Tim Lai
Points to be Made
www.pointstobemade.com
Photo © Kevin Marshall
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Total beginners
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Basic BAEC knowledge
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Advanced knowledge
Hopefully everyone learns something today!
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Explanation of Tier Point system
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Collecting Tier Points
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Use of Avios on British Airways
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Other uses
◦ LHR-DME in First Class
◦ CX around Asia
“Give a man a fish, feed him for a day…
Teach the man to fish, feed him for a lifetime”
You get some fish, but also learn how to do it!
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Advanced Tier Point running (20 mins)
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Taxes, Fees and Surcharges (15 mins)
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Maximum Permissible Mileage (5-10 mins)
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Free form discussion (15 mins)
Feel free to ask questions any time!
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Relies on combination of “Instant Upgrade”
and cheap business class fares.
ALWAYS consider auxiliary cost.
◦ Hotels/accommodation
◦ Food
◦ Opportunity cost – annual leave, time with family.
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Keep referring to Flyertalk.
◦ Bit.ly/BATPruns
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American Airlines and US Airways
Best origins are big cities that aren’t hubs,
but close to one.
◦ [ Removed. For participants only ]
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Best destinations to look for… Anywhere with
bad safety!:
◦ [ Removed. For participants only ]
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If East to West coast (and v.v.), ignore flights
stopping in DFW.
VERY short Minimum Connection Time
◦ AA does not have to give you First Class if rebooked.
◦ You can request fares and Tier Points from original
routing though!
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American Airlines main hubs
◦ DFW, LAX, JFK, MIA, ORD
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US Airways main hubs
◦ CLT, PHX, PHL
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Buy during Premium Fare sales ex-Europe (Easily
1000+ TP for around €1500-2000).
◦ Ask Kevin about his DUB-LCY-SNN-JFK-PHX-HNL-PHXJFK-LCY-DUB adventure. 1340TP for £1368 = £1.02/TP.
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Find your itinerary on ITA Matrix and book by
phone. You’ll go crazy booking it online.
Watch out for AA/BA/IB/AY/US codeshares on
domestic USA flights. VERY important to put it
into AA/US marketed flight.
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Prices more stable and easier to find than
Americas
Cathay Pacific
◦ [ Removed. For participants only ]
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Malaysia Airlines – Kuala Lumpur
◦ [ Removed. For participants only ]
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CX/MH business class service is FAR superior
to AA/US.
Each destination in Asia is interesting in its
own right. Can’t say the same about USA.
◦ [ Removed. For participants only ]

Most TP Runs in Europe go through LGW, and
often through JER.
◦ JER-LGW-AMS-LGW-JER
◦ JER-LGW-MLA-LGW-JER
◦ AMS-LGW-AMS

Airports like JER, AMS and FRA do not
separate inbound and outbound passengers
at gate. Very easy turnaround

Not as lucrative as America, Asia and Europe.

British Airways 5th Freedom
 DOH – BAH in First class

Qatar Airways
◦ [ Removed. For participants only ]
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Next topic…
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Anywhere between 5-99% of the airfare!
Most people call YQ or YR “Fuel Surcharge”,
but it’s called “Carrier Imposed Fee” by BA.
You have to pay them if redeeming Avios.
◦ Some notable exceptions…

Intra-Americas journeys
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Intra-Asia
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Domestic Japan
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Free positioning flight to Jersey, UK
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Aer Lingus and Air Berlin for TATL

Air Berlin for Germany -> Abu Dhabi
◦ New York to Toronto
◦ Any flight under 650 miles.
◦ HKG to most of Far East Asia is max 10,000 Avios each way in Y.
◦ No Taxes!!!
◦ No Air Passenger Duty payable ex-JER
◦ AB is £1 in tax!
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Raised by price of fuel, hardly ever lowered.
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Still some regions or cities where YQ is low
No specific pattern, but in general…
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Europe <-> North America
◦ AB and EI
◦ IB no surcharge! Transfer BA Avios to IB.
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Europe <-> South America
◦ IB no surcharge! Transfer BA Avios to IB.

North America <-> South America
◦ No YQ
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Europe <-> Asia
MH, CX, QR usually lower than BA
Intra - Middle East
◦ Nearly all routes low YQ (under €100 for r/t)

Europe <-> Middle East
◦ QR and BA usually lowest
Next topic…
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In a nutshell, how far you’re allowed to fly on
a single ticket.
MPM exists because not everywhere has nonstop flights between 2 cities.
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Easy to understand and exploit.
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Good place to start “travel hacking”.
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Economy class sales!
◦ Typically base fare is <€100. I have seen £1 before!
◦ MPM does not affect YQ, but might add extra
government/airport charges.
◦ Best to do as many transfers in USA as possible.
◦ Limit EU transfers. (Taxes too high)
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Ticketed Point Mileage = Great Circle distance
between two cities.
E.g. AMS-SFO
5473 miles
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Maximum Permissible Mileage = TPM + 20%.
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MPM of AMS-SFO = 5473 x 1.2 = 6568.
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
IB/BA/AA/US/AY Europe <-> USA flights
governed by MPM Rules.
Use KVS tool or Expert Flyer to find routing
rules
MPM of AMS-SFO = 6568
 MPM+5% = 6896
 MPM+10% = 7225
 MPM+15% = 7553
 MPM+20% = 7881
 MPM+25% = 8210
Just pay additional X% to the BASE FARE
 E.g. if Base Fare is £50, and you fly
MPM+25%, you pay an extra 0.25*£50 =
£12.5
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Total 8085 miles <1.25*MPM
Valid routing!
If you enjoyed the talks today, or even my
blog, please consider using the affiliate
links
bit.ly/amexgoldnl
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Any questions?

Feedback always welcome

Contact me any time:
info@pointstobemade.com