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Note: older posts have been archived to ARCHIVE: Business Extra Program master thread (consolidated)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 20, 2018, 6:16 pm
#736
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: Alaska Gold 75K, AA EXP, United 1K
Posts: 472
Has anyone had experience exchanging paper certs for electronic ones? What happens to the expiration? I have some paper certs expiring 12/31/18 and hoping they can swap them out for electronic ones that expire next year.
Dec 21, 2018, 1:41 am
#737
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: 6,670
They should just give you points back, not new certificates. I cashed in 6 of them no problem in June. IIRC, the points had the same far off expiration as new points but someone else should confirm.
Dec 21, 2018, 2:12 am
#738
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: DTW / SJC
Programs: AA EXP, DL DM, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 764
I just called in about an expiring paper certificate a few hours ago, got 650 points expiring 12/31/2020.
Dec 21, 2018, 1:02 pm
#740
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA GGL, A3 Gold, M&M SEN, FlyingBlue Gold, AS MVP Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Amb
Posts: 902
Dec 21, 2018, 7:26 pm
#741
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: PHX
Programs: AA PLT, Ent PLT
Posts: 57
Dec 27, 2018, 12:19 am
#742
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, AVIS President's Club, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 50
Where does it say "waived for EXP" on the website?
You wrote in Oct 26, 18, 1:45 pm - Wikipost "Returning Unused Awards - Electronic Flight Awards may be returned free of charge within 5 calendar days of redemption. All other unused awards may be returned for a $150 fee (waived for AAdvantage Executive Platinum members)" but it does not say that on https://www.businessextra.com/faq.htm
Dec 27, 2018, 1:00 am
#743
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
It's covered on the AA website under elite benefits:
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...s-benefits.jsp
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...s-benefits.jsp
AAdvantage® award change and reinstatement charge waived
Charges will be waived for Executive Platinum members when:- Reinstating a fully unused award ticket that hasn't expired
- Changing a date or eligible origin/destination on a MileSAAver or AAnytime award when using miles from your account
Dec 27, 2018, 1:04 am
#744
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, AVIS President's Club, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 50
Thanks for the response but what you stated is for AAdvantage award, the link I listed is for Business Extraa. I asked the question in the BusinessExtraa section of the thread but don't know why it posted it elsewhere.
Dec 27, 2018, 8:25 am
#745
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
You wrote in Oct 26, 18, 1:45 pm - Wikipost "Returning Unused Awards - Electronic Flight Awards may be returned free of charge within 5 calendar days of redemption. All other unused awards may be returned for a $150 fee (waived for AAdvantage Executive Platinum members)" but it does not say that on https://www.businessextra.com/faq.htm
Your next step is probably calling AA.
We have merged the stand-alone thread you posted into the Business Extra thread. Moderator
Dec 27, 2018, 9:21 am
#746
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, AVIS President's Club, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 50
Thanks for the reply. I have called BusinessExtraa many times over many years and I just called them again just now and asked "is the $150 fee waived for EXP?" and the answer is always the same "The $150 fee applies to everyone. There is no exception for EXP". You can call them yourselves to verify. A moderator may wish to delete the language in the Wiki post "...(waived for AAdvantage Executive Platinum members)" because what is written is not correct.
Dec 27, 2018, 9:33 am
#747
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: BA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,260
Thanks for the reply. I have called BusinessExtraa many times over many years and I just called them again just now and asked "is the $150 fee waived for EXP?" and the answer is always the same "The $150 fee applies to everyone. There is no exception for EXP". You can call them yourselves to verify. A moderator may wish to delete the language in the Wiki post "...(waived for AAdvantage Executive Platinum members)" because what is written is not correct.
Dec 27, 2018, 9:48 am
#748
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SNA
Posts: 18,240
The husband's company just gifted him one of their one year AC memberships. He renewed in September with personal miles. Will this year tack on to the end of that?
Edit- update, it will! Yay!
Edit- update, it will! Yay!
Last edited by VickiSoCal; Dec 27, 2018 at 6:55 pm
Dec 27, 2018, 6:06 pm
#750
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: BA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,260