Have to second that emoticon ^^^^ just had an exceptionAAl BE agent help with a BX1A award that figured out how to book an open-jaw round trip with an open dated return that allows me later to make the one date change to a flight which will be beyond the one year ticketing date; all without having to pay the $150 change fee as long as it is the only change I attempt to make. She made copious notes in the record, I was on with her while she read them to me, and really went out of her way to assist on such a weird ticketing request.

Since this is revenue based, does that mean the entire itinerary? Codeshares don't count (i.e NRT-SIN on JL codeshare with AA?)

That would seem to preclude any itinerary to asia beyond NRT or PVG from counting--that seems harsh...

I've done mixed itineraries on AA and BA and gotten partial credit. The problem is that you never know how much they're going to deduct for the BA flights (if, for example, the flights are part of the same fare segment).

Does anyone know if the upgrade rules, regarding the fare classes, have changed for BE awards, like they have for mileage awards and SWUs?

definetely recommend the 3000 points for a transatlantic upg. the business extraa desk are awesome.

If you select "View Awards", so you are looking at the list of awards, you can click on any award to view the terms and conditions for that award. That is where the rules are listed, and it is a complete and definitive listing. I would use that list, rather than what somebody on FT might tell me.

I have found Business Extraa and their services to be a complete waist of time. It is a hassle and it should be a better system. The agents in that area are spotty and only rarely do you find a helpful one. I am a member but I am not sure why I bother anymore. My recommendation is don't bother with the program until American changes the way it works. Why is it different point system? Cashing the is not straightforward. I have had agent's lie to me and called them out on it.

It is a poorly run program and is not worth the hassles that come with it.

It's certainly not perfect, but with little effort (and a lot of revenue handed over to AA) you get a bonus on top of your account (if you're the travel manager). Bextra is just that, a little extra. That little extra to me has meant free J tickets to Europe and South America, etc. All for simply typing in a number.

Welcome to FlyerTalk, majorflyer!

Other than getting forwarded to Meeting Services agents (who have all of the same capabilities as regular agents) when you call Reservations during business hours, what are the hassles that make it not worthwhile to accumulate points for free?

I agree that the accounting is not as transparent as it could be, and it takes extra effort on our part to make sure that things are credited properly, but I just don't see the downside since it's free.

I'm also curious as to what lies, specifically, you have been told?

Would you transfer your points to me?

Thanks

Business ExtrAA continues to waist my time.

Here is a letter I sent to customer service.



December 8th, 2009

To whom it may concern at American Airlines:

<name redacted>, whose direct line is <number redacted> contacted me as part of an American Airlines Business ExtrAA program about signing up for one of these accounts.

<name redacted> explained that if I filled out a form of every flight I have taken in 2009 she could give me Business ExtrAA credit. <name redacted> implied since my heavy travel that it would be worth my time as my heavy travel would earn me at least 1 free flight for my efforts. <name redacted> lied to me and now is setting up my account with a lousy few hundred points. I escalated this to her manager <name redacted> who is supposedly her boss who has not yet responded to me directly a week later. When I called today to touch base with him, I was told he is unavailable for the rest of the week. <name redacted> said he emailed me but was not able to forward me any email from him.

It has been a FRUSTERATING experience dealing with Business ExtrAA that I wouldn’t recommend to anyone.

If American Airlines lived up to their word, they would honor what the agent above had said they would do, else apologize at the bare minimum in writing for their mistakes.

I am very disappointed that American Airlines would allow such a poor quality program, Business ExtrAA to be associated with their name.

David

I think the 'PLT service desk' is just the regular AA call # with higher priority in terms of the queue.

I had started using the B-extraa until the one time I got up with some changes to make to an itinerary. The EXP agents kept transferring me to 'meeting services' where the experience was completely unlike the EXP aangels. So I kept hanging up and calling back in hoping to finally get an agent who could help. Wasn't getting anywhere with the meeting services reps. Finally, on the last attempt called the EXP line again and explained the situation - and begged not to be transferred. Fortunately, the agent obliged and I had my itinerary fixed in < 5 mins.

Finally, a few months ago, I got an email from AA asking to participate in a survey about the B program. I did - and offered them a completely honest feedback .

In sum, if you're not EXP, use it by all means. If you are EXP and value the service that you experience from the EXP desk, don't. I choose to omit the b-extraa number when making a reservation.

The Business Extraa account is free and just a small benefit/gravy for traveling. The points per flight is very minimum. 1 point for every $10 of the base flight.... .

I use it for upgrades, and gave one employee the Gold Status level....

majorflyer's latest post and the responses thereto have been moved here from an older, now closed thread on the BE program.

/Moderator

Clearly a letter sent my a middle man

Cheers.