BAEC TP run ex-EU on QR
 

Just wondering if I could please get some advice on this - Wanting to avoid spending time in London over New Year - so have decided to go to Taiwan and also try build up some TP to retain my BAEC Silver. I will need 430 TP to retain silver, with my year ending April 8. This will be my first time doing an Ex-EU flight to try and get more TP. I know I could go to TPE in economy return for about £700 but what's the fun in that....:D

I've managed to find the following:


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f8c957143e.png

Questions:

1. Feeder flight to ARN from LHR - Is it better to go the day before, or the day of? The day of there is an 0835 BA flight that gets me in at 1215, or there is one the night before. These set of flights would be £169 or thereabouts. A night at the Raddisson Blu in ARN is about £110.

2. BKK-TPE: how much time would I need to have (minimum) in BKK at both ends to make it in time? I found this which seems ok, but just want to get some opinions on whether it would be too rushed or not - this return would be £199
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d4e6a06814.png

Any advice / help / suggestions greatly appreciated!

BKK transit:
if you have checked luggage, need to enter through immigration (this usually takes a long time) and custom, pick up luggage, recheck baggage, exit from thailand - min. 3-4hrs
if you have no checked luggage - 1hrs, you can stay in transit area

Feeder: always fly day before (esp. with LCC) - It could be good with BA because it's the same alliance and if it is late, chances are they will be resolved. Remember that anything can happen in winter!

Why not stay in BKK? Le Meridien BKK is a very good property. Great pool, golf course, restaurants - and close to airport, grab/taxi: 150-200THB

Edit:
The return trip may not count towards your 2019 balance! - I don't know BA that much.

I've done an ex-ARN before - arriving 1215hrs for the 1620hrs departure is fine, but do familiarise yourself with what the airport is like beforehand. It depends on your risk appetite really - especially so if you have checked luggage, I did, but I was travelling solo so I wasn't too worried. ARN is not too big and quite straightforward so you should be fine.

I think the TPE-BKK leg could be brought forward if possible - BKK on the other hand is a maze of an airport. Plus if you have BAEC silver you might want to try and time your flights such that you could pay the JAL lounge a visit.