Old Feb 6, 2021, 5:40 am
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This thread is the continuation of the discussion hosted in the BA Tier Point Runs | 2019-20 edition thread.

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Old Oct 10, 2022, 4:42 am
  #4471  
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC, Eurostar
Posts: 3,261
Originally Posted by BA038_Passenger
I’m travelling on my first TP run for years starting on Wednesday from AGP to LAX stopping in the usual places. First up is AGP to HEL at 1am. Is that going to be as nasty as I imagine it will be? At least my layover is not to bad prior at a couple of hours. The return is even worse!
It is quite brutal, yes. I did it in May. The return is indeed quite brutal too, the flight is OK but you need to find a place to sleep once you get to AGP and the airport hotels are... not so good.

Last edited by alex67500; Oct 10, 2022 at 4:43 am Reason: wrong dates
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Old Oct 10, 2022, 4:47 am
  #4472  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Berkshire
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR/LTG
Posts: 683
Originally Posted by alex67500
It is quite brutal, yes. I did it in May. The return is indeed quite brutal too, the flight is OK but you need to find a place to sleep once you get to AGP and the airport hotels are... not so good.
Thanks, I did look at airport hotels and wasn't inspired to book one. Hoping there's a bench somewhere I can rest my head for a couple of hours
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Old Oct 10, 2022, 6:21 am
  #4473  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 532
Originally Posted by nufnuf77
Not cheap but the CDG-BKK F fares on QR might work - i usually do them as BKK-CDG-BKK A class for 4100gbp return yielding 840TPs. not sure how much the CDG-BKK-CDG is though.
Thanks all. Negotiating with Mrs Tinkicker about how much I'm allowed to spend so she can use the first wing when I'm not there . I hope to be able to squeeze another work trip or two in so might need less than 700 points.

Really regretting the shortage of BA seats on a couple of routes which meant earlier this year I spilled flights to non-one world carriers. Would have put me over the line.

Last edited by tinkicker; Oct 10, 2022 at 11:39 am
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Old Oct 10, 2022, 7:04 am
  #4474  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: BRU
Programs: BA GGL, TK E (*G), ITA exec
Posts: 4,023
Originally Posted by tinkicker
Thanks all. Negotiating with Mrs Tinkicker about how much the status partner cards are worth but I think 4k for GGL is more than I would spend. 1500 maybe. I hope to be able to squeeze another work trip or two in so might need less than 700 points. Really regretting the shortage of BA seats on a couple of routes which meant earlier this year I spilled flights to non-one world carriers. Would have put me over the line.
What about LHR-DXB on AY together with one AUH-CGK on UL in the middle? It should come at around 2700 eur / 2400 gbp for 920TP if you can find the right dates, like 10/11 to 15/11.
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Old Oct 10, 2022, 9:05 am
  #4475  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: BA Gold, AA PLT PRO, AGR, Strawberry (Nordic Choice), Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 4,150
Originally Posted by BA038_Passenger
Im travelling on my first TP run for years starting on Wednesday from AGP to LAX stopping in the usual places. First up is AGP to HEL at 1am. Is that going to be as nasty as I imagine it will be? At least my layover is not to bad prior at a couple of hours. The return is even worse!
I did two back to backs HEL-AGP-HEL on that overnight flight this summer and it was tiring but not too bad. Details here:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/34532868-post2396.html
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Old Oct 10, 2022, 2:53 pm
  #4476  
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Programs: non
Posts: 36
SOF-LHR-HEL-JFK experience

Does anyone here have experience with SOF-LHR-HEL-JFK trip with an overnight stay in HEL and a visa requirement to enter Schengen and USA? I'd like to learn about online check-in experience - were you able to check-in for any of these segments online? If not, were you able to get the visa checked in LHR before an immediate turnaround in SOF? Does BA require a visa check before check-in for a Sofia to Schengen/Finland trip?
I have read stories in other threads, but none seem to have had a visa requirement (only covid doc checks, which seem to be "hackable" in the app). I also didn't see any stories when they failed to check-in and missed the flight. Does this ever happen?
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Old Oct 10, 2022, 4:36 pm
  #4477  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: WAW ✈ LHR ✈ GLA
Programs: BA GfL/GGL/CCR, HH Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,492
Originally Posted by Vahan Hovhannisyan
Does anyone here have experience with SOF-LHR-HEL-JFK trip with an overnight stay in HEL and a visa requirement to enter Schengen and USA? I'd like to learn about online check-in experience - were you able to check-in for any of these segments online? If not, were you able to get the visa checked in LHR before an immediate turnaround in SOF? Does BA require a visa check before check-in for a Sofia to Schengen/Finland trip?
I have read stories in other threads, but none seem to have had a visa requirement (only covid doc checks, which seem to be "hackable" in the app). I also didn't see any stories when they failed to check-in and missed the flight. Does this ever happen?
Assuming it's a single ticket BA will check all your documents at the port of departure. Before pandemic it used to be possible to get docs checked before attempting b2b - not sure how it works now, but I'd assume it should be possible. Remember, if you have no visa/right to enter the country where you attempting to do the b2b, BA won't let you board the plane - back to back is seen as a trip there, even if you just want to do an immediate turnaround at the gate. Since you're asking about Schengen visa, I'm assuming you don't hold UK/EU passport.

When transferring at HEL from LHR to JFK there's no need to enter Schengen - you'll stay in the non-Schengen part of the terminal.
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Old Oct 10, 2022, 5:03 pm
  #4478  
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Programs: non
Posts: 36
Originally Posted by megaloman
Assuming it's a single ticket BA will check all your documents at the port of departure. Before pandemic it used to be possible to get docs checked before attempting b2b - not sure how it works now, but I'd assume it should be possible. Remember, if you have no visa/right to enter the country where you attempting to do the b2b, BA won't let you board the plane - back to back is seen as a trip there, even if you just want to do an immediate turnaround at the gate. Since you're asking about Schengen visa, I'm assuming you don't hold UK/EU passport.

When transferring at HEL from LHR to JFK there's no need to enter Schengen - you'll stay in the non-Schengen part of the terminal.
The important bit is whether I can get my visas checked in LHR for a booking starting in SOF - thanks for answering this! Hopefully there will be more recent post-pandemic stories before my trip in November.
I can add a few clarifications. I do have a Schengen (and US) visa, so I can enter both Bulgaria and Finland, however, I usually need to get my visa checked before I can check-in for a Schengen or US flight. Does BA even require a Schengen visa check to allow checking in for SOF-LHR and LHR-HEL segments, when these are parts of a longer itinerary to the USA?
I am not concerned with the positioning flight to SOF - all docs for this can be checked in LHR before I take any flights as usual. My concern is the SOF-LHR-HEL-JFK trip with an overnight layover in HEL, which means I will need a Schengen (and possibly US) visa check in SOF. I'd expect the US visa to be checked in Helsinki, because the HEL-JFK check-in may not even be open when I check-in for SOF-LHR-HEL. I don't have any checked bags and the positioning flight from LHR to SOF is on a separate booking from SOF-LHR-HEL-JFK-etc, but I think these don't matter for the purposes of this question.
I tried to highlight the important questions in a long post
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Old Oct 11, 2022, 4:37 am
  #4479  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Buckinghamshire
Programs: BAEC Gold Guest List, Hilton Honours Diamond, Accor Gold
Posts: 2,303
Originally Posted by megaloman
Assuming it's a single ticket BA will check all your documents at the port of departure.
Three years ago we were a bit oblivious to this and the docs ended up being checked at a bus gate in OTP! Quick process in the end, she just asked us three Qs and obvs kept bashing YES on the gate keyboard (we were HBO) before our TP run to PHX!
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Old Oct 11, 2022, 5:02 am
  #4480  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: WAW ✈ LHR ✈ GLA
Programs: BA GfL/GGL/CCR, HH Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,492
Originally Posted by Dicksbits
Three years ago we were a bit oblivious to this and the docs ended up being checked at a bus gate in OTP! Quick process in the end, she just asked us three Qs and obvs kept bashing YES on the gate keyboard (we were HBO) before our TP run to PHX!
OTP is not linked to the DHS, so all ESTAs and visas have to be manually checked.
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Old Oct 11, 2022, 8:47 am
  #4481  
HB7
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Club, SIA KrisFlyer, Qantas FF, Emirates Skywards
Posts: 1,848
Hi all,

Has anyone done a London City to Dublin turnaround in one day? I’m doing that soon (status run) and I have 3 hrs at Dublin airport. I assume I just stay within the transfer area and don’t need to go through any immigration/security before re-boarding my flight back to London?

I haven’t flown to Dublin and I’m not familiar with the airport.

Thanks all
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Old Oct 11, 2022, 9:00 am
  #4482  
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,705
Originally Posted by HB7
Hi all,

Has anyone done a London City to Dublin turnaround in one day? Im doing that soon (status run) and I have 3 hrs at Dublin airport. I assume I just stay within the transfer area and dont need to go through any immigration/security before re-boarding my flight back to London?

I havent flown to Dublin and Im not familiar with the airport.

Thanks all
Have a look at the b2b thread, but you will need to go landside and back in through security. You can't stay airside when you arrive. Having said that 3 hours is plenty of time.
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Old Oct 11, 2022, 9:28 am
  #4483  
Formerly richh1833
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SYD
Programs: QF P1, BA GGL, AS GMVP
Posts: 467
Unfortunately one of my BA flights was cancelled for a TP run and I'm 1 segment short. I will be flying on BA metal but AA coded flight. Is there any chance that will be considered a segment?

Last edited by TheSYDTraveller; Oct 11, 2022 at 9:43 am
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Old Oct 11, 2022, 9:54 am
  #4484  
 
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: AUS
Programs: BA, QF, DL, A3, IHG
Posts: 121

Request original routing credit?

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Old Oct 11, 2022, 10:00 am
  #4485  
HB7
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Club, SIA KrisFlyer, Qantas FF, Emirates Skywards
Posts: 1,848
Originally Posted by KARFA
Have a look at the b2b thread, but you will need to go landside and back in through security. You can't stay airside when you arrive. Having said that 3 hours is plenty of time.
Thanks - hopefully should be ok time wise.
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