Last edit by: EsherFlyer
** AA Domestic First on two cabin will earn business TPs and avios for departures on or after 11 January 2017 - see reference posts for more details **
** Note that the practice of AA Domestic 3-class service flights booking into A for 210 TPs when I was no longer available ceased in September 2017. Discussion here. **
Welcome to the thread. This is a continuation of the highly popular 2016 Tier Point thread. 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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below!
Current Promotions of Interest
Sale Fares
Advanced Promotion Fares
See here in post # 8 for a 2017 archive of exEU sale fare, and see here in post # 445 for a 2016 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:
Please see the links at the bottom of the wiki for archives of runs from previous years.
From Europe
24APR 0.90/TP 400 440 TLL-BA/AY-HEL-LON-GLA-KOI-ABZ ; TLL-BA/AY-HEL-LON-GLA-SDZ-ABZ (see post #1221)
02NOV 1.33/TP 583 440 LHR-HEL-TLL/TLL-HEL-LHR-NCL//NCL-LHR-HEL-TLL/TLL-HEL-LHR IIIIIIIIII Google Flights armouredant 2 nested tickets, both other a Saturday night. BA ticket, BA & AY metal, AY A350 possible LHR-HEL
08FEB 1.33/TP 346 260 JER-LGW-RAK-LGW-RAK I/I/I/I BA.com ramops
14AUG 1.65/TP 593 360 OSL-HEL-AGP-HEL-OSL I-I-I-I ITA Flythe96flag SH J cabin + possible red-eye (!) AY
26JUL 1.81/TP 72.70 40 MAD-FRA Z lan.com Prospero 787 flat bed LA
1JAN 1.85/TP 444 240 JER-LGW/LHR-HEL J/I/I/J ITA Matrix flatlander Available most weekends first half of 2016, fare IM0R
23NOV 1.89/TP 377 200 DUB-LHR-MAD-SVQ r/t I-I-I-I-I-I ITA Lorcancoyle IM0B IB DUB to SVQ BA and IB flights (I2 for domestic under IB code), random dates in December available, A340 on some dates (helpfully pointed out by Temps that domestic Spain is only 20 TPs)
24NOV 1.91/TP 765.00 400 BUD-DOH-SHJ I/A/I/A QR.com Wozza2404 A320 QR
11AUG 2.10/TP 420 200 AMS-LHR-GLA-LSI-ABZ-LSI-GLA-LHR-AMS I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I ITA Matrix --> Priceline.com MrMutton
13NOV 2.56/TP 410 160 LHR-HEL ? BA.com Lorcancoyle wide open as flight+hotel, can reduce with TCB cash back BA
From North, Central and South America
26Jan 1.50/TP 960 640 LGA-CMH-DCA-PHL-RDU-CLT-ATL-MIA-PTY and return I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I ITA Matrix--> BookWithMatrix dot com --> AA.com HPN-HRL other routings available; reverse routing is 40 more - see post 388 AA
10MAY 2.50/TP 203 80 ORF-CLT-ORD I/I AA.com
21MAY 2.08/TP 250 120 YYZ-PHL/LGA-CLT-ORF/PHF I/I/I AA.com
22NOV 1.43/TP 172 120 DCA-(LGA/BOS/PHL)-CLT-RDU (one way, reverse works as well) I/I/I ITA->BWM->priceline.com
From Middle East, Asia and Australasia
23Feb 0.99/TP 356 360 TPE-xKUL-PEN(JHB)-xKUL-TPE Z http://www.malaysiaairlines.com ermen two day min stay, promo fare MH
04JAN 1.10/TP 44 40 KUL-PEN D http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/uk/en.html fitch Works in both directions, rtn 80 if you can make the timnings work MH
11Nov 0.85/TP 307 360 TPE-KUL-SIN-KUL-TPE Z http://www.malaysiaairlines.com neofung
From Africa
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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. The guide to using ITA matrix in post #4 (see 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. AMS and JER easier than DUB for an immediate turnaround. 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). Bilbao, Jersey and Amsterdam seems 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 (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 last BA flight out on a Saturday, airport hotel and first return 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. Also the BA fare for LHR-HEL-TLL at ~235 is still available and would get 200 TPs for a return.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Historic information
2016 Archive
2015 Archive (6 months Jul to Dec)
2015 Archive (6 months Jan to Jun)
2014 Archive
.
** Note that the practice of AA Domestic 3-class service flights booking into A for 210 TPs when I was no longer available ceased in September 2017. Discussion here. **
Welcome to the thread. This is a continuation of the highly popular 2016 Tier Point thread. 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!
Current Promotions of Interest
Sale Fares
- from AMS/RTM to US ILN4T7S6/INX6T7S6 reported in this post and this post, e.g. NYC - 1,461, ORD - 1,492, LAS - 1,460, needs to be booked by 25 September, see linked post for details
- from PRG to US ILN4T8S6 reported in this post, e.g. IAD - 1,033, MIA - 1,133, ATL - 1,080, needs to be booked by 21 September, see linked post for details
Advanced Promotion Fares
- from DUB to US ILN8C1S6 reported here, e.g. NYC - 1,472, MIA - 1,578, see linked post for details
- froM DUB to US ILN8S4C1 reported here, e.g. JFK - 1,427, MIA - 1,532, LAS - 1,667, LAX - 1,795, HNL - 2,095, this is an advanced purchase fare so no book by deadline, see linked post for details
- from OTP to PHX ILN8R4C1 reported here, e.g. PHX - 1,252, see linked post for details
- from AMS to BKK INCEU60 reported here, e.g. BKK - 1,216, see linked post for details
See here in post # 8 for a 2017 archive of exEU sale fare, and see here in post # 445 for a 2016 archive of exEU sale fares.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
24APR 0.90/TP 400 440 TLL-BA/AY-HEL-LON-GLA-KOI-ABZ ; TLL-BA/AY-HEL-LON-GLA-SDZ-ABZ (see post #1221)
02NOV 1.33/TP 583 440 LHR-HEL-TLL/TLL-HEL-LHR-NCL//NCL-LHR-HEL-TLL/TLL-HEL-LHR IIIIIIIIII Google Flights armouredant 2 nested tickets, both other a Saturday night. BA ticket, BA & AY metal, AY A350 possible LHR-HEL
08FEB 1.33/TP 346 260 JER-LGW-RAK-LGW-RAK I/I/I/I BA.com ramops
14AUG 1.65/TP 593 360 OSL-HEL-AGP-HEL-OSL I-I-I-I ITA Flythe96flag SH J cabin + possible red-eye (!) AY
26JUL 1.81/TP 72.70 40 MAD-FRA Z lan.com Prospero 787 flat bed LA
1JAN 1.85/TP 444 240 JER-LGW/LHR-HEL J/I/I/J ITA Matrix flatlander Available most weekends first half of 2016, fare IM0R
23NOV 1.89/TP 377 200 DUB-LHR-MAD-SVQ r/t I-I-I-I-I-I ITA Lorcancoyle IM0B IB DUB to SVQ BA and IB flights (I2 for domestic under IB code), random dates in December available, A340 on some dates (helpfully pointed out by Temps that domestic Spain is only 20 TPs)
24NOV 1.91/TP 765.00 400 BUD-DOH-SHJ I/A/I/A QR.com Wozza2404 A320 QR
11AUG 2.10/TP 420 200 AMS-LHR-GLA-LSI-ABZ-LSI-GLA-LHR-AMS I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I ITA Matrix --> Priceline.com MrMutton
13NOV 2.56/TP 410 160 LHR-HEL ? BA.com Lorcancoyle wide open as flight+hotel, can reduce with TCB cash back BA
From North, Central and South America
26Jan 1.50/TP 960 640 LGA-CMH-DCA-PHL-RDU-CLT-ATL-MIA-PTY and return I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I ITA Matrix--> BookWithMatrix dot com --> AA.com HPN-HRL other routings available; reverse routing is 40 more - see post 388 AA
10MAY 2.50/TP 203 80 ORF-CLT-ORD I/I AA.com
21MAY 2.08/TP 250 120 YYZ-PHL/LGA-CLT-ORF/PHF I/I/I AA.com
22NOV 1.43/TP 172 120 DCA-(LGA/BOS/PHL)-CLT-RDU (one way, reverse works as well) I/I/I ITA->BWM->priceline.com
From Middle East, Asia and Australasia
23Feb 0.99/TP 356 360 TPE-xKUL-PEN(JHB)-xKUL-TPE Z http://www.malaysiaairlines.com ermen two day min stay, promo fare MH
04JAN 1.10/TP 44 40 KUL-PEN D http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/uk/en.html fitch Works in both directions, rtn 80 if you can make the timnings work MH
11Nov 0.85/TP 307 360 TPE-KUL-SIN-KUL-TPE Z http://www.malaysiaairlines.com neofung
From Africa
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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. The guide to using ITA matrix in post #4 (see 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. AMS and JER easier than DUB for an immediate turnaround. 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). Bilbao, Jersey and Amsterdam seems 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 (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 last BA flight out on a Saturday, airport hotel and first return 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. Also the BA fare for LHR-HEL-TLL at ~235 is still available and would get 200 TPs for a return.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Historic information
2016 Archive
2015 Archive (6 months Jul to Dec)
2015 Archive (6 months Jan to Jun)
2014 Archive
.
BA Tier Point Runs | 2017 master thread
#1
Original Poster
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,781
BA Tier Point Runs | 2017 master thread
This thread is a continuation of the hugely popular BA Tier Point runs 2016 thread. This is intended to be a starting point for finding key origin and destinations to tailor your tier point runs, but you will still need to do some leg work to find the correct dates and flights. Also, don't forget that with some of these fares there will be positioning and other costs associated to get to the start of the tier point run.
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to all members who have given their time to support the 2016 BA Tier Point runs thread, in particular those who tirelessly updated the thread's wikipost and those that offer advice and comments in response to the many queries posted. Much of the new information incorporated into this primer was transferred over from the old wiki, but it has been updated and refreshed where necessary.
Other FT threads/boards to watch & external sites
The TP run thread is often a place where good fares are posted aimed at good TP earning. However, it isn’t the only place on FT where such fares are discussed. Here are some other threads/boards you may wish to subscribe to which all relate to good fares.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...deals-j-f.html - 2016 thread, now closed
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...7-edition.html - current thread
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...t-ba-sale.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...les-ex-uk.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/premium-fare-deals-740/
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...are-deals.html
One other invaluable website is Expert Flyer. You can subscribe to the site relatively cheaply and the amount of useful information on there (MCTs, flight loads, fare rules etc.) will certainly be very helpful if you are regularly looking at booking trips and maximising TPs.
Contents
Introduction and primer - post #1
Starting your run from Continental Europe to the US & Internal US flights - post #2
Other Types of Runs and Travel to and in the East - post #3
Working with itamatrix and Google Flights - post #4
Irregular Operations, Original Routing Credits, and POUGs & AUPs - post #5
Working with ticket rules - post #6
Historical data (Wikipost archive from 2016) - post #7
exEU Fare Archive - post #8
IntroductionStarting your run from Continental Europe to the US & Internal US flights - post #2
Other Types of Runs and Travel to and in the East - post #3
Working with itamatrix and Google Flights - post #4
Irregular Operations, Original Routing Credits, and POUGs & AUPs - post #5
Working with ticket rules - post #6
Historical data (Wikipost archive from 2016) - post #7
exEU Fare Archive - post #8
Unlike Avios points which can be earned through a multitude of activities, Tier Points can only be earned through the pursuit of flying and are earned on all commercial BA and oneworld fares (subject to a few exceptions). The number of Tier Points you accrue is entirely dependent on the fare class (or selling class in BA lingo) your tickets are booked in.
Please note, while flights on BA partners such as Alaska Airlines, and Meridiana may earn Avios, they may not earn Tier Points. See here and also the tables and calculator on ba.com for more details.
In terms of AS, as reported here, from 26 January 2015 flights on AS metal flown under the AS number or AA metal flown under the AS codeshare earn avios only, AS metal flown under the AA codeshare earn no avios or TPs. However, BA have now launched codeshares on a number of AS routes from SEA to Hawaii, Alaska, and a few other destinations. These BA codeshares are only available if connecting to or from a BA longhaul flight, but it does mean if you book AS metal on a BA codeshare you will earn avios and TPs at the normal BA rates.
Also currently Aer Lingus does not earn Tier Points if booked under the EI flight number, although they do earn a small amount of avios. With the purchase and integration of EI in to oneworld more and more EI flights now have BA codeshares which can be booked on ba.com as standalone flights. If booked under the BA codeshare the flight will earn Tier Points. In addition it may be expected that EI will become a full Tier Point and Avios earning oneworld partner airline in due course, although there is no indication yet on a specific date for this.
There have also been big changes to TP earning on AA domestic two cabin services and the domestic first cabin will now earn business TPs and avios for departures on or after 11 January, see post #2 below for more details.
Below is the full earning chart which covers BA flights and oneworld partner flights.
As of 1 April 2017 BA domestic flights have been re-classified in to two cabins with CE and ET. Earnings on UK internal flights fall in line with standard ET and CE rates. Y, B, H will continue to earn 20 TP, but R, I, D, C, and J will now be sat in the CE cabin and earn 40 TP per flight. The table above has been updated to reflect this change.
† This table now reflects our understanding that the TP earn rate for lowest economy is applicable to some non-BA flights as well as BA flights. The ba.com calculator (which can be found under the Flight Calculator link here) has also been updated in late 2015 to reflect this. The page also provides lists for all oneworld carriers for Tier Point earnings. Some booking classes on some carriers will not earn Tier Points so prior to booking you should check the relevant table for that carrier – if a booking class is not included in the table you must assume it will not earn any Tier Points.
Also note that if you’re booked to travel from the UK to Australia, but with a stop-over (i.e. booked as two flight numbers), it will count as two long haul flights, so you will actually earn slightly more than if it was booked as a single flight (e.g. 300=160+140 in Club vs. 240 for straight through).
When using the calculator on ba.com a breakdown of Tier Points for each booking class is now shown for BA and all other oneworld partner as shown below. For example, for JFK-MIA economy earnings range from 5 to 20 depending on what booking class you have.
The lowest booking classes in economy for all carriers are:
Lowest economy booking classes for TP earnings
BA: Q, O, and G
AA: G, Q, N, O, and S
AB: Q, O, G, P, E, W, N, and Z
AY: A, G, N, O, Q, R, S, W, and Z
CX: K, L, M, N, Q, S, V
EC: Q, O, and G
IB: Q, O, and P
JJ: G, O, Q, N, S, X, and V
JL: N and Q
LA: V, S, N, O, Q, G, and X
MH: L, V, and S
QF: M, K, L, N, G, Q, S, V, and O
QR: T, O, and W
RJ: H, K, L, M, N, O, Q, V, W, and S
S7: M, L, V, T, R, S, N, Q, and O
UL: L, R, V, S, N, Q, O, and G
BA/AY short haul+ routes:BA: Q, O, and G
AA: G, Q, N, O, and S
AB: Q, O, G, P, E, W, N, and Z
AY: A, G, N, O, Q, R, S, W, and Z
CX: K, L, M, N, Q, S, V
EC: Q, O, and G
IB: Q, O, and P
JJ: G, O, Q, N, S, X, and V
JL: N and Q
LA: V, S, N, O, Q, G, and X
MH: L, V, and S
QF: M, K, L, N, G, Q, S, V, and O
QR: T, O, and W
RJ: H, K, L, M, N, O, Q, V, W, and S
S7: M, L, V, T, R, S, N, Q, and O
UL: L, R, V, S, N, Q, O, and G
Several short haul routes earn double Tier Points due to their extended length, so instead of 40 TP for a one way in business they earn 80. This is the current list of short haul+ routes (note some of the holiday destinations may be seasonal):
LHR to/from - Athens (ATH), Bucharest (OTP), Chania (CHQ), Corfu (CFU), Gran Canaria (LPA), Helsinki (HEL), Istanbul (IST), Kalamata (KLX), Kefalonia (EFL) new May 2018, Kiev (KBP), Kos (KGS) suspended, Larnaca (LCA), Mykonos (JMK), Reykjavik (KEF), Santonrini (JTR), Sofia (SOF), St Petersburg (LED), Zakynthos (ZTH) due to start in summer 2017, and Tenerife (TFS) due to start winter 2017.
LGW to/from - Algiers (ALG), Bodrum (BJV), Catania (CTA), Dalaman (DLM), Fuerteventura (FUE), Heraklion (HER), Lanzarote (ACE), Larnaca (LCA), Las Palmas (LPA), Madeira Funchal (FNC), Malta (MLA), Marrakech (RAK), Paphos (PFO), Rhodes (RHO), Tenerife (TFS), Thessaloniki (SKG), and Tirana (TIA).
LCY to/from - Mykonos (JMK), Santonrini (JTR), Skiathos (JSI) (new summer 2017), and Reykjavik (KEF) (new October 2017).
MAN to/from - Mykonos (JMK) new summer 2017, Malaga (AGP) new summer 2017, and Helsinki (HEL) (operated by N7 for AY).
EDI to/from - Palma (PMI) new summer 2017, and Helsinki (HEL) operated by AY.
BHX to/from - Malaga (AGP) new summer 2017.
The following charts illustrate these routes currently operated out of London/UK.
BA: LHR - HEL LED KEF
BA: LCY - KEF
AY: MAN EDI - HEL
EDI - PMI
LGW - ACE ALG CTA FNC FUE LPA MLA RAK SKG TFS TIA
LHR - KBP IST LPA OTP SOF TFS
MAN- AGP
BHX - AGP
MAN - JMK
LCY - JMK JTR JSI
LGW - BJV DLM HER LCA PFO RHO
LHR - ATH CFU CHQ EFL (due to start May 2018) JMK JTR KGS (suspended) KLX LCA ZTH
Short haul routes earning long haul TPs:
There are a handful of European based short haul routes which are actually longer than 2,000 miles and therefore earn long haul TPs (i.e. 140 TPs one way in business). These are:
- On BA LHR to/from - Moscow (DME)
- On AY HEL to/from - Dubai (DXB), Fuerteventura (FUE), Lanzarote (ACE), Las Palmas (LPA), Lisbon (LIS), Madeira Funchal (FNC), Malaga (AGP), Tel Aviv (TLV), Tenerife-North (TFN), and Tenerife-South (TFS)
- On IB MAD to/from - Moscow (DME)
- On S7 DME to/from - Alicante (ALC), Ibiza (IBZ), Malaga (AGP), Reykjavk–Keflavk (KEF) and Valencia (VLC)
BA: LHR - DME
IB: MAD - DME
AY: HEL - ACE AGP DXB FNC FUE LIS LPA TFN TFS TLV
S7: DME - AGP ALC IBZ KEF VLC
Domestic routes in Spain:
Domestic flights in Spain on IB earn 20 TPs. The exception is flights between Spain and the Canary Islands which earn 40 TPs each way in business.
Tenerife South (TFS) to/from - Madrid (MAD)
Tenerife North (TFN) to/from - Madrid (MAD), Asturias (OVD), Santiago (SCQ), Valencia (VLC)
Lanzarote (ACE) to/from - Madrid (MAD)
Fuerteventura (FUE) to/from - Madrid (MAD), Santiago (SCQ), Valencia (VLC), Malaga (AGP), Seville (SVQ)
Las Palmas (LPA) to/from - Madrid (MAD), Asturias (OVD), Santiago (SCQ), Valencia (VLC), Alicante (ALC), Leon (LEN), Melilla (MLN), Santander (SDR), Valladolid (VLL), Vigo (VGO)
La Palma (SPC) to/from - Madrid (MAD)
Note that VLC-FUE, LEN-LPA, and MLN-LPA are not showing at all on the calculator on ba.com.
List of BA/other long haul, 6,000 miles and over:
Long haul routes over 6,000 miles offer slightly better TP earning rates as shown in the table above.
BA: LGW - CPT MRU LIM
BA: LHR - CPT EZE HND KUL NRT SCL SIN
AA: DFW - HKG ICN NRT PEK PVG
AA: LAX - AKL HKG PEK PVG SYD
AA: ORD - PEK PVG NRT
CX: HKG - BCN BOS DUB JFK JNB IAD LAX MAD ORD SFO YVR YYZ
IB: MAD - EZE SCL MVD
JJ: GRU - FRA
JL: NRT - BOS CDG DFW JFK ORD
JL: HND - LHR CDG
LA: SCL - MAD (onward to FRA)
LA: SCL - AKL
MH: KUL - LHR
QF: PER - LHR
QF: BNE - LAX
QF: MEL - DXB LAX
QF: SYD - DFW DXB JNB LAX SCL SFO YVR
QR: DOH - ADL AKL ATL BOS CBR DFW GIG GRU IAD IAH JFK LAS LAX MEL MIA ORD PHL SCL SYD YUL
Some of these routes are announced to start in 2017/18 so may not yet be running.
RJ: AMM - ORD DTW
Last edited by KARFA; Dec 17, 2017 at 2:30 am
#2
Original Poster
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,781
AA booking classes - changes from 11 January 2017
Travel in the US on domestic AA flights has long been an efficient way to earn TPs since the front cabin on two cabin flights has been branded as domestic first and earned first class TPs - so 210 for > 2,000 mile sectors and 60 TP for shorter flights. However, with the introduction of premium economy to AA they have now significantly changed the booking classes used for domestic flights meaning that, although it is still branded as domestic first, business booking classes are used and therefore TP earnings are now 140 for > 2,000 mile sectors and 40 TP for shorter flights.
These changes take effect for any flights departing on or after 11 January 2017. Whereas domestic first on two cabin domestic services used to be in booking classes F, A, and P, they will now be in J, D, I, and R. AA have already run these changes back in November 2016 to update existing bookings which have affected flights on and beyond 11 January 2017.
This does mean TP earnings for runs within the US or exEU runs to the US are going to earn less, but even with the changes they are still an efficient and relatively cheap way to earn.
For three class AA domestic flights (e.g. JFK-LAX and JFK-SFO) there still will be the potential for earning first TPs if you are in the first cabin.
It was always the case that for an I class fare which included a three class A321 transcon you should have gone in the business cabin and earned business TPs. It was also the case that if there was no I available on that specific flight A class was permitted so you would find yourself in the first cabin and earn first TPs. This trick of getting first on the transcon will be dead from 11 January. Going forward a BA fare will only look for I class, and the equivalent AA I class fare will only look for I or D.
For more information on these changes see this thread, and see this post for the updated earning tables on ba.com.
Starting your run from Continental Europe
Here are a few popular examples to give you a flavour of what can be achieved at a relatively respectable price. Note, any fare prices shown in this post are indicative and reflect the rates checked at the time of writing. Fares do vary considerably, so check this thread from time to time for prevailing fares/offers/promotions etc.
Staring from Continental Europe is typically referred to as an exEU - so this includes starting from anywhere in Europe but excludes bookings starting from the UK which are termed exUK. Typically good places to start are Dublin (DUB) and Copenhagen (CPH) if going to the US, and Oslo (OSL) or Stockholm (ARN) if heading to the Far East or Australia. However, sales from these and other starting points often come up and you should check this thread for up to date information.
Naturally, to get to the most cost advantageous origin, positioning flights (and most likely, overnight accommodation) is an inevitable factor. Dublin has been the flavour of the moment over the last few years for cheap (I class) transatlantic flights in business class. Thanks to the BA/AA/US Joint Business Venture, it is now possible to construct connections within the United States for very little extra. However, the lowest I class fares usually come with stop over and Saturday night stay restrictions, but it is possible to spread out your itinerary by constructing connections of up to 24 hours, if you prefer a trip that is gentler on the body.
The example above would earn 40+140+140+40+40+140+140+40 = 720 TPs in total.
The general principle to maximise your points here are to do a run along the lines of:
DUB-(HEL)-LON-EEE-WWW-DES
HEL is optional and will get you an additional 80 TPs for the HEL-LHR flight but is much more time consuming. If you do want to fly via HEL consider starting from somewhere like CPH as the CPH-HEL flight will be much shorter than DUB-HEL and both earn 40 TPs.
EEE is any connection on the East Coast of the US, WWW is a connection on the West Coast of the US, and DES is whatever destination you want with those in Hawaii being particularly preferred (HNL, KOA, LIH, and OGG). Also make sure that EEE and WWW are more than 2,000 miles apart so that you get 140 TPs. There is a list of > 2,000 mile routes further down this thread. Doing a run like this would allow earnings of:
DUB-HNL (exc. HEL) = 40+140+140+140+140+140+140+40 = 920 TPs
DUB-HNL (inc. HEL both ways) = 40+80+140+140+140+140+140+140+80+40 = 1,080 TPs
1,080 TPs is the maximum you can generally earn on an exEU run to the US as the fare rules typically allow two connections in each region only (i.e. two in Europe and two in the US).
Where to Book
A question which come up many times is where to price up these more complex itineraries and where to book them. There are a few options and these include aa.com (multi-city tool), itamatrix, and google flights. The latter two don’t allow for booking but once you have them priced up you can book on aa.com or call BA to book over the phone. There are some notes on itamatrix and google flights further down.
If booking over the phone just tell the agent what flights you want, the dates, and the booking classes. The advantage of booking with BA rather than with AA online is that only BA tickets (those starting 125-…) can be upgraded with avios and you get 3x avios for BA spend if you have a BA Amex Premium Plus credit card.
BA.com is not a good option for pricing up or booking these kinds of itineraries unless you are doing something very simple like DUB-LHR-JFK-LHR-DUB. The multi-city tool on ba.com is very limited.
North American domestic first/business class runs
Central America and the Caribbean have become hot spots for TP earning frenzies out of the United States in recent years. AA's fares from the west cost to Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama amongst many other destinations in the region deliver excellent Tier Point yields. So much so, that with a little bit of planning and of course time, it is possible to rack up TPs at an alarming rate.
The following diagrams illustrate AA routes greater than 2,000 miles. Note, the forward cabin on AA flights serving Canada and the Caribbean are marketed as business class whereas the forward cabin on AA two cabin domestic flights is marketed as domestic first. In both cases you now will earn business TPs due to the changes noted at the top of this thread.
AA non-stop 2,000+ mile routes (140 TPs with a J booking class)
East US
BDL - LAX
BOS - LAX, PHX
CLT - LAX, PDX, SAN, SEA, SFO, SJC, SMF
DCA - LAS, LAX
EWR - PHX
IAD - LAX
JFK - LAS, LAX*, PHX, SAN, SEA, SFO*, TUS
MCO - LAX
MIA - LAS, LAX, SAN, SEA, SFO, SLC
PHL - LAS, LAX, PDX, PHX, SAN, SEA, SFO
PIT - LAX
RDU - LAX
TPA - LAX
West US & Alaska
ANC - DFW, LAX, PHX
LAS - DCA, JFK, MIA, PHL
LAX - ANC, BDL, BOS, CLT, DCA, HNL, IAD, JFK*, KOA, LIH, MCO, MIA, OGG, PHL, PIT, RDU, TPA
PDX - CLT, PHL
PHX - ANC, BOS, EWR, HNL, JFK, KOA, LIH, OGG, PHL
SAN - CLT, JFK, MIA, PHL
SEA - CLT, JFK, MIA, PHL
SFO - CLT, JFK*, MIA, PHL
SJC - CLT
SLC - MIA
SMF - CLT
Mid-US
DFW - ANC, HNL, OGG
Hawaii
HNL - DFW, LAX, PHX
OGG - DFW, LAX, PHX
KOA - LAX, PHX
LIH - LAX, PHX
* these are three class transcon services so you would earn 210 TPs if booked in to the first cabin under the BA/AA flight number and with F/A selling class, and you would earn 140 TPs if booked in the business cabin with J/D/I selling class
DFW to/from ANC, SJU, HNL, and OGG
Note that the DFW-SJU route is branded and booked as a business cabin and not a domestic first cabin.
JFK to/from SEA, LAS, SAN, PHX, SFO*, LAX*, and TUS
* these are three class transcon services so if booked in to the first cabin under the AA flight number you would earn 210 TPs or 140 TPs if booked in the business cabin
LAX to/from ANC, BOS, BDL, JFK*, MIA, DCA, PHL, CLT, IAD, RDU, MCO, TPA, PIT, Hawaii (HNL, OGG, KOA, LIH)
* only if in the F cabin on a three class A321, if in the business cabin only get 140 TPs
PHL to/from SEA, PDX, SFO, LAS, LAX, PHX, and SAN
PHX to/from BOS, EWR, ANC, JFK, PHL, and Hawaii (HNL, OGG, KOA, LIH)
Something to be aware of with premium cabins on flights operated by AA - flights operating entirely within the US are marketed as domestic first class; those operating outwith the US are marketed as business class.
The example above would earn 40+140+40+40+140+40 = 440 TPs in total.
I've highlighted the LAS-LAX-MIA-SJU routing not because it is the best earner. There are other routings that yield a greater sum of TPs and invariably at a better price but because this is a gentle itinerary. The outbound legs can be accomplished in a single day, albeit with an early start. The inbound is even easier and a noon start is possible, a beneficiary of the westerly routing where the changing time zones work in our favour.
The flights between MIA and SJU are sold as business class and thus accrue 40 Tier Points. For those planning a trip from the Midwest or East Coast to San Juan, it is worth considering DFW as a connection point, since DFW and SJU are in excess of 2,000 miles apart and therefore accrue 140 Tier Points.
AA stopping 2,000+ mile routes
Sometimes routes which are not non-stop like SEA-PHX-ATL will code as the same flight number for both segments, which results in a 2,000+ mile segment, i.e. 140 TPs in First. For more information and a list of these stopping routes see here courtesy of EsherFlyer, and for those starting and ending at a station that doesn't otherwise have accessible > 2,000 mile segments see here.
Other tips for AA travel planning
AS routes on BA codeshares
In terms of AS, as noted n post #1, any combination of AS metal/codeshare and AA metal/codeshare would not earn TPs so AS has been avioded on US routings. However, BA have now launched codeshares on a number of AS routes from SEA to Hawaii, Alaska, and a few other destinations. These BA codeshares are only available if connecting to or from a BA longhaul flight, but it does mean if you book AS metal on a BA codeshare you will earn avios and TPs at the normal BA rates.
The routes currently available as BA codeshares are:
SEA - Honolulu (HNL), Kailua-Kona (KOA), Kahului (OGG), and Lihue (LIH)
SEA - San Francisco (SFO), San Jose (SJC), and Portland (PDX)
SEA - Salt Lake City (SLC), Anchorage (ANC), Boise (BOI), Fairbanks (FAI), and Spokane (GEG)
SJC - Santa Ana (SNA)
More information and examples
For some more information on intra-US TP runs please see this useful guide written by EsherFlyer.
Examples US internal TP runs from 2015 - pre booking class changes so some of the TP calculations are based on 210/60:
1.05 | 253 | 240 | BOS-PHL-PIT-PHL-BOS | PPPP | aa.com | Simon Schus | AA op by US
1.27/TP | 1250 | 980 | MCO-MIA-LAX-HNL | A | AA | Mr 1A
1.06/TP | 705 | 660 | RIC-CLT-PHL-PHX-PHL-CLT-RIC | A | AA.com | wenzlydale
1.24/TP | 668 | 540 | SEA-MIA-ATL-CLT-SEA | P/P/P/P | aa.com | EsherFlyer
0.39/TP | 484 | 1240 | HNL-LAX-BOS-MIA-BAQ-MIA-PHL-LAX-HNL | AAAIIAAA | ITA Matrix | Pawel Siewko | AA
0.57/TP | 554 | 980 | LAX-LAS-PHX-PHL-CLT-TPA-MIA-PTY-MIA-PHL-PHX-LAS-LAX | PPPPPPIIPPPP | aa.com | Airprox | AA + US
Travel in the US on domestic AA flights has long been an efficient way to earn TPs since the front cabin on two cabin flights has been branded as domestic first and earned first class TPs - so 210 for > 2,000 mile sectors and 60 TP for shorter flights. However, with the introduction of premium economy to AA they have now significantly changed the booking classes used for domestic flights meaning that, although it is still branded as domestic first, business booking classes are used and therefore TP earnings are now 140 for > 2,000 mile sectors and 40 TP for shorter flights.
These changes take effect for any flights departing on or after 11 January 2017. Whereas domestic first on two cabin domestic services used to be in booking classes F, A, and P, they will now be in J, D, I, and R. AA have already run these changes back in November 2016 to update existing bookings which have affected flights on and beyond 11 January 2017.
This does mean TP earnings for runs within the US or exEU runs to the US are going to earn less, but even with the changes they are still an efficient and relatively cheap way to earn.
For three class AA domestic flights (e.g. JFK-LAX and JFK-SFO) there still will be the potential for earning first TPs if you are in the first cabin.
It was always the case that for an I class fare which included a three class A321 transcon you should have gone in the business cabin and earned business TPs. It was also the case that if there was no I available on that specific flight A class was permitted so you would find yourself in the first cabin and earn first TPs. This trick of getting first on the transcon will be dead from 11 January. Going forward a BA fare will only look for I class, and the equivalent AA I class fare will only look for I or D.
For more information on these changes see this thread, and see this post for the updated earning tables on ba.com.
Starting your run from Continental Europe
Here are a few popular examples to give you a flavour of what can be achieved at a relatively respectable price. Note, any fare prices shown in this post are indicative and reflect the rates checked at the time of writing. Fares do vary considerably, so check this thread from time to time for prevailing fares/offers/promotions etc.
Staring from Continental Europe is typically referred to as an exEU - so this includes starting from anywhere in Europe but excludes bookings starting from the UK which are termed exUK. Typically good places to start are Dublin (DUB) and Copenhagen (CPH) if going to the US, and Oslo (OSL) or Stockholm (ARN) if heading to the Far East or Australia. However, sales from these and other starting points often come up and you should check this thread for up to date information.
Naturally, to get to the most cost advantageous origin, positioning flights (and most likely, overnight accommodation) is an inevitable factor. Dublin has been the flavour of the moment over the last few years for cheap (I class) transatlantic flights in business class. Thanks to the BA/AA/US Joint Business Venture, it is now possible to construct connections within the United States for very little extra. However, the lowest I class fares usually come with stop over and Saturday night stay restrictions, but it is possible to spread out your itinerary by constructing connections of up to 24 hours, if you prefer a trip that is gentler on the body.
The example above would earn 40+140+140+40+40+140+140+40 = 720 TPs in total.
The general principle to maximise your points here are to do a run along the lines of:
DUB-(HEL)-LON-EEE-WWW-DES
HEL is optional and will get you an additional 80 TPs for the HEL-LHR flight but is much more time consuming. If you do want to fly via HEL consider starting from somewhere like CPH as the CPH-HEL flight will be much shorter than DUB-HEL and both earn 40 TPs.
EEE is any connection on the East Coast of the US, WWW is a connection on the West Coast of the US, and DES is whatever destination you want with those in Hawaii being particularly preferred (HNL, KOA, LIH, and OGG). Also make sure that EEE and WWW are more than 2,000 miles apart so that you get 140 TPs. There is a list of > 2,000 mile routes further down this thread. Doing a run like this would allow earnings of:
DUB-HNL (exc. HEL) = 40+140+140+140+140+140+140+40 = 920 TPs
DUB-HNL (inc. HEL both ways) = 40+80+140+140+140+140+140+140+80+40 = 1,080 TPs
1,080 TPs is the maximum you can generally earn on an exEU run to the US as the fare rules typically allow two connections in each region only (i.e. two in Europe and two in the US).
Where to Book
A question which come up many times is where to price up these more complex itineraries and where to book them. There are a few options and these include aa.com (multi-city tool), itamatrix, and google flights. The latter two don’t allow for booking but once you have them priced up you can book on aa.com or call BA to book over the phone. There are some notes on itamatrix and google flights further down.
If booking over the phone just tell the agent what flights you want, the dates, and the booking classes. The advantage of booking with BA rather than with AA online is that only BA tickets (those starting 125-…) can be upgraded with avios and you get 3x avios for BA spend if you have a BA Amex Premium Plus credit card.
BA.com is not a good option for pricing up or booking these kinds of itineraries unless you are doing something very simple like DUB-LHR-JFK-LHR-DUB. The multi-city tool on ba.com is very limited.
North American domestic first/business class runs
Central America and the Caribbean have become hot spots for TP earning frenzies out of the United States in recent years. AA's fares from the west cost to Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama amongst many other destinations in the region deliver excellent Tier Point yields. So much so, that with a little bit of planning and of course time, it is possible to rack up TPs at an alarming rate.
The following diagrams illustrate AA routes greater than 2,000 miles. Note, the forward cabin on AA flights serving Canada and the Caribbean are marketed as business class whereas the forward cabin on AA two cabin domestic flights is marketed as domestic first. In both cases you now will earn business TPs due to the changes noted at the top of this thread.
AA non-stop 2,000+ mile routes (140 TPs with a J booking class)
East US
BDL - LAX
BOS - LAX, PHX
CLT - LAX, PDX, SAN, SEA, SFO, SJC, SMF
DCA - LAS, LAX
EWR - PHX
IAD - LAX
JFK - LAS, LAX*, PHX, SAN, SEA, SFO*, TUS
MCO - LAX
MIA - LAS, LAX, SAN, SEA, SFO, SLC
PHL - LAS, LAX, PDX, PHX, SAN, SEA, SFO
PIT - LAX
RDU - LAX
TPA - LAX
West US & Alaska
ANC - DFW, LAX, PHX
LAS - DCA, JFK, MIA, PHL
LAX - ANC, BDL, BOS, CLT, DCA, HNL, IAD, JFK*, KOA, LIH, MCO, MIA, OGG, PHL, PIT, RDU, TPA
PDX - CLT, PHL
PHX - ANC, BOS, EWR, HNL, JFK, KOA, LIH, OGG, PHL
SAN - CLT, JFK, MIA, PHL
SEA - CLT, JFK, MIA, PHL
SFO - CLT, JFK*, MIA, PHL
SJC - CLT
SLC - MIA
SMF - CLT
Mid-US
DFW - ANC, HNL, OGG
Hawaii
HNL - DFW, LAX, PHX
OGG - DFW, LAX, PHX
KOA - LAX, PHX
LIH - LAX, PHX
* these are three class transcon services so you would earn 210 TPs if booked in to the first cabin under the BA/AA flight number and with F/A selling class, and you would earn 140 TPs if booked in the business cabin with J/D/I selling class
DFW to/from ANC, SJU, HNL, and OGG
Note that the DFW-SJU route is branded and booked as a business cabin and not a domestic first cabin.
JFK to/from SEA, LAS, SAN, PHX, SFO*, LAX*, and TUS
* these are three class transcon services so if booked in to the first cabin under the AA flight number you would earn 210 TPs or 140 TPs if booked in the business cabin
LAX to/from ANC, BOS, BDL, JFK*, MIA, DCA, PHL, CLT, IAD, RDU, MCO, TPA, PIT, Hawaii (HNL, OGG, KOA, LIH)
* only if in the F cabin on a three class A321, if in the business cabin only get 140 TPs
PHL to/from SEA, PDX, SFO, LAS, LAX, PHX, and SAN
PHX to/from BOS, EWR, ANC, JFK, PHL, and Hawaii (HNL, OGG, KOA, LIH)
Something to be aware of with premium cabins on flights operated by AA - flights operating entirely within the US are marketed as domestic first class; those operating outwith the US are marketed as business class.
The example above would earn 40+140+40+40+140+40 = 440 TPs in total.
I've highlighted the LAS-LAX-MIA-SJU routing not because it is the best earner. There are other routings that yield a greater sum of TPs and invariably at a better price but because this is a gentle itinerary. The outbound legs can be accomplished in a single day, albeit with an early start. The inbound is even easier and a noon start is possible, a beneficiary of the westerly routing where the changing time zones work in our favour.
The flights between MIA and SJU are sold as business class and thus accrue 40 Tier Points. For those planning a trip from the Midwest or East Coast to San Juan, it is worth considering DFW as a connection point, since DFW and SJU are in excess of 2,000 miles apart and therefore accrue 140 Tier Points.
AA stopping 2,000+ mile routes
Sometimes routes which are not non-stop like SEA-PHX-ATL will code as the same flight number for both segments, which results in a 2,000+ mile segment, i.e. 140 TPs in First. For more information and a list of these stopping routes see here courtesy of EsherFlyer, and for those starting and ending at a station that doesn't otherwise have accessible > 2,000 mile segments see here.
Other tips for AA travel planning
- A321 (32B) - These AA narrow-bodies ply Transcon routes between JFK and LAX/SFO with business and first class. Well equipped, they are a very comfortable way to travel between coasts
- 757 - As fantastically racy as these aircraft are, the first class seat requires a health warning. Think very carefully before committing yourself to a 5 hour red-eye 757 flight. Row 1 on the 757 is also worth avoiding.
- 777 - Yes the big birds do operate on a few domestic routes (eg. MIA-LAX). Unlike their senior, and more petite 767-300 siblings, seats on the 777 aircraft are sold as business as well as the usual first and economy classes
- MD-80 - Once the workhorse of AA's fleet but numbers are dwindling fast. Its first class cabin provides a reassuringly quiet ride
- MCO - As American Airlines' low yield focus city, Orlando is your friend
- Schedule changes - AA routinely gives its domestic timetable a jolly good shake (twice a year) so if you've booked your flights with plenty of advanced notice, expect a few changes to happen between now and the date of departure
AS routes on BA codeshares
In terms of AS, as noted n post #1, any combination of AS metal/codeshare and AA metal/codeshare would not earn TPs so AS has been avioded on US routings. However, BA have now launched codeshares on a number of AS routes from SEA to Hawaii, Alaska, and a few other destinations. These BA codeshares are only available if connecting to or from a BA longhaul flight, but it does mean if you book AS metal on a BA codeshare you will earn avios and TPs at the normal BA rates.
The routes currently available as BA codeshares are:
SEA - Honolulu (HNL), Kailua-Kona (KOA), Kahului (OGG), and Lihue (LIH)
SEA - San Francisco (SFO), San Jose (SJC), and Portland (PDX)
SEA - Salt Lake City (SLC), Anchorage (ANC), Boise (BOI), Fairbanks (FAI), and Spokane (GEG)
SJC - Santa Ana (SNA)
More information and examples
For some more information on intra-US TP runs please see this useful guide written by EsherFlyer.
Examples US internal TP runs from 2015 - pre booking class changes so some of the TP calculations are based on 210/60:
1.05 | 253 | 240 | BOS-PHL-PIT-PHL-BOS | PPPP | aa.com | Simon Schus | AA op by US
1.27/TP | 1250 | 980 | MCO-MIA-LAX-HNL | A | AA | Mr 1A
1.06/TP | 705 | 660 | RIC-CLT-PHL-PHX-PHL-CLT-RIC | A | AA.com | wenzlydale
1.24/TP | 668 | 540 | SEA-MIA-ATL-CLT-SEA | P/P/P/P | aa.com | EsherFlyer
0.39/TP | 484 | 1240 | HNL-LAX-BOS-MIA-BAQ-MIA-PHL-LAX-HNL | AAAIIAAA | ITA Matrix | Pawel Siewko | AA
0.57/TP | 554 | 980 | LAX-LAS-PHX-PHL-CLT-TPA-MIA-PTY-MIA-PHL-PHX-LAS-LAX | PPPPPPIIPPPP | aa.com | Airprox | AA + US
Last edited by KARFA; Aug 31, 2017 at 8:05 am
#3
Original Poster
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,781
Qatar Airways and Royal Jordanian deals between the EU and the Far East
While at the time of writing, this option may not represent the best TP earner, RJ and QR do still offer amazing value for business class travel between the Continental Europe and Asia.
The example above would earn 140+140+140+140 = 560 TPs in total.
Examples from 2015:
2.00/TP | 1200 | 600 | CPT-DOH-JFK-DOH-CPT | I/I/I/I | QR Website | Calum | QR J on the B788/A350 & 46hrs of flying | QR
1.91/TP | 765.00 | 400 | BUD-DOH-SHJ | I/A/I/A | QR.com | Wozza2404 | A320 | QR
2.19/TP | 1231 | 560TPs | CDG-DOH-KTM-DOH-CDG | I/I/I/I | qatarairways.com | nth_utsera_sth_utsera | QR
Business Class travel within Asia
Intra-Asia travel on CX or MH can sometimes represent good value TP earning as well.
The example above would earn 140+140+140+140 = 560 TPs in total.
Examples from 2015:
1.25/TP | 440.00 | 360 | BKK-KUL-ICN Return | Z | www.malaysiaairlines.com | Wozza2404 | A330 Angle Flat for long haul sectors | MH
1.43/TP | 803 | 560 | CTS-HKG-DPS-HKG-CTS | I/I/I/I | cathaypacific.com | zeltergiset | One 24hr+ stopover in HKG allowed | CX
1.86/TP | 856 | 460 | HND-HKG-DPS-HKG-CTS | I/I/I/I | cathaypacific.com | Gastrocnemius | One 24hr+ stopover in HKG allowed | CX
1.26/TP | 707 | 560 | KTM-KUL-TPE-KUL-KTM | D/D/D/D | malaysiaairlines.com | zeltergiset | MH
1.68/TP | 940 | 560 | TPE-KUL-KTM-KUL-TPE | D/D/D/D | malaysiaairlines.com | zeltergiset | MH
London Gatwick short haul premium leisure fares
Closer to London, BA's own premium leisure Club Europe fares are not to be sniffed at. In particular LGW short haul CE fares tend to be cheaper than LHR short haul fares. Same day hops between Gatwick, Amsterdam, and Jersey are popular by virtue of the absence of Saturday night stay restrictions on many LGW discounted Club Europe fares. AMS sectors typically price out at around 100 per sector (in R class) and at around 90 to/from JER (again in R class).
The example above would earn 40+40+40+40 = 160 TPs in total.
Pro-active online upgrades (POUG) and airport upgrades offer additional opportunities to squeeze a few extra Tier Points out of deep discount economy BA tickets. Note that POUGs are not offered until at least 48 hours after the booking is made.
Also if you do need to overcome Saturday night restrictions or minimum connection times consider buying two singles in economy and hopefully getting a POUG, or nesting two return tickets like this:
Saturday week 1
JER-LGW-MLA (outbound ticket 1)
MLA-JER-LGW (outbound ticket 2)
Sunday week 2
LGW-JER-MLA (inbound ticket 2)
MLA-JER-LGW (inbound ticket 1)
Careful nesting of two tickets will solve both a Saturday night minimum stay problem and allow back to backs since you can circumvent the MCT.
Examples from 2015:
1.33/TP | 319 | 240TPs | JER-LGW-MLA-LGW-JER | J/R/R/J | ba.com | skipcool3 | BA
1.55/TP | 248 | 160TPs | LGW-MLA-LGW | R/R | ba.com | LDNConsultant | BA
1.62/TP | 259 | 160TPs | JER-LGW-AMS-LGW-JER | J/R/R/J | ba.com | joejet | BA
1.69/TP | 270 | 160TPs | LGW-RAK-LGW | I/I | ba.com | nufnuf77 | BA
1.85/TP | 444 | 240 | JER-LGW/LHR-HEL | J/I/I/J | ITA Matrix | flatlander | Available most weekends first half of 2016, fare IM0R
2.26/TP | 181 | 80TPs | LGW-JER-LGW | R/R | ba.com | BA
While at the time of writing, this option may not represent the best TP earner, RJ and QR do still offer amazing value for business class travel between the Continental Europe and Asia.
The example above would earn 140+140+140+140 = 560 TPs in total.
Examples from 2015:
2.00/TP | 1200 | 600 | CPT-DOH-JFK-DOH-CPT | I/I/I/I | QR Website | Calum | QR J on the B788/A350 & 46hrs of flying | QR
1.91/TP | 765.00 | 400 | BUD-DOH-SHJ | I/A/I/A | QR.com | Wozza2404 | A320 | QR
2.19/TP | 1231 | 560TPs | CDG-DOH-KTM-DOH-CDG | I/I/I/I | qatarairways.com | nth_utsera_sth_utsera | QR
Business Class travel within Asia
Intra-Asia travel on CX or MH can sometimes represent good value TP earning as well.
The example above would earn 140+140+140+140 = 560 TPs in total.
Examples from 2015:
1.25/TP | 440.00 | 360 | BKK-KUL-ICN Return | Z | www.malaysiaairlines.com | Wozza2404 | A330 Angle Flat for long haul sectors | MH
1.43/TP | 803 | 560 | CTS-HKG-DPS-HKG-CTS | I/I/I/I | cathaypacific.com | zeltergiset | One 24hr+ stopover in HKG allowed | CX
1.86/TP | 856 | 460 | HND-HKG-DPS-HKG-CTS | I/I/I/I | cathaypacific.com | Gastrocnemius | One 24hr+ stopover in HKG allowed | CX
1.26/TP | 707 | 560 | KTM-KUL-TPE-KUL-KTM | D/D/D/D | malaysiaairlines.com | zeltergiset | MH
1.68/TP | 940 | 560 | TPE-KUL-KTM-KUL-TPE | D/D/D/D | malaysiaairlines.com | zeltergiset | MH
London Gatwick short haul premium leisure fares
Closer to London, BA's own premium leisure Club Europe fares are not to be sniffed at. In particular LGW short haul CE fares tend to be cheaper than LHR short haul fares. Same day hops between Gatwick, Amsterdam, and Jersey are popular by virtue of the absence of Saturday night stay restrictions on many LGW discounted Club Europe fares. AMS sectors typically price out at around 100 per sector (in R class) and at around 90 to/from JER (again in R class).
The example above would earn 40+40+40+40 = 160 TPs in total.
Pro-active online upgrades (POUG) and airport upgrades offer additional opportunities to squeeze a few extra Tier Points out of deep discount economy BA tickets. Note that POUGs are not offered until at least 48 hours after the booking is made.
Also if you do need to overcome Saturday night restrictions or minimum connection times consider buying two singles in economy and hopefully getting a POUG, or nesting two return tickets like this:
Saturday week 1
JER-LGW-MLA (outbound ticket 1)
MLA-JER-LGW (outbound ticket 2)
Sunday week 2
LGW-JER-MLA (inbound ticket 2)
MLA-JER-LGW (inbound ticket 1)
Careful nesting of two tickets will solve both a Saturday night minimum stay problem and allow back to backs since you can circumvent the MCT.
Examples from 2015:
1.33/TP | 319 | 240TPs | JER-LGW-MLA-LGW-JER | J/R/R/J | ba.com | skipcool3 | BA
1.55/TP | 248 | 160TPs | LGW-MLA-LGW | R/R | ba.com | LDNConsultant | BA
1.62/TP | 259 | 160TPs | JER-LGW-AMS-LGW-JER | J/R/R/J | ba.com | joejet | BA
1.69/TP | 270 | 160TPs | LGW-RAK-LGW | I/I | ba.com | nufnuf77 | BA
1.85/TP | 444 | 240 | JER-LGW/LHR-HEL | J/I/I/J | ITA Matrix | flatlander | Available most weekends first half of 2016, fare IM0R
2.26/TP | 181 | 80TPs | LGW-JER-LGW | R/R | ba.com | BA
#4
Original Poster
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,781
Planning and booking tips
There are a few tips and online tools which you should be aware and familiar with, and these will help you a lot when booking Tier Point runs.
How to use itamatrix & booking
itamatrix is a very powerful tool when pricing up fares but it requires a certain amount of knowledge to get really good results. There are a huge number of places on FT and beyond which offer tutorials and tips on how to use itamatrix.
Guides to using the ITA Matrix tool can be found here, and here, and externally here.
More guides can also be found at the following sites:
Head for Points http://www.headforpoints.com/2016/03...se-ita-matrix/
The Points Guy http://thepointsguy.com/2016/06/book...VQs05ZsqvMJDt6
http://thepointsguy.com/2016/02/usin...routing-codes/
Travelcodex https://www.travelcodex.com/2013/04/...routing-codes/
https://www.travelcodex.com/2013/04/...ting-language/
https://www.travelcodex.com/2012/01/...nguage-in-ita/
Also some specific advice on using some advanced routings codes can be found:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/26641095-post943.html - search on aircraft type
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/26716122-post2466.html - search on booking class
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/26716155-post2469.html - search on booking class and connection time
Although you can’t book trips on itamatrix, there are now a number of tools which will turn an itamatrix quote to a site where the trip can be booked.
Book with matrix - https://bookwithmatrix.com/
ITA powertools http://armouredminds.com/dev/powertools/
ITA-Matrix-PowerTools - ITA-Matrix-PowerTools - Userscript for Orbitz/DL/UA/AA/BA/CZ/IB/LA/LH/LX/TK
There are a few tips and online tools which you should be aware and familiar with, and these will help you a lot when booking Tier Point runs.
- When pricing up comparative routes, Google Flights is by far the most speedy and simple method. Enter origin and destination; dates of travel; select business class; select oneworld in Airline filter; then Expand map to display requested route and comparative fares for nearly destinations.
- If you need greater complexity, the ITA Matrix tool is highly recommended. It displays a wider range of options than Google Flights and detailed fare rules. It’s great for trip planning at a forensic level. Note, the ITA Matrix tool cannot be used to book tickets
- If booking AA runs familiarise yourself with AA.com's Multi-City booking tool. Don't leave more than 24 hours between flights. Use the Sort by schedule option to locate the exact flights you found on the ITA Matrix tool.
- Select city pairs (if possible) in excess of 2,000 miles apart (see charts below)
- It is worth adding a few cautionary words about AA Domestic First where the service shares a flight number with an international flight, as J, D, and I class inventory may be sold before regular F, A, and P inventory is offered for sale on the down gauged domestic flight(s).
- Avoid AA codeshare flights on non-oneworld metal. There is no TP credit on these flights
- More information about using the ITA Matrix tool, planning trips that begin in Continental Europe and Ireland, as well as airports favourable to back-to-back turnarounds, see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...ing-guide.html
How to use itamatrix & booking
itamatrix is a very powerful tool when pricing up fares but it requires a certain amount of knowledge to get really good results. There are a huge number of places on FT and beyond which offer tutorials and tips on how to use itamatrix.
Guides to using the ITA Matrix tool can be found here, and here, and externally here.
More guides can also be found at the following sites:
Head for Points http://www.headforpoints.com/2016/03...se-ita-matrix/
The Points Guy http://thepointsguy.com/2016/06/book...VQs05ZsqvMJDt6
http://thepointsguy.com/2016/02/usin...routing-codes/
Travelcodex https://www.travelcodex.com/2013/04/...routing-codes/
https://www.travelcodex.com/2013/04/...ting-language/
https://www.travelcodex.com/2012/01/...nguage-in-ita/
Also some specific advice on using some advanced routings codes can be found:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/26641095-post943.html - search on aircraft type
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/26716122-post2466.html - search on booking class
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/26716155-post2469.html - search on booking class and connection time
Although you can’t book trips on itamatrix, there are now a number of tools which will turn an itamatrix quote to a site where the trip can be booked.
Book with matrix - https://bookwithmatrix.com/
ITA powertools http://armouredminds.com/dev/powertools/
ITA-Matrix-PowerTools - ITA-Matrix-PowerTools - Userscript for Orbitz/DL/UA/AA/BA/CZ/IB/LA/LH/LX/TK
#5
Original Poster
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,781
Irregular Operations
Irregular operations come part and parcel with air travel. Expect the best but prepare for the worst. In other words, allow plenty of wriggle room in your travel plans, think twice about short connections at MIA during the hurricane season, or at JFK in winter, or at ORD at any time other than spring and fall, noting Chicago's spring and fall seasons while lasting no more than a week each Mother Nature is inclined to blast Chicagoland with her wrath during these short seasons.
Although AA tend to be very helpful rearranging flights, they do often work on the basis of getting you onto the next available service irrespective of fare class. If you look at Expert Flyer before approaching the Admirals Club agent then you can be proactive in making suggestions. Note, in rebooking AA flights, there is a risk of instant upgrades ending up as business or worse, economy. If the next available flight is sold out in first, AA are often open to requests for a seat on the following flight that has seats available in first class. This may involve joining the stand-by list. Working with Gate Agents or AAdmirals Club staff pays dividends. It pays to check revised booking class(es) with the agent. This is your only opportunity to ensure the flights are rebooked into the same class as your original booking (A and/or P), and your Tier Points post as planned.
Original Routing Credit
ORC allows you to claim credit for your original routing as you originally booked it in the event you are rerouted on flights that earn fewer Tier Points than you originally booked.
If you booked with BA on a 125 ticket it's in the T&Cs, and there will be no push back should you need to submit an ORC claim, though you will have to claim manually and it will take a few weeks to clear. Occasionally, if the irrop was at the very last moment you'll get the ORC anyway and automatically.
The only stickiness relates to 001 ticket and rerouted on another oneworld flight (typically a re-routed and/or downgraded AA service) which gets less TPs and Avios. In that scenario if you claim ORC, BAEC pushes it to AA (since they are the ones who "pay" the Avios) and their view can be that you get what you travelled and a refund for anything you didn't travel. However, many comments over the last year have reported some success with 001 tickets so please do submit a claim.
Remember that whatever happens to keep your boarding passes, a note of the new PNR, the BA PNR, and the BA ticket number. And don't forget to claim your miles credit for the service if you end up travelling on another alliance, giving the number at the gate or check in, that form of double-dipping has long been considered acceptable.
For more information on ORC please have a read of the very informative guide written by dylanks which can be found here.
POUGs & AUPs
Most airlines will offer promotional (POUG) or airport upgrades (AUP) prior to the flight. A common query is whether the TPs and avios credited post flight will be at the originally booked level or at the upgraded level. It is well established that BA will credit POUGs and AUPs at the upgraded level so certainly you can benefit from increased crediting as well as the more comfortable cabin. However, a number of oneworld airlines do not credit at the upgraded level and only credit at the originally booked level. So whilst you may benefit from the better cabin and seat, you will not earn increased TPs and avios.
In order to help provide some clarity here is a list of oneworld carriers and the POUG/AUP approach. "Yes" means you earn the upgraded TPs and avios, "No" means the flight will credit at the originally booked level.
AA - No
AB -
AY - No
BA - Yes
CX - Yes
KA - Yes
IB - No
JJ -
JL - No on special price airport upgrade, Yes on domestic (done at a standard supplementary amount)
LA - No
MH - No
QF - Yes
QR - Yes
RJ -
S7 -
UL -
Please note that the above is based on posted experiences on the board. Where others have received upgraded TP please do not take it as a guarantee that you will also do so. For some airlines the above may only be based on one or two experiences, so the result could well be because of dodgy IT on the day rather than deliberate.
Irregular operations come part and parcel with air travel. Expect the best but prepare for the worst. In other words, allow plenty of wriggle room in your travel plans, think twice about short connections at MIA during the hurricane season, or at JFK in winter, or at ORD at any time other than spring and fall, noting Chicago's spring and fall seasons while lasting no more than a week each Mother Nature is inclined to blast Chicagoland with her wrath during these short seasons.
Although AA tend to be very helpful rearranging flights, they do often work on the basis of getting you onto the next available service irrespective of fare class. If you look at Expert Flyer before approaching the Admirals Club agent then you can be proactive in making suggestions. Note, in rebooking AA flights, there is a risk of instant upgrades ending up as business or worse, economy. If the next available flight is sold out in first, AA are often open to requests for a seat on the following flight that has seats available in first class. This may involve joining the stand-by list. Working with Gate Agents or AAdmirals Club staff pays dividends. It pays to check revised booking class(es) with the agent. This is your only opportunity to ensure the flights are rebooked into the same class as your original booking (A and/or P), and your Tier Points post as planned.
Original Routing Credit
ORC allows you to claim credit for your original routing as you originally booked it in the event you are rerouted on flights that earn fewer Tier Points than you originally booked.
If you booked with BA on a 125 ticket it's in the T&Cs, and there will be no push back should you need to submit an ORC claim, though you will have to claim manually and it will take a few weeks to clear. Occasionally, if the irrop was at the very last moment you'll get the ORC anyway and automatically.
The only stickiness relates to 001 ticket and rerouted on another oneworld flight (typically a re-routed and/or downgraded AA service) which gets less TPs and Avios. In that scenario if you claim ORC, BAEC pushes it to AA (since they are the ones who "pay" the Avios) and their view can be that you get what you travelled and a refund for anything you didn't travel. However, many comments over the last year have reported some success with 001 tickets so please do submit a claim.
Remember that whatever happens to keep your boarding passes, a note of the new PNR, the BA PNR, and the BA ticket number. And don't forget to claim your miles credit for the service if you end up travelling on another alliance, giving the number at the gate or check in, that form of double-dipping has long been considered acceptable.
For more information on ORC please have a read of the very informative guide written by dylanks which can be found here.
POUGs & AUPs
Most airlines will offer promotional (POUG) or airport upgrades (AUP) prior to the flight. A common query is whether the TPs and avios credited post flight will be at the originally booked level or at the upgraded level. It is well established that BA will credit POUGs and AUPs at the upgraded level so certainly you can benefit from increased crediting as well as the more comfortable cabin. However, a number of oneworld airlines do not credit at the upgraded level and only credit at the originally booked level. So whilst you may benefit from the better cabin and seat, you will not earn increased TPs and avios.
In order to help provide some clarity here is a list of oneworld carriers and the POUG/AUP approach. "Yes" means you earn the upgraded TPs and avios, "No" means the flight will credit at the originally booked level.
AA - No
AB -
AY - No
BA - Yes
CX - Yes
KA - Yes
IB - No
JJ -
JL - No on special price airport upgrade, Yes on domestic (done at a standard supplementary amount)
LA - No
MH - No
QF - Yes
QR - Yes
RJ -
S7 -
UL -
Please note that the above is based on posted experiences on the board. Where others have received upgraded TP please do not take it as a guarantee that you will also do so. For some airlines the above may only be based on one or two experiences, so the result could well be because of dodgy IT on the day rather than deliberate.
Last edited by KARFA; May 14, 2017 at 2:13 am
#6
Original Poster
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,781
What are the rules and restrictions?
Cancellation penalties and stopover fees change from fare to fare and from country to country, although stopovers are usually Euro 200 each-way if you break your journey in London for > 24 hours. Also remember you need to factor in the cost of getting to your point of departure, and potentially the cost of a hotel if you are travelling too far to return in a day (e.g. Cyprus, Athens). http://www.whichbudget.com/ lists budget airlines flying to all major cities, and www.skyscanner.net may also be useful.
In general, you will see the rules are much more flexible for the equivalent fare bucket ex-UK.
Note: BA seem to have clamped down on stopover rules, potentially in light of more widespread use of ex-EU fares. Check your fare rules carefully as lots of fares now limit you to a month’s stopover in the UK at most in either direction.
Upgrading Using Avios (UuA) & Gold Upgrade Vouchers (GUF)
A quick note on doing UuAs is that you can do these for exEU itineraries (or you can apply a GUF if you have any). The following restrictions for UuAs apply though:
Summary guide to bookings which can be upgraded with Avios:
TA has to issue the ticket in the country of your BAEC membership as well. A BA Holiday booking (flights & hotel) is UuA'able and treated as a TA booking, so a booking including non BA flights could not be UuA'ed. Also a BA Holiday booking which was made using a TA can not be UuA'ed.
Note that even if booked direct with BA on a 125-... ticket you can't UuA BA marketed and AA operated flight. The BA flight must be both BA marketed and operated.
There is more information on UuA'ing TA bookings here.
Maximum Permitted Mileage
MPM is often specified for fares between two point essentially to stop you going a bit too crazy on the routing. For example a DUB-JFK fare may have a MPM which either prevents you or at least imposes hefty surcharges if you try and route to JFK via the west coast.
If you are interested in understanding this further here are some posts made by those in the know:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...merica-23.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/26107663-post302.html
Dual Inventory Fares
These new DIF fares have appeared from around mid-2016. They are a new type of fare to BA which effectively is almost like a POUG except the cost of the upgrade is included in the booking. They seem to be appearing mostly when purchasing WTP seats, and need inventory in both an economy and premium economy booking class. There have been difficulties with the fare mostly around attempting to upgrade in to CW using a GUF or by UuA. There is more discussion in the linked post
Why can't I find this ba.com fare on ITA Matrix?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...ount-code.html
Cancellation penalties and stopover fees change from fare to fare and from country to country, although stopovers are usually Euro 200 each-way if you break your journey in London for > 24 hours. Also remember you need to factor in the cost of getting to your point of departure, and potentially the cost of a hotel if you are travelling too far to return in a day (e.g. Cyprus, Athens). http://www.whichbudget.com/ lists budget airlines flying to all major cities, and www.skyscanner.net may also be useful.
In general, you will see the rules are much more flexible for the equivalent fare bucket ex-UK.
First fares:
Club World fares
Again, taking the recent ex-AMS I7SALE fares, the rules are:
*A stopover is a transit of an intermediate point that exceeds 24hrs.
A neat trick for the Club fares – if you time your arrival into London and the departure of your long haul segment right, you can essentially have a free nightstop in London without having an 'official' stopover. For example, you arrive from AMS on a Monday at 21:15 and you can then book your long haul flight the next day (Tuesday) at any time up to 21:14 (< 24hrs) and it is NOT charged as a stopover. Book it for 21:15 or later and that'll be much more expensive fare please. Similarly, you can introduce overnight stays at intermediate connecting cities so long as your connections remain under 24 hours.- Unlimited free changes
- Unlimited free stopovers*
- No cancellation penalty
- Return within 12 months
Club World fares
Again, taking the recent ex-AMS I7SALE fares, the rules are:
- Changes charged at €300 each
- Stopovers not permitted
- Cancellation penalty - net fare plus carrier imposed charges
- Return within 12 months
*A stopover is a transit of an intermediate point that exceeds 24hrs.
Note: BA seem to have clamped down on stopover rules, potentially in light of more widespread use of ex-EU fares. Check your fare rules carefully as lots of fares now limit you to a month’s stopover in the UK at most in either direction.
Upgrading Using Avios (UuA) & Gold Upgrade Vouchers (GUF)
A quick note on doing UuAs is that you can do these for exEU itineraries (or you can apply a GUF if you have any). The following restrictions for UuAs apply though:
Summary guide to bookings which can be upgraded with Avios:
- BA issued tickets (can include other carriers) ^
- TA issued (on BA stock) booking with only BA flights ^
- TA issued (on BA stock) booking with other carriers
- Tickets issued on non-BA stock
TA has to issue the ticket in the country of your BAEC membership as well. A BA Holiday booking (flights & hotel) is UuA'able and treated as a TA booking, so a booking including non BA flights could not be UuA'ed. Also a BA Holiday booking which was made using a TA can not be UuA'ed.
Note that even if booked direct with BA on a 125-... ticket you can't UuA BA marketed and AA operated flight. The BA flight must be both BA marketed and operated.
There is more information on UuA'ing TA bookings here.
Maximum Permitted Mileage
MPM is often specified for fares between two point essentially to stop you going a bit too crazy on the routing. For example a DUB-JFK fare may have a MPM which either prevents you or at least imposes hefty surcharges if you try and route to JFK via the west coast.
If you are interested in understanding this further here are some posts made by those in the know:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...merica-23.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/26107663-post302.html
Dual Inventory Fares
These new DIF fares have appeared from around mid-2016. They are a new type of fare to BA which effectively is almost like a POUG except the cost of the upgrade is included in the booking. They seem to be appearing mostly when purchasing WTP seats, and need inventory in both an economy and premium economy booking class. There have been difficulties with the fare mostly around attempting to upgrade in to CW using a GUF or by UuA. There is more discussion in the linked post
Why can't I find this ba.com fare on ITA Matrix?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...ount-code.html
Last edited by KARFA; Jun 25, 2017 at 5:51 am
#7
Original Poster
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,781
Please find below the data transferred over from the 2016 thread's Wikipost
2016 Archive
** AA Domestic First on two cabin will earn business TPs and avios for departures on or after 11 January - changes to reference posts to follow - see here for details**
Welcome to the thread. This is a continuation of the highly popular 2015 Tier Point thread. 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!
Current Promotions of Interest
Sale Fares
Advanced Promotion Fares
See here in post # 445 for an archive of exEU sale fares.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This thread lists attractive tier point (TP) runs under 3 per TP grouped within different (departure) geographies
Please note the following:
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:
From Europe
17DEC | 0.75/TP | 909 | 1200 | DUB-LHR-JFK-PHX-HNL-PHX-JFK-LHR-DUB | I/I/A/A/A/A/I/I | aa.com | perthflyer | BA AA
01NOV | 0.99/TP | 1343 | 1360 | CPH-HEL-LHR-JFK-PHX-HNL-PHX-JFK-LHR-HEL-CPH | I/I/I/A/P/P/A/I/I/I | ITA Matrix | MrMutton
23SEP | 1.30/TP | 726 | 560 | AMS-LHR-JFK-CLT-SJU//SJU-MIA-JFK-LHR-CDG | D/I/A/I/I/A/I/D | ITA Matrix | Blackberryaddict
14AUG | 1.31/TP | 470 | 360 | OSL-HEL-AGP-HEL-OSL | I-I-I-I | ITA | Flythe96flag | SH J cabin + possible red-eye (!) | AY
02NOV | 1.33/TP | 583 | 440 | LHR-HEL-TLL/TLL-HEL-LHR-NCL//NCL-LHR-HEL-TLL/TLL-HEL-LHR | IIIIIIIIII | Google Flights | armouredant | 2 nested tickets, both other a Saturday night. BA ticket, BA & AY metal, AY A350 possible LHR-HEL
29MAR | 1.54/TP | 1282 | 830 | AMS-LHR-JFK-MIA(stop)EZE(stop)DFW-JFK(stop)-LHR-DUB | RIAIIAAR | AA.com (Stopovers in MIA and JFK - 3 days) | docgasman
08FEB | 1.57/TP | 346 | 260 | JER-LGW-RAK-LGW-RAK | I/I/I/I | BA.com ramops
19 APR | 1.64/TP | 1708 | 1040 | DUB-LHR-MIA-LAX-SFO-MIA-LHR-DUB | IAAAAAAI | thepowerbook | MIA-LAX & LAX-MIA in F on the 77W TR | AA
17AUG | 1.67/TP | 1408 |840 |BHX-JFK-PHX-LAS & back | I-A-A-A-A-I | aa.com |Swiss Tony | AA ski slope bed on TATL | AA
06 FEB | 1.78/TP | 1590 | 900 | BRU-LHR-JFK-PHX-SAN rtn. | IIAAAAII | aa.com | OttoMH | BA AA (IB Sale)
26JUL | 1.81/TP | 72.70 | 40 | MAD-FRA | Z | lan.com | Prospero | 787 flat bed | LA
06 FEB | 1.85/TP | 1818 | 980 | BRU-MAD-LHR-JFK-PHX-SAN rtn. | IIIAAAAIII | aa.com | OttoMH | BA AA (IB Sale)
1JAN | 1.85/TP | 444 | 240 | JER-LGW/LHR-HEL | J/I/I/J | ITA Matrix | flatlander | Available most weekends first half of 2016, fare IM0R
23NOV | 1.89/TP | 377 | 200 | DUB-LHR-MAD-SVQ r/t | I-I-I-I-I-I | ITA | Lorcancoyle | IM0B IB DUB to SVQ | BA and IB flights (I2 for domestic under IB code), random dates in December available, A340 on some dates (helpfully pointed out by Temps that domestic Spain is only 20 TPs)
17 AUG | 1.89/TP | 1818 | 960 | OSL-LON-KUL//SIN-SYD/SYD-PER/PER-SYD-SIN/SIN-LHR-OSL | BugAlugs | J | BA QF | INCSALE ended 14thSep - (Applied GUF via TA (moves J to F on BA longhaul and scores 1260 TPS in total)
31 DEC | 1.91/TP | 1220 | 640 | AMS-LHR-MIA-SCL // EZE-JFK-LHR-BCN | J/I/I-I/I/J | AA.com | nufnuf77 (can also return to LHR for 20 less but 40TP less
24NOV | 1.91/TP | 765.00 | 400 | BUD-DOH-SHJ | I/A/I/A | QR.com | Wozza2404 | A320 | QR
18MAR | 1.95/TP | 1481 | 760 | TXL-LHR-KUL-HKG-CGK-HKG-SIN-LHR-TXL | J/I/I/I/I/I/I/J | BA | Teledude
07AUG | 2.00/TP | 1280 | 640 |ZRH-JFK-MIA-GRU-JFK-LHR//LCY-ZRH | I/I/I/I/I/I | aa.com | frb98mf | AA | AA/BA
11AUG| 2.10/TP | 420 | 200 | AMS-LHR-GLA-LSI-ABZ-LSI-GLA-LHR-AMS | I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I | ITA Matrix --> Priceline.com | MrMutton
07DEC | 2.24/TP | 942 | 420 | MAD-MIA-SXM-CLT-JFK-LHR | I/I/I/A/I | ticketed on aa.com | megaloman | other routings possible earning more TPs could have lower the price with added LHR-CDG leg to 865 (2.06/TP)
19JUN | 2.25/TP | 1,124 | 500 | DUB-LCY-LHR-JFK-MIA-BOS-JFK-LHR-DUB | I/I/A/A/A/I/I (ILN4S4Z1) | BA Phone | Murray | BA AA
22JAN | 2.29/TP | 640 | 280 | FCO-CMB-FCO | I/I | book on SriLankan website | theultimateflyer
01FEB | 2.38/TP | 570 | 240 | DUB-LHR-MAD//MAD-FRA-MAD//MAD-LHR-DUB | I/I/I/A/P/P/A/I/I/I | BA / LAN | MrMutton
13NOV | 2.56/TP | 410 | 160 | LHR-HEL | ? | BA.com | Lorcancoyle | wide open as flight+hotel, can reduce with TCB cash back | BA
10OCT | 2.84/TP | 1187 | 420 | LIN-LHR-CTU-HKG//HKG-LHR//LGW-MAD-AGP | J/I/I/I/I/I | BA | megaloman | combined advance sale to CTU from Italy (outbound) and Spain (inbound)
20 Oct | 2.73/TP | 1750 | 640 | LHR-AMM-BKK-HKG//HKG-BKK-AMM-LHR | D-RJ/D-RJ/D-CX//D-CX/D-RJ/D-RJ | RJ | Frequentflyer99 | Only bookable by RJ over the tel as BKK/HKG/BKK legs on CX can't be booked online or by TA's. RJ res supervisor managed it with great difficulty !
From North, Central and South America
25APR | 0.52/TP | 531| 1020 | SFO-CLT-ATL-DCA-MIA-PTY-MIA-CLT-RDU-DCA-PIT-JFK-PHX-YVR | A/A/A/A/I/I/A/A/A/A/A/A/I | aa.com | craigthemif | overnights in ATL, PTY, RDU and PIT | AA
24APR | 0.53/TP | 629 | 1180 | LAX-PHX-JFK-DCA-RDU-CLT-ATL-MIA-PTY return | A/A/A/Y/A/A/A/I/I/A/A/A/A/A/A/A | aa.com | timezonehopper | Requires 3 overnights | AA
22MAR | 0.62/TP | 287.00 | 460 | HNL-LAX-PHL-NAS | A/A/I | aa.com | Tafflyer | many dates available up to June 2016
11APR | 0.76/TP | 281.00 | 370 | LAX-SAN-PHX-PHL-NAS | A/A/A/I | Orbitz | Far Siren
08NOV | 0.84/TP | 772.50 | 920 | KOA-LAX-CLT-SJU-CLT-LAX-KOA | AAIIAA | aa.com | Lappe | Same day turnarounds available
05FEB | 0.98/TP | 492 | 500 | SEA-CLT-SJU-MIA-SEA | A/I/I/A | aa.com | OWBA | Almost identical price for routing through JFK
30JAN | 1.02/TP | 509 | 500 | JFK-PHX-SJD-PHX-JFK | P/I/I/P | aa.com | OverTheHorizon | Decent flight & connection times, though overnight return from PHX is in a 737 recliner !!
13APR | 1.05/TP | 378 | 360 | LGA-PHL-CLT-RDU-CLT-PHL-LGA | P/P/P/P/P/P | AA.com | sebanto2001 (thanks to henkybaby) | can be done on one day
13NOV | 1.06/TP | 705 | 660 | RIC-CLT-PHL-PHX-PHL-CLT-RIC | A | AA.com | wenzlydale | 2 trips this year - mixture of A320s and B757s not a lot of food offered but all the G&Ts you could wish for
with early morning departure from LGA and late come back
03FEB | 1.23/TP | 665 | 540 | SEA-PHX-PHL-PHX-SEA | P/P/P/P | aa.com | OWBA | PHX-PHL is a redeye
07JAN|1.24/TP | 668 | 540 | SEA-MIA-ATL-CLT-SEA | P/P/P/P | aa.com | EsherFlyer | 24h transcon bounce. All I could fit in...
02NOV | 1.27/TP | 1250 | 980 | MCO-MIA-LAX-HNL | A | AA | Mr 1A
13MAR | 1.28/TP | 719 | 560 | SEA-MIA-BZE-MIA-CLT-SEA | P/I/I/P/P | aa.com | OWBA
06FEB | 1.30/TP | 1351 | 1040 | HNL-PHX-SEA-CLT-SJU-CLT-SEA-PHX-HNL | A/P/A/I/I/A/P/A | aa.com | OWBA
02-NOV|1.34/TP|855|660|IAD-CLT-JFK-TUC-PHX-PHL-DCA|all P|aa.com|headinclouds|PHX-PHL can be lieflat 332 or 757 angle seats; pre Brexit 1.12/TP
23JAN | 1.43/TP | 343 | 240 | PHL-CLT-RDU-CLT-RDU | P/P/P/P | aa.com | JDBelfast
18FEB | 1.48/TP | 356 | 240 | SEA-PHX-LAX-PHX-SEA | P/P/P/P | aa.com | OWBA | Easy one-day run
27MAR | 1.50/TP | 900 | 600 | LGA-CLT-LAX-SFO-CLT-LGA | P/P/P/P/P | aa.com | omarr135
26 APR | 1.57/TP | 786 | 500 | YVR-PHX-JFK-PHX-YVR | D/A/A/D | aa.com | theultimateflyer
06NOV | 1.67/TP | 66.00 | 40 | JFK-YYZ | Z | tam.com.br | frb98mf | Fifth Freedom flight every Wed/Fri/Sun, 767 flat bed
From Middle East, Asia and Australasia
14JUL | 0.55/TP | 200 | 360 | BKK-KUL-PEK-KUL-BKK | Z |
10AUG | 0.99/TP | 79 | 80 | KUL-PEN-KUL | Z/Z | malaysiaairlines.com | Fitch | Various date in Oct, most trips require 3+ nights but can nest PEN-KUL-PEN
24MAY | 1.18/TP | 425 | 360 | TPE-KUL-SIN-KUL-TPE | Z/J/J/Z | malaysiaairlines.com | neo | can be finish within 24 hours / can be BKK instead of SIN but long layover | MH
11JAN | 1.26/TP | 707 | 560 | KTM-KUL-TPE-KUL-KTM | D/D/D/D | malaysiaairlines.com | zeltergiset | MH
11JAN | 1.68/TP | 940 | 560 | TPE-KUL-KTM-KUL-TPE | D/D/D/D | malaysiaairlines.com | zeltergiset | MH
06JAN | 1.86/TP | 856 | 460 | HND-HKG-DPS-HKG-CTS | I/I/I/I | cathaypacific.com | Gastrocnemius | One 24hr+ stopover in HKG allowed | CX
11JUL | 1.35/TP | 216 | 160 | SIN-KUL-KCH r/t| Z/Z/Z/Z | malaysiaairlines.com
24SEP | 1.09/TP | 437 | 400 | CMB-DOH-AUH-DOH-CMB | R/A/A/R | qatarairways.com | MeltingAlf | QR | AUH can be substituted with DXB and DWC for 3 more - be careful about being given Y instead of F on DOH-UAE leg - both price the same - MCT can be substituted for about 40 less and sub 1/TP
From Africa
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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. the guide to using ITA matrix in post #2 (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 less
Club Europe return somewhere close by is best - DUB, AMS and JER usually cheapest. AMS and JER easier than DUB for an immediate turnaround. 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). Bilbao, Jersey and Amsterdam seems 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 (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 last BA flight out on a Saturday, airport hotel and first return 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
Warnings:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Historic information
2015 Archive (6 months Jul to Dec)
2015 Archive (6 months Jan to Jun)
2014 Archive
2016 Archive
** AA Domestic First on two cabin will earn business TPs and avios for departures on or after 11 January - changes to reference posts to follow - see here for details**
Welcome to the thread. This is a continuation of the highly popular 2015 Tier Point thread. 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!
Current Promotions of Interest
Sale Fares
- from DUB to US ILN4S4Z1 reported here, e.g. JFK - €1,362, LAS - €1,530, LAX - €1,622, HNL - €1,593, no stopovers, needs to be booked by 30 June, see linked post for details
Advanced Promotion Fares
- from DUB to US ILN8S4C1 reported here, e.g. JFK - €1,533, MIA - €1,596, LAS - €1,746, LAX - €1,849, HNL - €1,804, this is an advanced purchase fare so no book by deadline, allows stopovers for €75, see linked post for details
See here in post # 445 for an archive of exEU sale fares.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This thread lists attractive tier point (TP) runs under 3 per TP grouped within different (departure) geographies
Please note the following:
- Current availability is not guaranteed.
- 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.
From Europe
17DEC | 0.75/TP | 909 | 1200 | DUB-LHR-JFK-PHX-HNL-PHX-JFK-LHR-DUB | I/I/A/A/A/A/I/I | aa.com | perthflyer | BA AA
01NOV | 0.99/TP | 1343 | 1360 | CPH-HEL-LHR-JFK-PHX-HNL-PHX-JFK-LHR-HEL-CPH | I/I/I/A/P/P/A/I/I/I | ITA Matrix | MrMutton
23SEP | 1.30/TP | 726 | 560 | AMS-LHR-JFK-CLT-SJU//SJU-MIA-JFK-LHR-CDG | D/I/A/I/I/A/I/D | ITA Matrix | Blackberryaddict
14AUG | 1.31/TP | 470 | 360 | OSL-HEL-AGP-HEL-OSL | I-I-I-I | ITA | Flythe96flag | SH J cabin + possible red-eye (!) | AY
02NOV | 1.33/TP | 583 | 440 | LHR-HEL-TLL/TLL-HEL-LHR-NCL//NCL-LHR-HEL-TLL/TLL-HEL-LHR | IIIIIIIIII | Google Flights | armouredant | 2 nested tickets, both other a Saturday night. BA ticket, BA & AY metal, AY A350 possible LHR-HEL
29MAR | 1.54/TP | 1282 | 830 | AMS-LHR-JFK-MIA(stop)EZE(stop)DFW-JFK(stop)-LHR-DUB | RIAIIAAR | AA.com (Stopovers in MIA and JFK - 3 days) | docgasman
08FEB | 1.57/TP | 346 | 260 | JER-LGW-RAK-LGW-RAK | I/I/I/I | BA.com ramops
19 APR | 1.64/TP | 1708 | 1040 | DUB-LHR-MIA-LAX-SFO-MIA-LHR-DUB | IAAAAAAI | thepowerbook | MIA-LAX & LAX-MIA in F on the 77W TR | AA
17AUG | 1.67/TP | 1408 |840 |BHX-JFK-PHX-LAS & back | I-A-A-A-A-I | aa.com |Swiss Tony | AA ski slope bed on TATL | AA
06 FEB | 1.78/TP | 1590 | 900 | BRU-LHR-JFK-PHX-SAN rtn. | IIAAAAII | aa.com | OttoMH | BA AA (IB Sale)
26JUL | 1.81/TP | 72.70 | 40 | MAD-FRA | Z | lan.com | Prospero | 787 flat bed | LA
06 FEB | 1.85/TP | 1818 | 980 | BRU-MAD-LHR-JFK-PHX-SAN rtn. | IIIAAAAIII | aa.com | OttoMH | BA AA (IB Sale)
1JAN | 1.85/TP | 444 | 240 | JER-LGW/LHR-HEL | J/I/I/J | ITA Matrix | flatlander | Available most weekends first half of 2016, fare IM0R
23NOV | 1.89/TP | 377 | 200 | DUB-LHR-MAD-SVQ r/t | I-I-I-I-I-I | ITA | Lorcancoyle | IM0B IB DUB to SVQ | BA and IB flights (I2 for domestic under IB code), random dates in December available, A340 on some dates (helpfully pointed out by Temps that domestic Spain is only 20 TPs)
17 AUG | 1.89/TP | 1818 | 960 | OSL-LON-KUL//SIN-SYD/SYD-PER/PER-SYD-SIN/SIN-LHR-OSL | BugAlugs | J | BA QF | INCSALE ended 14thSep - (Applied GUF via TA (moves J to F on BA longhaul and scores 1260 TPS in total)
31 DEC | 1.91/TP | 1220 | 640 | AMS-LHR-MIA-SCL // EZE-JFK-LHR-BCN | J/I/I-I/I/J | AA.com | nufnuf77 (can also return to LHR for 20 less but 40TP less
24NOV | 1.91/TP | 765.00 | 400 | BUD-DOH-SHJ | I/A/I/A | QR.com | Wozza2404 | A320 | QR
18MAR | 1.95/TP | 1481 | 760 | TXL-LHR-KUL-HKG-CGK-HKG-SIN-LHR-TXL | J/I/I/I/I/I/I/J | BA | Teledude
07AUG | 2.00/TP | 1280 | 640 |ZRH-JFK-MIA-GRU-JFK-LHR//LCY-ZRH | I/I/I/I/I/I | aa.com | frb98mf | AA | AA/BA
11AUG| 2.10/TP | 420 | 200 | AMS-LHR-GLA-LSI-ABZ-LSI-GLA-LHR-AMS | I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I | ITA Matrix --> Priceline.com | MrMutton
07DEC | 2.24/TP | 942 | 420 | MAD-MIA-SXM-CLT-JFK-LHR | I/I/I/A/I | ticketed on aa.com | megaloman | other routings possible earning more TPs could have lower the price with added LHR-CDG leg to 865 (2.06/TP)
19JUN | 2.25/TP | 1,124 | 500 | DUB-LCY-LHR-JFK-MIA-BOS-JFK-LHR-DUB | I/I/A/A/A/I/I (ILN4S4Z1) | BA Phone | Murray | BA AA
22JAN | 2.29/TP | 640 | 280 | FCO-CMB-FCO | I/I | book on SriLankan website | theultimateflyer
01FEB | 2.38/TP | 570 | 240 | DUB-LHR-MAD//MAD-FRA-MAD//MAD-LHR-DUB | I/I/I/A/P/P/A/I/I/I | BA / LAN | MrMutton
13NOV | 2.56/TP | 410 | 160 | LHR-HEL | ? | BA.com | Lorcancoyle | wide open as flight+hotel, can reduce with TCB cash back | BA
10OCT | 2.84/TP | 1187 | 420 | LIN-LHR-CTU-HKG//HKG-LHR//LGW-MAD-AGP | J/I/I/I/I/I | BA | megaloman | combined advance sale to CTU from Italy (outbound) and Spain (inbound)
20 Oct | 2.73/TP | 1750 | 640 | LHR-AMM-BKK-HKG//HKG-BKK-AMM-LHR | D-RJ/D-RJ/D-CX//D-CX/D-RJ/D-RJ | RJ | Frequentflyer99 | Only bookable by RJ over the tel as BKK/HKG/BKK legs on CX can't be booked online or by TA's. RJ res supervisor managed it with great difficulty !
From North, Central and South America
25APR | 0.52/TP | 531| 1020 | SFO-CLT-ATL-DCA-MIA-PTY-MIA-CLT-RDU-DCA-PIT-JFK-PHX-YVR | A/A/A/A/I/I/A/A/A/A/A/A/I | aa.com | craigthemif | overnights in ATL, PTY, RDU and PIT | AA
24APR | 0.53/TP | 629 | 1180 | LAX-PHX-JFK-DCA-RDU-CLT-ATL-MIA-PTY return | A/A/A/Y/A/A/A/I/I/A/A/A/A/A/A/A | aa.com | timezonehopper | Requires 3 overnights | AA
22MAR | 0.62/TP | 287.00 | 460 | HNL-LAX-PHL-NAS | A/A/I | aa.com | Tafflyer | many dates available up to June 2016
11APR | 0.76/TP | 281.00 | 370 | LAX-SAN-PHX-PHL-NAS | A/A/A/I | Orbitz | Far Siren
08NOV | 0.84/TP | 772.50 | 920 | KOA-LAX-CLT-SJU-CLT-LAX-KOA | AAIIAA | aa.com | Lappe | Same day turnarounds available
05FEB | 0.98/TP | 492 | 500 | SEA-CLT-SJU-MIA-SEA | A/I/I/A | aa.com | OWBA | Almost identical price for routing through JFK
30JAN | 1.02/TP | 509 | 500 | JFK-PHX-SJD-PHX-JFK | P/I/I/P | aa.com | OverTheHorizon | Decent flight & connection times, though overnight return from PHX is in a 737 recliner !!
13APR | 1.05/TP | 378 | 360 | LGA-PHL-CLT-RDU-CLT-PHL-LGA | P/P/P/P/P/P | AA.com | sebanto2001 (thanks to henkybaby) | can be done on one day
13NOV | 1.06/TP | 705 | 660 | RIC-CLT-PHL-PHX-PHL-CLT-RIC | A | AA.com | wenzlydale | 2 trips this year - mixture of A320s and B757s not a lot of food offered but all the G&Ts you could wish for
with early morning departure from LGA and late come back
03FEB | 1.23/TP | 665 | 540 | SEA-PHX-PHL-PHX-SEA | P/P/P/P | aa.com | OWBA | PHX-PHL is a redeye
07JAN|1.24/TP | 668 | 540 | SEA-MIA-ATL-CLT-SEA | P/P/P/P | aa.com | EsherFlyer | 24h transcon bounce. All I could fit in...
02NOV | 1.27/TP | 1250 | 980 | MCO-MIA-LAX-HNL | A | AA | Mr 1A
13MAR | 1.28/TP | 719 | 560 | SEA-MIA-BZE-MIA-CLT-SEA | P/I/I/P/P | aa.com | OWBA
06FEB | 1.30/TP | 1351 | 1040 | HNL-PHX-SEA-CLT-SJU-CLT-SEA-PHX-HNL | A/P/A/I/I/A/P/A | aa.com | OWBA
02-NOV|1.34/TP|855|660|IAD-CLT-JFK-TUC-PHX-PHL-DCA|all P|aa.com|headinclouds|PHX-PHL can be lieflat 332 or 757 angle seats; pre Brexit 1.12/TP
23JAN | 1.43/TP | 343 | 240 | PHL-CLT-RDU-CLT-RDU | P/P/P/P | aa.com | JDBelfast
18FEB | 1.48/TP | 356 | 240 | SEA-PHX-LAX-PHX-SEA | P/P/P/P | aa.com | OWBA | Easy one-day run
27MAR | 1.50/TP | 900 | 600 | LGA-CLT-LAX-SFO-CLT-LGA | P/P/P/P/P | aa.com | omarr135
26 APR | 1.57/TP | 786 | 500 | YVR-PHX-JFK-PHX-YVR | D/A/A/D | aa.com | theultimateflyer
06NOV | 1.67/TP | 66.00 | 40 | JFK-YYZ | Z | tam.com.br | frb98mf | Fifth Freedom flight every Wed/Fri/Sun, 767 flat bed
From Middle East, Asia and Australasia
14JUL | 0.55/TP | 200 | 360 | BKK-KUL-PEK-KUL-BKK | Z |
10AUG | 0.99/TP | 79 | 80 | KUL-PEN-KUL | Z/Z | malaysiaairlines.com | Fitch | Various date in Oct, most trips require 3+ nights but can nest PEN-KUL-PEN
24MAY | 1.18/TP | 425 | 360 | TPE-KUL-SIN-KUL-TPE | Z/J/J/Z | malaysiaairlines.com | neo | can be finish within 24 hours / can be BKK instead of SIN but long layover | MH
11JAN | 1.26/TP | 707 | 560 | KTM-KUL-TPE-KUL-KTM | D/D/D/D | malaysiaairlines.com | zeltergiset | MH
11JAN | 1.68/TP | 940 | 560 | TPE-KUL-KTM-KUL-TPE | D/D/D/D | malaysiaairlines.com | zeltergiset | MH
06JAN | 1.86/TP | 856 | 460 | HND-HKG-DPS-HKG-CTS | I/I/I/I | cathaypacific.com | Gastrocnemius | One 24hr+ stopover in HKG allowed | CX
11JUL | 1.35/TP | 216 | 160 | SIN-KUL-KCH r/t| Z/Z/Z/Z | malaysiaairlines.com
24SEP | 1.09/TP | 437 | 400 | CMB-DOH-AUH-DOH-CMB | R/A/A/R | qatarairways.com | MeltingAlf | QR | AUH can be substituted with DXB and DWC for 3 more - be careful about being given Y instead of F on DOH-UAE leg - both price the same - MCT can be substituted for about 40 less and sub 1/TP
From Africa
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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. the guide to using ITA matrix in post #2 (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 less
Club Europe return somewhere close by is best - DUB, AMS and JER usually cheapest. AMS and JER easier than DUB for an immediate turnaround. 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). Bilbao, Jersey and Amsterdam seems 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 (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 last BA flight out on a Saturday, airport hotel and first return 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
Warnings:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Historic information
2015 Archive (6 months Jul to Dec)
2015 Archive (6 months Jan to Jun)
2014 Archive
#8
Original Poster
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,781
exUK/EU Fare Archive
updated 29 December 2017
Ran early January 2017
updated 29 December 2017
Ran early January 2017
- from AMS/RTM to US ILN8S4T1 reported here, e.g. JFK - 1,128, IAD - 1,120, ORD - 1,147, needs to be booked by 6 January, see linked post for details
- from AMS/BRU to TYO on QR - €620 and earns 560 TPs, reported here
- from MAN to OKC/SAT in J AA fare INN1B4T1, reported here, ~1,100-1,150, book by 28 February
- from AMS/RTM/MXP/LIN to NYC in J BA fare INN0Y4Z1, reported here, ~1,100-1,200
- from MAN to OKC/SAT/LIT in J AA fare ILN7B4T1, reported here, ~1,049, book by 29 March
- from DUB to US ILN8S4C1 reported here, e.g. JFK - 1,031, MIA - 1,075, LAX - 1,250, LAS - 1,184, HNL - 1,445, needs to be booked by 6 April, see linked post for details
- from OTP to US (only certain destinations) INN0D4Z3 reported here, e.g. JFK - 1,060, ORD - 1,133, PHX - 1,030, needs to be booked by 3 April, see linked post for details
- from MAN to OKC/SAT/LIT in J AA fare ILN7B4T1, reported here, ~1,049, book by 25 April
- from MAN to OKC/SAT/LIT in J AA fare ILN7B4T1, reported here, ~1,046, book by 24 May
- from ZRH/GVA to US in J AA fare INN0R4Z1, reported here, e.g. BOS - 1,026, ORD - 1,036, MIA - 1,026, LAX - 1,136, book by 31 May
- from ZAG to US ILN4R4Z1 reported here, e.g. JFK - 1,074, ORD - 1,154, LAX - 1,225, LAS - 1,240, needs to be booked by 15 May, see linked post for details
- from DUB to US ILN8S4T1 reported here, e.g. JFK - €1,407, MIA - €1,464, LAX - €1,697, LAS - €1,604, HNL - €1,972, needs to be booked by 22 June, see linked post for details
- from DUB to US INX4D4Z1 (mid-week only) reported here, e.g. JFK - €1,359, MIA - €1,343, LAS - €1,422, needs to be booked by 20 June, see linked post for details
- from PRG to SFO/ORD/WAS ILN8R4Z1 reported here, e.g. IAD - 944, ORD - 1,180, SFO - 1,280, needs to be booked by 14 July, see linked post for details
- from LGW to MLA ILV2K reported here, MLA - 239 for 160 TPs, needs to be booked by 11 July, see linked post for details
- from ITALY to CTU INCEU60 reported here, e.g. CTU - 1,032, see linked post for details
- from AMS/RTM to US ILN4T7S6/INX6T7S6 reported in this post and this post, e.g. NYC - €1,461, ORD - €1,492, LAS - €1,460, needs to be booked by 25 September, see linked post for details
- from PRG to US ILN4T8S6 reported in this post, e.g. IAD - 1,033, MIA - 1,133, ATL - 1,080, needs to be booked by 21 September, see linked post for details
- from DUB to US ILN8C1S6 reported here, e.g. NYC - €1,472, MIA - €1,578, see linked post for details
- froM DUB to US ILN8S4C1 reported here, e.g. JFK - €1,427, MIA - €1,532, LAS - €1,667, LAX - €1,795, HNL - €2,095, this is an advanced purchase fare so no book by deadline, see linked post for details
- from OTP to PHX ILN8R4C1 reported here, e.g. PHX - 1,252, see linked post for details
- from AMS to BKK INCEU60 reported here, e.g. BKK - 1,216, see linked post for details
Last edited by KARFA; Dec 28, 2017 at 10:15 pm
#9
Original Poster
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,781
Adding a AA booking to BA.com
When making a reservation with AA which contains AA and BA operated flights, you can manage seat selection for the AA operated flights on aa.com. However, to do seat selection for the BA operated flights you will need to do that on ba.com using a BA PNR which will be different to your AA one. Unfortunately the BA PNR is not displayed anywhere on AA.com.
Booked as an AA codeshare
If the BA operated flights were booked under an AA codeshare then as long as you added your BAEC number in to the booking on AA.com the BA PNR should appear in you upcoming bookings list after a few minutes. You should be able to select seats for your BA operated flights in it.
Booked under a BA flight number
If the BA flights were booked under a BA flight number even if your BAEC number is entered in AA.com this doesn't appear to get passed to BA and the booking will not appear in your upcoming bookings list on BA.com.
One way to get your BA PNR is
- go to the Qantas website and put your AA PNR in to MMB
- when in the booking go to the seat selection section and you should see "Seat selection is only available for flights operated by Qantas. To select seats and manage your booking, visit British Airways site with your booking reference #XXXXX" where XXXXX is your BA PNR
- go to BA.com and look at MMB for XXXXX, the frequent flyer number field will be blank but you can now add your BAEC number and also select seats for the BA operated flights
When making a reservation with AA which contains AA and BA operated flights, you can manage seat selection for the AA operated flights on aa.com. However, to do seat selection for the BA operated flights you will need to do that on ba.com using a BA PNR which will be different to your AA one. Unfortunately the BA PNR is not displayed anywhere on AA.com.
Booked as an AA codeshare
If the BA operated flights were booked under an AA codeshare then as long as you added your BAEC number in to the booking on AA.com the BA PNR should appear in you upcoming bookings list after a few minutes. You should be able to select seats for your BA operated flights in it.
Booked under a BA flight number
If the BA flights were booked under a BA flight number even if your BAEC number is entered in AA.com this doesn't appear to get passed to BA and the booking will not appear in your upcoming bookings list on BA.com.
One way to get your BA PNR is
- go to the Qantas website and put your AA PNR in to MMB
- when in the booking go to the seat selection section and you should see "Seat selection is only available for flights operated by Qantas. To select seats and manage your booking, visit British Airways site with your booking reference #XXXXX" where XXXXX is your BA PNR
- go to BA.com and look at MMB for XXXXX, the frequent flyer number field will be blank but you can now add your BAEC number and also select seats for the BA operated flights
Last edited by KARFA; Aug 20, 2017 at 9:45 am
#10
Original Poster
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,781
reserved for future use
#11
Original Poster
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,781
I can confirm we are now in 2017!
Everything has been refreshed, and there are a few new sections included to try and improve the reference posts. The wiki has been cleaned out of most of the old runs as these are no longer current. I have left a few in though which I think are still live.
Everything has been refreshed, and there are a few new sections included to try and improve the reference posts. The wiki has been cleaned out of most of the old runs as these are no longer current. I have left a few in though which I think are still live.
#12
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Glasgow, UK
Programs: Seigneur des Tarifs Utils First Class Mucci with Honours :) - BA GGL / CCR
Posts: 1,554
I can confirm we are now in 2017!
Everything has been refreshed, and there are a few new sections included to try and improve the reference posts. The wiki has been cleaned out of most of the old runs as these are no longer current. I have left a few in though which I think are still live.
Everything has been refreshed, and there are a few new sections included to try and improve the reference posts. The wiki has been cleaned out of most of the old runs as these are no longer current. I have left a few in though which I think are still live.
#13
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AY+ Gold, SK Gold, LH M&M SEN, airbaltic Executive, Radisson VIP
Posts: 6,678
I can confirm we are now in 2017!
Everything has been refreshed, and there are a few new sections included to try and improve the reference posts. The wiki has been cleaned out of most of the old runs as these are no longer current. I have left a few in though which I think are still live.
Everything has been refreshed, and there are a few new sections included to try and improve the reference posts. The wiki has been cleaned out of most of the old runs as these are no longer current. I have left a few in though which I think are still live.
#14
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 250
Great work! I have a small question regarding AA. They now book in J instead of A from 11 january. But what happends if I book a trip from for example OSL-LHR-JFK-LAX with J to USA and in the 3 class AA flight from JFK to LAX. Will I then now be put in the business class cabin on the AA flight with J class or will I get the first cabin in A class?
Or maybe if I fly A from LHR to JFK then the onward flight to LAX will be in A also?
Or maybe if I fly A from LHR to JFK then the onward flight to LAX will be in A also?
#15
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: 9,112
Thanks for the update KARFA!
Due to some bizarre planning, I find myself needing to reach LAS in March, but also needing to spend 2 nights in New York on the same trip.
With that in mind, I've suddenly realised I might be able to pull of a TP Run, but am unclear if stopovers of over 24 hours (and in the US opposed to UK) are permitted. If they are, will they simply attract the 200 fee?
I'd be looking at DUB-LHR-JFK-LAS return - or potentially flying back from PHX opposed to LAS if it makes any difference.
The start date of the trip would be:
DUB-LHR 14th March PM
LHR-JFK 15th March AM
JFK-LAS 17th March AM
LAS/PHX - LHR 19th or 20th March (preferably direct but not essential)
I'd therefore have a 2 night stop in New York, but I can't price it properly on Google (ITA is something I'm trying to learn!)
Would someone mind helping me in terms of the stopover issue?
Thanks in advance!
M
Due to some bizarre planning, I find myself needing to reach LAS in March, but also needing to spend 2 nights in New York on the same trip.
With that in mind, I've suddenly realised I might be able to pull of a TP Run, but am unclear if stopovers of over 24 hours (and in the US opposed to UK) are permitted. If they are, will they simply attract the 200 fee?
I'd be looking at DUB-LHR-JFK-LAS return - or potentially flying back from PHX opposed to LAS if it makes any difference.
The start date of the trip would be:
DUB-LHR 14th March PM
LHR-JFK 15th March AM
JFK-LAS 17th March AM
LAS/PHX - LHR 19th or 20th March (preferably direct but not essential)
I'd therefore have a 2 night stop in New York, but I can't price it properly on Google (ITA is something I'm trying to learn!)
Would someone mind helping me in terms of the stopover issue?
Thanks in advance!
M