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Note: older posts have been archived to ARCHIVE: Business Extra Program master thread (consolidated)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)
Aug 25, 2019, 12:43 am
#962
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: North America
Posts: 2,265
Hey all. Quick question ... can I apply a BXP1 to a family member’s reservation or it can only be used for myself?
Secondly, if the family member is traveling with me on the same flight, is it better to link their pnr with mine (for sticker upg, I’m Plat); or do they stand a better chance being waitlisted under BXP1?
Thank you in advance. Would greatly appreciate the answer to one or both questions.
Secondly, if the family member is traveling with me on the same flight, is it better to link their pnr with mine (for sticker upg, I’m Plat); or do they stand a better chance being waitlisted under BXP1?
Thank you in advance. Would greatly appreciate the answer to one or both questions.
Aug 25, 2019, 9:52 am
#963
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,372
Hey all. Quick question ... can I apply a BXP1 to a family member’s reservation or it can only be used for myself?
Secondly, if the family member is traveling with me on the same flight, is it better to link their pnr with mine (for sticker upg, I’m Plat); or do they stand a better chance being waitlisted under BXP1?
Thank you in advance. Would greatly appreciate the answer to one or both questions.
Secondly, if the family member is traveling with me on the same flight, is it better to link their pnr with mine (for sticker upg, I’m Plat); or do they stand a better chance being waitlisted under BXP1?
Thank you in advance. Would greatly appreciate the answer to one or both questions.
BXP1s are an annoying thing if you can't find C inventory and clear in advance. For one thing, someone noted upthread that they might be a lower priority than complimentary upgrades now (not sure if that has happened). The bigger problem is that gate agents don't know how to work with them.
I would say waitlist with the BXP1 for now in case C inventory opens up. Keep checking, or set an EF alert. As it gets closer to the upgrade window, based on the route, time, etc. and your likelihood to clear a comp upgrade (e.g. a Thursday late afternoon JFK-LAX transcon will be a tall order, but a LGA-DTW would probably be easy to clear), I might list them as a companion for the 500-mile upgrade with you.
Either way, you should link the PNRs in case of IRROPS. This is different than having them as a companion for the upgrade. Just call and let them know that you are traveling together, and they will note in each of the reservations that the other PNR "completes party."
Aug 25, 2019, 1:17 pm
#964
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
Hey all. Quick question ... can I apply a BXP1 to a family member’s reservation or it can only be used for myself?
Secondly, if the family member is traveling with me on the same flight, is it better to link their pnr with mine (for sticker upg, I’m Plat); or do they stand a better chance being waitlisted under BXP1?
Thank you in advance. Would greatly appreciate the answer to one or both questions.
Secondly, if the family member is traveling with me on the same flight, is it better to link their pnr with mine (for sticker upg, I’m Plat); or do they stand a better chance being waitlisted under BXP1?
Thank you in advance. Would greatly appreciate the answer to one or both questions.
You enter the Aadvantage number and contact info of someone to manage the BE account, but that doesn't limit awards to that person
Aug 26, 2019, 1:34 pm
#965
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 268
Best way to book?
I've got some points expiring at the end of this year.
I have an opportunity to use those points by redeeming for a BXP1 (one segment upgrade) for 2 one-way tickets in 2020.
I have verified that the flight I want has (2) C-buckets available via expertflyer.
The rate on AA's website is on the "restricted" fare for like $294, but i used itamatrix thingy to exclude those and found a "G" fare for $339
1) I use the website to redeem the points for two certificates for the award, yes?
2) I then call aa.com (Meeting services desk) and feed them the itinerary I want and mention the "G" fare?
3) They apply the certs?
That's it?
I imagine that if flight schedule changes (quite possibly this far out) and either equipment downgrade, etc. I can cancel and get the cert re-issued (with 12 months from date of re-issuance?) to use, or try to find another flight that'll work?
Sorry for the dumb questions, I thought I read the wiki through but wanted to make sure I was properly understanding things.
I have an opportunity to use those points by redeeming for a BXP1 (one segment upgrade) for 2 one-way tickets in 2020.
I have verified that the flight I want has (2) C-buckets available via expertflyer.
The rate on AA's website is on the "restricted" fare for like $294, but i used itamatrix thingy to exclude those and found a "G" fare for $339
1) I use the website to redeem the points for two certificates for the award, yes?
2) I then call aa.com (Meeting services desk) and feed them the itinerary I want and mention the "G" fare?
3) They apply the certs?
That's it?
I imagine that if flight schedule changes (quite possibly this far out) and either equipment downgrade, etc. I can cancel and get the cert re-issued (with 12 months from date of re-issuance?) to use, or try to find another flight that'll work?
Sorry for the dumb questions, I thought I read the wiki through but wanted to make sure I was properly understanding things.
Aug 26, 2019, 1:57 pm
#966
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,456
I've got some points expiring at the end of this year.
I have an opportunity to use those points by redeeming for a BXP1 (one segment upgrade) for 2 one-way tickets in 2020.
I have verified that the flight I want has (2) C-buckets available via expertflyer.
The rate on AA's website is on the "restricted" fare for like $294, but i used itamatrix thingy to exclude those and found a "G" fare for $339
1) I use the website to redeem the points for two certificates for the award, yes?
2) I then call aa.com (Meeting services desk) and feed them the itinerary I want and mention the "G" fare?
3) They apply the certs?
That's it?
I imagine that if flight schedule changes (quite possibly this far out) and either equipment downgrade, etc. I can cancel and get the cert re-issued (with 12 months from date of re-issuance?) to use, or try to find another flight that'll work?
Sorry for the dumb questions, I thought I read the wiki through but wanted to make sure I was properly understanding things.
I have an opportunity to use those points by redeeming for a BXP1 (one segment upgrade) for 2 one-way tickets in 2020.
I have verified that the flight I want has (2) C-buckets available via expertflyer.
The rate on AA's website is on the "restricted" fare for like $294, but i used itamatrix thingy to exclude those and found a "G" fare for $339
1) I use the website to redeem the points for two certificates for the award, yes?
2) I then call aa.com (Meeting services desk) and feed them the itinerary I want and mention the "G" fare?
3) They apply the certs?
That's it?
I imagine that if flight schedule changes (quite possibly this far out) and either equipment downgrade, etc. I can cancel and get the cert re-issued (with 12 months from date of re-issuance?) to use, or try to find another flight that'll work?
Sorry for the dumb questions, I thought I read the wiki through but wanted to make sure I was properly understanding things.
1) Call the normal AA reservations number, confirm the G fare, and book the ticket (in economy). Also ask the agent to confirm that there is C space available on the flight.
2) Go to the BE website and redeem for 2 BXP1 certificates.
3) Call Meeting Services and ask them to apply the certificates to the flights you just booked.
For schedule changes or equipment changes etc. in advance you typically have a lot of flexibility to change to new flights that work, keeping your upgrade in place.
Aug 26, 2019, 2:25 pm
#967
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: The FT AA forum, until it no longer wants me.
Programs: CK or bust
Posts: 1,913
I would go about it this way:
1) Call the normal AA reservations number, confirm the G fare, and book the ticket (in economy). Also ask the agent to confirm that there is C space available on the flight.
2) Go to the BE website and redeem for 2 BXP1 certificates.
3) Call Meeting Services and ask them to apply the certificates to the flights you just booked.
For schedule changes or equipment changes etc. in advance you typically have a lot of flexibility to change to new flights that work, keeping your upgrade in place.
1) Call the normal AA reservations number, confirm the G fare, and book the ticket (in economy). Also ask the agent to confirm that there is C space available on the flight.
2) Go to the BE website and redeem for 2 BXP1 certificates.
3) Call Meeting Services and ask them to apply the certificates to the flights you just booked.
For schedule changes or equipment changes etc. in advance you typically have a lot of flexibility to change to new flights that work, keeping your upgrade in place.
Aug 27, 2019, 12:09 am
#968
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: North America
Posts: 2,265
Thank you very much @DMPHL for the thorough and informative response. Much appreciated!
It’s AA166 on 9/4 SFO<>JFK which is a crapshoot all around for a Plat and so I booked the lowest non-BE economy fare and requested upgrades. Expecting NADA! 😂
It’s AA166 on 9/4 SFO<>JFK which is a crapshoot all around for a Plat and so I booked the lowest non-BE economy fare and requested upgrades. Expecting NADA! 😂
You can apply a BXP1 to a family member's reservation. Just make sure that the ticket is booked in G fare class or higher.
BXP1s are an annoying thing if you can't find C inventory and clear in advance. For one thing, someone noted upthread that they might be a lower priority than complimentary upgrades now (not sure if that has happened). The bigger problem is that gate agents don't know how to work with them.
I would say waitlist with the BXP1 for now in case C inventory opens up. Keep checking, or set an EF alert. As it gets closer to the upgrade window, based on the route, time, etc. and your likelihood to clear a comp upgrade (e.g. a Thursday late afternoon JFK-LAX transcon will be a tall order, but a LGA-DTW would probably be easy to clear), I might list them as a companion for the 500-mile upgrade with you.
Either way, you should link the PNRs in case of IRROPS. This is different than having them as a companion for the upgrade. Just call and let them know that you are traveling together, and they will note in each of the reservations that the other PNR "completes party."
BXP1s are an annoying thing if you can't find C inventory and clear in advance. For one thing, someone noted upthread that they might be a lower priority than complimentary upgrades now (not sure if that has happened). The bigger problem is that gate agents don't know how to work with them.
I would say waitlist with the BXP1 for now in case C inventory opens up. Keep checking, or set an EF alert. As it gets closer to the upgrade window, based on the route, time, etc. and your likelihood to clear a comp upgrade (e.g. a Thursday late afternoon JFK-LAX transcon will be a tall order, but a LGA-DTW would probably be easy to clear), I might list them as a companion for the 500-mile upgrade with you.
Either way, you should link the PNRs in case of IRROPS. This is different than having them as a companion for the upgrade. Just call and let them know that you are traveling together, and they will note in each of the reservations that the other PNR "completes party."
Aug 28, 2019, 4:07 pm
#969
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 129
I'm racking my head what to do with 850ish expiring points. I really have no status with AA so I was leaning towards either 1 segment upgrade or 2 lounge passes. I do have priority pass membership and SFO is my home airport so I'm not sure how valuable 2 lounge passes are if AA isn't my most commonly flown airlines.
I was thinking of a transcon upgrade from economy to business from SFO to JFK but I don't see many spots available for upgrade when I called in on one or two flights. As I don't have expert flyer, am I able to ascertain spots if I look for open business mile-saver awards or are upgrades still an entirely different beast?
Sorry for the questions, just trying to figure out what to do.
I was thinking of a transcon upgrade from economy to business from SFO to JFK but I don't see many spots available for upgrade when I called in on one or two flights. As I don't have expert flyer, am I able to ascertain spots if I look for open business mile-saver awards or are upgrades still an entirely different beast?
Sorry for the questions, just trying to figure out what to do.
Aug 28, 2019, 5:02 pm
#970
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,456
I'm racking my head what to do with 850ish expiring points. I really have no status with AA so I was leaning towards either 1 segment upgrade or 2 lounge passes. I do have priority pass membership and SFO is my home airport so I'm not sure how valuable 2 lounge passes are if AA isn't my most commonly flown airlines.
I was thinking of a transcon upgrade from economy to business from SFO to JFK but I don't see many spots available for upgrade when I called in on one or two flights. As I don't have expert flyer, am I able to ascertain spots if I look for open business mile-saver awards or are upgrades still an entirely different beast?
Sorry for the questions, just trying to figure out what to do.
I was thinking of a transcon upgrade from economy to business from SFO to JFK but I don't see many spots available for upgrade when I called in on one or two flights. As I don't have expert flyer, am I able to ascertain spots if I look for open business mile-saver awards or are upgrades still an entirely different beast?
Sorry for the questions, just trying to figure out what to do.
Aug 29, 2019, 6:32 am
#971
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: 11,967
Does AA consider HKG to be part of China for Business Extra Asia awards between NA and Japan, Korea, and China?
Aug 29, 2019, 7:23 am
#972
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 268
I'm racking my head what to do with 850ish expiring points. I really have no status with AA so I was leaning towards either 1 segment upgrade or 2 lounge passes. I do have priority pass membership and SFO is my home airport so I'm not sure how valuable 2 lounge passes are if AA isn't my most commonly flown airlines.
I was thinking of a transcon upgrade from economy to business from SFO to JFK but I don't see many spots available for upgrade when I called in on one or two flights. As I don't have expert flyer, am I able to ascertain spots if I look for open business mile-saver awards or are upgrades still an entirely different beast?
Sorry for the questions, just trying to figure out what to do.
I was thinking of a transcon upgrade from economy to business from SFO to JFK but I don't see many spots available for upgrade when I called in on one or two flights. As I don't have expert flyer, am I able to ascertain spots if I look for open business mile-saver awards or are upgrades still an entirely different beast?
Sorry for the questions, just trying to figure out what to do.
You could use a domestic upgrade for 650 points, if you can find something.
If you PM me for your desired dates, I could check expert flyer for you.
Aug 29, 2019, 10:27 am
#973
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 129
Upgrade space is different from business sAAver space, although if you see sAAver space it can be a decently good indication that upgrade space is there too. There are a lot more instances though where AA might release upgrade space but no business sAAver space, so you will potentially he missing out on some options.
I'm not an expert on this, but if I read the Wiki correctly, the BXP upgrades (but I didn't think that 850 points would cover you, I thought it was 1,200 points), it requires "C" bucket fare and also excludes a bunch of the lower fare codes as well.
You could use a domestic upgrade for 650 points, if you can find something.
If you PM me for your desired dates, I could check expert flyer for you.
You could use a domestic upgrade for 650 points, if you can find something.
If you PM me for your desired dates, I could check expert flyer for you.
Edit: Oh finally found the area where you can search for farecodes on ita-matrix I think!
Edit... I really should read the wiki a little more closely -_-;
Edit: Okay, from ITA matrix, I think the cheapest upgradeable economy is fare code G for around $247 from my search (there's no way to input all the different fare code combinations right? I was only able to search them individually) on applicable days that I was considering. Is there a price chart history search tool for fare codes?
Last edited by buggy51; Aug 29, 2019 at 11:49 am
Aug 29, 2019, 12:05 pm
#974
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 268
Thanks for the info! I thought the sAAver space award would be a good work around if I didn't have expert flyer though ... guess its not that easy haha. I had a few people offer help in regards with expert flyer in seeing if there are upgrade space. Thank you!
Yeah I was looking at domestic since I don't have anything close to the required points for international (nor do I really fly a high cost amount on AA domestically to try to boost my extra points for the end of the year). Currently as I have mentioned getting some help and we're seeing a possible spot flying back from JFK to SFO just gotta see how expensive the non B/N/O/Q/S fares are. I believe I'd have to call AA unless there's another way for me to search that without asking.
Edit: Oh finally found the area where you can search for farecodes on ita-matrix I think!
Edit... I really should read the wiki a little more closely -_-;
Edit: Okay, from ITA matrix, I think the cheapest upgradeable economy is fare code G for around $247 from my search (there's no way to input all the different fare code combinations right? I was only able to search them individually) on applicable days that I was considering. Is there a price chart history search tool for fare codes?
Yeah I was looking at domestic since I don't have anything close to the required points for international (nor do I really fly a high cost amount on AA domestically to try to boost my extra points for the end of the year). Currently as I have mentioned getting some help and we're seeing a possible spot flying back from JFK to SFO just gotta see how expensive the non B/N/O/Q/S fares are. I believe I'd have to call AA unless there's another way for me to search that without asking.
Edit: Oh finally found the area where you can search for farecodes on ita-matrix I think!
Edit... I really should read the wiki a little more closely -_-;
Edit: Okay, from ITA matrix, I think the cheapest upgradeable economy is fare code G for around $247 from my search (there's no way to input all the different fare code combinations right? I was only able to search them individually) on applicable days that I was considering. Is there a price chart history search tool for fare codes?
"G" fares appear to be the cheapest economy "eligible" ticket.
At that point you could call AA and inquire about the "C" fare buckets. That they would definitely know, as they should be able to tell you if the BXP1 is "waitlisted" or not. If not waitlisted, then I believe there's C buckets (typically 2?), but if they've been used, then you will be waitlisted, AFAIK.
Good luck!
Aug 29, 2019, 1:14 pm
#975
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 129
LOL, no worries. If you've figured out the itamatrix thingy, you're seeing the same thing I am:
"G" fares appear to be the cheapest economy "eligible" ticket.
At that point you could call AA and inquire about the "C" fare buckets. That they would definitely know, as they should be able to tell you if the BXP1 is "waitlisted" or not. If not waitlisted, then I believe there's C buckets (typically 2?), but if they've been used, then you will be waitlisted, AFAIK.
Good luck!
"G" fares appear to be the cheapest economy "eligible" ticket.
At that point you could call AA and inquire about the "C" fare buckets. That they would definitely know, as they should be able to tell you if the BXP1 is "waitlisted" or not. If not waitlisted, then I believe there's C buckets (typically 2?), but if they've been used, then you will be waitlisted, AFAIK.
Good luck!
Also do you get lounge benefits if you get said ticket?