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Old Jan 4, 2019, 9:09 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below.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
Advanced Promotion 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









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BA Tier Point Runs | 2019-20 edition

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Old Jun 1, 2020, 11:37 am
  #5011  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Lincolnshire, UK
Programs: BA GGL - maybe only briefly!
Posts: 1,378
Originally Posted by onobond
Surprise!
The period for making reservations on the SOF fare INX1T1S6 has been extended four more days
Happy shopping all!
And the AA Book with Confidence window has been extended to 30 June.
crazyarmadillo likes this.
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Old Jun 1, 2020, 11:41 am
  #5012  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Lincolnshire, UK
Programs: BA GGL - maybe only briefly!
Posts: 1,378
This looks lucrative....



1040 TPs plus positioning. I can't get it to ticket via powertools but it works with bookwithmatrix.
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Old Jun 1, 2020, 12:16 pm
  #5013  
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,683
Originally Posted by vintagepilot
This looks lucrative....



1040 TPs plus positioning. I can't get it to ticket via powertools but it works with bookwithmatrix.
Someone posted this a few pages back, they did Helsinki on the way back rather than Bucharest, mix it up a bit, they got it for £1184 so you're overpaying

I have the Helsinki instead of Bucharest version booked for Feb, I paid about £1250, so you beat me, hard to be precise as I used an AA cancelled booking priced in Euro, and then was asked for another £23. Bargains for 1040TP.
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Old Jun 1, 2020, 6:35 pm
  #5014  
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: BA exec, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 556
Originally Posted by vintagepilot
This looks lucrative....



1040 TPs plus positioning. I can't get it to ticket via powertools but it works with bookwithmatrix.
A serious question - Why would you seriously consider doing this?

don’t get me wrong I’ve done kinda similar with some very nice company pre Covid. However, now for me, my travel is really going to be down to our business on a needs must. I doubt that the “ joys of biz travel on a Cava budget” will return for a long time!

if it’s about “Status’ then again why? What do BA care about that going forward?

Most, if not all these itineraries are hedging on the academic with loads of changes ahead.

When I did these pre covid I eagerly anticipated the journey - given current corporate shenanigans I don’t have the stomach to give BA my hard earned cash YMMV.

Best of of luck
Telecasterman is offline  
Old Jun 1, 2020, 11:10 pm
  #5015  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: LHR / LAS
Programs: BA GfL, GGL/CCR
Posts: 2,409
Originally Posted by Telecasterman
A serious question - Why would you seriously consider doing this?

don’t get me wrong I’ve done kinda similar with some very nice company pre Covid. However, now for me, my travel is really going to be down to our business on a needs must. I doubt that the “ joys of biz travel on a Cava budget” will return for a long time!

if it’s about “Status’ then again why? What do BA care about that going forward?

Most, if not all these itineraries are hedging on the academic with loads of changes ahead.

When I did these pre covid I eagerly anticipated the journey - given current corporate shenanigans I don’t have the stomach to give BA my hard earned cash YMMV.

Best of of luck
It's a flying forum and a thread about convoluted trips.

I have four trips booked not TP runs , all for leisure and I cant wait! I also have one trip for other reasons.

i certainly wouldn't fly for business though.

Edit to add.

We do actually have one SOF trip, sof lhr jfk lax Las, great price with two flat bed to LAS. Lucky the west coast is a common good fare.

Plus 8 flights. We love flying so a bonus.

Though booked on AA. Com, on may 31st and still waitinging for it to be ticketed. On request malarkey.

Last edited by crazyarmadillo; Jun 1, 2020 at 11:26 pm
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Old Jun 1, 2020, 11:26 pm
  #5016  
Moderator: Hyatt Gold Passport & Star Alliance
 
Join Date: May 1998
Location: London, UK
Programs: UA-1K 3MM/HY- LT Globalist/BA-GGL/GfL
Posts: 12,087
Originally Posted by crazyarmadillo
It's a flying forum and a thread about convoluted trips.

I have four trips booked not TP runs , all for leisure and I cant wait! I also have one trip for other reasons.

i certainly wouldn't fly for business though.

Edit to add. We do actually have one SOF trip, sof lhr jfk lax Las, great price (as per this thread) and two flat bed to LAS. Lucky the west coast is a common good fare.

Though booked on AA. Com, on may 31st and still waitinging for it to be ticketed. On request malarkey.
I had a similar problem with 'on request' and it turned out it was because BA were not confirming when AA booked using their codeshare on SOF-LHR-SOF. I called and AA booked on BA flight numbers and it confirmed.
Might be worth a call.
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Markie is offline  
Old Jun 1, 2020, 11:30 pm
  #5017  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: LHR / LAS
Programs: BA GfL, GGL/CCR
Posts: 2,409
Originally Posted by Markie
I had a similar problem with 'on request' and it turned out it was because BA were not confirming when AA booked using their codeshare on SOF-LHR-SOF. I called and AA booked on BA flight numbers and it confirmed.
Might be worth a call.
Thanks for that, appreciate it. I shall and post back later.

Edit to add again.

That could well be there issue!! Thanks

We normally always try to select AA flight numbers when booking BA flights on AA.com.. Primarily that in our experienceAA agents , in the lounges on the day, in case of delays etc, find it easier to make changes to BA flights with the AA number.

Also you can, when the powertools and or book with matrix work, put it on hold with aa.com, versus the AA Europe, site, without payment, if you use AA flight numbers.

Last edited by crazyarmadillo; Jun 1, 2020 at 11:47 pm
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Old Jun 2, 2020, 1:04 am
  #5018  
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: BER
Programs: BA GGL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,843
Originally Posted by Telecasterman
A serious question - Why would you seriously consider doing this?

don’t get me wrong I’ve done kinda similar with some very nice company pre Covid. However, now for me, my travel is really going to be down to our business on a needs must. I doubt that the “ joys of biz travel on a Cava budget” will return for a long time!

if it’s about “Status’ then again why? What do BA care about that going forward?

Most, if not all these itineraries are hedging on the academic with loads of changes ahead.

When I did these pre covid I eagerly anticipated the journey - given current corporate shenanigans I don’t have the stomach to give BA my hard earned cash YMMV.

Best of of luck
why do I do this?

1. I love flying.
2. I love planning trips. Sitting over the matrix, fare rules and Minimum connection times is part of the journey.
3. I like collecting. Avios, tier points, legs.
4. I like to see the world. airports differ from place to place and sometimes you can get quite a first impression of how this country is.
5. I like those shenanigans. I like doing a good old Unfug. im single, why not....
6. I can afford it.
Nephoi is offline  
Old Jun 2, 2020, 2:06 am
  #5019  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Brighton, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 51
This also happened to me, the AA flight number on the SOF to LHR leg is now a BA flight number and it is ticketed now.
crazyarmadillo likes this.
Merlin5 is offline  
Old Jun 2, 2020, 2:07 am
  #5020  
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Unio Europaea
Programs: BA GGL, AS, Hertz Cirque Présidentielle
Posts: 1,445
Nephoi at times irritates me, but yet he has some very similar traits as well. His list with #1-6 are quite like my own rationale for making bookins that are "hedging on the academic", as @Telecasterman put it. I'm probably however even slightly more nuts, since I've planned and booked trips that will procure me top tier status in two alliances, not just one.

Some points:
  • We are talking about being optimal with spending (£ per TP) and yet someone doesn't see what an opportunity there is now to collect Avios, lifetime TPs and just overall travel at great prices. Okay, fair enough. You do as you please. It's however not dumb to plan and book now. In fact it's pretty smart.
  • My time here isn't indefinite. Why wouldn't I travel, when I can do it discounted and without the worst possible crowds? Should I wait that I can e.g. pay a premium for Hong Kong accomodation again? When it's expensive, I can just do it less or focus on destinations that are cheaper then.
  • Just like Nephoi, I like travel planning - in fact a lot. I like to have first hand learning experiences, which make me improve my future bookings. Plus I like troubleshooting issues, when plans change due to e.g. cancellations. It's rewarding when you're able to do something more than I originally had booked, try some unusual routing or you've solved a challenging puzzle. True, it's e.g. quite mind numbing to wrestle with SV (yes, Saudia) for a resolution, but it's a pleasant feeling when you have success. It does require a certain mindset to enjoy the thrill this kind of travel style invokes, so I don't expect everyone to enjoy what I do.
  • No spouse and off-spring. No set holidays. No close relatives that need regular personal attention/nursing. I don't have to be on holiday during a set time period in July/August - that would anyway be an absolute no, no for me.
  • I can make myself money with my laptop. I don't have to be at home for 10-11 months per year.
DesperateDan and ENTP like this.

Last edited by Flying Yazata; Jun 2, 2020 at 3:49 am Reason: typo
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Old Jun 2, 2020, 3:18 am
  #5021  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: AA EXP/LTP, BA GGL/CCR/GfL, HH D/LTD, SPG/MR Plat/LTP
Posts: 10,076
Slightly (or even more) surprised over the side-track this thread now has taken.

This is the BA TP-run Master Thread.

For those uninterested in the thread subject, there are many other threads around BA & BAEC in this forum, but there are indeed a lot of other boards, of which many don't even have the slightest connection with flying, despite the website name Flyer Talk.

If unhappy with a post, it's a better strategy to click the red triangle, lower left corner, and let the moderators decide if it falls outside of the T&Cs, in which case it might be redacted or deleted. If unhappy with the full content, move over to another thread, or maybe consider visiting another discussion forum .

Now, can we please return to the TP-runs ?
JessicaTam and Shl like this.
onobond is offline  
Old Jun 2, 2020, 3:38 am
  #5022  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: LHR / LAS
Programs: BA GfL, GGL/CCR
Posts: 2,409
Let me bring it back to topic...

.. I just booked another SOF LAS, fare and itinerary and timing just too good for me not too book.

This time I used BA flight numbers Sof lhr sof, and it ticketed within thirty mins!!

Good tip from Markie, see above post !! Thanks Markie
crazyarmadillo is offline  
Old Jun 2, 2020, 3:47 am
  #5023  
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: EDI, LHR
Programs: BA - Gold, Hilton - Diamond, Marriott - Silver
Posts: 73
Onobond,

I completely get the reason for your post, and under normal circumstances I would very much even applaud this course of correction and action - however, these are not normal times - there is not very much out there at the moment TP runs wise - yes there is the SOF- USA ticket, but I'm not sure of anything else ex -EUR or ex-UK - and even that finishes on Thursday!

So, its often best to have 1 or 2 posts a day rather than none - just, if nothing else, to make sure people keep coming back and reading the posts.....and if they happen to be related, not exactly on the nose for a thread subject, then thats unfortunate, but at least means there is something proving the thread is still alive!

@Telecasterman - this isnt really the forum for that kind of question - search for the BBC Radio 4 documentary, Inside the World of the Frequent Flyer, or “Frequent Flyer – The Video” by Gabriel Leigh. I note you have some attained statuses - but, whether its the current climate or otherwise, you seem to have gone off the idea......anyways - open up a chat in the following forum and we can all chat a bit more there.... BA Covid-19 news, views, speculations, general questions, rants & more



Originally Posted by onobond
Slightly (or even more) surprised over the side-track this thread now has taken.

This is the BA TP-run Master Thread.

For those uninterested in the thread subject, there are many other threads around BA & BAEC in this forum, but there are indeed a lot of other boards, of which many don't even have the slightest connection with flying, despite the website name Flyer Talk.

If unhappy with a post, it's a better strategy to click the red triangle, lower left corner, and let the moderators decide if it falls outside of the T&Cs, in which case it might be redacted or deleted. If unhappy with the full content, move over to another thread, or maybe consider visiting another discussion forum .

Now, can we please return to the TP-runs ?
sunguy is offline  
Old Jun 2, 2020, 4:24 am
  #5024  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Lincolnshire, UK
Programs: BA GGL - maybe only briefly!
Posts: 1,378
And if you find yourself in LAX you might as well use your time wisely



I can't see that combination available now at that price, only the earlier LAX departure, which leaves a 4 hour turnaround in SJC.

Incidentally, I discovered another previously unencountered 'glitch' trying dummy bookings on AA (UK and US) in that if I entered my BAEC number during booking it came up with an error. The only way I could get it to work was to book without any FF number and add it later. Not seen that problem before.
vintagepilot is offline  
Old Jun 2, 2020, 4:28 am
  #5025  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: AA EXP/LTP, BA GGL/CCR/GfL, HH D/LTD, SPG/MR Plat/LTP
Posts: 10,076
Originally Posted by sunguy
Onobond,

I completely get the reason for your post, and under normal circumstances I would very much even applaud this course of correction and action - however, these are not normal times - there is not very much out there at the moment TP runs wise - yes there is the SOF- USA ticket, but I'm not sure of anything else ex -EUR or ex-UK - and even that finishes on Thursday!

So, its often best to have 1 or 2 posts a day rather than none - just, if nothing else, to make sure people keep coming back and reading the posts.....and if they happen to be related, not exactly on the nose for a thread subject, then thats unfortunate, but at least means there is something proving the thread is still alive!

@Telecasterman - this isnt really the forum for that kind of question - search for the BBC Radio 4 documentary, Inside the World of the Frequent Flyer, or “Frequent Flyer – The Video” by Gabriel Leigh. I note you have some attained statuses - but, whether its the current climate or otherwise, you seem to have gone off the idea......anyways - open up a chat in the following forum and we can all chat a bit more there.... BA Covid-19 news, views, speculations, general questions, rants & more

Failing to see how the possible (extended twice already) demise of the SOF-deal in 2 days would lead to a stagnation of this thread. In case you might have missed it, there is a thread outside the BA forum https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/premium-fare-deals-740/ where many threads are highly interesting also for BA TP-runners as it lists other OW deals, or as exemplified below, even BA deals not yet entered the in TP-run thread.

At a quick glimpse on page 1, I see:

1. A QR deal ex LHR to SIN (QR has an ongoing sale to Asia and Oceania with prices yet lower from many ex-EU cities)
2. A MH deal to BNE ex KUL
3. Surprise - a BA deal to RAK
4. I would also think that the return of CX PE deal SIN-US west coast would attract many BAEC members, not limited to those living in SEA.

So, please think outside the (small BA) box and you'll find. But tbh, for the last 15-20 years of frequent flying, there are periods with less deals available, which I don't see as a problem

Last edited by onobond; Jun 2, 2020 at 4:42 am Reason: add missing word, correct typo
onobond is offline  


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