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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below.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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below.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 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
15 Oct Ł0.96/TP Ł154 160 TPs LHR-SOF (2021 dates)
24 Feb Ł1.90/TP Ł152 80TP MAD-FRA Z/Z LA (available Feb-Mar 2019, immediate turnarounds possible)
10 Aug Ł2.06/TP Ł329 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 Ł2.99/TP Ł2,758.45 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 Ł1.90/TP Ł1370 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 Ł2.29/TP Ł640TP 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 Ł1.52/TP Ł668 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 Ł0.90/TP Ł215 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 Ł 0.76/TP Ł 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 Ł 1.04/TP Ł 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 Ł 0.70/TP Ł 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 Ł 0.52/TP Ł 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 Ł0.95/TP Ł479 560tp AUH-CMB-CGK-CMB-AUH I / I / I / I cgtechuk UL
1FEB Ł1.49/TP Ł1,673 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 Ł2.07/TP Ł2,112 1020TP CAI-LHR-JFK-LAX-HNL-DFW-ORD-LHR-CAI I/R here (All flights must be BA numbered)
From Africa
04/01 Ł1.80/TP Ł721 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 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 (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 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
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
Feb 12, 2019, 1:17 am
#736
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,709
Hi, thanks for the fast reply. I really want her to experience the Concord Room and the first class experience for the LHR-JFK leg as the work she does is stressful and she deserves it (that flight is on the 16th), the first one would leave on the 15th when she would be at work hence the late evening on the 15th. I'm not sure why on the ITA Matrix if I put LHR-DUB as the first flight on the 15th then DUB-LHR as the second on the 16th it starts to say it cannot find any flights but a return from LHR-DUB on the 15th and 20th is about Ł200 total each for Business.
Feb 12, 2019, 1:19 am
#737
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,709
Yeah wish I knew about TP runs back in October when I want to Las Vegas for a wedding, though it wasn't the worst either as we did do LHR-LAX-Las Vegas, though LAX must have the worst boarder control as it took over 2 hours to get through the queue so we missed our AA flight and were moved to Alaska and lost out on our TP for it.
Feb 12, 2019, 1:25 am
#738
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 15
Do you want to maximize the TPs or just get a cheaper flight in Club World with BA to NYC? That's basically what outlines where your TATL ticket should originate, how many segments you try to include and which airline you want over the pond. Personally I wouldn't do ex-DUB for NYC, but then again I would be out for TPs, not a cheaper BA CW experience. If you don't intend to rake in further TPs during your membership year, then it's a little bit pointless to maximize the TPs, unless you want your SO to get a proper TP run experience and that's the thing for your mini holiday.
At the moment I'm trying to balance both. The one I found
ublin (DUB) to London (LHR) — Thu, May 16British Airways 831Dep: 7:30 amArr: 9:10 am1h 40mAirbus A321Business (J) London (LHR) to New York (JFK) — Thu, May 16British Airways 173Dep: 11:20 amArr: 2:05 pm7h 45mBoeing 747First (A) New York (JFK) to London (LHR) — Sun, May 19British Airways 182Dep: 11:00 pmArr: 11:05 am7h 5mBoeing 777First (A) London (LHR) to Dublin (DUB) — Mon, May 20British Airways 836Dep: 1:05 pmArr: 2:35 pm1h 30mAirbus A321Business (J)Cost per passenger (including taxes & fees)Ł2,686.65Total cost for 2 passengersŁ5,373.30
Still get us first class, the times are good and it is Ł1300 cheaper than doing LHR-JFK for whatever reason I don't understand. The main thing is the LHR-JFK leg is first.
I did speak to my girlfriend about TP runs as we are trying to get to gold. We are currently on silver with 610 but I'm trying to get us to GGL as we have till November to try and achieve it. I said we would have most of the 20th free so she said she wouldn't mind doing a mini TP on the way back from wherever I'm taking her then to see what it is like, hence why there is more flexibility on the return.
In the future we will just be looking at normal TP runs though I think there is an issue because I start in LHR and then pass back through LHR when using the ITA Matrix with it always finding no flights.
I did look at HEL to maximise points but there is a risk we would miss the 19:30pm flight on the 15th, not to mention whenever I tried LHR-HEL-LHR-JFK-JFK-LHR-HEL-LRH it would always return no results.
Feb 12, 2019, 1:30 am
#739
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 15
That would be the problem. You need to do the positioning flights separately, otherwise you lose any benefit of using an ex-EU departure point. If wanting to fly F LHR-JFK (or vice versa) then I don't think for that trip you'll be in TP run territory anyway. You may be better posting in the Premium Fares thread.
I did try originally via their site but it didn't like the ticket number on the Alaska one. If it isn't too late out of time being back around the end of October then i'll contact BA to get the extra flight and missing points added.
Feb 12, 2019, 1:35 am
#740
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,709
Just contact them via their Customer Service form.
Feb 12, 2019, 2:18 am
#741
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Unio Europaea
Programs: BA GGL, AS, Hertz Cirque Présidentielle
Posts: 1,445
Yes, to maximize the TPs/Avios/status miles and to minimize the ticket spend. 
Feb 12, 2019, 2:25 am
#742
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Home: East Mids UK - Work (Base): Accra, Ghana.
Programs: BAEC: Silver - Marriott: Titanium
Posts: 12,086
Some cracking runs around ex-Europe as seen above with long haul sectors!
Feb 12, 2019, 2:25 am
#743
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
An interesting one for the nutters () on here: ARN-HNL/OGG/LIH/KOA and return, for Ł1,643 for 1,080 TPs (Ł1.52/TP). The bonus is that it can be done in as little as 73 hours should you wish:
ARN-HEL-LHR-JFK-LAX-HNL/OGG/LIH/KOA-LAX-JFK-LHR-HEL-ARN
You could route on A350/A330 between HEL and LHR for a better product, but it would take a little bit longer since you would have longer transfers (approx 75 hours).
Fare basis: ILN2T8S6 for travel in July/August.
) on here: ARN-HNL/OGG/LIH/KOA and return, for Ł1,643 for 1,080 TPs (Ł1.52/TP). The bonus is that it can be done in as little as 73 hours should you wish:ARN-HEL-LHR-JFK-LAX-HNL/OGG/LIH/KOA-LAX-JFK-LHR-HEL-ARN
You could route on A350/A330 between HEL and LHR for a better product, but it would take a little bit longer since you would have longer transfers (approx 75 hours).
Fare basis: ILN2T8S6 for travel in July/August.
The routing and extension codes are as follows:
Outbound:
hel lhr jfk lax
alliance oneworld; f BA..ILN2T8S6
Inbound:
lax ba jfk lhr hel
alliance oneworld; f BA..ILN2T8S6
However, there are plenty ways to restrict the options down to get better options, for example:
O:AA to specify AA operated metal on the transatlantic
ay1337,ay1331,ba6031,ba6033 would give you the A350 or A330 for HEL to LHR, ay1338,ay1332,ba6032,ba6034 for the return LHR to HEL
There are plenty other options to restrict the sectors possible, just need a bit of playing around in ITA matrix
Feb 12, 2019, 2:43 am
#744
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold (woohoo)
Posts: 189
Remember that you will need a pink tourist card for Cuba, when entering from the US as a tourist. You won't get a pink one from Europe, so you'll need to buy one from the US. Other foreign travel origins use the green ones, for instance MAD-HAV or HEL-HAV.
That's why I didn't opt for a nested Cuban TP run, but instead will be doing Central America in May for qualifying again for Gold. Too much extra hassle with my time constraints.
That's why I didn't opt for a nested Cuban TP run, but instead will be doing Central America in May for qualifying again for Gold. Too much extra hassle with my time constraints.
Feb 12, 2019, 9:33 am
#745
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Miami FL
Programs: BA GGL , HH Gold, UA Plat
Posts: 30
I need 250 tier points and have been searching for TP runs for the first week of march. Currently I have found DUB-HEL for around 535GBP. Does anyone have any better ideas for how to get 240 or more tier points between the 4th and 9th of march at a reasonable cost while minimizing the amount of time away from London?
TIA
TIA
Feb 12, 2019, 9:51 am
#746
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,251
I need 250 tier points and have been searching for TP runs for the first week of march. Currently I have found DUB-HEL for around 535GBP. Does anyone have any better ideas for how to get 240 or more tier points between the 4th and 9th of march at a reasonable cost while minimizing the amount of time away from London?
TIA
TIA
Feb 12, 2019, 10:12 am
#747
Join Date: May 2014
Location: BRU
Programs: BA GGL, TK E (*G), ITA exec
Posts: 4,083
Semi OT as it's related to the AUH-CGK TP run, but... does UL have the 24h cooling off period for tickets sold in UAE?
I searched around but didn't find anything, and this makes me think UL doesn't offer it.
Thanks
I searched around but didn't find anything, and this makes me think UL doesn't offer it.
Thanks
Feb 12, 2019, 10:15 am
#748
Moderator: Qatar Airways
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
Posts: 8,947
M
Feb 12, 2019, 10:34 am
#749
Join Date: May 2014
Location: BRU
Programs: BA GGL, TK E (*G), ITA exec
Posts: 4,083
I'm asking because the fare rules from UL website say tickets must be issued today (even if there is another line with a different date that in my inexperience I can't understand)
TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON/BEFORE 12FEB 19.
FARE BY RULE
TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON/AFTER 03JAN 19 AND ON/BEFORE
31MAR 19..
FARE BY RULE
TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON/AFTER 03JAN 19 AND ON/BEFORE
31MAR 19..
EDIT to Update:
No "on hold" option for me on the website.
There is a "pay later", but it requires to pay in person in UAE or Sri-Lanka... and that's really not possible for me. Oh well...
Last edited by Lefly; Feb 12, 2019 at 11:04 am Reason: Update
Feb 12, 2019, 12:22 pm
#750
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: Mucci, BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Stena Gold
Posts: 1,087
Like others above, including @BingBongBoy, I have been struggling to find any decent runs around the US. Can anyone improve on this, or add to it? I am free from late morning on the 18th in YYZ, and need to be in ORD by mid afternoon on the 21st. It's near the start of my year, so no particular points total in mind, just trying to keep below the Ł3/ TP level Thanks