Feb 6, 2021, 5:40 am
Last edit by: Prospero
This thread is the continuation of the discussion hosted in the BA Tier Point Runs | 2019-20 edition thread.
Useful tips and technical pointers
El_Duderito's explanation on fare routings and the maximum permitted distance you are allowed to travel (based on the distance between the origin and destination airports)
Helpful maps
The following series of maps show a 2,000 mile radius around each oneworld hub, useful for strategic planning purposes. Hopefully these will help your imagination to run free. Click on the images to reveal the accompanying maps.
EMEA
Asia Pacific
North America
Previous editions
BA Tier Point Runs | 2019-20 edition
BA Tier Point Runs | 2018 edition
BA Tier Point Runs | 2017 edition
BA Tier Point Runs | 2016 edition
BA Tier Point Runs | 2015 edition
BA Tier Point Runs | 2014 edition
BA Tier Point Runs | original edition
Useful tips and technical pointers
El_Duderito's explanation on fare routings and the maximum permitted distance you are allowed to travel (based on the distance between the origin and destination airports)
Helpful maps
The following series of maps show a 2,000 mile radius around each oneworld hub, useful for strategic planning purposes. Hopefully these will help your imagination to run free. Click on the images to reveal the accompanying maps.
EMEA
Asia Pacific
North America
Previous editions
BA Tier Point Runs | 2019-20 edition
BA Tier Point Runs | 2018 edition
BA Tier Point Runs | 2017 edition
BA Tier Point Runs | 2016 edition
BA Tier Point Runs | 2015 edition
BA Tier Point Runs | 2014 edition
BA Tier Point Runs | original edition
BA Tier Point Runs | 2021 edition
Jan 12, 2022, 6:02 pm
#1966
Join Date: Jan 2022
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 1,470
I'm fairly sure you won't be able to check your bag back to the airport you're departing from, and BA won't check through on separate tickets.
I think you're staying in London between SOF and ORD you can just check in your bag when you go for the LHR-ORD flight.
SOF used to be possible for returning on the same plane, but I don't know if Covid has stopped that being possible - I'll be trying to find that out in June.
I think you're staying in London between SOF and ORD you can just check in your bag when you go for the LHR-ORD flight.
SOF used to be possible for returning on the same plane, but I don't know if Covid has stopped that being possible - I'll be trying to find that out in June.
I think Ill just go ahead and book it and assume Ill be able to get to SOF and back in the same day. Covidll be over by then anyway, right??? 😬
Jan 12, 2022, 6:15 pm
#1967
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 681
The core AA Transcon routes are JFK-LAX and JFK-SFO, where you're all but guaranteed to get the A321T three class plane. (IROPS with the unavailability of a backup would be the only reason not to - all flights are scheduled as Transcons with the A321T.)
From time to time other official Transcons on A321T planes are marketed, like JFK-SNA, LAX-BOS and MIA-LAX. But these will have non-Transcon two class planes doing some (the majority?) of the flights.
In addition, other non-Transcon service widebody (777) flights are scheduled, MIA-LAX being one of those, which may have three class service, although the lines can be blurred here, with the word Transcon sometimes being used.
Hopefully that muddies the waters sufficiently!
rb211.
From time to time other official Transcons on A321T planes are marketed, like JFK-SNA, LAX-BOS and MIA-LAX. But these will have non-Transcon two class planes doing some (the majority?) of the flights.
In addition, other non-Transcon service widebody (777) flights are scheduled, MIA-LAX being one of those, which may have three class service, although the lines can be blurred here, with the word Transcon sometimes being used.
Hopefully that muddies the waters sufficiently!
rb211.
Jan 12, 2022, 11:44 pm
#1968
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,190
rb211.
Jan 13, 2022, 7:53 am
#1969
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 16
Thats really helpful. Thanks! Actually on the outbound to US I had the overnight in Chicago as it had me taking an afternoon flight from LHR. But I think I should be able to force the overnight in London. That probably opens up more opportunities as Ill be able to get on morning flights. Thanks again.
I think Ill just go ahead and book it and assume Ill be able to get to SOF and back in the same day. Covidll be over by then anyway, right??? 😬
I think Ill just go ahead and book it and assume Ill be able to get to SOF and back in the same day. Covidll be over by then anyway, right??? 😬
Prior to covid theyd also changed the way flights from the U.K. are processed, so they were taking everyone through passport control before you could reboard. From what I gather SOF doesnt really do connections as they are used to being an end-point rather than a hub
Jan 13, 2022, 8:05 am
#1970
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, Accor Live Limitless Gold, Hilton Honours Gold, Avis Preferred Plus
Posts: 1,806
SOF B2B isnt currently possible due to the need to go through health form checks.
Prior to covid theyd also changed the way flights from the U.K. are processed, so they were taking everyone through passport control before you could reboard. From what I gather SOF doesnt really do connections as they are used to being an end-point rather than a hub
Prior to covid theyd also changed the way flights from the U.K. are processed, so they were taking everyone through passport control before you could reboard. From what I gather SOF doesnt really do connections as they are used to being an end-point rather than a hub
Jan 13, 2022, 8:13 am
#1971
Join Date: Aug 2019
Programs: BA Exec Gold
Posts: 371
SOF B2B isnt currently possible due to the need to go through health form checks.
Prior to covid theyd also changed the way flights from the U.K. are processed, so they were taking everyone through passport control before you could reboard. From what I gather SOF doesnt really do connections as they are used to being an end-point rather than a hub
Prior to covid theyd also changed the way flights from the U.K. are processed, so they were taking everyone through passport control before you could reboard. From what I gather SOF doesnt really do connections as they are used to being an end-point rather than a hub
Jan 13, 2022, 9:00 am
#1973
Join Date: Aug 2019
Programs: BA Exec Gold
Posts: 371
The last week in November.
A couple of months before this others were saying that arrivals were separated.
A couple of months before this others were saying that arrivals were separated.
Jan 13, 2022, 9:18 am
#1974
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Morbihan, France
Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
Posts: 19,175
I did the same - and this was November and mid December. We could have got straight back on the flight - no problem. However from memory, CWS warned that we could go onto a stand and be bussed in and that would be that. However, we went through the E gates on our EU passports and went past health control and all she wanted to see were our negative tests. It was so easy in practice. I would never count on being able to B2B as I am a believer that too much could go wrong. A long queue for instance could put pay to one's plans
Jan 13, 2022, 10:40 am
#1975
Join Date: Aug 2019
Programs: BA Exec Gold
Posts: 371
I did the same - and this was November and mid December. We could have got straight back on the flight - no problem. However from memory, CWS warned that we could go onto a stand and be bussed in and that would be that. However, we went through the E gates on our EU passports and went past health control and all she wanted to see were our negative tests. It was so easy in practice. I would never count on being able to B2B as I am a believer that too much could go wrong. A long queue for instance could put pay to one's plans
Jan 13, 2022, 12:23 pm
#1976
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Cambridge, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,367
Jan 13, 2022, 1:07 pm
#1977
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Morbihan, France
Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
Posts: 19,175
I would say that was most sensible - for practically nothing you had a Plan B and C - just in case. Most prudent IMHO
Jan 13, 2022, 3:15 pm
#1978
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Unio Europaea
Programs: BA GGL, AS, Hertz Cirque Présidentielle
Posts: 1,445
The core AA Transcon routes are JFK-LAX and JFK-SFO, where you're all but guaranteed to get the A321T three class plane. (IROPS with the unavailability of a backup would be the only reason not to - all flights are scheduled as Transcons with the A321T.)
From time to time other official Transcons on A321T planes are marketed, like JFK-SNA, LAX-BOS and MIA-LAX. But these will have non-Transcon two class planes doing some (the majority?) of the flights.
In addition, other non-Transcon service widebody (777) flights are scheduled, MIA-LAX being one of those, which may have three class service, although the lines can be blurred here, with the word Transcon sometimes being used.
From time to time other official Transcons on A321T planes are marketed, like JFK-SNA, LAX-BOS and MIA-LAX. But these will have non-Transcon two class planes doing some (the majority?) of the flights.
In addition, other non-Transcon service widebody (777) flights are scheduled, MIA-LAX being one of those, which may have three class service, although the lines can be blurred here, with the word Transcon sometimes being used.
American Airlines (hereafter AA) operates Flagship First/Business with a three class service regularly on the following routes: JFK-LAX, JFK-SFO, BOS-LAX, MIA-LAX and JFK-SNA. BOS-LAX is the latest addition and it has been resumed. Four of the routes are exclusively three class Flagship services at the time of writing (and so it's slated to be until the GDS EOS), while MIA-LAX is a mixture, which was already the case prepandemic, since MIA doesn't have an Airbus A321 fleet for the route and the Flagship Transcontinental flights are thus operated with the Boeing 777-300ER fleet. Especially drop out that obscure "from time to time", which is incorrect/misleading. There's a clear service availability that's communicated by AA openly.
Anyway, AA has the service classes pretty well presented on their website, if one wants to check them out (AA: Flagship First - Flagship Business).
Jan 14, 2022, 1:36 am
#1980
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 58
Not sure if its of interest, but I noticed you could go Business with Finnair from St Petersburg to Lisbon return for just under £600. That's 360 Tier points - not the best, but not bad within Europe. Could also do it from Oulu if Visa is an issue but that an extra £60. Finnair positioning flights in business would be another £600 - but then that's also an extra 240 TP's.