I have my first flight tomorrow morning with a BXP1 applied, but can't check in online.
is that standard procedure that these upgrades require airport check-in?

Yes. They require that you give them the physical certificates.

I used a BXP1 on roundtrip flights PHX-HNL-KOA (just the phx-hnl segments) next winter when AA is flying the A333... Just got to thinking...the first leg of the return is on Hawaiian (koa-hnl)... How do I handle the cert?

Flying one-way MIA to LAX. Just tried to waitlist with my BXP1 Cert but also keep myself on the regular upgrade list using 500-mile certificates. The rep says that it isn't possible and I have to choose one or the other. Anyone else had this issue?

Definitely standard procedure. In the rare instance in which you are able to check in online (which sometimes the app will allow even if aa.com does not, particularly within an hour of the flight), you'll then be able to get to the gate. But you should still be prepared to hand over the BXP1 to the gate agent (and insist that the gate agent take it, if you want to ensure that AA has your payment for the upgrade). That said, I have had occasions on which I have been able to check in online and the gate agents have refused to take the BXP1.

Hawaiian almost certainly won't be able to issue a boarding pass for HNL-PHX, but that shouldn't stop them from checking a bag through.

Welcome to FT!

I think that's how it's supposed to be, according to the other threads here about upgrading.

No reason to be on the 500-mile list until your upgrade window, so why not leave the BXP1 on waitlist until then, then switch to 500-mile upgrade list at the window... and have an EF alert set so that you can manually clear the cert when C pops up (which unfortunately may be when AA Meeting Services is closed in the middle of the night).

Thanks for the welcome! That sounds like the best way to handle it. Thanks!

How exactly does waitlist clearing work on these?

Issue: using a BXP3 on Europe->USA. A few days out 'C' inventory opened up. Out of hours for meeting services so called EXP desk. She said there's nothing she can do to pull that inventory and it has to be done by meeting services. By the time meeting services opened, it was gone. Surely the EXP desk should be able to process to at least hold the seat? EXP desk said they can't see any sign of waitlist at all on my locator.

What do you all do in this situation?

Wait for meeting services to open and pray that C is still available by the time they do, I'm afraid. EXP and other main AA Reservations desks can't touch BXP1 or BXP3 certificates, and neither can they hold C inventory for you without an instrument to support the upgrade.

In my experience that is simply not true. Unless this has changed very recently, last year I was able to have the EXP desk upgrade my bookings and then later call the BE line to apply the certificates and ticket it. And they did it as a standard procedure, not a favor or anything like that. Twice.

Interesting. That's not been my experience, though I've never been EXP. In the past couple years, I've always been sent to Meeting Services to upgrade my booking and withdraw/apply my certificate. What gives?!

Flights for May 2017 have posted now, and I have to say it is incredibly frustrating that not a single one of my, or any the three other people who flew that month under my Business Extra number, flight's posted so I have to manually submit for credit for each of them.

Very tedious. I booked online so I know the number was attached to the reservation.

Fortunately, only one of mine, of course the most expensive ticket, didn't post & I had called the office to have my BA# added to the reservation :mad:

That stinks. I've never had that happen to me yet.

...on the up side, I appreciate that the bonus promos now have a little star icon next to them in the account history. ^

I have a couple of questions; hoping someone here can help:
1. If a booking is on a third party site such as the Visa discount site, and the ticket needs to be upfared to a fare class where BXP1 works, are AA reservation agents able to do this, and, if so, are there additional charges due to the fact the ticket was not booked on aa.com?
2. I see a note on the business extra site that starting on June 26, that the hours are Monday through Friday. So am I interpreting it correctly that Business Extra calls can no longer be on the weekend?

Quick question of clarification - do the BXP1's expire once issued? Appreciate any guidance here.