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Note: older posts have been archived to ARCHIVE: Business Extra Program master thread (consolidated)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)
Sep 28, 2017, 11:15 am
#271
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SFO or OAK
Programs: AA 1MM GLD, Hertz #1 Gold, bunch of other programs w/no status
Posts: 1,452
I recently called and got four BXP1 upgrades applied to an upcoming flight (C availability was there). I did not have the cert numbers as I had not even redeemed the points for the certs yet, but the agent was able to apply the upgrades (and they showed up on AA.com).
I redeemed the points and now have the certs. Is it worthwhile to call Meeting Services and apply the cert numbers? Any danger of the upgrades suddenly disappearing because the cert numbers aren't in there?
I redeemed the points and now have the certs. Is it worthwhile to call Meeting Services and apply the cert numbers? Any danger of the upgrades suddenly disappearing because the cert numbers aren't in there?
Sep 28, 2017, 5:01 pm
#272
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: 10,036
Sep 29, 2017, 2:00 pm
#273
Join Date: May 2015
Programs: All the programs!
Posts: 1,006
I usually just fill out the web form and send them the PNR after booking. They can manually add the BE number.
Sep 29, 2017, 2:17 pm
#274
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: AA
Posts: 75
Im new to Business Extra but have accrued about 13,000 points this year and I do not know the best way to redeem them.
In this hypothetical, I am flying from BNA to LHR round trip 10/22-10/28. What is my best way/chance of using an upgrade?
Thanks
In this hypothetical, I am flying from BNA to LHR round trip 10/22-10/28. What is my best way/chance of using an upgrade?
Thanks
Sep 29, 2017, 3:58 pm
#275
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,994
If I read the wiki correctly, to extend points I cannot use before they expire, I can request an upgrade certificate. Example: points expiring at the end of this year, request an upgrade cert, can use it anytime in 2018. (I understand I need to purchase B, N, O, Q or S)
Is that correct?
Not ideal, but if I cannot use them any other way, is this a reasonable use?
(And if this against AA rules, please tell me. I don't want to break a rule.)
Is that correct?
Not ideal, but if I cannot use them any other way, is this a reasonable use?
(And if this against AA rules, please tell me. I don't want to break a rule.)
Sep 29, 2017, 5:56 pm
#276
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: AA-EXP, LATAM Gold+, BA-Blues
Posts: 720
With SWUs, I'd often use a single certificate to upgrade up to three AA flights between Europe and South America, for example, CDG-MIA-BSB or MAD-JFK-MIA-BSB.
When using Business Extra Upgrade Certificates (BXP3), as long as my underlying flight is in the appropriate booking class, do I correctly understand that TWO certificates would be required for such itineraries? Or, in practice, could one BXP3 be used for the entire one-way ticketed routing?
When using Business Extra Upgrade Certificates (BXP3), as long as my underlying flight is in the appropriate booking class, do I correctly understand that TWO certificates would be required for such itineraries? Or, in practice, could one BXP3 be used for the entire one-way ticketed routing?
Sep 30, 2017, 7:41 am
#277
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: EWR Ionosphere Club, LAX Clipper Club, Still Traveling Global, yearly BIS miles
Programs: EAL Silver Wings, I-Club, Flying Colonels DL, WorldPass PLat from the olde Meatball and PE SMARTbank
Posts: 1,986
3 promos?!
Both my spouse and I have BE accounts for our respective businesses. Is there anything verbotten about me taking one flight in each account?
Sep 30, 2017, 7:50 am
#278
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: EWR Ionosphere Club, LAX Clipper Club, Still Traveling Global, yearly BIS miles
Programs: EAL Silver Wings, I-Club, Flying Colonels DL, WorldPass PLat from the olde Meatball and PE SMARTbank
Posts: 1,986
I had received BX20UPG by email and I asked if it was targeted, businessextra agent said yes, is that true?
Oct 2, 2017, 10:42 pm
#279
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
That is how I earned a bonus for travel to China once.
I don't think AA publishes specific rules restricting who can use your BE number, but I would argue, especially in a community property state, both businesses belong to both people.
Oct 6, 2017, 1:53 pm
#281
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: W29
Programs: It's Complicated...
Posts: 6,808
Oct 7, 2017, 3:04 pm
#282
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP >3 Million miles,HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 2,887
Was pleasantly surprised today to be able to use a BE upgrade certificate on a N America to S America flight in November. The original fare did not qualify but the bump was only 60 USD.. I have tried to use BE certificates for domestic flights in the past and found them much more difficult to find availability.. A happy customer today.
Oct 17, 2017, 7:58 am
#284
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA EP; WN CP;UA SILVER; MARRIOTT TITANIUM; HH DIAMOND; IHG PLAT; RADISSON PLAT; HYATT GLOBAL
Posts: 1,938
Oct 17, 2017, 9:24 am
#285
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: TPA/DFW/K15
Programs: AA EXP, Mar AMB, HH LT DIA
Posts: 1,649