$re = '/(?<=>[^<]*)(flyer)|(flyer)(?=[^>]*<)/i';
$str = 'flyertalk.com <a href="HTTPS://flyertalk.com">Flyer Talk website</a>
Forum <a href="HTTPS://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta-air-lines-skymiles-665/">Delta</a>
----- <a href="HTTPS://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-airlines-aadvantage-733/">AAA</a>
<u>Pneu</u> FLYER
- FLYER 40-622 <a href="HTTPS://www.veloplus.ch/AlleProdukte/Reifen/CityTourAlltag.aspx">TUB</a> FLYER';
$subst = "<u>$1$2</u>";
$result = preg_replace($re, $subst, $str);
echo "The result of the substitution is ".$result;
Please keep in mind that these code samples are automatically generated and are not guaranteed to work. If you find any syntax errors, feel free to submit a bug report. For a full regex reference for PHP, please visit: http://php.net/manual/en/ref.pcre.php