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Note: older posts have been archived to ARCHIVE: Business Extra Program master thread (consolidated)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)
Dec 6, 2017 | 9:43 pm
#331
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SFO or OAK
Programs: AA 1MM GLD, Hertz #1 Gold, bunch of other programs w/no status
Posts: 1,751
Dec 6, 2017 | 10:27 pm
#332
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Ambassador/LTP, Nat'l Exec Elite, LEYE Gold
Posts: 7,458
I book online and immediately call to confirm the upgrade -- that way if the C space disappears before the phone agent locks it in, I'm still within the 24-hour grace period to cancel & refund the tickets. (This works fine, of course, unless I happen to be looking for airfares when the Meeting Services desk is closed.)
Dec 6, 2017 | 10:32 pm
#333
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American PLT; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,944
I book online and immediately call to confirm the upgrade -- that way if the C space disappears before the phone agent locks it in, I'm still within the 24-hour grace period to cancel & refund the tickets. (This works fine, of course, unless I happen to be looking for airfares when the Meeting Services desk is closed.)
Dec 8, 2017 | 9:16 am
#334
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 503
I tried using upgrade certificates for tickets from PHL to DFW but when I called reservations, the difference between the upfared economy ticket and the first-class ticket was only $30, which doesn't seem worth it. Should I expect more of a difference than that when calling Meeting Services?
Dec 8, 2017 | 9:45 pm
#335
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Still going through ORD security when boarding has already started
Programs: AA EXP, UA Silver, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Plat, Hyatt Disco, Reno Air MEGA Platinum
Posts: 10,321
I tried using upgrade certificates for tickets from PHL to DFW but when I called reservations, the difference between the upfared economy ticket and the first-class ticket was only $30, which doesn't seem worth it. Should I expect more of a difference than that when calling Meeting Services?
Dec 9, 2017 | 8:02 pm
#336
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Ambassador/LTP, Nat'l Exec Elite, LEYE Gold
Posts: 7,458
I tried using upgrade certificates for tickets from PHL to DFW but when I called reservations, the difference between the upfared economy ticket and the first-class ticket was only $30, which doesn't seem worth it. Should I expect more of a difference than that when calling Meeting Services?
In some cases, yes, the V/G/L fare is going to be substantially higher than the cheap N/O/Q/S fare, and perhaps higher than discount first. So obviously I wouldn't burn a BXP1 there.
Dec 11, 2017 | 11:25 pm
#337
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: Marriott, Delta, United, AA
Posts: 315
I have never used business extra before: first redemption 
I got a BXP1 certificate by mail. Domestic upgrade certificate. I purchased a ticket that happens to be an acceptable fare class, rarely happens for me.
I called business services there was no space on my flight. Can they waitlist me? Additionally i am also platinum, so should i request the 500 mile upgrade and they try to use that if it clears? Flight is in a few days (thursday) in case that makes a difference.
I got a BXP1 certificate by mail. Domestic upgrade certificate. I purchased a ticket that happens to be an acceptable fare class, rarely happens for me.
I called business services there was no space on my flight. Can they waitlist me? Additionally i am also platinum, so should i request the 500 mile upgrade and they try to use that if it clears? Flight is in a few days (thursday) in case that makes a difference.
Dec 11, 2017 | 11:44 pm
#338
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 8,109
I have never used business extra before: first redemption
I got a BXP1 certificate by mail. Domestic upgrade certificate. I purchased a ticket that happens to be an acceptable fare class, rarely happens for me.
I called business services there was no space on my flight. Can they waitlist me? Additionally i am also platinum, so should i request the 500 mile upgrade and they try to use that if it clears? Flight is in a few days (thursday) in case that makes a difference.
I got a BXP1 certificate by mail. Domestic upgrade certificate. I purchased a ticket that happens to be an acceptable fare class, rarely happens for me.
I called business services there was no space on my flight. Can they waitlist me? Additionally i am also platinum, so should i request the 500 mile upgrade and they try to use that if it clears? Flight is in a few days (thursday) in case that makes a difference.
Dec 16, 2017 | 2:51 pm
#341
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: LGA, PBI
Programs: SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Delta DM
Posts: 166
Searching for biz extra inventory
I'm sure this is a duplicate question but I couldn't find a post related to this. Is there any way to search an entire month for U inventory? On ExpertFlyer I have to go day by day...which is quite annoying.
Also, I first searched the AA website for mile saver business from LAX > SYD. I found Feb 4 and Feb 27 (return). I searched ExpertFlyer for those dates and it returns zero U inventory. How is this possible?
PS: I'm trying to redeem the BX9B or BX9C biz extra certificate. Thank you for the help!
Also, I first searched the AA website for mile saver business from LAX > SYD. I found Feb 4 and Feb 27 (return). I searched ExpertFlyer for those dates and it returns zero U inventory. How is this possible?
PS: I'm trying to redeem the BX9B or BX9C biz extra certificate. Thank you for the help!
Dec 19, 2017 | 10:16 pm
#343
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 12,952
Dec 20, 2017 | 2:43 am
#344
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 6,451
When I am requesting credit for a past flight of one of my employees, are the 'Request Date From and the Request Date To the flight dates? In other words, if I have a flight to credit that left 10JAN and returned 17JAN, I would enter 10Jan as the first date and 17Jan as the second date? And a one way would get the same date?