Tier Point Planner

Plan your route to airline tier status using realistic holiday prices and premium cabin trips.

Experimental tool Optimised for premium cabins

How the planner works

This tool helps you estimate how many Tier Points you could earn from certain holiday packages and premium-cabin trips, and how that compares with the Tier Point requirements for mid- and top-tier status. Enter the typical prices you're seeing, and the planner will show how many trips might be needed — or whether you're already on track.

Model different long-haul and short-haul patterns, compare Tier Points earned per £ spent, and see which combinations of trips might represent the most cost-efficient paths toward higher status.

Based on public information and assumptions Designed for ex-Channel-Islands and UK departures Tier point per £ comparison tool
🧮 How holiday packages and premium-cabin trips earn Tier Points ▶

This planner is built around holiday-style bookings and premium-cabin trips that earn Tier Points based on the underlying flights and cabin you choose. It assumes the airline’s current earning rules for standard short-haul and long-haul sectors.

The focus is on giving you a realistic feel for how many Tier Points you can earn from typical holiday prices, not chasing one-off mistake fares.

  • Short-haul flights are assumed to be operated in a standard European business cabin.
  • Long-haul flights are assumed to be in a long-haul business cabin with return itineraries.
  • All patterns assume return trips unless stated otherwise.
📊 What this tool is trying to show you ▶

The planner is trying to answer a simple question: “Given the kind of prices I’m actually seeing, how many trips will I need to reach the next status tier?”

It does this by:

  • Comparing Tier Points per £ spent for different trip patterns.
  • Highlighting which patterns look better value than others.
  • Estimating how many trips would be needed to reach Silver- or Gold-level status.

It’s a planning tool, not a guarantee: routes, prices and earning rules can change, and individual itineraries may earn differently.

🌍 Why ex-Channel-Islands departures can help ▶

There can sometimes be a sweet spot for trips starting in the Channel Islands, particularly when they involve a connection through a UK hub.

In some cases this can mean:

  • Additional flight sectors, which can mean more Tier Points overall.
  • Prices that are occasionally sharper than ex-UK direct departures.
  • Interesting ways to combine holidays and Tier Point chasing in one booking.

The planner includes a pattern that assumes ex-Channel-Islands departures, so you can see how that compares with more typical UK-origin trips.

⚠️ Important assumptions, caveats and warnings ▶

This page is not affiliated with any airline or travel provider, and the underlying calculations are based on public information plus a set of simplifying assumptions.

  • Actual Tier Point earnings depend on the specific airline, route, fare code and booking class.
  • Some itineraries may earn less (or occasionally more) than the patterns shown here.
  • All numbers are indicative: always check the airline’s own calculator or documentation before booking.
  • Nothing here is financial advice or a recommendation to spend a particular amount on travel.

In other words: treat these numbers as a guide, not a guarantee.

Input your typical prices

Enter the average prices you’re seeing for each pattern. The planner will calculate the Tier Points per £ and estimate how many trips you’d need to reach each status level.

Trip patterns

Adjust the numbers to match the deals you’re actually seeing.

Pattern A – Channel Islands Holiday
Return holiday starting in the Channel Islands, connecting via a UK hub to a long-haul destination in a premium cabin.
Pattern B – UK Holiday
Standard UK-origin long-haul holiday in a premium cabin (no ex-Channel-Islands routing).
Pattern C – Short-Haul Break
European short-haul break in business or a similar premium cabin, return.
e.g. 600 for some mid-tier levels
e.g. 1500 for some top-tier levels

Channel Islands long-haul holiday (Pattern A)

Example: Channel Islands → UK hub → long-haul city, business cabin, return.

UK-origin long-haul holiday (Pattern B)

Example: UK hub → long-haul city, business cabin, return.

Short-haul premium-cabin break (Pattern C)

Example: UK → Europe, business cabin, return.

💡 Tip: If you know your airline’s Tier Point calculator, you can plug in different routes and cabins to refine the Tier Point numbers here. The prices, though, are where this tool becomes most useful — use the figures you’re actually seeing, not just theoretical best-case deals.

Tier point efficiency summary

Results update as you change the inputs. Use them as a guide when comparing real offers.

Lower £ per Tier Point is usually better Mix patterns to reach your targets
Mid-tier status target
Waiting for input
Enter some prices and Tier Points to see how many trips you might need for your mid-tier target (e.g. Silver).
This will consider each pattern separately and highlight any combination that looks cost-efficient for the target.
Top-tier status target
Waiting for input
Once you’ve entered some example trip prices, this area will estimate how many trips might be needed for your top-tier goal.
Remember: this is a planning tool, not a guarantee. Actual earnings always depend on the final itinerary and fare rules.

Tier Point value per £ spent

Lower £ per Tier Point suggests better value, assuming all else is equal.

Pattern A – Channel Islands long-haul
Enter a price and Tier Points to calculate.
This pattern often shines when the Channel Islands routing creates additional sectors without pushing the price too high.
Pattern B – UK long-haul
Waiting for inputs.
Standard UK-origin holidays can still be efficient, especially when sale fares appear on competitive routes.
Pattern C – short-haul premium cabin
Waiting for inputs.
Short-haul trips tend to be less efficient in Tier Points per £, but they can fill gaps or top up your balance when needed.
Once you’ve entered your numbers, this area will summarise the rough number of trips required under each pattern for both mid- and top-tier targets.
🧭 Planner tip: If one pattern clearly wins on Tier Points per £, it may be the most efficient way to close the gap to your next status. That said, always weigh the value of the actual holiday or trip itself – not just the points.

Example combinations

These are very rough, illustrative combinations based on your inputs.

Towards mid-tier status
Enter prices and Tier Points to see example mixes of Channel Islands, UK and short-haul trips that could reach your mid-tier target.
Towards top-tier status
Once you’ve filled in the inputs, this will suggest some higher-spend combinations that might get you to a top-tier level sooner.
Important: This planner is entirely unofficial and for personal planning only. Actual Tier Point earnings and status qualification rules are determined solely by the airline and can change at any time.
  • Always double-check Tier Point earning and status rules on the airline’s own website.
  • Consider the real-world value of the holidays and trips in their own right, not just the points.
  • Think carefully before booking any trip whose only purpose is to chase status.
Built as a personal project for people who enjoy planning Tier Point runs and holiday-based status strategies. Feedback and suggestions are always welcome.