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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below.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 Jul 25, 2018, 7:53 am
  #3136  
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA Gold and Virgin Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 42
Originally Posted by cgtechuk
If you are open with dates you can get INV - HNL for Ł1461 as you give up the APD
Where is this bookable and what dates? Thanks
davy1974 is offline  
Old Jul 25, 2018, 8:04 am
  #3137  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,295
BUF-phl/dca-BOS or BUF-phl/dca-NYC and reverse ~$141-155 for 80 TPs

For anyone ex-NYC, ex-BUF, or ex-BOS, some very nice AA I fares BOS-BUF or NYC-BUF or reverse routing. Connect through PHL/DCA.

BOS-BUF or reverse is $141 for 80TPs at $1.76/TP
NYC-BUF or reverse is ~$150 USD for 80TPs

Of course, you have to love AA's RJs
Surgee is offline  
Old Jul 25, 2018, 8:07 am
  #3138  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,295
Originally Posted by Surgee
For anyone ex-NYC, ex-BUF, or ex-BOS, some very nice AA I fares BOS-BUF or NYC-BUF or reverse routing. Connect through PHL/DCA.

BOS-BUF or reverse is $141 for 80TPs at $1.76/TP
NYC-BUF or reverse is ~$150 USD for 80TPs

Of course, you have to love AA's RJs
Piece together BOS-PHL-BUF-DCA-LGA for $300. I'm sure there are other combos

Last edited by Surgee; Jul 25, 2018 at 8:48 am Reason: heat is effecting my math...
Surgee is offline  
Old Jul 25, 2018, 8:09 am
  #3139  
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Glasgow, UK
Programs: Seigneur des Tarifs Utils First Class Mucci with Honours :) - BA GGL / CCR
Posts: 1,548
Originally Posted by davy1974
Where is this bookable and what dates? Thanks

It is no longer bookable if you want the INV - LHR - JFK - LAX - OGG

BUT LHR - JFK - LAX - OGG or INV - LHR - LAX - OGG seem bookable accoridng to Google Flights between Feb - March next year midweek departure minimum stay of 7 days
cgtechuk is offline  
Old Jul 25, 2018, 11:21 pm
  #3140  
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: London
Programs: BAEC GOLD
Posts: 53
end of November will be in NYC any ideas how to maximise tier points and get a good price and maybe 7-10 days in Florida/Caribbean area ?

any help appreciated
timeport4 is offline  
Old Jul 26, 2018, 2:50 am
  #3141  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,295
Originally Posted by timeport4
end of November will be in NYC any ideas how to maximise tier points and get a good price and maybe 7-10 days in Florida/Caribbean area ?

any help appreciated
Any interest in Richmond? LGA-DCA-BUF-PHL-RIC for $343 each way. 160 TPs for $2.13/TP
Surgee is offline  
Old Jul 26, 2018, 7:08 am
  #3142  
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: London
Programs: BAEC GOLD
Posts: 53
Originally Posted by Surgee
Any interest in Richmond? LGA-DCA-BUF-PHL-RIC for $343 each way. 160 TPs for $2.13/TP
Very cheap and def a possible

thxs will have a look into
EDIwanderer likes this.
timeport4 is offline  
Old Jul 27, 2018, 7:54 am
  #3143  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,295
Originally Posted by onobond
The LAX-PHX-MIA-BDA routing only earns 120 TP as PHX-MIA only is 1972 miles. LAX-CLT, however, is 2125 miles. So LAX-CLT-MIA-BDA is 220TP
Correct on PHX-MIA, my bad.

That said, similar fare is also available ex-SFO. SFO-LAX-JFK-BDA with LAX-JFK in very comfortable J can be had in the $493-$520 range netting 220 TPs

And ex-Den: DEN-LAX-MIA-BDA for $438 and 220 TPs, (~$2/TP).... On Sept 11 its actually only $393 but LAX-MIA is on the 737 and then you spend all day at MIA.
Surgee is offline  
Old Jul 27, 2018, 11:59 am
  #3144  
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Programs: EI Concierge, BAEC Gold, Star Allaince Gold, KLM Silver, ITA Airways Premium, Hilton Gold,
Posts: 10
Hi All

I need 110 Tier points to get back to Gold before the 8th of September. Any ideas welcome as a cheap as possible. Based in Dublin.

thanks

J
JPMDUBLIN is offline  
Old Jul 27, 2018, 4:44 pm
  #3145  
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Surrey
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 211
Originally Posted by JPMDUBLIN
Hi All

I need 110 Tier points to get back to Gold before the 8th of September. Any ideas welcome as a cheap as possible. Based in Dublin.

thanks

J
Dub->LHR->HEL is 120tps in CE, ET back to save.
FrogTastic is offline  
Old Jul 29, 2018, 1:52 am
  #3146  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HAM
Programs: A3*G, BA Gold
Posts: 115
Is the LAX-PTY run gone again? Can´t find anything right now.
krabbenkopf is offline  
Old Jul 29, 2018, 2:36 am
  #3147  
Hilton Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: ±38,000 feet
Programs: LH HON, BA GGL, AF Plat, EK Plat
Posts: 6,423
Originally Posted by krabbenkopf
Is the LAX-PTY run gone again? Can´t find anything right now.
Fare rules changed, now only 2 transfers allowed
krabbenkopf and Marschel like this.
nufnuf77 is offline  
Old Jul 29, 2018, 3:14 am
  #3148  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HAM
Programs: A3*G, BA Gold
Posts: 115
Originally Posted by nufnuf77
Fare rules changed, now only 2 transfers allowed
Thanks! Too bad...
krabbenkopf is offline  
Old Jul 29, 2018, 3:17 am
  #3149  
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: BA GGL, A3*G, Mucci de l'expertise des Apps
Posts: 3,362
Originally Posted by nufnuf77
Fare rules changed, now only 2 transfers allowed
Ah thats a shame. Almost every other cheap AA fare from the US to Latin America/Carribean was changed to 2 transfers maximum a couple of years ago, but for some reason PTY survived much longer. Presumably this will now stay as the new normal rule for PTY too. Perhaps all the sudden YVR-PTY bookings for the same week caused them to look at it and realise it was too generous
Airprox is offline  
Old Jul 29, 2018, 5:57 am
  #3150  
 
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 12
Hi folks,
I read a lot of posts here, but I couldn't find anything suitable for me. I need min 220TP to achieve BA Gold until 8. September
I've played around with the matrix and found something which could work, but even with Bookwithmatrix I can't reproduce the price (Ebookers: 1050 €)

Now I would like to ask the experts if you have something in your mind which could work for a weekend run for a reasonable price.

Thanks for your help

Departure Airport(s): HAM
BA TPs Needed: min 220
BA segments needed: No special segments requirement
Max Budget: ~700€
Available Travel Dates: End of August up to 9 Sept (End of qualification year including grace period)
Max # Travel Nights: 2-3 (In best case extended weekend to avoid days off at work)
BA only, or Partners Okay: Any oneworld

Thanks for your help
basti1989 is offline  

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