Nov 21, 12, 10:53 am
Last edit by: PHL
American Airlines Business Extra® Program (master thread)
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"]POST]
- 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"]POST]
- 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"]POST]
- 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]POST]
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 24, 23, 11:44 pm
#1831
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 8
How precisely does the 3 year validity extension work by redeeming and redepositing? I thought it was only 1 year?
Is it possible to accrue BE points on Alaska operated/marketed flights, in addition to AA and JAL? If so, what is the field to enter during the reservation/ticketing stage?
Jan 25, 23, 6:06 am
#1832
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 9,780
https://www.businessextra.com/earn/h...arn-points.htm
The easiest way to earn points is to fly. As a member, your company earns Business Extra points for employees' travel on American Airlines, American Eagle, British Airways, Iberia and Japan Airlines, and points are also earned on select flights* operated by Finnair and Qantas Airways.
Jan 26, 23, 9:38 am
#1833
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: RBKC
Programs: AA EXP and Eurostar Carte Blanche
Posts: 3,725
Sure, if you are happy with their redemption offering. Note that On Business has much more stringent business checks when you sign up, including the requirement of an email address using your company web domain.
Jan 30, 23, 12:22 pm
#1834
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 9
Business ExtrAA ?
Greetings all
I am searching NRT, ICN as well as any Europe for Plan Ahead awards in Business for April. Flexible on dates
When I show entire month calendar, no dates show up as available. I suspect AA has blocked out all Plan Ahead awards
Any thoughts if they might open these up? closer to departure? if business levels stay high, I understand, but just seems to me they have shut er down
Your wise perspectives appreciated
I am searching NRT, ICN as well as any Europe for Plan Ahead awards in Business for April. Flexible on dates
When I show entire month calendar, no dates show up as available. I suspect AA has blocked out all Plan Ahead awards
Any thoughts if they might open these up? closer to departure? if business levels stay high, I understand, but just seems to me they have shut er down
Your wise perspectives appreciated
Jan 30, 23, 4:00 pm
#1835
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 9,780
Greetings all
I am searching NRT, ICN as well as any Europe for Plan Ahead awards in Business for April. Flexible on dates
When I show entire month calendar, no dates show up as available. I suspect AA has blocked out all Plan Ahead awards
Any thoughts if they might open these up? closer to departure? if business levels stay high, I understand, but just seems to me they have shut er down
Your wise perspectives appreciated
I am searching NRT, ICN as well as any Europe for Plan Ahead awards in Business for April. Flexible on dates
When I show entire month calendar, no dates show up as available. I suspect AA has blocked out all Plan Ahead awards
Any thoughts if they might open these up? closer to departure? if business levels stay high, I understand, but just seems to me they have shut er down
Your wise perspectives appreciated
Not sure where you want to originate, but generally search the long haul segments first from an AA or OW Partner from a gateway city (e.g. SFO-NRT, JFK-MAD). Once you find a planAAhead award, then you can call to book it and tack on your domestic connecting route which will probably be coach, waitlisted to First. One quick check and I see SFO-NRT on JL for 60,000 points(one way) on multiple dates in April.
Feb 1, 23, 2:15 pm
#1837
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 9,780
https://www.britishairways.com/onbusiness/how.shtml
Travellers enrolled in British Airways Executive Club® or other qualifying partner programmes will still earn miles in their personal accounts while earning On Business Points for their company.
Bottom line: you have to fly BA to earn BA on Business
Feb 2, 23, 4:15 am
#1838
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: RBKC
Programs: AA EXP and Eurostar Carte Blanche
Posts: 3,725
Interesting. I didn't realise that Business Extra and On Business differed in this regard.
One can of course credit BA marketed and operated tickets to Business Extra, as BA's online booking process includes a specific area in which to enter an AA Business Extra number. But to be clear, it is not possible to do the opposite, and credit AA marketed and operated tickets to On Business?
I had presumed that the two programmes had equally reciprocal earning schemes, but come to think of it, I have never actually tried crediting an AA marketed and operated flght to On Business.
It would be interesting to know how this works within the joint venture in terms of accounting. No doubt there is some reason why the earning benefits are not reciprocal.
One can of course credit BA marketed and operated tickets to Business Extra, as BA's online booking process includes a specific area in which to enter an AA Business Extra number. But to be clear, it is not possible to do the opposite, and credit AA marketed and operated tickets to On Business?
I had presumed that the two programmes had equally reciprocal earning schemes, but come to think of it, I have never actually tried crediting an AA marketed and operated flght to On Business.
It would be interesting to know how this works within the joint venture in terms of accounting. No doubt there is some reason why the earning benefits are not reciprocal.
Last edited by ExpatExp; Feb 3, 23 at 9:52 am Reason: Typo.
Feb 3, 23, 2:16 am
#1839
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SJC
Programs: AAdvantage 2MM+ Lifetime PLT; BA, CO, UA, US; SPG; HHonors Gold
Posts: 699
[QUOTE] No. The other way around. You can earn points on AA as you normally would if flying BA, as well as BA On Business points for the trip. You, obviously, wouldn't earn Avios points then.
https://www.britishairways.com/onbusiness/how.shtml
Travellers enrolled in British Airways Executive Club® or other qualifying partner programmes will still earn miles in their personal accounts while earning On Business Points for their company.
Bottom line: you have to fly BA to earn BA on Business[/QUOTE]
How do you conclude that you have to fly BA? This site says:https://www.britishairways.com/onbusiness/how.shtml
Travellers enrolled in British Airways Executive Club® or other qualifying partner programmes will still earn miles in their personal accounts while earning On Business Points for their company.
Bottom line: you have to fly BA to earn BA on Business[/QUOTE]
https://www.britishairways.com/en-us...el/on-business
- Earn On Business points with American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia, which can be redeemed for reward flights and upgrades
- Choose money off selected flights across our global network
- Fly On Business and continue to earn personal Avios through the Executive Club, Iberia Plus or Avios Programme
Feb 3, 23, 4:39 pm
#1840
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 9,780
How do you conclude that you have to fly BA? This site says:
https://www.britishairways.com/en-us...el/on-business
https://www.britishairways.com/en-us...el/on-business
https://www.britishairways.com/onbusiness/how.shtml
Feb 17, 23, 9:42 am
#1841
Used to be 'g_leyser'
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Brandon Johnson International Airport (expect delays)
Programs: AA PlatPro, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Plat, Reno Air MEGA Platinum
Posts: 9,907
Has anyone reached out to BE about the change towards flights booked with Amex Travel no longer counting for the program?
Happy to email them and report back, but figured I'd check here first.
Happy to email them and report back, but figured I'd check here first.
Feb 18, 23, 3:24 pm
#1842
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: LAX
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Alitalia Freccia Alata
Posts: 202
Feb 21, 23, 3:35 pm
#1843
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: EYW
Programs: AA Exe Platinum, Delta Million Miler, Hilton Diamond, Marriott LT Titanium, United Silver
Posts: 502
Greetings all
I am searching NRT, ICN as well as any Europe for Plan Ahead awards in Business for April. Flexible on dates
When I show entire month calendar, no dates show up as available. I suspect AA has blocked out all Plan Ahead awards
Any thoughts if they might open these up? closer to departure? if business levels stay high, I understand, but just seems to me they have shut er down
Your wise perspectives appreciated
I am searching NRT, ICN as well as any Europe for Plan Ahead awards in Business for April. Flexible on dates
When I show entire month calendar, no dates show up as available. I suspect AA has blocked out all Plan Ahead awards
Any thoughts if they might open these up? closer to departure? if business levels stay high, I understand, but just seems to me they have shut er down
Your wise perspectives appreciated
Feb 22, 23, 1:09 pm
#1844
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SFO or OAK
Programs: AA 1MM GLD, Hertz #1 Gold, bunch of other programs w/no status
Posts: 1,387
Watch out for 12 month spend calculation!
Back in Dec we had a bunch of BE points expiring that had a 'courtesy' extension such that they wouldn't expire until Feb 28th of this year. Great, I thought, I can wait until then to redeem. We had already met the $5K spend requirement, so I thought we were good to go. Well, I went to redeem points today, and we are now short on the spend requirement by a few dollars, and have no more spend planned before Feb 28. Can't redeem the points and now they're going to expire. There doesn't seem to be a good way to tell when you'll go below the $5K threshold AFAIK. 
Feb 22, 23, 1:16 pm
#1845
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 10,608
Back in Dec we had a bunch of BE points expiring that had a 'courtesy' extension such that they wouldn't expire until Feb 28th of this year. Great, I thought, I can wait until then to redeem. We had already met the $5K spend requirement, so I thought we were good to go. Well, I went to redeem points today, and we are now short on the spend requirement by a few dollars, and have no more spend planned before Feb 28. Can't redeem the points and now they're going to expire. There doesn't seem to be a good way to tell when you'll go below the $5K threshold AFAIK.
Depending on the number of points in question here I would be tempted to call BE and see if they could somehow waive the $5k at least till the end of the month. Worth a shot.
