Oz Based Tier Point Run

[_TheTraveller_]

That still seems expensive. I'm doing..PER-SIN(QF metal) , SIN-HND-CDG (JAL metal) , CDG-LHR-GLA-LHR-CDG BA metal) CDG-HND-SYD(JAL Metal) SYD-PER (QF metal). All biz class over 13 days in Dec 24. 4,000 UKP. BA tier points run and visiting relatives.

I'm not sure what the pre-covid prices are but for ex-AU it seems decent considering the share of TPs.

PER-SYD 140
SYD-SIN 140
SIN-TYO 140
TYO-BKK 140

return would be 1120 TPs for about 5k~

 

[Mr Enthused]

This is my booked insanity. 5 separate tickets for KUL-TPE-KUL ($800), KUL-SYD-KUL ($2700), KUL-CMB-DXB-CMB-KUL ($1700), SHJ-DOH-MAD-DOH-SHJ ($2800), MAD-LIS-MAD ($600). I already have 175TPs and 3 BA sectors, so I'll comfortably hit Gold before I reach KUL. Enthused for Al Safwa action because J is classed as F intra ME with QR, and fares are really cheap ex SHJ compared to DXB or AUH.

 

[Mr Enthused]

How many TP do you get for this kind of associated trip? I am assuming you can get BAEC Gold with that itinerary.
4k GBP is around 8k AUD which isn't bad for that many segments of travelling.

You want to string as many 2000mi sectors together to optimise TP earn. Short 4 hr flights, and usually on narrow bodies means you might need a layover to get decent sleep, MH F and QR Al Safwa lounges are open 24hrs which saves a night in a hotel.

KUL-TPE, HKG-CGK, HKG-CTS, KUL-HND, HEL-LIS, DOH-SOF, MEL-NAN are some runs that I can think of. Weekend sectors on KUL-TPE are with A330s, and AY have one A359 on HEL-LIS.

Or the AUH/DXB-CMB-CGK vv run which is famous among BAEC members.

 

[jbmemories]

This is my booked insanity. 5 separate tickets for KUL-TPE-KUL ($800), KUL-SYD-KUL ($2700), KUL-CMB-DXB-CMB-KUL ($1700), SHJ-DOH-MAD-DOH-SHJ ($2800), MAD-LIS-MAD ($600). I already have 175TPs and 3 BA sectors, so I'll comfortably hit Gold before I reach KUL. Enthused for Al Safwa action because J is classed as F intra ME with QR, and fares are really cheap ex SHJ compared to DXB or AUH.

View attachment 377559

That's a monster of an itinerary if I've seen one!

You want to string as many 2000mi sectors together to optimise TP earn. Short 4 hr flights, and usually on narrow bodies means you might need a layover to get decent sleep, MH F and QR Al Safwa lounges are open 24hrs which saves a night in a hotel.

I thought the best way was to sleep on the plane to get the J-class rest and refresh with shower at the lounges

 

[Mr Enthused]

That's a monster of an itinerary if I've seen one!


I thought the best way was to sleep on the plane to get the J-class rest and refresh with shower at the lounges

My current BA year ends in Oct, so I'm trying to qualify early, but also trying to work out what my strategy will be between Oct 2024 and Apr 2025.

I can sleep on a plane but I'm definitely grateful for what should be a direct flight back to SYD ex KUL.

 

[jbmemories]

My current BA year ends in Oct, so I'm trying to qualify early, but also trying to work out what my strategy will be between Oct 2024 and Apr 2025.

I can sleep on a plane but I'm definitely grateful for what should be a direct flight back to SYD ex KUL.

Try and take advantage of BA’s Double Tier points Holiday bookings. If you add flight + hotel or car for it and have at least a 5 day package (doesn’t have to be 5 days sequential, just within the booking) you earn double TP for your flights. Book by end of 2024 and travel’s been extended up to 2026 packages.

 

[Mr Enthused]

Try and take advantage of BA’s Double Tier points Holiday bookings. If you add flight + hotel or car for it and have at least a 5 day package (doesn’t have to be 5 days sequential, just within the booking) you earn double TP for your flights. Book by end of 2024 and travel’s been extended up to 2026 packages.

Unfortunately I don't reside in the UK, so I cannot benefit from the DTP offers with BAH. I joined BAEC when I was in Singapore for a few months for work and used my mum's residential address there! That was my workaround to join after I got screwed by AB's TopBonus collapse.

 

[madrooster]

This is my booked insanity. 5 separate tickets for KUL-TPE-KUL ($800), KUL-SYD-KUL ($2700), KUL-CMB-DXB-CMB-KUL ($1700), SHJ-DOH-MAD-DOH-SHJ ($2800), MAD-LIS-MAD ($600). I already have 175TPs and 3 BA sectors, so I'll comfortably hit Gold before I reach KUL. Enthused for Al Safwa action because J is classed as F intra ME with QR, and fares are really cheap ex SHJ compared to DXB or AUH.

AA/QR KUL-LAX (5.5k AUD for 1440 TP), BA/JL/QF PER-BKK (5-6k AUD for 1120 TP), AA/QR CGK-PHL/NYC (4-5k AUD for up to 840 TP), DONE3/4/5 ex-Japan (8.5-9.5k AUD for up to 2340 TP), BA/AA/IB/AY ex-Spain to SFO/SMF/LAX (2.5-3k AUD for 720 TP) and UL AUH-CGK (560 TP) all offer some great value.

 

[Mr Enthused]

AA/QR KUL-LAX (5.5k AUD for 1440 TP), BA/JL/QF PER-BKK (5-6k AUD for 1120 TP), AA/QR CGK-PHL/NYC (4-5k AUD for up to 840 TP), DONE3/4/5 ex-Japan (8.5-9.5k AUD for up to 2340 TP) and UL AUH-CGK (560 TP) all offer some great value.

Solid!

My trip is in order to visit FNC for a few days and catch up with some mates who are getting together there. Also never visited Madeira before, and a new territory to add to the list (along with Sharjah, according to the TCC!) Otherwise, future trips will certainly be along the lines of exploration and various wayside visits with friends and family.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

AA/QR KUL-LAX (5.5k AUD for 1440 TP

Are you able to share a sample routing?

 

[madrooster]

Are you able to share a sample routing?

KUL-DOH-East Coast US-PHX-Hawaii-LAX

 

[_TheTraveller_]

KUL-DOH-East Coast US-PHX-Hawaii-LAX

Thanks! That's a lot of flying...

 

[pyramidforce]

KUL-DOH-East Coast US-PHX-Hawaii-LAX

I've been fiddling around with this in Matrix and the best I can get is this monstrosity;

KUL-DOH-JFK-PHX-LAS-LAX
LAX-ELP-PHX-JFK-DOH-KUL

for 1000TPs at ~$5200

Booking into C class on outbound, R on inbound. Can't get R to price on outbound to save ~$400.

I haven't been able to get PHX-Hawaii-LAX to work. I can get "close-ish" by adding a stopover in PHX instead of a transfer but this prices at ~$7100 on Matrix and books into D class. I'm not sure if Matrix is glitching or if I just don't get how this works at all but it seems to show 2 fares in D class, one at ~$7100 and one at ~$17000. Maybe the fare code at the end is different by 1 or 2 letters but they look the same to me.

Any advice on getting the 1440TP routing to be closer to ~5.5k?

 

[_TheTraveller_]

I've been fiddling around with this in Matrix and the best I can get is this monstrosity;

KUL-DOH-JFK-PHX-LAS-LAX
LAX-ELP-PHX-JFK-DOH-KUL

for 1000TPs at ~$5200

Booking into C class on outbound, R on inbound. Can't get R to price on outbound to save ~$400.

I haven't been able to get PHX-Hawaii-LAX to work. I can get "close-ish" by adding a stopover in PHX instead of a transfer but this prices at ~$7100 on Matrix and books into D class. I'm not sure if Matrix is glitching or if I just don't get how this works at all but it seems to show 2 fares in D class, one at ~$7100 and one at ~$17000. Maybe the fare code at the end is different by 1 or 2 letters but they look the same to me.

Any advice on getting the 1440TP routing to be closer to ~5.5k?

I spent a few hours last night and managed to get KUL-DOH-JFK-PHX-HNL-LAX but for the return segment I couldn't get the same way back. Turning availability checks off, the routing still didn't price it which suggests the routing isn't valid for the return segment but most likely I'm doing something wrong.

I managed to get KUL-DOH-JFK-PHX-HNL-LAX-MIA-DOH-KUL both in R class which was about 5.2K mark.

 

[madrooster]

Any advice on getting the 1440TP routing to be closer to ~5.5k?

I managed to get KUL-DOH-JFK-PHX-HNL-LAX-MIA-DOH-KUL both in R class which was about 5.2K mark.

A lot of the TP counts and prices I posted, won't price online. You will need a TA to piece it together.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

the 15 day visa-free option for China opens a fair few routes that otherwise wouldn't have been reasonable.

 

[pyramidforce]

Hate to be that guy, but...any examples?

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Hate to be that guy, but...any examples?

KTM to BJS/PVG as an example.

Some other deals to BJS/PVG come and go as well.

 

[pyramidforce]

I wouldn't want to explain to Chinese authorities what a tier point run is. But a quick look at Google Flights, it looks like KTM-TPE is similarly priced (~$50 more) for the same 560 TPs. Looks good.

That being said, it might be easier to start in TPE (maybe a QF reward flight on CI) then flying TPE-SGN/BKK/etc in that region for 360tps return at ~$800 AUD.

If you don't get bored, it looks like you could go TPE-KUL-SGN-KUL-TPE-KUL-BKK-KUL-TPE-KUL-SIN-KUL-TPE-KUL-PHN-KUL-TPE for 4x360=1440 TPs at approx ~$3600 AUD + positioning + hotels etc. That looks...suspiciously cheap?

 

[_TheTraveller_]

I wouldn't want to explain to Chinese authorities what a tier point run is. But a quick look at Google Flights, it looks like KTM-TPE is similarly priced (~$50 more) for the same 560 TPs. Looks good.

That being said, it might be easier to start in TPE (maybe a QF reward flight on CI) then flying TPE-SGN/BKK/etc in that region for 360tps return at ~$800 AUD.

If you don't get bored, it looks like you could go TPE-KUL-SGN-KUL-TPE-KUL-BKK-KUL-TPE-KUL-SIN-KUL-TPE-KUL-PHN-KUL-TPE for 4x360=1440 TPs at approx ~$3600 AUD + positioning + hotels etc. That looks...suspiciously cheap?

Still need a visa for SGN so I wouldn't bother with it.