Help me plan my tier point runs!

[AL]

HfPers – I come to you for inspiration and wisdom, as I’m planning some tier point runs for the rest of the year. For context, I am low single digits away from lifetime Gold, so I have decided to invest a little bit of my own cash to achieve it, especially now it has some benefit on some SkyTeam airlines.

I need 840 TPs by the end of March ’25, and am quite open to there-and-back (with or without one night stops) as well as longer trips. I have also largely had good experiences with VS Hols, so am open to using them, especially because of the extra tier points on their bookings.

I would prefer to minimise the use of SkyTeam partners because, whilst I’ll accrue TPs, those TPs don’t count toward lifetime TPs (which need to be earned on VS/VS routes).

My current strategy has been to book in to Premium, because the taxes are reasonable and availability is better. I can get a sleep on most of their aircraft, but prefer to shy away from A333s. MAN is my closest base, but I can usually make LHR work some way or other, too.

I am still considering a longer trip to BOM in September, which would net me probably in the region of 200 TPs via VS Hols (Premium, Upper, hotel), bringing me to 640. My plan for the remainder was there-and-backs to JFK, but I fancy the idea of the rest of the route network – DXB, CPT and JNB appeal based on time zone differences (plus I’ve never been to South Africa, so I’d probably go for a long weekend in CPT or something).

Thoughts?

[Wiseoldman]

The only real advantage of Gold is Club Access if you dont fly UC normally. Not what you are looking for but AF/KLM have a status match with no sky team airlines which which costs Euro 399 for Elite Plus/Virgin Gold and gives you all the benefits for full 12 months.

I am sure someone with more knowledge about your question would come along shortly

[ChasP]

Dont forget that unlike BA VS reward flight earn TPs
Its a shame partner TPs dont count or LHR-SFO via JFK could do the job

[Panda Mick]

Don’t forget that class of US ticket will determine the tier points that you get too.

Whilst G & Z get you 100 TP one way, (J, C, D, I) will get you 200. A quick tootle on ITA Matrix will find fares that contain the lowest fully flex class, minimising the flights that you need to take