Any news on what happened?
Anyone else have recent experience with clearing BXP1s from waitlist or gate? I was hoping that it might improve from previously reports of it being unreliable, but it seems to still be an issue.

That sounds terribly wrong. You should be charged the same taxes and fees when using a BE award as a normal AAdvantage award (definitely no YQ on AA metal).

Looking at aa.com, a dummy award booking in business using AA to LHR then BA to TLS comes back with $165 in taxes/fees round trip. Have you already booked it? I would for sure call back to get the taxes recalculated and a refund if you've already booked it.

Whenever I book BE awards, I always put the flights on hold at aa.com then call Meeting Services to have it ticketed as a BE award. That way there's no question as to the flights, taxes, etc.

hi guys, anyone know if I redeem for AA Gold for 3200 points, how long will it last? Would it be thru end of January of the following year? Thanks


Nevermind, I see it on the website. It follows the same rules as a status match, if issued after July 01, is good until end of January of the year after next.

They're your points but what could Gold status possibly give you to make it worth 3,200 BE points?

Thanks to promos and a fair bit of flying, and despite my use of BXP1s when I can, I have amassed about 10,000 BE points. Which means that, if I wanted to, I could redeem them for a Flagship Dining adventure on something like DCA-MIA-JFK-LAX-HKG, roundtrip (and there is surprisingly enough availability to make this happen). I'd just be doing it for fun, to spend a couple days in HKG and to go flying because I like to fly.

Which raises the question whether spending 10,000 points on an F rt is a "worse" use of points than saving them for BXP1 (and maybe BXP3) redemptions. So I did some math to see how I'd value the points at each redemption level:

15 x BXP1 (650 each, 9750 points). Ordinarily a BXP1 replaces a 15k + $75 upgrade award. Let's say I value miles at 1.8 cents each, that's $270 + $75 = $345, times 15 = $5,175. Caveats = I might not have occasion to use 15 BXP1s (but my earliest expiring points are 12/31/2019, so who knows); BXP1s require higher fare buckets and are only good for one segment (but I typically use them on J-->F transcons, so that doesn't matter). The $345 valuation seems a bit high... I'd certainly pay this to go Y-->J on a transcon or to confirm various other "important" upgrades, but only rarely would I pay $345 for J-->F on a transcon. I would peg the value of a BXP1, subjectively, at around $250 for me. But I'll stick with $345 (and $5,175 total) for the purpose of comparison.

or

3 x BXP3 (3100 each, 9300 points) + 1 x BXP1. Ordinarily a BXP3 replaces an SWU or a 25k + $350 upgrade award, so $800 per my valuation (which seems about right, I'd usually pay $800 cash for an upgrade subject to the same terms as an SWU is). So $800 x 3 = $2400, plus $345 = $2775. Clearly, I don't value BXP3s as being worth effectively 5 times a BXP1. Which probably explains why I've never redeemed for one!

or

1 x BX7C (10,000 points). This replaces two 110,000-mile US-Asia 2 F awards, so 220,000 * .018 = $3,960 per my valuation (which again seems about right). This is obviously more than my BXP3 valuation but less than my BXP1 valuation.

Despite the above math, I'm still inclined to redeem for the BX7C because of (1) the appeal of taking the fun trip, (2) the fact that I don't personally value the one-segment upgrade at $345, (3) holding onto 10,000 points seems like begging to incur devaluation risk--I'm much more inclined to earn and burn generally, especially when future travel plans are uncertain (who knows whether my schedule will continue to allow impromptu trips to HKG), and (4) I don't have a foreseeable use for 15 BXP1s (nor is there any other redemption that I would find more valuable, I don't think).

Anyone think I'm missing something?

It's all relative...
 

Honestly, it's all relative. You sound like a very frequent flyer and "amassing" miles isn't a problem for you. As such, I wouldn't overthink it and nickel and dime myself, just do whatever you feel will make you happiest, without regard to the value of the award. Using that logic, a RT in F is not a bad use of miles, even if F is only marginally better than C. Now, if you actually don't fly that much and earning miles is tough, then definitely do the math. Using the latter logic, AA F is not something you want to use hard-earned (and possibly once-in-a-lifetime) miles/points for. So, you see, it's all relative.

My monthly summary email today contained this:

It really was a quick survey, asking what sort of communication content from Business Extra I find most valuable. So happy to get the extra free 500 points.

I'm not sure if this was targeted or not, but those of you who normally don't bother reading these emails, may want to take a closer look now.

Thanks for posting this. I did not look closely at the email and would've missed this. Easy 500 points!

I just found out my BE email was going into junk mail on my phone :)
Easy 500 :)

Yes, many thank you. I would've missed out on the 500 points.

How is the returned fee waiver for Exp figured on a BXP1. The owner of the account (my wife) has no status. I'm the one who uses them. Did I make an error in setting it up in my wife's name instead of mine?

If it's a paper one, there hasn't been a fee for anyone recently as far as I can tell. Call 'em up, they'll probably tell you to write VOID on it and scan it to them in an email along w/ a short note saying that you don't have use for it anymore.

If it's electronic then presumably it has been attached to a reservation? If it's attached to your reservation and you're an EXP, I imagine you might get traction calling to return without a fee. Not sure there are data points since the changeover to electronic. Maybe they'll base it on the account owner like with miles, but maybe not.

Is the link targeted? Anyone has a link to the survey?

Did you try what the other poster said, and try putting an award on hold on aa.com (with the correct, lower taxes and fees), then calling to ticket as a BE award?

This is my recent experience as well that partner awards price out with the higher fuel, even if your long haul segments are on American Airlines metal. This wasn't always the case. When partner awards were first introduced I booked multiple partner awards staying on American Airlines metal on the long haul segment and was only charged the AA fuel/taxes. This was a couple years ago, however.

Keep in mind though that partner awards are anytime awards. A business class partner award to Europe is 14,000 points and includes intra-Europe flights that may be needed. An Anytime award is 18,000 points and would need to be on American metal only. No one in their right mind would redeem an Anytime award if the you could capture the lower fuel on a partner award as it's less miles. You just need to make the decision if the point savings and regional flights are worth the approximately $1,000 extra cash co-pay (or for an extra 2,000 points and $1,000 you can be in first class on a partner award versus an Anytime business award).

I did. I got a very helpful agent that tried her best. The pricing is not the same as normal mileage awards.

It looks like with partner awards, the full YR fuel surcharge exists even if flying AA metal over the ocean. That alone is just over $1000, taking this to just under $1300 total.

The AAnytime (BX63) award on AA metal is just under $300 in fees.

So sadly, this partner award (BP03) isn't of much use.

As mrfussion pointed out, Partner BP03 is 14k points with high fuel surcharges, or AA Anytime BX63 is 18k points + Partner Intra-Euro BP40 for 6k.
So 14k points with high fuel surcharge, or 24k points on two tickets (need to recheck bags), and low fuel surcharge.

This doesn't look right.

AAnytime awards have never been valid on partner metal and cannot include any segments on a carrier other than AA. If true, then this hypothetical 'partner AAnytime' to Europe would cost 14k while the stand alone AA only AAnytime would cost 18k, which makes no sense at all, regardless of taxes/fees.

The partner awards include sAAver space (just like every other partner award), the correct calculation should be a 14k partner award compared to a 7.2k AA sAAver to Europe + 6k partner award intra-Europe.

If you're flying AA metal to Europe then the partner awards rarely if ever make sense, as you're essentially spending almost double the points to add intra Europe flight(s) on BA or IB which can be purchased for $200-300 all day long (in coach, granted).

The BE partner awards have always seemed like a total ripoff based on the points they require, hence the very limited discussion and datapoints on here.

This is correct.

I only use Anytime awards, since PlanAhead doesn't have enough availability.

An Anytime BX63 Business award is 18000 points for North America to Europe. It only works on AA metal. Books into J.
Taxes and Fees come out to under $300 to LHR because of the high LHR to USA tax. It can be under $100 for somewhere like USA to Madrid. No high YR fuel surcharge

A Partner BP03 Business award is 14000 points for North America to Europe. It works on AA, BA and IB. Requires at least one BA or IB segment. Books into J on AA (so essentially an Anytime) and R on partner intra-euro.
There is a YR fuel surcharge, even if flying on AA metal over the Atlantic. So taxes and fees are ~$1100-$1300.

A Partner BP40 Business award is 6000 points intra-Euro. It works on BA and IB.

So an Anytime BP63 + BP40 is 18000 + 6000 = 24000 points, with no major YR charge. But two separate PNRs, so need to recheck bags.
A Partner award gives same J availability, and is 14000 points, but with a major YR charge.

JJeffrey -- partner awards do have anytime availability for American, British, and Iberia. I have booked many and can tell you this from experience. They are not limited to saver space and a "total ripoff". I think they have pretty good value if I need to fly British anyway (sometimes I've needed the early BA LAX-LHR flight to make a same day connection at LHR, and I'd much rather pay the taxes/fees than spend the night). As was discussed already, the downside is partner awards incur taxes/fees comparable to what you'd pay on a British Airways award regardless of if your long haul segment is on American.

Interesting...

If this is correct, I'd also find this to be pretty good value...

New bonus points promotion:Earn double Business Extra points when you fly nonstop between Los Angeles (LAX) and Buenos Aires (EZE) through June 30, 2019.

• Register for the promotion between August 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019 with the promotion code LAXEZE18
• Complete qualifying nonstop travel between August 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019 between Los Angeles (LAX) and Buenos Aires (EZE)

Promotion is valid for travel on purchased, eligible, published-fare tickets on eligible flights booked in eligible fare classes for travel on (1) American Airlines (2) British Airways and Iberia, ticketed on American Airlines (001), British Airways (125), and Iberia (075) ticket stock.

To qualify for the bonus offer, the company must be enrolled in the Business Extra program and register for the promotion between August 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019 using promotion code LAXEZE18.

The company must register using promotion code LAXEZE18, and then book and fly by June 30, 2019 to be eligible for the bonus.

Qualifying nonstop travel between Los Angeles (LAX) and Buenos Aires (EZE) completed between August 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019 will be eligible for double points.

Bonus offer valid only on nonstop segments Los Angeles (LAX) and Buenos Aires (EZE), and does not extend to connecting segments.

Anyone have their free 500 points post?

Nope.

And the sooner, the better, as I am 450 points away from a BXP3... which I am ready to use for a trip later this year. :D

None of mine flights have posted. Nor have my points from the survey. Why do I get the feeling the operation is run by one person who decided to go to the beach this month?

I get that feeling too. ;)

The typewriter used to credit points ran out of ribbon. There will now be a meeting in Dallas to review options to present at the official meeting about how this can impact the bottom line and if the delivery of replacement parts should be delayed in the interest of saving costs.

The survey deadline is 8/31; I'd guess they will post sometime after that.

Survey points are posting on the September statement according to the information provided at the end.

My current statement posted. At least in my case, the 500 did not post with the statement. Still missing.

Same, but the "September statement" is the statement that will post around October 15. So not expecting them yet.

I think by September they meant August. In any case, don't expect them for another 1-2 months.

BXP3 cert return waiver?
 

Can anyone confirm from experience that the fee to reinstate unused BXP1/BXP3 certificates is waived for EXP as stated in the wiki? I am considering redeeming two BXP3 to waitlist an upgrade but I think the odds are low they will clear - this would be great if it's true.

Edit: I haven't redeemed them yet so I believe these will be electronic when I do (I am still going off my stash of paper BXP1s from January so I have no experience with how the electronic versions work).

OK, very confused.

I thought that SWUs and BXP3 cert clearance came out of the same inventory?

Currently waitlisted for a BXP3 upgrade on a longhaul that departs in about 36 hours. Flight currently shows confirmable upgrade space (so 'C' inventory available). Called Meeting Services, agent tells me she sees the inventory, but can't clear the upgrade, because it's not the same inventory. Then proceeds to tell me that SWUs and BXP3 have different priority. Thought they were the same?

What gives? Am I completely mistaken?

AAgent is wrong. Hang Up, Call Again. SWU, BXP3 and Miles+Copay are all the same now on upgrade priority.

Ugh. That's what I thought. Spent 20 minutes on hold the first time to get the wrong answer and it's well past midnight in my local time zone. <sigh>

Yep, so second agent managed to do it. Oddly enough she also initially said that they come out of different inventory. I asked her when the policy changed - she went off and checked, and found that in fact the policy is that SWUs & BXP3 come from the same inventory and have the same priority. So HUCA, plus politely force the issue.

As to why the waitlist didn't clear automatically: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯