lax? As this is a TP this would defeat the purpose as I have seen they arent too good with getting ORC.
All advice welcome , I am taking the longest layover at Mco so as to go sleep in my own bed plus reduce the costs as noted above having to stay extra day.
now the Lax-Pty is back could I ask a couple of questions.
i was thinking of doing this in reverse, pty-lax as I will be staying in Orlando and this will be my starting point. I was planning on not returning to pty and ending my trip in either Mco or Mia on the return ..any problems with doing this? Be travelling HBO.
i would only need a one way from mco to pty would this then be a problem at immigration?
Is 47 mins at CLT enough time, same with 58 mins at PHX . ? If I was to miss my connection would AA put me on the next flight or try send me straight to Lax? As this is a TP this would defeat the purpose as I have seen they arent too good with getting ORC.
All advice welcome , I am taking the longest layover at Mco so as to go sleep in my own bed plus reduce the costs as noted above having to stay extra day.
You can indeed not bother with the last two legs I planned mine so that it got me to MCO at 23:00 at night I then simply didn't show for the MCO - MIA - PTY legs the next day also no issues with crediting either.
The connections can be tight but usually as they are small planes between these legs the gates are quite close together unless you are super unlucky, I managed a 25 minute connection before at CLT / DCA. What also happened was I lost my DCA - PHL - PHX - LAS due to weather and the delay meant I would miss my next connection , AA put me on DCA - LAX - LAS and you get the ORC back for the original routing despite having taken fewer flights also meant I got more time in Vegas, The other option was to pick the same routing but next day so this was more sensible
It is a tough run due to lack of lie flat but I found it good fun and something a bit different, You will be able to help the cabin crew with the safety video at the end of the trip though lol
May 22, 2018, 11:58 am
#2419
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 561
Hi all,
London-based, looking for some low cost options to get ~75 TPs in the next month or so to tip me into gold. Ideally an overnight at the weekend (Sat out / Sun back); looking at around ~Ł337 or so for CE to JER; are there any more creative / lower cost options out there?
Thank you!
Edit: I realise I can go cheaper by flying back at 7am on the Sunday... would prefer not to though :/
London-based, looking for some low cost options to get ~75 TPs in the next month or so to tip me into gold. Ideally an overnight at the weekend (Sat out / Sun back); looking at around ~Ł337 or so for CE to JER; are there any more creative / lower cost options out there?
Thank you!
Edit: I realise I can go cheaper by flying back at 7am on the Sunday... would prefer not to though :/
May 22, 2018, 12:08 pm
#2420
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,990
You should be able to get Luxembourg, Leeds-Bradford and, possibly Glasgow for significantly less than Ł300.
May 22, 2018, 12:15 pm
#2421
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold / OW Emerald
Posts: 753
Hi all,
London-based, looking for some low cost options to get ~75 TPs in the next month or so to tip me into gold. Ideally an overnight at the weekend (Sat out / Sun back); looking at around ~Ł337 or so for CE to JER; are there any more creative / lower cost options out there?
Thank you!
Edit: I realise I can go cheaper by flying back at 7am on the Sunday... would prefer not to though :/
London-based, looking for some low cost options to get ~75 TPs in the next month or so to tip me into gold. Ideally an overnight at the weekend (Sat out / Sun back); looking at around ~Ł337 or so for CE to JER; are there any more creative / lower cost options out there?
Thank you!
Edit: I realise I can go cheaper by flying back at 7am on the Sunday... would prefer not to though :/
May 22, 2018, 12:37 pm
#2422
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: AA EXP (owe), BA Silver (ows), AB Silver (owr), WN A+/CP, IHG Spire AMB, Avis First
Posts: 1,414
Any suggestions for someone who is originating from C1w (West North America), ex-SFO,SJC,OAK,LAX and needs to renew for silver by the end of June? I could do something like LAX-PTY, but then I need the 4 BA segments as well, which are quite the problem for me this time around.
I can re-position to C3 (Asia) thanks to cheap PEK/PVG/CGK/SIN fares, but that doesn't help much with the BA segments... Don't suppose there's a way to originate C1 or C3 and get a BA marketed fare WITHOUT heading to London?
I can re-position to C3 (Asia) thanks to cheap PEK/PVG/CGK/SIN fares, but that doesn't help much with the BA segments... Don't suppose there's a way to originate C1 or C3 and get a BA marketed fare WITHOUT heading to London?
May 22, 2018, 1:01 pm
#2423
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: GGL/CCR
Posts: 1,899
Any suggestions for someone who is originating from C1w (West North America), ex-SFO,SJC,OAK,LAX and needs to renew for silver by the end of June? I could do something like LAX-PTY, but then I need the 4 BA segments as well, which are quite the problem for me this time around.
I can re-position to C3 (Asia) thanks to cheap PEK/PVG/CGK/SIN fares, but that doesn't help much with the BA segments... Don't suppose there's a way to originate C1 or C3 and get a BA marketed fare WITHOUT heading to London?
I can re-position to C3 (Asia) thanks to cheap PEK/PVG/CGK/SIN fares, but that doesn't help much with the BA segments... Don't suppose there's a way to originate C1 or C3 and get a BA marketed fare WITHOUT heading to London?
May 22, 2018, 4:32 pm
#2424
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: AA EXP (owe), BA Silver (ows), AB Silver (owr), WN A+/CP, IHG Spire AMB, Avis First
Posts: 1,414
May 23, 2018, 1:51 am
#2426
Join Date: May 2018
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 12
A couple of questions from this TP run novice:
1) how do I book the itinerary from ITA Matrix for OTP - PHX on AA?
2) does it matter that I ticket it with AA for my TP?
3) Is it vital to complete the final leg LHR - OTP (what is the risk of not doing so, if hand luggage only)
4) If I do a back to back booking on BA (LHR - OTP - LHR) with the AA OTP - PHX - OTP is there any risk? I understand that there is some risk associated with back to back bookings.
1) how do I book the itinerary from ITA Matrix for OTP - PHX on AA?
2) does it matter that I ticket it with AA for my TP?
3) Is it vital to complete the final leg LHR - OTP (what is the risk of not doing so, if hand luggage only)
4) If I do a back to back booking on BA (LHR - OTP - LHR) with the AA OTP - PHX - OTP is there any risk? I understand that there is some risk associated with back to back bookings.
May 23, 2018, 2:11 am
#2427
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA GGL, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 910
If using Matrix then copy the page contents and paste them here Book With Matrix
Alternatively, I suggest just making a note of the flights and calling AA directly.
No, it's the same number of TP's.
I've done LHR-OTP and then the return OTP-LHR. Preferable to do as a transit connection however it's also possible to go landside and then back round - transit much preferred for safety. You will have to explain to passport control that you are transiting back to London.
Last edited by David_Doyle; May 23, 2018 at 2:17 am
May 23, 2018, 2:20 am
#2428
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: UK
Programs: BA Exec Club Bronze, Hilton Diamond, Virgin Flying Club Red
Posts: 1,257
May 23, 2018, 2:33 am
#2429
Join Date: May 2014
Location: BRU
Programs: BA GGL, TK E (*G), ITA exec
Posts: 4,078
To be honest Google Flights is simpler to use. OTP-LHR, LHR-JFK, JFK-PHX, PHX-JFK,JFK-OTP is easy to do.
If using Matrix then copy the page contents and paste them here Book With Matrix
Alternatively, I suggest just making a note of the flights and calling AA directly.
If using Matrix then copy the page contents and paste them here Book With Matrix
Alternatively, I suggest just making a note of the flights and calling AA directly.
I would also suggest to try the ITA Matrix Power Tools to select an UK or Europe version of AA.com, as sometimes the US site gives headaches when trying to use a non US credit card.
May 23, 2018, 3:18 am
#2430
Join Date: May 2018
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 12
I've done LHR-OTP and then the return OTP-LHR. Preferable to do as a transit connection however it's also possible to go landside and then back round - transit much preferred for safety. You will have to explain to passport control that you are transiting back to London.
How would I do the transit connection?
Presumably, doing the back to back on a BA ticket vs an AA ticket for the TP run makes it a less risky option, is that right?