Nov 21, 2012, 10:53 am

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

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:

Quote:

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)

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

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Apr 1, 2018, 10:37 am

#496

potus18

Join Date: May 2017

Location: San Francisco

Programs: AA EXP

Posts: 369

Quote:

Originally Posted by mangoMan

And this is within your status level too, right? In other words Exp with stickers will still clear over a Plat with BXP1/miles+copay/SWU, correct?

Correct, unless C inventory opens up before T-100.

Apr 2, 2018, 10:42 am

#497

britz

Join Date: Sep 2015

Programs: AA EXP

Posts: 158

Have they stopped collecting paper certificates at the airport? Since February I've used quite a few BXP1s on transcon flights and none have been collected (these are the older paper ones I ordered before the switch to digital). Have I missed something?

Apr 2, 2018, 4:35 pm

#498

dstan

Moderator: New York City and FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Sep 2007

Programs: AA PLT, Natl EC

Posts: 10,855

Specifying BXP1 / BXP3 Upgrade-eligible Fares in ITA

Quote:

Originally Posted by dstan

As we know, BXP1 & BXP3 upgrades exclude B, N, O, Q, S fares. It's possible to "upfare" to an eligible fare class. So, how to search for eligible fares specifically on ITA? One option is to specify a V or G fare, which is often the lowest eligible fare. But, with the advent of Premium Economy (P fare), this is not always the case. So, the better solution is to exclude the ineligible fares. Took me some hunting around and trial & error to figure this out, so thought I would share here. Applying ~ NOT logic and & AND logic, the ITA code looks like this:

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.)

If you want to string that together with other commands, such as maximum duration, you separate them with a semicolon:

jfk:: aa /maxdur 800 ; f ~bc = b & ~bc = n & ~bc = o & ~bc = q & ~bc = s

If people feel this is useful, I can add to the wikipost.

I've added the info to the wikipost but the whole thing needs some formatting cleanup and scrubbing of older info if someone has a chance!

Apr 2, 2018, 4:37 pm

#499

dstan

Moderator: New York City and FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Sep 2007

Programs: AA PLT, Natl EC

Posts: 10,855

Quote:

Originally Posted by britz

More likely they are missing something! But since they started recording serial numbers on remaining paper certs, it shouldn't make a difference.

Apr 2, 2018, 5:19 pm

#500

chicagoflyer1976

Join Date: Aug 2004

Location: Chicago

Programs: AA- EXP UA - Silver SPG- PLT Marriott- PLT

Posts: 759

Quote:

Originally Posted by potus18

Yeah; being on the upgrade list with a BXP1 is the same as being on it with miles/copay or a SWU. You're above the sticker/UDU upgrades but below others using instruments with higher rolling EQDs.

if you can actually get on the airport upgrade list. I’ve been waitlisted for bXP one upgrades before and they don’t seem to transfer over to the airport. When I’ve asked at the check-in counter and at the admirals club, they have no idea what I’m talking about, let alone anyway to have you to the upgrade list using that instrument.

Apr 3, 2018, 9:06 am

#501

billgrates3

Join Date: Jun 2006

Location: SFO/OAK

Programs: AA EXP 3.4MM, BAEC, UAMP, Skyteam (<10k) HH Gold, IHG Plat, Hertz Gold, GE/TSA TT

Posts: 2,723

Quote:

Originally Posted by CloudCoder

If you redeem Business ExtrAA points for an international upgrade, and you waitlist for that upgrade, and your upgrade does NOT clear ... what happens to your BE points? Can you redeposit the award? Waitlist on your next flight? Does the award have an expiration date?

You have already used the points to buy the BXPx certificate. If you are not upgraded the cert is still valid, and you can apply it to another trip. However, you may want to put the points back into your account, but it will cost you. I believe it's a $150 fee (but less if you turn more than one back in at the same time).
For example, I have two paper BXP3 certs expiring 6/30/2018 that I probably won't be able to use, so I will put turn the certs back in ~30 days before that if no international travel is on the horizon by then.
So far as I know, the same procedure and fee applies to the new electronic-only certificates.

Apr 3, 2018, 2:37 pm

#502

dstan

Moderator: New York City and FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Sep 2007

Programs: AA PLT, Natl EC

Posts: 10,855

Wikipost updated

Cleaned up format. Removed some outdated info. Please review and edit as needed.

Apr 4, 2018, 4:07 am

#503

scubadu

Join Date: Sep 2008

Location: AUS

Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat

Posts: 7,041

Apologies if this has been answered, I've reviewed the FAQ and a good bit of the thread but still might have missed it. I'm considering creating a Business Extra account for my wife and I to utilize. This would be utilized for our own "side hustle" travels. However, we also both work for large companies and occasionally have to book travel via Concur under our companies travel policies.

Does anyone know if having a Business Extra membership number in our AA profiles would cause any "conflict" or issues with travel booked via Megacap Corps which likely have their own, brokered travel discounts, etc. negotiated directly with AA? Should I not keep the number in our AAdvantage profiles and just enter it manually when booking our personal travel?

Any experience or advice in this area is greatly appreciated.

Regards

Apr 4, 2018, 7:00 am

#504

JJeffrey

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Feb 2001

Location: RDU <|> MMX

Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS

Posts: 12,481

Quote:

Originally Posted by scubadu

You shouldn't have any problem at all, having a BE number in your personal AA profile will not affect any corporate discounts etc. that are tied to the other company.

Apr 4, 2018, 7:23 am

#505

LovePrunes

Join Date: Jul 2011

Posts: 2,313

Quote:

Originally Posted by scubadu

Maybe try this to see if your company already is accumulating Business Extraa points on your behalf when you travel for work: After you book your next business trip through your normal methods with Concur, call the BE customer service line (which is basically meeting services) . If your company keeps a Business Extraa number stored in your profile, it should now be in the ticket that was booked through concur. Ask Business Extra customer service if they can verify if your BE number is stored in your record for that trip. If they say it's already entered, then your company is enrolled and accumulating credits on your behalf and obviously you shouldn't touch it or switch anything to stay compliant. But if it's blank, then if it was me, I'd feel free to put in the BE number for your side hustle biz, since BE is a freebie that your company has opted not to accept. Maybe your company isn't aware of BE being a freebie they COULD be getting, but if it's being forfeited anyway, you're certainly not taking away from your company anything that they're counting on getting from your business travel. I would just call and enter it for each business trip manually since your company may sign up at some future time.

My two cents.

Apr 4, 2018, 10:44 am

#506

mvoight

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

I would like to thank whoever is using my BE number when booking tickets.
This hasn't happened recently, but awhile back I was getting credit from people I did not know.

akcae and LovePrunes like this.

Apr 5, 2018, 2:23 pm

#507

FAA1996

Join Date: Aug 2010

Programs: AA EXP

Posts: 1,659

How long does it take for a Gold for a member reward to be processed? Requested one last Friday and the members account still does not reflect Gold almost a week later? We are traveling on Monday and would like that to be sorted out.

Apr 5, 2018, 5:26 pm

#508

rbAA

Join Date: May 2003

Location: Bangkok, Thailand. No longer Palm Coast, FL though still exiled, again, from the Bay Area.

Programs: Only the good ones

Posts: 5,153

Quote:

Originally Posted by mvoight

I would like to thank whoever is using my BE number when booking tickets.
This hasn't happened recently, but awhile back I was getting credit from people I did not know.

Please ask them to use my BE number as I need 700 more points by the end of the year for an award, before most of my points expire. Thanks.

Apr 5, 2018, 7:54 pm

#509

mvoight

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbAA

Please ask them to use my BE number as I need 700 more points by the end of the year for an award, before most of my points expire. Thanks.

Once was a nice bonus for a China triip

Apr 6, 2018, 11:04 am

#510

davidsc111

Join Date: Apr 2013

Location: OGG

Programs: AA Plat, A List Pref, Marriott Ambassador

Posts: 356

That's why I register for every promo...whether I'm gonna use it or not...