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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below.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 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.

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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:
  • 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 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
Print Wikipost

BA Tier Point Runs | 2018 master thread

Old Jan 2, 2019, 3:00 pm
  #5221  
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 10,086
Originally Posted by tenn_ace
A bit off topic, but has anyone on a TP run had to go though a US immigration officer (with renewed ESTA) and tried to explain why you are entering the country? Have they been cool with TP run explanation?

yes, just be open and honest with them and say your on a mileage run, keeping/attaining your airline status and your also an aviation enthusiast. They're mostly very used to it in my experiences.
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Old Jan 2, 2019, 3:15 pm
  #5222  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,190
Originally Posted by PETER01
yes, just be open and honest with them and say your on a mileage run, keeping/attaining your airline status and your also an aviation enthusiast. They're mostly very used to it in my experiences.
Absolutely! Honesty is (almost) always the best policy!

rb211.
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Old Jan 2, 2019, 4:12 pm
  #5223  
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL/GFl, HH Diamond, BW Diamond, Virgin Voyages Deep Blue Extra, Blue Peter Badge Holder
Posts: 3,933
Originally Posted by RB211
Absolutely! Honesty is (almost) always the best policy!

rb211.
in the interest of those who have requested I lighten up and given its related, here was my post from Facebook from my interaction with US immigration on Saturday;

Got to love US immigration

Immigration: What brings you to the US, business or pleasure?
Me: Leisure
Immigration: You have to tell me more than that.
Me: I got a good deal on a flight.
Immigration: if you went to Japan and visited a random town youd need to tell them more than that. You can tell me if your here to hook-up
Me: Im not
Immigration: Im going to have to get someone to talk to you about why you are travelling.
Me: Sure no problem.
Immigration: What do you do for a living?
Me: Im a doctor in the Royal Navy
Immigration: You should have lead with that, your free to go but you know you can tell me if your here to hookup.
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navylad is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2019, 4:31 pm
  #5224  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,190
Originally Posted by navylad
in the interest of those who have requested I lighten up and given its related, here was my post from Facebook from my interaction with US immigration on Saturday;
Yes, I think if you had provided a little more information with the first question the conversation would have been half as long, or shorter. (I think business vs pleasure is on the CBP Form 6059B so they know the first answer already!) The terse answers and lack of volunteering of related information does seem like you're leading them into a game of "20 Questions" (or hiding something) which hardly ever gets a good reaction.

I'll refrain from making comparisons of various branches of Her Majesty's Armed Forces, as it's probably OT and probably won't end well!

rb211.
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Old Jan 2, 2019, 4:57 pm
  #5225  
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL/GFl, HH Diamond, BW Diamond, Virgin Voyages Deep Blue Extra, Blue Peter Badge Holder
Posts: 3,933
Originally Posted by RB211
Yes, I think if you had provided a little more information with the first question the conversation would have been half as long, or shorter. (I think business vs pleasure is on the CBP Form 6059B so they know the first answer already!) The terse answers and lack of volunteering of related information does seem like you're leading them into a game of "20 Questions" (or hiding something) which hardly ever gets a good reaction.

I'll refrain from making comparisons of various branches of Her Majesty's Armed Forces, as it's probably OT and probably won't end well!

rb211.
quite possibly, but 1. I was fatigued from travelling, 2. Sharing too much information can also have a negative effect like you are trying to over-compensate (and tell your cover story ASAP) and 3. If you want more information, ask an open question.

In any case, his attitude instantly changed once he found id taken the queen shilling and perhaps a little flirting too.

Still, no harm done and no cavity search conducted.
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Old Jan 2, 2019, 5:00 pm
  #5226  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,190
Originally Posted by navylad
...
Still, no harm done and no cavity search conducted.
Mission accomplished! ^

rb211.
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Old Jan 2, 2019, 10:37 pm
  #5227  
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: BAEC Gold; Le Club Accorhotels Plat; Marriott Gold
Posts: 371
Too bad Im not with Roysl Navy... I just have to find a way to tell just enough truth lol. That is, of course, if I have to do a run. Hope to avoid it by just visiting friends
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Old Jan 2, 2019, 11:49 pm
  #5228  
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,964
Originally Posted by tenn_ace
I just have to find a way to tell just enough truth lol.
There's no need to tell "just enough truth" - in fact, things can get rather messy if the immigration official thinks you're being even slightly evasive. Their only concern is that you're not entering the US for illegal or immoral purposes, so just tell the truth upfront - that the main purpose of the trip is to gain enough "frequent flier points" (they're unlikely to know what "tier points" are) to retain your frequent flyer status with the airline. They won't turn you away.

Of course, if you really are visiting friends (they can check) or spending enough time in the US for it to be considered a holiday then you can say that quite truthfully and not have to mention that it's a TP run.

Above all, never get yourself into a situation where you have to change your story, because you are then in pretty deep doo-doo.
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Old Jan 3, 2019, 12:29 am
  #5229  
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 370
I literally just finished the ARN-MIA TP run
couple of people asked me what's the reason for my flying and told them I'm doing a milage run the most I got was "oh I heard about those but never met anyone doing that"
so yea I wouldn't worry about it too much
they might give u a weird look but hey what do they know
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Old Jan 3, 2019, 12:40 am
  #5230  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: BRU
Programs: BA GGL, TK E (*G), ITA exec
Posts: 4,023
I just passed immigration at MIA last Saturday.

CBP: where are you going?
Me: Atlanta
CBP: where in atlanta?
Me: Airport Hotel
CPB: what you'll be doing there?
Me: oh, just sleeping
CBP: (raising eyebrows) ...you're going to Atlanta just to sleep?
Me: yes, as a matter of fact I'm doing a mileage run to maintain my FF status
CBP: with which airline?
Me: British Airways
CBP: (stamping passport) have a good day, ma'm.

P.S.
5 minutes from joining the immigration queue to exit customs
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Old Jan 3, 2019, 1:56 am
  #5231  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: BA Gold; Virgin FF; United Airlines; American Airlines; and was frequent c/c churner - RIP!
Posts: 909
Originally Posted by puqui99
Hi folks,
I was considering another OTP-PHX TP run to keep me and hubbie gold, but felt like doing something closer to home (in Europe.) We all know about the J fare 140 TP each way in business with Finnair (AY) for Helsinki to Malaga and Lisbon, but I noticed wide open availability for most of 2019 to string on Nordic city to get 360 TP.
For example, I just booked LIS-HEL-STO-HEL-LIS return in J for 629, 360 TP, 1.72/TP

It works for lots of the following 360 TP combos:

AGP / LIS - HEL - GOT / OSL / CPH / STO - HEL - AGP / LIS

I did try from London, Dublin, Edinburgh or Manchester, but the price went sky rocketing.

And the extra bonus on this one, the Lisbon option can be done either for a weekend or in a day (me and hubbie are doing a Saturday trip and a Sunday trip for 720TP & 1238.) For the day trip, would need to position to Lisbon on Friday night and return on Monday morning, so a hotel bill needs to be included.
Looks very interesting TPR. Can you give the dates and flight times you have booked as I can't get a price anywhere near your 629?

Thanks
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Old Jan 3, 2019, 2:12 am
  #5232  
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: London
Programs: British Airways
Posts: 112
I am trying to use ITA Matrix DUB-LAS run in November,

DUB-LCY-JFK-LAX-LAS
LAS-LAX-JFK-LHR-DUB

However, the flight some of the flight connections are too short.

Also, is it possible to select First on the JFK-LAX-JFK legs.

Can someone please help with modifying the search criteria.


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Old Jan 3, 2019, 2:54 am
  #5233  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: GGL/CCR
Posts: 1,899
OSL-HNL as written about in the premium fares forum - prices on BA.com @ 1430 but doesn't look like the fare is public yet.

Would appear that OSL-HEL-LHR-JFK-LAX-HNL should work.
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Old Jan 3, 2019, 2:56 am
  #5234  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,174
Originally Posted by pumatwin
I am trying to use ITA Matrix DUB-LAS run in November,

DUB-LCY-JFK-LAX-LAS
LAS-LAX-JFK-LHR-DUB

However, the flight some of the flight connections are too short.

Also, is it possible to select First on the JFK-LAX-JFK legs.

Can someone please help with modifying the search criteria.

The loophole has pretty much gone now - you won't get First Class on JFK/LAX unless you book the whole itinerary in First
mikeyfly is offline  
Old Jan 3, 2019, 2:57 am
  #5235  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: BA, AA, SQ, UA, AC, WS, MR TIT
Posts: 8,655
Originally Posted by teledude
OSL-HNL as written about in the premium fares forum - prices on BA.com @ 1430 but doesn't look like the fare is public yet.

Would appear that OSL-HEL-LHR-JFK-LAX-HNL should work.
The above combo would be great ^
NA-Flyer is offline  

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