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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below.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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below.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.
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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
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
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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 (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
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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 1, 2020, 10:29 am
#5371
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: SAN, BOS
Programs: AS MVPG100K, BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Plat,
Posts: 2,283
I think the exSOF fare conditions is no changes allowed.
BA BWC allows changes without a change fee. However, if the fare doesn’t allow changes to start with BWC doesn't make it changeable. It’s only waiving change fees for fares that are changeable to start with. I think AA provisions are different so their version of BWC does make everything changeable.
However, you can simply bypass the above by just going via a FTV. FTVs are being issued very quickly atm so there wouldn't be much wait to get it and then call to rebook. You can book for whatever route you want at that stage.
BA BWC allows changes without a change fee. However, if the fare doesn’t allow changes to start with BWC doesn't make it changeable. It’s only waiving change fees for fares that are changeable to start with. I think AA provisions are different so their version of BWC does make everything changeable.
However, you can simply bypass the above by just going via a FTV. FTVs are being issued very quickly atm so there wouldn't be much wait to get it and then call to rebook. You can book for whatever route you want at that stage.
Jul 1, 2020, 11:31 am
#5372
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 860
I asked to be connected to the EXP desk, and speaking to an agent in less than 2 min. Explained I had an AA reservation in Int and Dom business, with inability to chose seats. Very clear about being BA Emerald, and that credit from this travel would go to my BA FFP. The agent, who firstly said that first row on the SOF-LHR flight was blocked, quickly changed that when her system confirmed I indeed was OWE.
Last edited by absoluy; Jul 1, 2020 at 12:28 pm
Jul 1, 2020, 2:49 pm
#5373
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: BER
Programs: BA GGL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,843
i really dont see my MCO trip in October under a good light. i think the situation in the states wont be good enough in 3 months...
any suggestions EX-eu towards Asia for mid october? i dont want to do a b2b. i wanna stay at the location for 5 to 8 days and enjoy the place....
any suggestions EX-eu towards Asia for mid october? i dont want to do a b2b. i wanna stay at the location for 5 to 8 days and enjoy the place....
Jul 1, 2020, 3:04 pm
#5374
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: AA EXP/LTP, BA GGL/CCR/GfL, HH D/LTD, SPG/MR Plat/LTP
Posts: 10,077
This time the agent didn't, but connected me nevertheless. Almost before I even had time to say 'Oneworld Emerald' (maybe a slight exaggeration), I was already speaking with the EXP rep, who accepted my definition of GGL as both OWE, and furthermore by AA counted as equivalent to their own CK (see separate thread here about that) and besides that held a fresh reservation on AA stock. As I only could assign seats on the only two AA metal flights out of ten, I declared how happy I would be for her qualified help to let me assign seats for the remaining eight segments....
I fail to determine what of all information was the most important detail for her decision making, but as she happily complied, I didn't dig deeper into analysis here. I know I've done the same procedure at least once before, but sometimes your gut feeling tells you to adhere to what you think the agent at the other end wants to hear, and do it in another way. As I had entered my BAEC # manually on the AY site, I tried this out, and it worked. For me, that was the end of this reservation story.
In the long run, I don't have the time to hold two OWEs, but as present times are ruled by extensions, so I'll play along for some more time
Jul 1, 2020, 11:36 pm
#5375
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: SAN, BOS
Programs: AS MVPG100K, BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Plat,
Posts: 2,283
Flights from MAD - PVG for around 1200 GBP, the fare rules state that there are 5 transfers permitted, but I'm not sure in actuality how you can transfer there seems to be a lot of flight restrictions. Fares not involving NA are not my forte however so I'm sure it's possible in the right hands
https://www.google.com/flights?hl=en...;sc:b;sd:1;t:f
https://www.google.com/flights?hl=en...;sc:b;sd:1;t:f
Jul 2, 2020, 12:00 am
#5376
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA GGL, A3 Gold, M&M SEN, FlyingBlue Gold, AS MVP Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Amb
Posts: 902
Flights from MAD - PVG for around 1200 GBP, the fare rules state that there are 5 transfers permitted, but I'm not sure in actuality how you can transfer there seems to be a lot of flight restrictions. Fares not involving NA are not my forte however so I'm sure it's possible in the right hands
https://www.google.com/flights?hl=en...;sc:b;sd:1;t:f
https://www.google.com/flights?hl=en...;sc:b;sd:1;t:f
/WITHIN THE EASTERN HEMISPHERE/MAP CONSTRUCTED LEFT TO RIGHT AND RIGHT TO LEFT
1. MAD-BA/IB-LON-SHA
.
1. MAD-BA/IB-LON-SHA
.
Jul 2, 2020, 2:09 am
#5377
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Beijing
Programs: SK EBG, BAEC Gold
Posts: 935
Flights from MAD - PVG for around 1200 GBP, the fare rules state that there are 5 transfers permitted, but I'm not sure in actuality how you can transfer there seems to be a lot of flight restrictions. Fares not involving NA are not my forte however so I'm sure it's possible in the right hands
https://www.google.com/flights?hl=en...;sc:b;sd:1;t:f
https://www.google.com/flights?hl=en...;sc:b;sd:1;t:f
Still no word though on when China will open its border for non-Chinese passport holders - but the ex-Spain fares to Shanghai have in the past been a fairly reliable option for good value business travel.
Jul 2, 2020, 7:27 am
#5378
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: BER
Programs: BA GGL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,843
Yes - for destinations in Asia the transfer possibilities are in general more constrained by the routing rules (only visible e.g. using ExpertFlyer) than by the fare rules (visible from open/public sources including MatrixITA).
Still no word though on when China will open its border for non-Chinese passport holders - but the ex-Spain fares to Shanghai have in the past been a fairly reliable option for good value business travel.
Still no word though on when China will open its border for non-Chinese passport holders - but the ex-Spain fares to Shanghai have in the past been a fairly reliable option for good value business travel.
Jul 2, 2020, 9:47 am
#5379
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: AA EXP/LTP, BA GGL/CCR/GfL, HH D/LTD, SPG/MR Plat/LTP
Posts: 10,077
The problem you'll be facing is the restrictions re doing a transfer in the US. There will be direct flights available, but forget any creative TP-run itinerary, besides from hoarding some of the Fifth Freedom flights BA has as add-ons to some destinations in the Caribbean.
Jul 2, 2020, 10:33 am
#5380
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Multiple locations
Programs: AAdvantage ExPlat LT Gold, BA Silver, Aegean Star Gold
Posts: 5,038
American Airlines published one-way fares between Washington DC, Boston or New York to Raleigh but with the chance to have 3 segments per flight. You can do DCA-PHL-CLT-RDU for $167 and collect 120 Tier Points or in this sample 240 TPs in a long day.
DCA-PHL-CLT-RDU
RDU-CLT-PHL-DCA
DCA-PHL-CLT-RDU
RDU-CLT-PHL-DCA
Jul 2, 2020, 2:11 pm
#5381
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: SAN, BOS
Programs: AS MVPG100K, BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Plat,
Posts: 2,283
American Airlines published one-way fares between Washington DC, Boston or New York to Raleigh but with the chance to have 3 segments per flight. You can do DCA-PHL-CLT-RDU for $167 and collect 120 Tier Points or in this sample 240 TPs in a long day.
DCA-PHL-CLT-RDU
RDU-CLT-PHL-DCA
DCA-PHL-CLT-RDU
RDU-CLT-PHL-DCA
Jul 2, 2020, 3:12 pm
#5382
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 423
Budapest
Is there any creative way at the moment to fly to Budapest and rack up more tier points at a good price?
I don’t know if there is ever an ex-eu to eu deal through London?
I don’t know if there is ever an ex-eu to eu deal through London?
Jul 2, 2020, 3:21 pm
#5383
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,277
Am I really the only person on here who thinks that non-essential flying and creative routes with extra sectors is a particularly daft idea at the moment? I suspect the answer may be a resounding YES.
Jul 2, 2020, 3:22 pm
#5384
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: SAN, BOS
Programs: AS MVPG100K, BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Plat,
Posts: 2,283
You’re not. The vast majority of the routes being discussed here are at minimum, six months away
Jul 2, 2020, 3:24 pm
#5385
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,277