Jan 4, 2019, 9:09 am
Last edit by: jfkeze
Welcome to the thread. This is a continuation of the highly popular 2018 Tier Point thread (found here). 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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below.
A new guideline thread for TP meetups has been created on 31 March 2020. If you would like other members to join your TP, or if you want to organize a TP run with other members. Please visit there. From the first few posts over there you could see the active ( confirmed ) TP meetings and the links to their relevant discussion threads, connect with other members and learn the details about the run. Click here to access that thread.
Current Promotions of Interest
Sale Fares
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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below.
A new guideline thread for TP meetups has been created on 31 March 2020. If you would like other members to join your TP, or if you want to organize a TP run with other members. Please visit there. From the first few posts over there you could see the active ( confirmed ) TP meetings and the links to their relevant discussion threads, connect with other members and learn the details about the run. Click here to access that thread.
Current Promotions of Interest
Sale Fares
See here in post 9 for a 2019 archive of exEU sale fare, and see this post in the 2018 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
15 Oct £0.96/TP £154 160 TPs LHR-SOF (2021 dates)
24 Feb £1.90/TP £152 80TP MAD-FRA Z/Z LA (available Feb-Mar 2019, immediate turnarounds possible)
10 Aug £2.06/TP £329 160TP LHR-MAD-RAK RAK-MAD-LHR I/I/I/I IB (available August, Sat night stay) BA.com, note hotels on offer until 26 March
3 Jul £2.99/TP £2,758.45 920TP DUB-LHR-JFK-LAX-HNL-LAX-JFK-LHR-DUB J/I/I/I/I/I/I/J Fare basis INX4C3S4 and INN4C1S4. Booked on AA via ITA Matrix Powertools script
18 Dec £1.90/TP £1370 720TP DUB-LHR-JFK-LAX-LAS-LAX-JFK-LHR-DUB All I class Flights 25 December to 31 March 2020, transatlantic Mon to Thur. Offer to 18 Dec. ITA details booked by TA Propeller
27 Apr £2.29/TP £640TP BEG-DOH-KUL-PEN-KUL-DOH-BEG I / I / I / I / I / I Fare IJR2R1RE Bookable on QR.com
From North, Central and South America
10Jan £1.52/TP £668 440tp JFK-BOS/CLT-LAX-LAS-LAX-BOS/CLT-JFK I / I / I / I / I / I HPN-HRL AA (find with ITA; probably have to book via a TA)
12Apr £0.90/TP £215 240tp DCA-ORD-CLT-RDU-CLT-ORD-DCA I/I/I/I/I/I/I AA Found with ITA, booked on the AA site with BookWithMatrix
23Apr £ 0.76/TP £ 182 240TP DCA-PHL-CLT-RDU-CLT-ORD-DCA I / I / I / I / I / I AA Found with ITA Matrix, Book on AA.com via BookWithMatrix or PowerTools
24Apr £ 1.04/TP £ 459 440TP YVR-LAX-CLT-ATL-CLT-LAX-YVR I / I / I / I / I / I AA Found with ITA Matrix, Book on AA.com via BookWithMatrix or PowerTools
23May £ 0.70/TP £ 169 240TP EWR-ORD-CLT-RDU-CLT-DFW-EWR I / I / I / I / I / I AA Found with ITA Matrix, Book on AA.com via BookWithMatrix or PowerTools
24Jun £ 0.52/TP £ 128 240TP LAX-DFW-PHX-SJC-PHX-DFW-LAX I / I / I / I / I / I AA Found with ITA Matrix, Book on AA.com via BookWithMatrix or PowerTools
From Middle East, Asia and Australasia
04/01 £0.95/TP £479 560tp AUH-CMB-CGK-CMB-AUH I / I / I / I cgtechuk UL
1FEB £1.49/TP £1,673 1,120tp PER-SYD-SIN-TYO-BKK Return (All book in I Class) timcjp BA (Ticket sold by BA, flights are on QF, BA & JL and lie flat seats available for all sectors)
23/04 £2.07/TP £2,112 1020TP CAI-LHR-JFK-LAX-HNL-DFW-ORD-LHR-CAI I/R here (All flights must be BA numbered)
From Africa
04/01 £1.80/TP £721 400tp CPT-JNB-GRU-JNB-DUR-CPT I / Z / Z / I / I ubiest LA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 (here), 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 BA flight out on a Saturday, airport hotel and return on 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
2018 Archive
2017 Archive
2016 Archive
2015 Archive (6 months Jul to Dec)
2015 Archive (6 months Jan to Jun)
2014 Archive
BA Tier Point Runs | 2019-20 edition
Jul 6, 2019, 3:13 pm
#2086
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold / OW Emerald
Posts: 753
2k is a good fare, in the last year only rarely did I see better, and it was in the ballpark of 1850 or so.
Jul 6, 2019, 3:48 pm
#2087
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: BA Executive Club and OnBusiness
Posts: 721
Some reasonable fares on BA from Helsinki in Nov/Dec 2019 if anyone needs 240 points for £1,50 per TP:
£349 HEL-LHR-LUX return (can also nest LUX-LHR-HEL for £336 giving 480 TP for £685)
£355 HEL-LHR-GLA return
£356 HEL-LHR-EDI return
£357 HEL-LHR-MAN return
£360 HEL-LHR-DUB return
LUX also has some interesting 240 TP deals, including Sofia for £314 in December
£349 HEL-LHR-LUX return (can also nest LUX-LHR-HEL for £336 giving 480 TP for £685)
£355 HEL-LHR-GLA return
£356 HEL-LHR-EDI return
£357 HEL-LHR-MAN return
£360 HEL-LHR-DUB return
LUX also has some interesting 240 TP deals, including Sofia for £314 in December
Last edited by Ned1968; Jul 6, 2019 at 4:10 pm
Jul 7, 2019, 3:51 pm
#2088
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Offshore
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 26
Newcomer to tier point runs
I think the recommended route at present is OTP LHR JFK PHX however for just a few £ more one can go via PHL. I sort of presume PHL is less busy being smaller than JFK easier to connect? If there anything inherently not recommended using PHL?
Chris
I think the recommended route at present is OTP LHR JFK PHX however for just a few £ more one can go via PHL. I sort of presume PHL is less busy being smaller than JFK easier to connect? If there anything inherently not recommended using PHL?
Chris
Jul 7, 2019, 4:27 pm
#2089
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC, Eurostar
Posts: 3,294
Newcomer to tier point runs
I think the recommended route at present is OTP LHR JFK PHX however for just a few £ more one can go via PHL. I sort of presume PHL is less busy being smaller than JFK easier to connect? If there anything inherently not recommended using PHL?
Chris
I think the recommended route at present is OTP LHR JFK PHX however for just a few £ more one can go via PHL. I sort of presume PHL is less busy being smaller than JFK easier to connect? If there anything inherently not recommended using PHL?
Chris
AA domestic first is basically a glorified PE. I did LAS-JFK overnight recently, not a great experience.
And last but not least, there is no lounge access on domestic first, unless you're silver already (whereas you'd get access on a JFK-LAX). On such long runs, I expect that lounges are a welcome break.
Jul 7, 2019, 4:33 pm
#2090
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: BER
Programs: BA GGL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,843
is this fare already active for the easter-time 2020? haven't found anything so far under 2475 EUR (approx. 2.1k GBP)
Jul 7, 2019, 4:38 pm
#2091
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Offshore
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 26
Thanks Alex67500
No need to go further than PHX, with my trip, plus positioning from LHR to OTP I'll get just over 1500 which is what I need. Silver already. What I do see however is thatthe BA.com won't let me select a seat on AA. Says
Your flight is operated by our partner American Airlines.
You can reserve and pay for your seats in advance using our Manage My Booking section upon completion of your booking or you can choose your seats for free at check-in.
I thought business class, ie AA domestic first and as a silver BAEC it would allow me to select a seat? Metal is an A321 on AA which I thought were fine ?
No need to go further than PHX, with my trip, plus positioning from LHR to OTP I'll get just over 1500 which is what I need. Silver already. What I do see however is thatthe BA.com won't let me select a seat on AA. Says
Your flight is operated by our partner American Airlines.
You can reserve and pay for your seats in advance using our Manage My Booking section upon completion of your booking or you can choose your seats for free at check-in.
I thought business class, ie AA domestic first and as a silver BAEC it would allow me to select a seat? Metal is an A321 on AA which I thought were fine ?
Jul 7, 2019, 4:42 pm
#2092
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC, Eurostar
Posts: 3,294
Thanks Alex67500
No need to go further than PHX, with my trip, plus positioning from LHR to OTP I'll get just over 1500 which is what I need. Silver already. What I do see however is that the BA.com won't let me select a seat on AA. Says
Your flight is operated by our partner American Airlines.
You can reserve and pay for your seats in advance using our Manage My Booking section upon completion of your booking or you can choose your seats for free at check-in.
I thought business class, ie AA domestic first and as a silver BAEC it would allow me to select a seat? Metal is an A321 on AA which I thought were fine ?
No need to go further than PHX, with my trip, plus positioning from LHR to OTP I'll get just over 1500 which is what I need. Silver already. What I do see however is that the BA.com won't let me select a seat on AA. Says
Your flight is operated by our partner American Airlines.
You can reserve and pay for your seats in advance using our Manage My Booking section upon completion of your booking or you can choose your seats for free at check-in.
I thought business class, ie AA domestic first and as a silver BAEC it would allow me to select a seat? Metal is an A321 on AA which I thought were fine ?
Jul 7, 2019, 4:44 pm
#2093
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC, Eurostar
Posts: 3,294
I don't think it is. I think that as RADIOSUTCH isn't going via LAX, the fare might work, but he'll end up 40TPs short each way (without even accounting for the HEL shuffle that a lot of other people aim for).
Jul 7, 2019, 11:11 pm
#2094
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: AA EXP/LTP, BA GGL/CCR/GfL, HH D/LTD, SPG/MR Plat/LTP
Posts: 10,076
Newcomer to tier point runs
I think the recommended route at present is OTP LHR JFK PHX however for just a few £ more one can go via PHL. I sort of presume PHL is less busy being smaller than JFK easier to connect? If there anything inherently not recommended using PHL?
Chris
I think the recommended route at present is OTP LHR JFK PHX however for just a few £ more one can go via PHL. I sort of presume PHL is less busy being smaller than JFK easier to connect? If there anything inherently not recommended using PHL?
Chris
I think the idea is to add LAX in the run to get the "nicer" AA planes on the longer transcontinental flight. PHL-PHX won't have that.
AA domestic first is basically a glorified PE. I did LAS-JFK overnight recently, not a great experience.
And last but not least, there is no lounge access on domestic first, unless you're silver already (whereas you'd get access on a JFK-LAX). On such long runs, I expect that lounges are a welcome break.
AA domestic first is basically a glorified PE. I did LAS-JFK overnight recently, not a great experience.
And last but not least, there is no lounge access on domestic first, unless you're silver already (whereas you'd get access on a JFK-LAX). On such long runs, I expect that lounges are a welcome break.
Jul 8, 2019, 12:00 am
#2095
Join Date: May 2015
Programs: BAEC back to silver, Flying Blue Silver
Posts: 406
Unless it’s the transcon between JFK-LAX or SFO it will just be big 2+2 seats. Domestic First Class style.
In case it’s a redeye I would recommend to avoid row 1 because of poor legroom. I did LAX-HNL in row 3 which was fine and the overnight HNL-LAX which was horrible.
In case it’s a redeye I would recommend to avoid row 1 because of poor legroom. I did LAX-HNL in row 3 which was fine and the overnight HNL-LAX which was horrible.
Last edited by Great_circle; Jul 8, 2019 at 12:01 am Reason: typo
Jul 8, 2019, 4:03 am
#2096
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Wild Wiltshire
Programs: Demoted to gold, Cats protection
Posts: 3,455
For me, one reason to go through JFK, would be the better lounges there, compared to PHL's ACs. Often traveling alone, I have, however, come to enjoy the once daily LAX-PHL-LAX AA A330 with 1+2+1 configuration better, with more space and privacy, than even the 321T with slightly angeled 2+2, with a semi-BA experience of window seat passengers climbing over aisle pax. Especially, the AA1799 leaving LAX 08.00, arriving PHL at 16.23, is often also a good alternative to a red-eye LAX-JFK. The other 5 daily flights on the PHL-LAX route are A321 in straight 2+2, domestic F in a 2 class aircraft.
Jul 8, 2019, 4:26 am
#2097
Join Date: May 2015
Location: <60¤N
Programs: LH,ITA,BA Silver,AY Gold
Posts: 74
Mobil boarding pass ??
First a thank you. The collective wisdom in this thread allowed me to reach silver on a single trip at the beginning of a collection year, so all that went smooth!
I have a question regarding the use of the mobil boarding passes based on my experience on this point run. The flights included BA, AY, and AA operated flights, though one of the AY flights was a BA code share. This means two different PNR's on the two different booking systems were used. I never had sucess having boarding passes available on the apps installed on my phone. Do you typically find it easier just get printed boarding passes, or am I missing some tricks? I prefer the app from an ease of use standpoint since I seldom travel with checked luggage.
Any guidance you have would be helpful.
I have a question regarding the use of the mobil boarding passes based on my experience on this point run. The flights included BA, AY, and AA operated flights, though one of the AY flights was a BA code share. This means two different PNR's on the two different booking systems were used. I never had sucess having boarding passes available on the apps installed on my phone. Do you typically find it easier just get printed boarding passes, or am I missing some tricks? I prefer the app from an ease of use standpoint since I seldom travel with checked luggage.
Any guidance you have would be helpful.
Jul 8, 2019, 4:36 am
#2098
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: AA EXP/LTP, BA GGL/CCR/GfL, HH D/LTD, SPG/MR Plat/LTP
Posts: 10,076
Jul 8, 2019, 4:38 am
#2099
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: London
Programs: BAEC bouncing from Blue to Gold to Blue VSFC Red CXGreen Club Accor Platinum Hilton Silver.
Posts: 914
My personal view is paper boarding passes on other carriers, only as a backup should the Tier points or Avios do not post automatically.
John
John
Jul 8, 2019, 8:49 am
#2100
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: Executive Club
Posts: 78
Some reasonable fares on BA from Helsinki in Nov/Dec 2019 if anyone needs 240 points for £1,50 per TP:
£349 HEL-LHR-LUX return (can also nest LUX-LHR-HEL for £336 giving 480 TP for £685)
£355 HEL-LHR-GLA return
£356 HEL-LHR-EDI return
£357 HEL-LHR-MAN return
£360 HEL-LHR-DUB return
LUX also has some interesting 240 TP deals, including Sofia for £314 in December
£349 HEL-LHR-LUX return (can also nest LUX-LHR-HEL for £336 giving 480 TP for £685)
£355 HEL-LHR-GLA return
£356 HEL-LHR-EDI return
£357 HEL-LHR-MAN return
£360 HEL-LHR-DUB return
LUX also has some interesting 240 TP deals, including Sofia for £314 in December
Also, it seems you can combine these start and end points, e.g. I was able to find LUX - LHR (stopover) - HEL - LHR - GLA for £393 on sample dates of 11th, 13th and 17th Nov for each leg.
Obviously, stopping overnight at LHR for less than 24 hours is even cheaper as it doesn't count as a stopover.