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Note: older posts have been archived to ARCHIVE: Business Extra Program master thread (consolidated)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)
Oct 29, 2018, 7:55 pm
#691
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: BA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,261
I think they have certain routing rules in addition to normal award rules. When ZRH-JFK nonstop was dropped, I was not allowed ZRH-PHL-LGA(or JFK) initially as it was not a route permitted to get to New York(although it was showing as Saver award). I informed them that the nonstop is no longer scheduled and hence it should be allowed. After a hold of few minutes - the agent said she verified and indeed it can be done.
Oct 30, 2018, 7:33 am
#692
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: SAV/HHH
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold (current GGL), HH Diamond
Posts: 1,293
I agree with all that you have written. I have found the BE agents to be conscientious with trying to figure out why an Advantage booking is working when a BE booking is not.
They were the ones that said that a single connection to a "gateway city" would work, but two connections would not. So..... MDT-CLT-PHL-LHR would not work, because the CLT-PHL segment was invalid for a BE award. However, MDT-PHL-LHR would work.
So, the BE agents were helpful. However, I would appreciate better transparency for how to construct awards on BE.
They were the ones that said that a single connection to a "gateway city" would work, but two connections would not. So..... MDT-CLT-PHL-LHR would not work, because the CLT-PHL segment was invalid for a BE award. However, MDT-PHL-LHR would work.
So, the BE agents were helpful. However, I would appreciate better transparency for how to construct awards on BE.
I know with some cancellation reroutings, they sometimes reference 125% of the distance of the most direct route. In published fares, the MPM between the cities is explicitly defined, with additional variance allowed for connections in certain hub cities.
So let's look at my routing:
SAV-DFW-PEK - 7893
SAV-CLT-MCO-LAX-PEK - 9142 (116%)
SAV-PEK MPM (typical fare MPM) - 8778 (+2000 if via LAX)
Looking at it either way, my routing is convoluted (praying for schedule change), but seems to meet both of these MPM restrictions.
Now, let's look at yours.
MDT-PHL-LHR (most direct) - 3614
MDT-CLT-PHL-LHR - 4392 (122%)
MDT-LHR (typical fare MPM) - 4329 (+1000 if via ORD, DFW or MIA)
If my theory is correct, perhaps you are being denied because CLT does not have a connection point MPM allowance (it would be logical to have one, but maybe MDT-CLT is relatively new?).
So, let's look at alternatives...
MDT-CLT-ORD-LHR - 4952 ( < 4329 + 1000)
MDT-CLT-MIA-LHR - 5474 ( > 4329 + 1000)
MDT-CLT-DFW-LHR - 6087
MDT-CLT-LHR and MDT-CLT-ORD-LHR meet the MPM of a typical published fare for MDT-LHR...other routings do not. Or if there are direct flights from MDT to ORD, DFW or MIA, investigate them.
If you are still pursuing this, see if you can find out what the rule is...and maybe this will help.
Or maybe they make up the rules on the fly...
Oct 30, 2018, 7:20 pm
#693
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: EWR
Programs: Mucci, AA EXP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 587
Here is my further data point. I was trying to book PHL-LHR. The original availability was PHL-CLT-LHR, with a six hour layover in CLT. When I looked on AA.com for Business Milesaver availability, I saw better flights (for me from PHL-DFW-LHR. It was better for me because I wouldn't lose a day of work and the TATL flight would allow me enough time to actually sleep. At the recommendation of a BE agent, I placed a hold on a booking.
However, Meeting Services could not convert it to a BE booking although both are "U" class. Then I called the EXP line to see if there would be a different response. The phone call took 40 minutes, and the result was that I was told definitively that although both book into "U" class, that they are, in, fact, different "pots". AA Milesaver availability is not the same as Business Extra availability.
However, Meeting Services could not convert it to a BE booking although both are "U" class. Then I called the EXP line to see if there would be a different response. The phone call took 40 minutes, and the result was that I was told definitively that although both book into "U" class, that they are, in, fact, different "pots". AA Milesaver availability is not the same as Business Extra availability.
Oct 30, 2018, 8:28 pm
#694
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: EWR
Programs: Mucci, AA EXP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 587
A further data point.... I called the EXP line again and they again confirmed that "U" class is a bucket that has restrictions for Business Extra awards that are different from MileSaaver awards. However, after a one hour and forty-five minute call between the EXP desk and meeting services, they were able to offer me a routing close to what I had wanted. My takeaway here is that it is not safe to assume that the awards are the same, and that status can create some availibility (but not guaranteed).
Nov 12, 2018, 8:42 pm
#696
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Lubbock, TX
Programs: AAPlatinum, UA
Posts: 250
This is great to know!
A further data point.... I called the EXP line again and they again confirmed that "U" class is a bucket that has restrictions for Business Extra awards that are different from MileSaaver awards. However, after a one hour and forty-five minute call between the EXP desk and meeting services, they were able to offer me a routing close to what I had wanted. My takeaway here is that it is not safe to assume that the awards are the same, and that status can create some availibility (but not guaranteed).
This is really a surprise to hear....I'm platinum and always thought the availability was the same; s o it's great to know that this is not always the case. Thank you for sharing this info!
Nov 13, 2018, 5:23 pm
#697
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SJC
Programs: AAdvantage 2MM+ Lifetime PLT; BA, CO, UA, US; SPG; HHonors Gold
Posts: 757
Extend expiration of Business ExtrAA points?
Any way to extend ? I have 1,600 points expiring at the end of this year but not useful for anything.
Newbie here, I have a total of 2,540 points. It looks like there are a number of possible awards I can redeem for. Once redeemed, how long are the certificates valid for?
Newbie here, I have a total of 2,540 points. It looks like there are a number of possible awards I can redeem for. Once redeemed, how long are the certificates valid for?
Last edited by rj123456; Nov 13, 2018 at 5:38 pm
Nov 13, 2018, 5:26 pm
#698
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PHL / NYC / PSA-BLQ
Programs: AA PPRO, Marriott/Hilton Gold, AMX-Plat, Global Entry
Posts: 3,111
I don't think there is. I had a bundle expiring at end of year but got over the 7200 point level and redeemed a Saver J TATL RT. One great thing about Business ExtrAA is that you can get a RT out of one award.
Nov 13, 2018, 7:31 pm
#699
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,316
Any way to extend ? I have 1,600 points expiring at the end of this year but not useful for anything.
Newbie here, I have a total of 2,540 points. It looks like there are a number of possible awards I can redeem for. Once redeemed, how long are the certificates valid for?
Newbie here, I have a total of 2,540 points. It looks like there are a number of possible awards I can redeem for. Once redeemed, how long are the certificates valid for?
Nov 14, 2018, 12:08 am
#700
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: BA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,261
Any way to extend ? I have 1,600 points expiring at the end of this year but not useful for anything.
Newbie here, I have a total of 2,540 points. It looks like there are a number of possible awards I can redeem for. Once redeemed, how long are the certificates valid for?
Newbie here, I have a total of 2,540 points. It looks like there are a number of possible awards I can redeem for. Once redeemed, how long are the certificates valid for?
Nov 14, 2018, 4:11 am
#701
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SJC
Programs: AAdvantage 2MM+ Lifetime PLT; BA, CO, UA, US; SPG; HHonors Gold
Posts: 757
Is there ever PlanAhead availability for BX3A INorth America to Carribbean)?
What is the likelihood of using BXP1 on transcons to/from SFO?
Nov 14, 2018, 9:47 pm
#702
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: BA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,261
Yeah, you can sit on an award for a year after redemption and then book upto end of schedule. No idea about other awards, I've always redeemed mine for US-Europe PlanAhead
Nov 17, 2018, 5:04 pm
#704
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, SC
Programs: AA Plat, SPG/Marriot Gold, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Expl
Posts: 2,363