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Note: older posts have been archived to ARCHIVE: Business Extra Program master thread (consolidated)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)
Sep 27, 2019 | 9:17 pm
#1021
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: Alaska Gold 75K, AA EXP, United 1K
Posts: 484
Does anyone have data points on if someone waitlisted for a BXP1 cert upgrade would trump others with their same elite status, similar to how a miles/copay trumps others within your status, even if they have higher rolling spend? For example, if I'm #3 among EXPs on an upgrade list and waitlist with a BXP1, would that move me to the top of the list, assuming there are no EXPs waitlisted to upgrade with miles/copay or system wides?
Sep 27, 2019 | 9:47 pm
#1022
Moderator: Hyatt Gold Passport & Star Alliance
Join Date: May 1998
Location: London, UK
Programs: UA-1K 3MM/HY- LT Globalist/BA-GGLfL
Posts: 12,761
Took an hour on the phone last night to get a BXP3 applied to an International AA ticket. Agent was pleasant enough but had to get her help desk to assist her. It's all done now, but seems that if the system doesn't do the upgrade automatically then they have to refer the booking.
Sep 28, 2019 | 9:59 pm
#1023
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
Took an hour on the phone last night to get a BXP3 applied to an International AA ticket. Agent was pleasant enough but had to get her help desk to assist her. It's all done now, but seems that if the system doesn't do the upgrade automatically then they have to refer the booking.
Sep 28, 2019 | 10:08 pm
#1024
Moderator: Hyatt Gold Passport & Star Alliance
Join Date: May 1998
Location: London, UK
Programs: UA-1K 3MM/HY- LT Globalist/BA-GGLfL
Posts: 12,761
Yikes. I, on the other hand, just had the fastest BXP application ever -- very pleased with the new online redemption/booking tool. Less than 60 seconds to redeem the points, look up my booking, copy-paste the authorization code, and confirm the upgrade. Thrilled to get JFK-LAX in Flagship F (upgraded from J) for $659 on a weekday. Best value in the sky.
Sep 30, 2019 | 4:47 am
#1025
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Boston, USA
Programs: AA EXP, TK Elite, HH Gold, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 939
I have a ticket with my son. I am EXP and he is not. To request BXP1 upgrade, will I need to separate the
booking ? I am currently waitlisted for auto upgrade and he is waitlisted on stickers. I would rather not
buy stickers and use available BXP1...Please advise.
booking ? I am currently waitlisted for auto upgrade and he is waitlisted on stickers. I would rather not
buy stickers and use available BXP1...Please advise.
Sep 30, 2019 | 6:40 pm
#1026
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 705
If it is less than two stickers, I would just buy them. BXP1s are more valuable than that, IMO.
Oct 1, 2019 | 4:43 pm
#1027
Join Date: Jun 2017
Programs: aa
Posts: 1
Biz Extra vs EXP Upgrades
Community - I am an AA EXP. I also have a lot of these biz extra upgrade certs. my question is what ranks higher when AA does upgrades - my exec plat status or a biz extra upgrade? I don't want to use/waste the biz extra upgrade coupons if my exp status always trumps the biz extra. appreciate your guidance. thanks.
Oct 1, 2019 | 4:46 pm
#1028
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 15,178
Community - I am an AA EXP. I also have a lot of these biz extra upgrade certs. my question is what ranks higher when AA does upgrades - my exec plat status or a biz extra upgrade? I don't want to use/waste the biz extra upgrade coupons if my exp status always trumps the biz extra. appreciate your guidance. thanks.
Oct 1, 2019 | 6:08 pm
#1029
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 705
Personally I only use the Biz Extra upgrade certificates to "lock in" the upgrade if C space is available. No sense in waitlisting the BXP1 as I believe its now lower in priority than the SWU and 500 mi upgrades from similar status levels.
Oct 3, 2019 | 7:25 am
#1030
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 268
So I recently booked a "G" econ fare and then waitlisted a BXP1 upgrade (flight is for 5/1/20).
At the time I asked the Meeting Services rep if they would email if the waitlist clears and she said no, but that I could check-online and see if I was upgraded.
I checked twice, and yesterday, I noticed I was now in Business class, even though EF shows (I had an alert setup) zero C fare buckets available.
Anyway, it let me pick my First (oh sorry, business now on domestic) seat, so I'm assuming that the upgrade *HAS* Cleared and that I won't be bumped?
At the time I asked the Meeting Services rep if they would email if the waitlist clears and she said no, but that I could check-online and see if I was upgraded.
I checked twice, and yesterday, I noticed I was now in Business class, even though EF shows (I had an alert setup) zero C fare buckets available.
Anyway, it let me pick my First (oh sorry, business now on domestic) seat, so I'm assuming that the upgrade *HAS* Cleared and that I won't be bumped?
Oct 3, 2019 | 11:04 am
#1031
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,424
So I recently booked a "G" econ fare and then waitlisted a BXP1 upgrade (flight is for 5/1/20).
At the time I asked the Meeting Services rep if they would email if the waitlist clears and she said no, but that I could check-online and see if I was upgraded.
I checked twice, and yesterday, I noticed I was now in Business class, even though EF shows (I had an alert setup) zero C fare buckets available.
Anyway, it let me pick my First (oh sorry, business now on domestic) seat, so I'm assuming that the upgrade *HAS* Cleared and that I won't be bumped?
At the time I asked the Meeting Services rep if they would email if the waitlist clears and she said no, but that I could check-online and see if I was upgraded.
I checked twice, and yesterday, I noticed I was now in Business class, even though EF shows (I had an alert setup) zero C fare buckets available.
Anyway, it let me pick my First (oh sorry, business now on domestic) seat, so I'm assuming that the upgrade *HAS* Cleared and that I won't be bumped?
Oct 7, 2019 | 5:48 pm
#1032
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 22
I saw an old post from 2015 saying you could get around Business Extra point expiration by redeeming for something (it wasn't clear, maybe an upgrade cert.) then returning that award after the new year... The returned points will take on the new year expiration? Anyone have any more recent data points?
(I tried to search this thread, but didn't see anything - sorry if I missed it).
(I tried to search this thread, but didn't see anything - sorry if I missed it).
Oct 7, 2019 | 5:55 pm
#1033
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: PHX
Programs: AA PLT, Ent PLT
Posts: 57
I saw an old post from 2015 saying you could get around Business Extra point expiration by redeeming for something (it wasn't clear, maybe an upgrade cert.) then returning that award after the new year... The returned points will take on the new year expiration? Anyone have any more recent data points?
(I tried to search this thread, but didn't see anything - sorry if I missed it).
(I tried to search this thread, but didn't see anything - sorry if I missed it).
Oct 8, 2019 | 10:23 am
#1034
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: Once a somebody now a nobody
Posts: 593
Here's a new one for me. I upgraded a ORD-MCO flight with a BXP1 at time of purchase and everything looked good. I chose a seat in First class and the reservation said ticketed. Today I checked the reservation and it shows as Business Class with the same seat. The weird part is I'm getting the TOD upgrade option....$156 to move to First class. While I wish they ran the 321T's on the Mickey Mouse runs, that is not the case.
I called Web Support and they said the ticket needs to be reissued. They connected me to Meeting Services who said Web Support was wrong and the ticket was fine. While I want to trust Meeting Services, I seem to have issues every time I upgrade with a BXP1.
Has anyone had this same issue and is there any clear cut way to tell if the ticket IS correctly reissued? Last time I had an issue using BXP1's I had to HUCA 3 times before someone could actually see an issue with my ticket and reissue correctly (so i could checkin online).
I called Web Support and they said the ticket needs to be reissued. They connected me to Meeting Services who said Web Support was wrong and the ticket was fine. While I want to trust Meeting Services, I seem to have issues every time I upgrade with a BXP1.
Has anyone had this same issue and is there any clear cut way to tell if the ticket IS correctly reissued? Last time I had an issue using BXP1's I had to HUCA 3 times before someone could actually see an issue with my ticket and reissue correctly (so i could checkin online).
Oct 8, 2019 | 10:30 am
#1035
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 15,178
Here's a new one for me. I upgraded a ORD-MCO flight with a BXP1 at time of purchase and everything looked good. I chose a seat in First class and the reservation said ticketed. Today I checked the reservation and it shows as Business Class with the same seat. The weird part is I'm getting the TOD upgrade option....$156 to move to First class. While I wish they ran the 321T's on the Mickey Mouse runs, that is not the case.
I called Web Support and they said the ticket needs to be reissued. They connected me to Meeting Services who said Web Support was wrong and the ticket was fine. While I want to trust Meeting Services, I seem to have issues every time I upgrade with a BXP1.
Has anyone had this same issue and is there any clear cut way to tell if the ticket IS correctly reissued? Last time I had an issue using BXP1's I had to HUCA 3 times before someone could actually see an issue with my ticket and reissue correctly (so i could checkin online).
I called Web Support and they said the ticket needs to be reissued. They connected me to Meeting Services who said Web Support was wrong and the ticket was fine. While I want to trust Meeting Services, I seem to have issues every time I upgrade with a BXP1.
Has anyone had this same issue and is there any clear cut way to tell if the ticket IS correctly reissued? Last time I had an issue using BXP1's I had to HUCA 3 times before someone could actually see an issue with my ticket and reissue correctly (so i could checkin online).
AA recently started calling domestic first class business, and it appears there have been some hiccups in the changeover. This looks like an IT glitch where the TOD system is out of sync and still thinks "First" is the highest class of service on a normal domestic flight, rather than "Business."
Domestic First Rebranded Business o/a Sep 2019