The BEST Tier Point Run in the World? SriLankan from Abu Dhabi to Jakarta. Part One - There...

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For many years if you needed Tier Points, you headed to Abu Dhabi. BA used to have direct flights from London and Premium Economy was reasonably priced from outside London, so you'd get to Abu Dhabi with perhaps 200 tier points in the bank from positioning. And then for perhaps £600, you could fly to Jakarta via Colombo and add another 560 tier points to the balance. Extraordinary value and a fun adventure...
Then the you-know-what descended and lots of things changed... BA hasn't resumed service to Abu Dhabi - they leave the region to Qatar these days - so although you can get to Abu Dhabi on the cheap with Wizz air, tier point rich options are now very expensive... And inflation seems to have caught up with SriLankan and their onward fare is now 20% higher than it was. Still exceptional value, but not as great as the "good old days"...
But I need to renew my Gold status, and I've been enviously watching others take this trip for years, so I decided to "just do it". I positioned with a redemption on Qatar and paid just over £800 for the flights. I thought I'd make one comprehensive video about the entire trip, but that would have been about 40 minutes long, so I've split it into two. "There" in part 1, and "Back Again" in part 2 next week.
This video shows the experience from Abu Dhabi to Colombo, continuing to Jakarta... Enjoy!
⭐ #flightreview #SriLankan #MattsPlanet ⭐
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⏰ Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
1.07 - My 2022
2:40 - Abu Dhabi Airport
7:13 - The First Plane
9:43 - Colombo
12:25 - The Second Plane
15:37 - Jakarta
DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you. This video may not be copied or reproduced without written permission.

Опубликовано:

21 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 105

@ranjansamarakone6101 9 месяцев назад

I was born and raised in Sri Lanka, I have to tell you Sri Lankan airlines Milk rice soooooooooooooooooooo out of this world!

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

It was delicious!!

@mjrc123 9 месяцев назад

This channel just gets better and better. Well done Matt! Informative and entertaining as always.

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

Thanks! Informative and entertaining is what I'm going for!!

@jamesking1952 9 месяцев назад

Another great video, keep them coming!

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

Thanks, will do!

@pitponyexpress 9 месяцев назад

Thanks Matt, we always love watching your reviews. 👍

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

Thanks for watching!

@peetbothma1500 9 месяцев назад

Thanks Matt. Great value for money and Tierpoints👍😊

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

Fun too!

@steve-marsh 9 месяцев назад

Excellent, interesting video. You're a well travelled lad! The downside being you need new tray table chat eh?

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

I get around! Hard to say anything new about tray tables! Same with airplane loos actually...

@jimmyjames6492 9 месяцев назад

Great tier run! Thanks for the info + video!

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

Thanks Jimmy

@t288msd 9 месяцев назад

India and Adelaide are equally auspicious with 1/2 hr timezones. Adelaide being 20 years + half an hour behind the rest of australia :)

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

Don't let @DennisBunnikTravels hear you say that!!

@latorregolf 9 месяцев назад

Hi, quick note to say your videos are hugely enjoyable and informative!

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

Thanks!

@ukdavepianoman 9 месяцев назад

Very interesting, informative and fun video. It really does seem a great way to get a lot of tier points for a very reasonable price. I love your turns of phrase: "you know what", "inbuilt alcohol detector" (I have one of those too) and "uncontaminated by passengers" (that made me laugh!). Looking forward to part 2.

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

Thanks Dave. I try to keep thing entertaining! Part 2 next week

@haddockman30 9 месяцев назад

Great video as always. Indonesia is a place I want to visit. Looking forward to part 2.

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

I quite liked Jakarta although most people probably wouldn't!

@hendrikdevries9725 9 месяцев назад

Great tip!

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

A great trip!

@ianworthington2324 9 месяцев назад

Thanks Matt! I've been following this series almost eagerly. Not sure I can do it next year, but I've penciled it in as a definite maybe for the year after. Though I would, I think, spend some time in Sri Lanka on the way. And the connection to Abu Dhabi really needs to give me some TPs too, so not sure about your route. Looking forward to part 2.

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

The "best" option is a BA holiday to Sofia... A shorter distance to bridge to AUH than from London and you can harvest some decent tier points...

@jimhankinson4428 9 месяцев назад

I flew Sri Lanka biz from Dhaka to Colombo last year - and I loved the service, food and drink, although the cabin was old and a bit the worse for wear. I'd certainly fly them again, assuming they're still in the air. This is really good tier points advice.

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

Thanks Jim - good experience on an old plane sums it up!

@MattNav 9 месяцев назад

Another fantastic job as always Matt! Interesting seeing UL run an A320neo all the way to CGK and as you said, great option for those who want to quickly earn BA Silver status in nearly one fell swoop

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

Just getting to Abu Dhabi is the pain! Stay tuned as I'll show how I got back in a few weeks...

@MorgansWorld760 2 месяца назад

Your my inspiration to want to do this run. I'm doing a day all inclusive holiday, Business class to Agadir this weekend. It will get me to Bronze, so i can pick my seat for my first flight ever to Australia (Travelling economy Class, and the thought of being in a middle seat the whole way horrifies me). I have previously liked perhaps all your other videos and commented on a few. I went by the name Morgy Morgs. I'm rubbish at technology and only just figured out how to emerge names. Keepup the good work :)

@MattsPlanet 2 месяца назад

Cheers Morgy! Welcome to the new identity and enjoy the trip!

@MorgansWorld760 2 месяца назад

Thank you, I appreciate it and hope to become a patron by the autumn time. Have you pencilled in a group getaway yet for this year?

@faustocoppee8907 9 месяцев назад

My guess is that the keen eye and sly humor make this vlog experience better than the real thing. Thanks and congratulations.

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

I did enjoy it!

@ranjansamarakone6101 9 месяцев назад

Please come back and visit Sri Lanka! It has been quite a change since 24 years! Enjoy the amazing country with great Sri Lankan hospitality!

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

I'd love to actually - had a great time there when I visited in 1998! I'm sure a lot has changed!

@derekbryce2632 9 месяцев назад

Thanks for pointing out this tier run. I flew Sri Lankan twice in the last couple of weeks: once in economy on a short 45 min hop from Madurai in S. India to Colombo and the 2nd time in business Colombo to Kathmandu also in the morning - in fact the Jakarta flight was called just before mine. They had that milk rice trio on my menu too but I opted for lamb curry which came in a tiny portion in a foil tray. The meal wasn’t that great generally and I wondered if the flight hadn’t been catered properly or if this was what they do on regional flights … although it was 3 hours CMB KTM. They had champagne though which cheered me up. I got my tickets using avios so wasn’t that concerned. I did stop in Sri Lanka for a few days and you’re right, it is a lovely country. I’d describe it as the best of India minus the much of the hassle mixed with Thailand or Bali.

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

Thanks - a 3 hour flight in business should be catered similarly to a 4 hour flight? They're not Emirates but it's a fun airline to fly!

@kevindonnelly6007 9 месяцев назад

Awesomely pacey and informative! That rammed Sri Lankan lounge and its empty twin are shocking!! Glad they let you move seats on the empty Bizclass zone. I've been on low-load flight flights where people moved and got yelled at by staff rather than given the opportunity to take advantage. Now..."back again!"

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

That lounge was weird... And one of the flights back was a bit weird too!!

@deirdrenugent1887 9 месяцев назад

More subs for Matt please..informative but more importantly brilliant sense of humour 😂

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

I completely agree!!

@peterrussell2887 9 месяцев назад

Hi Matt, Great video as usual! I've been pricing up a single run to go from 0-1500 points next Sept (renew month), which will includes this route. Currently totalling 16 buisness flights in just over 10 days. Insane you say, yes i believe so. 🙂

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

It is possible!!! A bit of a pain to book with so many nested tickets but going east feels more fun than doing a run (or runs) to the US

@RobSaw 9 месяцев назад

Hi Matt, Great job and tempting tier point run. India is in the same time zone as Sri Lanka though :)

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

Thanks - India didn't sound as interesting as Iran Afghanistan and Myanmar!!

@richardstreet7518 9 месяцев назад

Spent a number of years in Father of the Gazelles...back in the day i used to top up the teir points on BA doing AUH-MCT or AUH -BAH before BA reduced the tier points ... now of course historic routings...

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

I didn't know it meant that - I won't be able to call it anything else now!!! Not a terrible place to be based?? BA did have some fun hops in the region all long gone - leave it to Qatar now....

@Julian-ck6lf 9 месяцев назад

“Inbuilt alcohol detector” I have one of those Matt! love your content its brilliant especially like the technical stuff with the points etc might be the accounting thing in me. 😅

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

Thanks!!! Not sure if the detector is nose driven or instinct driven but it usually works!!

@jamiesawicki7715 Месяц назад

Inbuilt alcohol detector!!!! In stitches! Hahaha…. I’ve decided, if I can get a month off this year, I’m going for gold guest list, this means this trip x 6 at 812 quid a pop…. Already have 1600 points for the March 31 cut off that shall be accrued… The 4.872 pound spend might take some signing off from the missus! 😂

@VicTheflyingDentist 9 месяцев назад

Lovely video Matt. I was wondering if you should start making videos about your stays at different places that you visit and hotel reviews as well? Maybe a new RU-vid channel 😀?

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

My destination videos have always done terribly - except torremolinas for some weird reason!!! I tend to do trip videos that show the places I go which do OK but still not great... a whole extra channel would be a big mouthful.

@QF_Flyer 9 месяцев назад

Australia also has a 30 minute time zone offset in the central time zone! It is good to see the Serendib lounge is still nice enough, I haven't been since pre-pandemania. Got some bookings on UL coming up next year, and it's been a while, so it's good to see some up to date reviews!

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

Thanks - Sri Lanka is waiting for you!

@we-hb4ni 9 месяцев назад

As does India.. great vid

@hoplitemike6181 9 месяцев назад

Hi Matt, great video as always, I am close to silver and thinking about going for gold and your videos have been very helpful. How come you can get tier points on Sri Lankan, I though it had to be a BA marketed and operated flight?

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

Any oneworld partner flight will earn you tier points and avios. More avios for flying on BA and AA but they all still count!!

@jochenschulz6690 9 месяцев назад

I can confirm that back-to-back in CKG might be risky. On my way to KL I booked a Qatar flight to CGK, and then onwards on Malaysia to KL. The tickets to CGK are usually cheaper than to KL, and they credit more Qpoints and Avios due to the longer distance. Adding the short CKG-KUL leg results in a slightly more expensive total price, but the significantly higher Qpoints have made it worth it. BUT I didn't know about CGK transfers when I booked it. I have been sitting airside for more than one hour, arriving on Qatar, with an ongoing ticket on Malaysia to KL. I didn't have any checked luggage for just that situation. Several transfer agents tried to call their supervisors and check-in agents to help me. And the result was: I need to go landside on my own, check-in like all other people. And as you described in your video, that takes time, and visa costs around 35$. Not a big amount of money, but that needs to be taken into account when thinking about such extra leg for extra points. Especially when you have no intention to visit Indonesia, and that 35$ needs to be paid a second time at the return journey just for transiting.

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

Thanks for that... I should probably have said it's flat impossible as the srilankan plane is only on the ground for an hour, but I strive to be as accurate as possible and it might just be possible! I'm never going to try though!

@immikhanUK 9 месяцев назад

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

What a coincidence! That's also my rating for this comment!

@jimhicksuk 9 месяцев назад

Another great video. Quick question, im looking to book Quantas with Avos for a business class trip from LAX to Sydney. How do I do this, its seems difficult.

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

I don't know how many seats Qantas will make available for that route, and any they do will go really quickly as it's a popular route.... perhaps call BA or find out when Qantas releases flights and book a reward seat as soon as it's created

@johnquinn449 6 месяцев назад

As for your acting skills i would put you up there with the silent movie greats Charliie Chaplin and Buster Keaton

@MattsPlanet 6 месяцев назад

Sadly Hollywood has not been calling.....

@andrewbell52 9 месяцев назад

Thank heavens for the comb 😂

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

Indeed!!! After a 4 hour flight....

@JB_Stitch 9 месяцев назад

Great video. The 5hrs 30 minutes time difference is a little strange but stranger still is the time zone in Nepal, which is 5hrs 45 minutes ahead of GMT, meaning you have to put your watch forward by 15 minutes when you cross from the border from India.

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

I did see that when researching... the only 15 minute offset?

@JB_Stitch 9 месяцев назад

The Chatham Islands (part of New Zealand) is in a time zone GMT + 13hrs 45 minutes, 45 minutes ahead of Auckland/Wellington.@@MattsPlanet

@davidbalcon8726 9 месяцев назад

Crushed vs Mashed potato? And Canada also has a half-hour time zone in Newfoundland.

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

Ah yes... "And half an hour later in Newfoundland!"

@redcomusic 9 месяцев назад

So hello! I'd love to have you do a video on the Iberia Plus programme, where it's pretty straightforward to reach status (I believe they've got a segment-accrual option to reach Silver/Ruby and Gold/Sapphire). That is, if status is the goal as opposed to just hoarding Avios. And I'm curious to know how reciprocal the benefits are between IB and BA as they are sister carriers, in terms of upgrades and airport experiences. - Red

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

I've only done one video about something I don't have myself (last week's amex video) and they're quite tricky... I'll take a look though

@aminonmiles8054 9 месяцев назад

That biz class secondary lounge felt like a space movie lolll

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

Into a different dimension!

@stevecraven3502 3 месяца назад

Matt. where did you get the form for the QR code. Steve.C. YNWA

@MattsPlanet 3 месяца назад

Online - here I believe ecd.beacukai.go.id/

@alannicol1223 7 месяцев назад

Loving the channel Matt. Up till "you know what" I wasn't really interested in "status" then got a taste for silver with the tier point qualification change and here I am glued to your channel. I'm assuming you have to pay your fare to Jakarta in AED since your leaving from Abu Dhabi? Do you have to join the Sri Lankan loyalty scheme to link your one world account? #goingforgold2024

@MattsPlanet 7 месяцев назад

The ticket was denominated in AED - I think if you call them you can probably book in your home currency.... I use a card which has minimal fx fees so it wasn't too painful. And I logged my BA FF scheme into the booking - the only way to get the points to credit towards my BA renewal

@alannicol1223 7 месяцев назад

@@MattsPlanet Tier point runs for 2024 will be getting booked this week. B2B ABU-CGK will do nicely with a short haul plus to top up the point. 👌 Cheeky Qatar Edi to Auh using points to explore the Al Safwar lounge (would be rude not to)

@MattsPlanet 7 месяцев назад

@@alannicol1223 Exciting - if you mean B2B in CGK be very cautious as I've never seen proof that its possible....

@alannicol1223 7 месяцев назад

@@MattsPlanet not proper B2B. Night in CGU and AUH inbetween. 👌

@MattsPlanet 7 месяцев назад

Fantastic!@@alannicol1223 Enjoy

@pb456-7 9 месяцев назад

Interesting to see what this “famous” route is all about. Thanks. In light of your video, IMHO I think I’d rather pay circa £200 more and do a Finnair AGP-HEL-LIS-HEL-AGP for the 560TP.

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

Certainly much easier to position for!! And a better lounge in the middle... what does that price up as though?

@GG-hi5if 9 месяцев назад

@@MattsPlanet 7300 SEK (£550) plus any additional costs of positioning at ARN (best on BA for qualifying flights) and any overnight hotels at HEL/AGP.

@pb456-7 9 месяцев назад

The Schengen lounge in HEL was pretty poor, and I read Finnair have since watered down their on-board business offering (no more champagne for example), but booked as 2 separate returns, you’re looking at about 600€ for each return, so about £1000 in total, usually wide open for dates.

@pb456-7 9 месяцев назад

Right now, AGP-HEL return is 628€. And the HEL-LIS return (in the middle) is a tad more at 676€. Not sure if any cheaper in reverse etc.

@ponsaelius6276 8 дней назад

I'm doing this run in Feb 2025 and I'll reach Gold due to it. My question is the visa, its expensive $100 (UK passport). I flying in and out the same day with 4 hrs in the terminal and then heading out to Vietnam on my return I will have to stay overnight. is there Hotels at the airport to prevent me needing a Visa. Thanks

@MattsPlanet 8 дней назад

A visa on arrival is 500,000 rupiah which is about £24 so I'd get one then... Sri Lankan arrives at a quiet time of day so it shouldn't be too bad.... I think its the same cost online - if you're quoted £100 that's a different type of visa. The UK govt website has a link to the official Indonesian portal - I think there are some shady sites out there that charge you for something you can do for free... There's no airside accomodation

@ponsaelius6276 5 дней назад

@@MattsPlanet thanks Matt. i managed for my onward flights to leave hrs after arriving in same terminal and i don’t have to go through security again so no need for visa same for return flight. staying overnight in KUALA Lumpur instead .

@mikiewifnoe360 9 месяцев назад

At the beginning of your video, what were you leaning against? It looked rather unstable.

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

I think it's just the railing by the pool at the hotel!!! I'm sturdy, but I don't think I was in danger!

@_rhin0_590 9 месяцев назад

Is that a Tissot Prx gold edition watch?

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

It is not!!! It's a citizen bought in Singapore in 1992... a bit tired but still going strong!

@rchrystalable 9 месяцев назад

I'm guessing you cannot make this into a double tier point BA holidays as no BA codeshare?

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

No - has to start in the UK and you won't get these under BA flight numbers... Shame but it's still a good deal!

@timtony7153 9 месяцев назад

Hi Matt, You must be devoted to BA to go around the houses for some status like that!!!. With the current state of BA It feels like you are going around the world to be able to catch flies on a cow dung back in the uk!! In other words, still chasing something that is not worth your pain! I for one follow travelers that decide where to go, find a deal, regardless of alliance, and just roll with it! I believe that a travel experience is not linked to an alliance, or status at all!!! I do not understand qhy so many people think it is! As always, you are by far the most entertaining blogger by far! Stop mentioning Mr Cahill, it brings the quality of the video down substantially!!!!!!!

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

You make a very good point which lots will agree with! Some don't though, which creates a market for these videos! But seriously, the status works across oneworld and I rarely travel on BA unless I'm redeeming avios or a voucher...

@timtony7153 9 месяцев назад

@MattsPlanet you can make a video on yourself watching paint dry whilst reading from a phonebook, andI probably still find it light entertainment. It's not the content that hooks people I find. It's the person behind the info that's more important.

@andrewarmstrong7781 9 месяцев назад

European business is awful and expensive I’ve just flew from Berlin to Heathrow to be told they have no food or drinks or us in business which is annoying when u pay for it in the first place

@MattsPlanet 9 месяцев назад

You should be able to get a chunk of the cost back by complaining at least...