best itineraries for tier points runs?

Greetings, everyone.

I've been AU on VS for several years now, qualifying with 30 TPs with ease each year. Like many of us (I surmise), though, I won't make it over the new 40 TP threshold this year (and my renewal date is in October, so I'm hit with this new, higher threshold). As it happens, most recent years I exceeded 40 TPs, but this particular year I traveled a little less than usual.

It looks like I can manage to reach 30 TPs by September. Is there any way I can convince VS to "end my year early" so that the old 30 TP threshold is applied for my renewal? This doesn't strike me as an unreasonable request, as I'm asking for *less* time to renew, not more time. Anyone have any luck along these lines thus far?

Failing that, I'll need to do "TP runs" to reach 40 TPs. The goal will be to maximize TPs per pound of airfare spent. It appears that the highest-TPs-per-pound yield is achieved flying discounted Z fares, which give 10 TPs per round-trip ticket. (For example, lowest Z fares to DXB and NYC are ca. GBP 1400-1600 right now.)

Are there more cost-effective ways to earn TPs than Z fares on VS? I've looked at TPs awarded for flights on partners, and while SQ flights in First give 7 TPs per leg, First on SQ is so expensive that SQ seems a less effective strategy.

All tips appreciated. Thanks!

[preiffer]

First on VX might help you (some LAX-SFO hops) but you have to get over there first...

As for ending your membership early, given the reasons why they're upping the qualification requirement, I'd be very surprised if they would do that. Why would they? What's in it for them?

One year I was on 29 TPs and a quick run up to Edinburgh on BMI did the trick ... but you need 10 and the change to 40 for renewal has been long announced. As Paul says, if you're in the US and able to TP runs on VX that's one way, if you find yourself in Singapore and can do some SIA flights there's another. But you're a bit stymied unfortunately ...

If you fly upper anyway what's the value in getting gold?

Out of interest -- if you can afford to fly on Z fares, then is gold really that important?

Generally speaking -- and excluding mega UC sales -- I believe that the cheapest way to acquire TPs on VS is actually to fly economy, or sometimes PE. DXB at £400 now, for instance, is £100 per TP. A cheap US East Coast fare will get you maybe £120 per TP. UC is usually £150 per TP and above. I count anything below £120 as good.

Of course, the trouble with Y vs UC is: all that flying is a bore and you may have difficulty convincing immigration officials!

If you are in the US then the VX SFO-LAX shuttle is quite cheap, but I think you can actually achieve a better earnings rate on the right fare ex-LHR.

you can get a flight from SFO - LAS on VX for $69 each way, for 1 TP, do a few of those..and if you can find a cheap flight to SFO with VS will give you 4 TP.

[Nottingham Nick]

Does this thread make anyone else pine for the good old days iof SIN - KUL in SQ F ?

Nick

Does this thread make anyone else pine for the good old days iof SIN - KUL in SQ F ?

Nick

As the reason I got to AU in the first place... YES!!

I would say the new SIN - KUL earner route would be SFO - LAS, do that a few times on VX and you should get there. It does take a while for VX to add TPs and mileage though

Good Luck y)

Not being UK based has some advantages. I have found that flying say DXB - JFK (Z) or DXB - ICN (SQ J, business for 2) i.e. cheapest business flights possible, are priced very similar to DXB - LHR or DXB - SIN. In theory the onward flight from London or Singapore are almost free.

Therefore in 2 trips this year I re-qualify.

What gets me is once you get the 40 points, there is no incentive to fly VS (revenue fare) until the new Flying club year begins again. Any further points earned are wasted.

[preiffer]

No they're not.

At 60, two clubhouse invites to "gift" to others.

At >100, other benefits creep in.

[buns]

Does this thread make anyone else pine for the good old days iof SIN - KUL in SQ F ?

Nick

Absolutely y) Especially when you have an excellent companion

This thread has got me thinking of how best to re-qualify for just myself so that Mrs Buns and I can still get the benefit when we travel PE

buns

preiffer - you have better knowledge than VS staff. I posed this question to them last year and was told simply 'tough luck'.

Thanks

What gets me is once you get the 40 points, there is no incentive to fly VS (revenue fare) until the new Flying club year begins again. Any further points earned are wasted.

Do you think you could get to 100 TPs? If so then there are very good benefits to do so ... shame about the VS staff but even the call centre people probably don't know.

I wouldn't worry about loosing gold. Nowadays I fly to a lot of destinations not served by VS so after many years of flying gold I am now back red. If you fly UC apart from points you will not notice any difference and the loss of points can be made up by shopping around different airlines for the best price. I can honestly say that if anything I'm more relaxed about flying now because I don't have to fly VS just to keep the tier point up

you can get a flight from SFO - LAS on VX for $69 each way, for 1 TP, do a few of those..and if you can find a cheap flight to SFO with VS will give you 4 TP.

Thanks for that tip -- it hadn't occurred to me to apply my own logic (about doing it in Y) to VX! That is a really good price for a TP -- but a lot of flying if you want to rack them up!

you can get a flight from SFO - LAS on VX for $69 each way, for 1 TP, do a few of those..and if you can find a cheap flight to SFO with VS will give you 4 TP.

Thanks for that tip -- it hadn't occurred to me to apply my own logic (about doing it in Y) to VX! That is a really good price for a TP -- but a lot of flying if you want to rack them up!

its a short flight time though so you can do several a day
or even LAS-SFO then SFO-LAX and return