Just to make sure i understand correctly, to book the 2,000 domestic roundtrip for the dates of travel i need (fixed dates), there has to be PlanAhead reward space available (the one that is 12,500 each way or 25k roundtrip), correct? Does the booking code matter and does it have to be "T" or is the PlanAhead rate the only thing that matters?

I'm relatively new to AA's BE program. A colleague and I flew to/from LHR in December on AA and AE marketed and operated flights and the flights posted to the BE website, but we received 0 points for the flights and the reason given is, "Discount Applied." However, no discount (i.e., no coupon or promo code) was used for these flights.

I emailed BE and got no response. After a week, I emailed BE again. They finally got back to me with what appears to be a form response that says, "Published airfares on American Airlines, American Eagle or AmericanConnection are eligible to earn Business Extra points. Group discounts, Agency discounts, Student Fares, Advantage Award travel and other previously discounted tickets do not qualify for Business Extra credit. Codeshare or Oneworld carrier flights are not eligible to earn Business Extra Points."

Is BE always this frustrating to deal with? They gave no valid reason for denying us the BE points.

Yes, BE is often this frustrating to deal with. Their staff seem to enjoy denying credit, all the more so when they have shaky or zero grounds. Really infuriating.

Suggest you continue to push BE for a specific rationale for the denial.

Just an update/confirmation to the highlights of the thread above, I did call BE just now and they confirmed that plan ahead 2,000 points award only books into T class, and they told me this is not something I would be able to see and I have to call (not really sure this part is true though).

So true!!

While this is the same class as MS AAdvantage awards, I have seen differences between MS availability and what is available via the desk for BE awards.

3K is almost 3/4 of a 4400 pt economy ticket from US to Europe and about 40 percent of a round trip business class ticket to Europe. So, I'd would consider 3K worth more than the $350 for AC membership, but YMMV

Found another weird unexpected entry posted in the middle of December of 300 points for something called "BX Sweet 16 - Promotional". Have no idea about such a promotion. Anyone else get this and know what it relates to?

A birthday for us, and gifts for you!

To help us celebrate our Sweet 16 birthday, we've wrapped up three chances for your company to earn bonus points � up to 2,000 points � enough for a round-trip domestic flight award!*

1RT-300 points
3RT-1000 points
5RT-2000 points

Just register for this promotion using promo code BIRTHDAY then fly between September 1 and October 31, 2013. The more you fly, the more points you earn!

Your birthday gifts are waiting!

RSVP to the party today by registering for this promotion!

I got the 300 points too and didn't know what they were. Don't remember registering for this but did fly one RT during that period so it sort of makes sense.

Whenever I call in to use a BE upgrade, they ask if I have the upgrade certificate in front of me. Sometimes it takes a couple weeks (esp if I'm not at HQ and it's forwarded), so any reason I can't call and request the upgrade before the physical certificate has arrived?

You don't need the actual cert. They usually only ask for the cert type number (e.g. BXP1) and the expiration date, which is generally end of next year. However, since they don't check, there is no reason you couldn't request the upgrade before the cert physically arrives.

Quick question. Does anyone think AA BE will change their granting gold status in the near future. A valued employee had a baby and will lose her Gold status. If I give her Gold before July 1 it expires Feb 2015. If there are no changes and I give her Gold July 1 it should last to Feb 2016. Does anyone see this changing?

I find myself in a very similar situation. I am paricularly wondering if I should wait until July 1, so that the Gold status is valid until 2/16 instead of 2/15, but I am not sure if it actually works like a challenge.

According to the T&C's on BE's site, still the same, pre 6/30 gets to 2/28 of the next year vs. post 7/1 goes to 2/28 of the following year, so up to 20 months of Gold if you wait.