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Old Jan 2, 2015, 8:37 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: theultimateflyer
Welcome to the thread please read the wiki first as it contains lots of information which may answer your question. We keep track of other prices, as well as useful reference information for those planning tier point runs.

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 Please add important information to it or correct outdated information by clicking the "Edit" button below!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
  • from DUB to US IJN8S4Z1 reported here, e.g. JFK - 1,074, MIA - 1,119, LAS - 1,224, LAX - 1,296, HNL - 1,623, needs to be booked by 2 February, for outbound travel over Easter and summer 2016, see linked post for details
  • from DUB to US ILN8S4Z1 reported here, e.g. JFK - 920, MIA - 958, LAS - 1,048, LAX - 1,110, needs to be booked by 2 February, for outbound travel over November and Christmas & New Year 2016, see linked post for details

  • from DUB to US ILR28AP reported here, e.g. JFK - 1,538, MIA - 1,601, LAS - 1,751, LAX - 1,854, HNL - 1,834, this is an advanced purchase fare so no book by deadline, no stopovers, see linked post for details
  • from DUB to US ILN8S4E1 reported here, e.g. JFK - 1,538, MIA - 1,601, LAS - 1,751, LAX - 1,854, HNL - 1,834, this is an advanced purchase fare so no book by deadline, allows stopovers for 75, see linked post for details

  • from CPH to US ILR21AP reported here, e.g. JFK - 890, MIA - 1,132, ORD - 942, LAX - 1,277, HNL - 1,361, this is an advanced purchase fare so no book by deadline, no stopovers, see linked post for details
  • from CPH to US ILN2S4E1 reported here, JFK - 890, MIA - 1,132, ORD - 942, LAX - 1,277, HNL - 1,361, this is an advanced purchase fare so no book by deadline, allows stopovers for 75, see linked post for details

  • ILN2S4Z1 from OSL to HNL (19.5k/21.5k NOK (1,520/1,675) via. LON or via. HEL & LON)
    PERMITTED 23NOV 15 THROUGH 28NOV 15 OR 22DEC 15 THROUGH
    01JAN 16 OR 27MAR 16 THROUGH 31MAR 16 ON THE OUTBOUND
    TRANSATLANTIC SECTOR.

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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
30JUL | 0.93/TP | 335 | 360 | JER-LGW-SSH-LGW-JER | J/I/I/J | ba.com | dom462 | CE | BA
01 NOV | 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
19 AUG | 1.01/TP | 1,375 (1938 EUR) | 1360 | DUB-HEL-LON-JFK-PHX-HNL-PHX-JFK-LHR-HEL-DUB | IIIAAAAIII | OttoMH | J/F | AY BA AA
16 AUG | 1.22/TP | 1,675 (21.5k NOK) | 1360 | OSL-HEL-LON-JFK-PHX-HNL-PHX-JFK-LHR-HEL-OSL | IIIAAAAIII | OttoMH | J/F | AY BA AA
16 AUG | 1.27/TP | 1,518 (19.5k NOK) | 1200 | OSL-LON-JFK-PHX-HNL-PHX-JFK-LHR-OSL | IIAAAAII | OttoMH | J/F | BA AA
14AUG | 1.31/TP | 470 | 360 | OSL-HEL-AGP-HEL-OSL | I-I-I-I | ITA | Flythe96flag | SH J cabin + possible red-eye (!) | AY
04 SEP | 1.31/TP | 1,220 (1681 EUR) | 910 | DME-MAD-JFK-LAX-MIA-MAD-DME | all in I | iberia.com | henkybaby | J | BA AA IB | works till 6/16 so far
23AUG | 1.34/TP | 1148 | 860 | DUB-PHL-PHX-LAS-PHX-JFK-LHR,LCY-DUB | I/P/P/P/P/I/I | ticketed on aa.com | megaloman | AA & BA (UD on 747 JFK-LHR)
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
26JUL | 1.81/TP | 72.70 | 40 | MAD-FRA | Z | lan.com | Prospero | 787 flat bed | LA
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
13NOV | 2.56/TP | 410 | 160 | LHR-HEL | ? | BA.com | Lorcancoyle | wide open as flight+hotel, can reduce with TCB cash back | BA
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
24NOV | 1.91/TP | 765.00 | 400 | BUD-DOH-SHJ | I/A/I/A | QR.com | Wozza2404 | A320 | QR
7DEC | 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)
22JAN | 2.29/TP | 640 | 280 | FCO-CMB-FCO | I/I | book on SriLankan website | theultimateflyer

From North, Central and South America
31JUL | 0.39/TP | 484 | 1240 | HNL-LAX-BOS-MIA-BAQ-MIA-PHL-LAX-HNL | AAAIIAAA | ITA Matrix | Pawel Siewko | AA
16OCT | 0.55/TP | 298.50 | 540 | JFK-LAX-DEN-LAX-JFK | P-P-P-P | aa.com | Calum | AA A321t F seat between JFK & LAX (FARE GONE)
16JUL | 0.57/TP | 554 | 980 | LAX-LAS-PHX-PHL-CLT-TPA-MIA-PTY-MIA-PHL-PHX-LAS-LAX | PPPPPPIIPPPP | aa.com | Airprox | AA + US
27JUL | 0.80/TP | 15.94 | 20 | VVC-BOG-MDE | A | lan.com | JohnnyColombia | A is economy on LA | LA
08NOV | 0.84/TP | 772.50 | 920 | KOA-LAX-CLT-SJU-CLT-LAX-KOA | AAIIAA | aa.com | Lappe | Same day turnarounds available
30SEP | 0.87/TP | 808.00 | 920 | BOG-MIA-LAX-HNL-LAX-MIA-BOG | I-P-P-P-P-I | aa.com | JohnnyColombia | No comments
20SEP | 1.00/TP | 663.20 | 660 | LGA-BOS-LAX-PHX-LAX-BOS-LGA | P-P-P-P-P-P | americanairlines.co.uk | njf63 | TCON on 737 so not too comfortable but good availability next Mar/Apr
21AUG | 1.05 | 253 | 240 | BOS-PHL-PIT-PHL-BOS | PPPP | aa.com | Simon Schus | AA op by US
02NOV | 1.27/TP | 1250 | 980 | MCO-MIA-LAX-HNL | A | AA | Mr 1A
05AUG | 1.37/TP | 578 | 420 | LAS-PHL-LAS | A/P | aa.com | Lucanesque | First | AA op by US
28JUL | 1.43/TP | 400 | 280 | SCL-IPC-SCL | Z | lan.com - Chilean version | moonman85 | 787 flat bed | LAN
06NOV | 1.67/TP | 66.00 | 40 | JFK-YYZ | Z | tam.com.br | frb98mf | Fifth Freedom flight every Wed/Fri/Sun, 767 flat bed
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
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...

From Middle East, Asia and Australasia
18AUG | 1.25/TP | 440.00 | 360 | BKK-KUL-ICN Return | Z | www.malaysiaairlines.com | Wozza2404 | A330 Angle Flat for long haul sectors | MH
12OCT | 1.68/TP | 1,546 | 920 | TLV-MAD-LHR-JFK-LAX-JFK-LHR-MAD-TLV | I/I/I/I/I/I/I | iberia.com | frb98mf | Business (bonus: A330/A340 on the TLV legs!) | IB
24NOV | 1.43/TP | 803 | 560 | CTS-HKG-DPS-HKG-CTS | I/I/I/I | cathaypacific.com | zeltergiset | One 24hr+ stopover in HKG allowed | CX
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
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

From Africa
11AUG | 0.89/TP | 748 | 840 | ACC-LHR-MIA-LAX-MIA-LHR-ACC | I/I/I/I/I/I/I/I | iberia call centre | njf63 | CW / AA J | IB
15NOV | 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

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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. Prospero's guide to using ITA matrix in post 3 (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)

Or a slightly more interesting fun run

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 VLL via HEL will get you 240 TPs, as will JER-LGW/LHR-HEL e.g. LHR-HEL-OSL for 520
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Old Jun 9, 2015 | 11:26 am
  #2866  
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: LHR FCO SFO SYD
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 5
Hello All and thank you for the great information/inspiration and above all the patience, support and encouragement for our "peculiar choice of flights routings".

I just finished booking an ex-DUB IL28SALE fare to SFO via LHR PHL LAX outbound and MIA JFK LHR inbound for 1,218.89 (1.35/TP). Not optimal, but pretty decent considering it isn't really a "TP Run" per se: I was already planning on staying in SF for 5 days, so since I was heading in that direction anyway I might as well maximize TPs.

Louise from the BA Gold Line was very helpful in refining the itinerary to make sure it booked correctly, which at the beginning priced at some "silly" price of around 6,000.00. She knew exactly what I was after and fixed it in 5 minutes without any need for any guidance.

However, even with Louise's help I was unsuccessful in adding the DUB-HEL-LHR segment because she was told by BAEC that the DUB-HEL flight AY930 is not a recognized flight for the OneWorld Alliance. This seems to be due to the fact that this particular flight is operated by Flybe and coincidentally also lacks a BA flight code. Can anyone shed some light on how they added this HEL segment to their IL28SALE fare for the extra 80 TPs? (ref. to post #2426 & #2443)

Also, on a separate note, as I have a couple of BA1/BA2 and BA1/BA3 segments booked in Jun/Aug this summer (still confirmed for now), however I was wondering if anyone had any further information as to the reasons for the partial LCY-JFK service cancellation which has affected some of you. (ref. to post #2825 & #2840)

Thank you in advance.
vopodo is offline  
Old Jun 9, 2015 | 11:26 am
  #2867  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
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Originally Posted by Wozza2404
It's solely US codeshares.

I just spoke to US in the States and they can't get it to price either. To be fair I'm using a departure date outside of the IL28SALE publicised dates; but on US it doesn't show any blackout periods. I'm guessing it's an error.
Yes, the US IL28SALE doesn't appear to have blackout dates - it might be an error however I managed to book a DUB-LHR-JFK-PHX-SAN-LAX-JFK-LHR-DUB with BA recently, all the AA metal booked with US codeshares.
timezonehopper is offline  
Old Jun 9, 2015 | 11:50 am
  #2868  
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Originally Posted by Wozza2404
AA shows the same price as BA. Only US shows as cheaper.
US IL28SALE has different date restrictions than BA/AA IL28SALE --> Your travel probably falls outside of the dates of BA/AA sale, but is within the US sale terms.
nufnuf77 is offline  
Old Jun 9, 2015 | 11:58 am
  #2869  
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 47
Originally Posted by Calchas
If you have an iPad/iPhone, may I suggest the excellent "My Flights" app? It keeps an eye on your bookings for you and notifies you within an hour or two of any changes being made.

http://www.myflightsapp.com/
I don't possess an iThing. Any websites do similar?
mkcol is offline  
Old Jun 9, 2015 | 12:03 pm
  #2870  
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Originally Posted by nufnuf77
US IL28SALE has different date restrictions than BA/AA IL28SALE --> Your travel probably falls outside of the dates of BA/AA sale, but is within the US sale terms.
Well I'm ready to admit defeat and declare it un-ticketable on US.

I've got an AA itinerary on hold now for slightly later dates and I'll see if those dates work for me tomorrow.
Wozza2404 is offline  
Old Jun 9, 2015 | 12:52 pm
  #2871  
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Originally Posted by mkcol
I don't possess an iThing. Any websites do similar?
If you click on the calchas link that you quoted you will see you can use it as a web based service too.

http://www.myflightsapp.com/

Sadly it does not work for AA but if your trip starts with a BA segment then at least one way you will have a BA PNR that you can plug in
JohnnyColombia is offline  
Old Jun 9, 2015 | 1:27 pm
  #2872  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NCL
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 484
I've just seen the news that AA are launching LAX-SYD and QF SFO-SYD by the end of the year. It's not something I've really considered before and wasn't aware there weren't direct OW routes from west coast US to SYD until now.

GC mapper tells me that LHR-SIN-SYD is about 10k miles, LHR-LAX-SYD is about 12k miles. So not a huge amount in it. My thinking is what would the possibilities of flying this way in order to maximize TPs crossing the US, could it possibly be cheaper than BA eastbound? Now sure if anyone can recall when these routes used to be available what the options looked like.
ShadowCaptain is offline  
Old Jun 9, 2015 | 1:31 pm
  #2873  
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Originally Posted by Wozza2404
No F sectors on my itinerary. Just business (3 class A321).

Oddly when I compare the two on matrix US is showing I on every flight, whereas BA has some of the long haul sectors in R and J.
Originally Posted by KARFA
I guess there is no I class avialability for the flight under the BA flight number, but there is under the AA/US codeshare?
Originally Posted by ENTP
Apparently the US fare can book into P class on the AA/US sectors whereas BA can only book into availability in A



See below for the bookingclass on US for the IL28SALE fare.

PRIME BOOKING CODE WHEN NO EXCEPTIONS APPLY
I

EXCEPTIONS
VIA US F PERMITTED BETWEEN PHL-LAX
VIA US F PERMITTED BETWEEN PHL-SFO
VIA US J PERMITTED BETWEEN JFK-LAX
VIA US J PERMITTED BETWEEN JFK-SFO
VIA US I REQUIRED WHEN OFFERED BETWEEN MIA-LAX
VIA US I REQUIRED WHEN AVAILABLE
VIA US P/Y PERMITTED WITHIN NORTH AMERICA
dutch_122 is offline  
Old Jun 9, 2015 | 1:31 pm
  #2874  
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Originally Posted by ShadowCaptain
I've just seen the news that AA are launching LAX-SYD and QF SFO-SYD by the end of the year. It's not something I've really considered before and wasn't aware there weren't direct OW routes from west coast US to SYD until now.
QF already have direct flights from LAX into SYD, MEL and BNE.
gcuk is offline  
Old Jun 9, 2015 | 1:40 pm
  #2875  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NCL
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 484
Originally Posted by gcuk
QF already have direct flights from LAX into SYD, MEL and BNE.
Serves me right for listening to that hyped up press release, you would have thought a plane had never crossed the pacific until now. Regardless, it is possible to fly to Australia west bound in order to scrape a few more TPs on the way, without spending significantly more, or is that crazy thinking?
ShadowCaptain is offline  
Old Jun 9, 2015 | 3:26 pm
  #2876  
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Originally Posted by Wozza2404
Well I'm ready to admit defeat and declare it un-ticketable on US.

I've got an AA itinerary on hold now for slightly later dates and I'll see if those dates work for me tomorrow.
BA GGL line got close to the price, but still a good few hundred pounds off what I was seeing.
AA EXP line couldn't get near it.
U.S. Air were about as effective as their lost baggage department.

I'd given up hope, but at about 6pm I dropped a desperate PM to Dutch_122 and by 10pm I had a reservation in my account ready to be paid for. Dates outside of the official dates, but ticketed on BA - US code shares.

Unbelievable service. FT is quite a place sometimes.
Wozza2404 is offline  
Old Jun 9, 2015 | 3:30 pm
  #2877  
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Posts: 2,067
I think it's high time that a group of us fly out to AMS to organise a do in dutch's honour

H
Hoch is offline  
Old Jun 9, 2015 | 4:00 pm
  #2878  
10 Countries Visited20 Countries Visited30 Countries Visited10 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: IC Amb :-(, UA silver, BA Gold, SPG Plat, A-Club Plat, Marriott Plat
Posts: 913
Originally Posted by Hoch
I think it's high time that a group of us fly out to AMS to organise a do in dutch's honour

H
+1 ^

I was quite impressed with myself (and the US BA Blue line today when quite unexpectedly I was able to book an IL28SALE fare without the price quoted being many multiples of the correct price and requiring the help of a saint in AMS.

I hope he isn't too seduced by the 'novelty' of QR :-)
catharsis is offline  
Old Jun 9, 2015 | 4:05 pm
  #2879  
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: T' North West
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 667
Originally Posted by Wozza2404
BA GGL line got close to the price, but still a good few hundred pounds off what I was seeing.
AA EXP line couldn't get near it.
U.S. Air were about as effective as their lost baggage department.

I'd given up hope, but at about 6pm I dropped a desperate PM to Dutch_122 and by 10pm I had a reservation in my account ready to be paid for. Dates outside of the official dates, but ticketed on BA - US code shares.

Unbelievable service. FT is quite a place sometimes.
Dutch_122 comes up trumps again. What a lucky bunch we are
happeemonkee is offline  
Old Jun 9, 2015 | 5:14 pm
  #2880  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Buckinghamshire
Programs: BAEC Gold Guest List, Hilton Honours Diamond, Accor Gold
Posts: 2,303
Originally Posted by Calchas
You've got AA IL28SALE out and BA AL28SALE back.

Plenty of optimization (for tier points) e.g., go through JFK and get the LAXJFK three class on the return.

Another 500 EUR you can go F both ways.
Thanks! You inspired me and my friend to seek out this pilgrimage, and we are booked in early August! Ex-DUB: In J (with the LAX - LHR route in F for an extra 391). We paid just 1,527 for 850 TP and 47,000 avios. Bargain!
Dicksbits is offline  


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