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Business Extra ("ExtrAA") Program (master thread)

Old Nov 21, 2012, 10:53 am
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Last edit by: Prospero
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"[/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:
    1. Go to www.britishairways.com
    2. Select 'Manage My Booking' tab
    3. Follow the instructions to pull up your reservation
    4. Select the link towards bottom listed under 'Quick Links' 'Add On Business or Business Extra number'
    5. 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)
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Business Extra ("ExtrAA") Program (master thread)

Old Oct 30, 2017, 7:14 am
  #301  
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: LGA/EWR/JFK
Programs: AA EXP, Amex Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 311
Originally Posted by mctrees02
Can you use a BXP1 to upgrade an economy award? Since those are either T (milesAAver) or Y (AAnytime) fare tickets, they don't fall under the fare exclusions.
Nope. T&Cs on the back of your certs state that they "cannot be combined with any other coupon, discount, promotional offer, AAdvantage or Business Extra award." So award tickets are out.
DLinYUL is offline  
Old Nov 1, 2017, 8:21 am
  #302  
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: WAS
Posts: 1,623
Does anyone know whether the gold status conferred through a BXP5 begins on the day the BE customer requests the award or the day AA processes the appointment? I have some points that expire at the end of the year and I'm wondering whether if I request the BXP5 on 12/31 whether the gold status will be good through Jan 2018 or 2019.

T&Cs say: "AAdvantage Gold appointments issued January 1st through June 30th of each year are valid through January 31st of the following year (i.e. Jan. 31, 2018).
AAdvantage Gold appointments issued July 1st through December 31st of each year are valid through January 31st of the next calendar year (i.e. Jan. 31, 2019)."

But, it's unclear to me me what the "appointment" date is, although I would assume it would be the date I request the Gold status (i.e., 12/31).
Ross0 is offline  
Old Nov 1, 2017, 9:52 am
  #303  
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,731
Originally Posted by Ross0
Does anyone know whether the gold status conferred through a BXP5 begins on the day the BE customer requests the award or the day AA processes the appointment? I have some points that expire at the end of the year and I'm wondering whether if I request the BXP5 on 12/31 whether the gold status will be good through Jan 2018 or 2019.

T&Cs say: "AAdvantage Gold appointments issued January 1st through June 30th of each year are valid through January 31st of the following year (i.e. Jan. 31, 2018).
AAdvantage Gold appointments issued July 1st through December 31st of each year are valid through January 31st of the next calendar year (i.e. Jan. 31, 2019)."

But, it's unclear to me me what the "appointment" date is, although I would assume it would be the date I request the Gold status (i.e., 12/31).
I don't think it makes a difference in your case? By either definition, if you request the award at edge of this year and next year, the status will still be valid until Jan 31, 2019.
ckpeter is offline  
Old Nov 1, 2017, 9:57 am
  #304  
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: WAS
Posts: 1,623
Originally Posted by ckpeter
I don't think it makes a difference in your case? By either definition, if you request the award at edge of this year and next year, the status will still be valid until Jan 31, 2019.
Ah, good point, I guess it would be good till 1/31/19 whether the appointment is 12/31/17 or 1/2/18.

Thanks
Ross0 is offline  
Old Nov 2, 2017, 8:34 am
  #305  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 6
Hello,
I just logged into my Business Extra account and discovered I've got about 16,000 points. That's enough to take my wife and 2 kids to Hawaii next year if I can roll with the "Plan Ahead" option (3000 Points Per)

As I'm pretty new to this... How do I search for flights that would fall under the "plan ahead" program vs the anytime? The point difference is enormous. Thanks!
tompBuffalo is offline  
Old Nov 2, 2017, 10:19 am
  #306  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,302
Originally Posted by tompBuffalo
Hello,
I just logged into my Business Extra account and discovered I've got about 16,000 points. That's enough to take my wife and 2 kids to Hawaii next year if I can roll with the "Plan Ahead" option (3000 Points Per)

As I'm pretty new to this... How do I search for flights that would fall under the "plan ahead" program vs the anytime? The point difference is enormous. Thanks!
aa.com, click on book flights, enter cities and dates, check the box for USE MILES
on the calendar on the next page you'll see tabs for 2 shades of green, economy milesAAver or economy AAnytime
you have to pick dates that the economy milesAAver is available.
that's what used to be called "Plan Ahead" awards

since there probably won't be any available on the first date you chose, click the blue button to "show full calendar" and play with the dates
anything that works for you, put it on hold (no charge) and call business extraa to finish
LovePrunes is offline  
Old Nov 2, 2017, 5:22 pm
  #307  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 6
Excellent. Thanks!

Thank you!
tompBuffalo is offline  
Old Nov 3, 2017, 1:13 am
  #308  
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,977
Does the Business Extra flight have to be flown before the points are to expire?
(i.e. Can I use points expiring in December to book a flight next year?)
Global321 is offline  
Old Nov 3, 2017, 4:51 am
  #309  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: USA & UK -- AA EXP 3.5MM, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Avis President's Club
Posts: 6,411
Originally Posted by Global321
Does the Business Extra flight have to be flown before the points are to expire?
(i.e. Can I use points expiring in December to book a flight next year?)
You can redeem B.E. points for an award. Then you have a full year to use the award to book a ticket.
CloudCoder is offline  
Old Nov 3, 2017, 6:19 pm
  #310  
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,977
Originally Posted by CloudCoder
You can redeem B.E. points for an award. Then you have a full year to use the award to book a ticket.
Great! Thank you.
Global321 is offline  
Old Nov 11, 2017, 11:46 am
  #311  
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3
Gold Award

quick question.

I am 6 segments away from completing AA Gold and could get it done early Dec. If i do this, then on Jan 2018 I will start from 0 to order to renewal Gold in 2019 correct?--

I have Business Extraa points--- if i award myself the Gold membership on Jan 01, 2018. Do i only need to hit 30 segments to qualify for platinum or do i still start from 0 on the segments?

thanks for the insight guys...
gatorman1 is offline  
Old Nov 11, 2017, 1:40 pm
  #312  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ORD, LAS
Programs: AA-EXP, BAEC Silver, Hyatt-Globalist, Hilton-gold, SPG-gold
Posts: 855
Originally Posted by gatorman1
quick question.

I am 6 segments away from completing AA Gold and could get it done early Dec. If i do this, then on Jan 2018 I will start from 0 to order to renewal Gold in 2019 correct?--

I have Business Extraa points--- if i award myself the Gold membership on Jan 01, 2018. Do i only need to hit 30 segments to qualify for platinum or do i still start from 0 on the segments?

thanks for the insight guys...
Unfortunately, I does not give you a boost. You have to earn all segments to get platinum.
LovePrunes likes this.
smitty06 is offline  
Old Nov 12, 2017, 7:38 pm
  #313  
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 4
Any Enrollment Bonuses?

Does anyone know if there are any active enrollment bonuses? And if so, how to claim them?

It is time for me to sign up . . . .
bonezz is offline  
Old Nov 20, 2017, 7:59 pm
  #314  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NC
Programs: AAConciergeKey/1MM, DL DM/2 MM, UA Gold,Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 11,918
Since Plan Ahead awards book into award inventory, are Exec Plats able to make free date changes to the award once the ticket has been issued?
SkyTeam777 is offline  
Old Nov 28, 2017, 10:37 am
  #315  
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Reno, NV
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 44
Can I add my friends to Business Extra as "employees" or is that not allowed?
Swadian is offline  

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