Nov 21, 2012, 10:53 am
Last edit by: Prospero
American Airlines Business Extra Program (master thread)
Historical Notes
Key Information
Note: older posts have been archived to ARCHIVE: Business Extra Program master thread (consolidated)
Historical Notes
- October 5th, 2021: New award types introduced: BXL1 for Platinum status and BXP0 to convert Business Extra points to AA miles at a 1:6 rate. New requirement introduced to redeem: Starting January 1, 2023, current members will be required to have three unique travelers and maintain $5,000 in qualifying Business Extra flight activity during the previous 12-month period to redeem points.This policy will go into effect immediately for new members who join the program on October 4, 2021 or later.
- Feb 2018 - BXP1, BXP2, BXP3 Upgrade Certificates can be redeemed electronically, without the need to redeem or submit paper certificates. [URL="https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29470237-post1150.html"[/url]
- Dec 2015 - Unannounced more-restrictive changes to BXP upgrade certificates implemented. [URL="http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-airlines-aadvantage/898180-business-extra-program-master-thread-consolidated.html#post25942133"[/url]
- Nov 2015 - Europe AA Business Extra closed and migrated to AA-BA-IB On Business [URL="http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-airlines-aadvantage-combined-airline-program/1715008-aa-ba-ib-europe-business-programme-nov-30-2015-ex-business-extra-europe.html"[/url]
- Oct 2014 - Business Extra Awards may be redeemed for flights on US Airways
- Sep 2013 - Business ExtrAA brand changed to simply Business Extra
- Sep 2012 - Upgrade Awards are no longer restricted to use within 30 days of travel [url=http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/19345217-post394.html[/url]
Key Information
- Promotion Codes - For a current list of Business ExtrAA promotions, see: Business ExtrAA Bonus Offers (consolidated)
- Point Expiration - Business Extra points expire on a rolling basis, two years after the year in which they are earned, on December 31 at midnight U.S. Central Time. Their validity can not be extended.
- Award Redemption - All awards must be redeemed via the Business Extra website. Flight Awards are delivered electronically via email with an Electronic Authorization Number. Upgrade Awards and Admirals Club Day Passes are delivered in paper certificate form via regular mail. Redemption sweeps occur twice per week and expedited delivery is available if you provide your FedEx/UPS account number via email. Gold Status and Admirals Club Membership awards are processed and active in the member's account after approximately one week, with other membership materials delivered in the mail within 4 weeks.
Note: BE awards must be booked on nonstop flights if they are available between your origin and destination.
- Award Inventory Codes - Per Meeting Services, Business Extra Awards book into the following inventory (although there are conflicting reports from mvoight and InsipidMonkey on whether or not this information is accurate for PlanAAhead Awards, for which availability may be significantly less than MileSAAver Award and/or T inventory availability):Award Type Books Into
PlanAAhead - Economy T
PlanAAhead - Business* U
PlanAAhead - First Z
AAnytime - Economy Y
AAnytime - Business* J
AAnytime - First F
Upgrade to Business* C
Upgrade to First A
* = First class cabin on 2-class flights
= First class cabin on 3-class flights
- Flight Award Reservations - Award Tickets must be booked through AA Meeting Services at 1-800-433-1790 (U.S. and Canada; others contact your local reservations office), and you will need to provide the Reservations Agent with the Electronic Authorization Number from your award certificate. As of Oct 2012, flight awards can be booked without a telephone booking service charge.
- Flight Award Expiration - As published on the Business Extra website, Award Tickets must be booked within one year of redeeming the certificate, and are then valid for one year from booking:
Award ticket must be issued by midnight one year from the original award redemption date. Tickets issued against Business Extra flight awards are then valid for one year from the ticket issue date. - Upgrade Award Reservations - Upgrade Awards may be applied once a reservation is Ticketed by calling AA Meeting Services or using the Business Extra website. Once requested online you will receive an email with a confirmation number and serial numbers for each upgrade certificate requested.
Upgrade Awards carry fare restrictions (excludes B, N, O, Q or S fares). Take careful note of your fare when making a reservation. It is possible to "Upfare" a reservation from the lowest available fare to an BXP-upgrade-eligible fare by placing it on Hold at AA.com, calling AA to request the desired higher fare basis code, then completing the purchase online.
You can specify ITA searches that exclude the ineligible fares as follows:jfk:: aa /f ~bc = b & ~bc = n & ~bc = o & ~bc = q & ~bc = s
(Or you can place everything after the slash directly in the second advanced control box.)
These filters can also be concatenated with other commands, such as maximum duration, separated with a semicolon:jfk:: aa /maxdur 800 ; f ~bc = b & ~bc = n & ~bc = o & ~bc = q & ~bc = s
- Upgrade Award Expiration - Electronic BXP Upgrade Awards are valid for 1 year from redemption. Previously, paper Upgrade Awards were valid thru Jun 30 or Dec 31 of the following year, with the exact date depending on the batch of certificates available at the time of redemption.
- Returning Unused Awards - Points redeemed for awards but not yet applied to a ticket can be returned for no charge by using the 'returns' option in your account options. Points will be reinstated with an expiration date 2 calendar years from reinstatement (i.e., expiring on December 31 two calendar years from reinstatement). For awards already applied to a ticket, you must call Business ExtrAA customer services at 800-457-7072, or email [email protected]. Customers outside the US should use the email.
- Business Extra Account Credit - A Business Extra number can be added to an existing reservation (for example, booked by a third-party travel agent) by calling AA Meeting Services.
A Business Extra number can be added to an existing BA reservation as follows:- Go to www.britishairways.com
- Select 'Manage My Booking' tab
- Follow the instructions to pull up your reservation
- Select the link towards bottom listed under 'Quick Links' 'Add On Business or Business Extra number'
- Add your Business Extra number and check the box to give your consent.
Retroactive credit for completed travel can be requested via the Business Extra website.
- Contact Business Extra
Web home page: https://www.businessextra.com
Booking and Ticketing (Meeting Services desk)
www.aa.com
1-800-433-1790 5:00 a.m. - 12:00 midnight (CT) 7 days a week
Business Extra Customer Service
1-800-457-7072 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (CT) Monday - Friday
Fax: 1-817-931-9029
E-mail: [email protected]
Link to aa.com BE contact web form
http://www.aa.com/contactAA/viewEmai...businessExtrAA
Link to BE web contact form
Note: older posts have been archived to ARCHIVE: Business Extra Program master thread (consolidated)
Business Extra ("ExtrAA") Program (master thread)
Jan 12, 2023 | 11:59 am
#1816
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Santa Barbara, CA, Park City, UT
Programs: AA EXP, Delta Silver, Marriott Plat,Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat, AF plat
Posts: 998
This is a new one for me. I had a paid first class fare on AA, booked through AMEX Travel, earn 0 points. The fare code was a normal published fare code. I've never had any issues with AMEX Travel bookings earning points, so I wrote to them. The reply I received stated: "So, fares through Amex travel are considered private fares, which means the general has no access to the discounts that Amex cardholders get. That is why you didn't earn any points on that flight." The other employee booked his ticket through Capital One Travel (same fare code, same flight) and did earn full points. Is this a new policy?
Jan 12, 2023 | 9:05 pm
#1817
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: LAX
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum
Posts: 254
It was a cash first class booking on AMEX Travel. Loyalty points and AAdvantage miles earned is correct and normal. But Business Extra, apparently, now award 0 points for anything booked via AMEX. This is a new change and absolutely a downgrade.
Jan 13, 2023 | 7:18 pm
#1818
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Santa Barbara, CA, Park City, UT
Programs: AA EXP, Delta Silver, Marriott Plat,Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat, AF plat
Posts: 998
Thats good to know. I assume that using Amex points with 35% back feature wouldnt change anything.
Jan 13, 2023 | 7:37 pm
#1819
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 16
Crediting personal miles to OW account but still getting BE points?
Can you get BusinessExtra points while crediting your personal miles to another OneWorld Frequent Flyer program (like AS)? Or do you need to credit your personal miles to an American Advantage account in order to get BE points?
Jan 14, 2023 | 1:19 am
#1820
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA GGL, A3 Gold, M&M SEN, FlyingBlue Gold, AS MVP Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Amb
Posts: 917
Jan 15, 2023 | 11:39 am
#1821
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Santa Barbara, CA, Park City, UT
Programs: AA EXP, Delta Silver, Marriott Plat,Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat, AF plat
Posts: 998
About 4 months ago I asked AS about this, where I could enter my BE number, they said I could earn BE flying AS, even if crediting to AA. And I confirmed for my last AS flight credited to AA, nothing. That was mid Dec. Maybe I should call again.
Jan 15, 2023 | 4:11 pm
#1822
Moderator: The British Airways Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: British Airways Gold Guest List for Life
Posts: 14,248
Jan 16, 2023 | 1:59 am
#1823
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SJC
Programs: AAdvantage 2MM+ Lifetime PLT; BA, CO, UA, US; SPG; HHonors Gold
Posts: 861
Never really used BE before but I have 3K points left in my account and trying to use them up, so a few questions:
Can you use BE points for AS or B6 codeshare flights?
Can you use a BXP1 to upgrade AS or B6 codeshare flights?
If I book one 2K domestic roundtrip plan ahead, any suggestions on what to with the remaining 1079 points?
What baggage allowance does a nonstatus traveler get on the award?
Can you use BE points for AS or B6 codeshare flights?
Can you use a BXP1 to upgrade AS or B6 codeshare flights?
If I book one 2K domestic roundtrip plan ahead, any suggestions on what to with the remaining 1079 points?
What baggage allowance does a nonstatus traveler get on the award?
Jan 16, 2023 | 6:32 am
#1824
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 15,178
Never really used BE before but I have 3K points left in my account and trying to use them up, so a few questions:
Can you use BE points for AS or B6 codeshare flights?
Can you use a BXP1 to upgrade AS or B6 codeshare flights?
If I book one 2K domestic roundtrip plan ahead, any suggestions on what to with the remaining 1079 points?
What baggage allowance does a nonstatus traveler get on the award?
Can you use BE points for AS or B6 codeshare flights?
Can you use a BXP1 to upgrade AS or B6 codeshare flights?
If I book one 2K domestic roundtrip plan ahead, any suggestions on what to with the remaining 1079 points?
What baggage allowance does a nonstatus traveler get on the award?
BE does offer separate partner awards however these are very expensive and only valid on BA, IB, and JL.
Have you looked at the BE website and more specifically the redeem points section? There are a few ways to redeem a leftover 1k; An Admirals Club day pass is 300 points, or you can just transfer points into AA miles in 100 point increments, etc.
Jan 16, 2023 | 11:06 pm
#1825
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: SFO and JFK
Programs: One relative: BAEC GGLfL, UA 1MM Gold, LH life Senator, AA 1MM Gold, etc. Another: SQ life Solitaire
Posts: 66
mild panic about BE point expiration
Hi everyone. Thanks for all the wisdom here. We have 100k BE points expiring on 2/28/23 and not a clue how best to use them. Some questions:
- Is the consensus here that BE point expiration is unlikely to be extended beyond 2/28/23, to conform to the concurrent changes in the AAdvantage program?
- Are old accounts exempted from the Jan 1 $5k/3person requirement for redemption?
- North America "PlanAAhead" inventory seems awfully low -- are others getting good availability? Similarly, are others able to use BXP1/BXP3 or is there low inventory?
- Are partner awards worth it at all? Consensus seems to be AA metal is the way to go. Which certificate codes seem to have the most bang for the buck?
- Do BE redemptions earn tier points on British Airways?
Jan 17, 2023 | 5:30 am
#1826
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 15,178
Hi everyone. Thanks for all the wisdom here. We have 100k BE points expiring on 2/28/23 and not a clue how best to use them. Some questions:
- Is the consensus here that BE point expiration is unlikely to be extended beyond 2/28/23, to conform to the concurrent changes in the AAdvantage program?
- Are old accounts exempted from the Jan 1 $5k/3person requirement for redemption?
- North America "PlanAAhead" inventory seems awfully low -- are others getting good availability? Similarly, are others able to use BXP1/BXP3 or is there low inventory?
- Are partner awards worth it at all? Consensus seems to be AA metal is the way to go. Which certificate codes seem to have the most bang for the buck?
- Do BE redemptions earn tier points on British Airways?
- I definitely don't see any more point expiration extensions. If they're set to expire 2/28 then that's what I would fully expect to have happen.
- No, no exemptions to the $5k/3 traveler requirement.
- PlanAAhead inventory is stupid low, this matches up with AA's typical sAAver space which has become very hard to find since the introduction of dynamic web special space. Upgrade space is a different animal, I personally get great value out of BE upgrades but you need to know how to play the game.
- "Worth it" is subjective, these awards are very expensive and you still need award space on the partner flight, which may or may not be harder than AA flights.
- No, BE redemptions are award flights and don't earn any miles, tier points, etc.
Jan 18, 2023 | 6:21 pm
#1827
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAX oriented World Digital Nomad
Programs: AA Exec Plat, Hyatt Globalist, MLife/Cosmo Identity Gold, Other Vegas too...
Posts: 1,466
Before our company became ineligible to claim new rewards due to not enough PAX/Revenue, I redeemed some things like BXP1s but also Aad Club certs, 3 to be specific. Only 2 posted to my account/app/website... what happened to the third? Will they be willing to track it down now that we're ineligible? I assume we can still use all the claimed items since they were claimed/redeemed.
Jan 18, 2023 | 7:00 pm
#1828
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL
Programs: AA PLT, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH LTD
Posts: 10,737
Sounds like some nice Christmas gifts like Gold/Platinum memberships, AC memberships or day passes, and award ticket and upgrade certs. Use em or lose em!
Jan 19, 2023 | 4:47 am
#1829
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 15,178
Before our company became ineligible to claim new rewards due to not enough PAX/Revenue, I redeemed some things like BXP1s but also Aad Club certs, 3 to be specific. Only 2 posted to my account/app/website... what happened to the third? Will they be willing to track it down now that we're ineligible? I assume we can still use all the claimed items since they were claimed/redeemed.
Jan 24, 2023 | 9:04 pm
#1830
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SJC
Programs: AAdvantage 2MM+ Lifetime PLT; BA, CO, UA, US; SPG; HHonors Gold
Posts: 861
BA OnBusiness?
Now that BE has a $5K spend requirement can you use the BA On Business program instead and get credit for domestic US flights?
You can earn On Business Points on qualifying flights with American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia and all eligible partners. The eligible partners include BA CityFlyer, Air Nostrum, Comair, Sunair and Iberia Express. Selected British Airways marketed routes operated by Japan Airline, Qantas and Qatar Airways are also eligible.
- Marketed' means the flight will have a British Airways flight number (in your itinerary or on your ticket).
- 'Operated' means the aircraft that you travel on is a British Airways aircraft (including franchises and BA CityFlyer).