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Note: older posts have been archived to ARCHIVE: Business Extra Program master thread (consolidated)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)
Jan 26, 2019, 7:33 pm
#781
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Kamuela, HI
Programs: AA-Plat
Posts: 462
I am hoping someone with ExpertFlyer access can help. I am looking at booking JFK-LAX on June 16 (2 passengers) and was hoping to use BXP1 upgrades to get business class. Since it is a Sunday and Father's Day, the load looks lighter than normal.
LAX is not our final destination on this run, so if that option is not available, we will take the JFK-DFW flight which is a bit shorter of a flight for an MCE seat.
LAX is not our final destination on this run, so if that option is not available, we will take the JFK-DFW flight which is a bit shorter of a flight for an MCE seat.
Last edited by hawaii-bound; Jan 26, 2019 at 7:37 pm Reason: Correction
Jan 26, 2019, 8:19 pm
#782
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 am hoping someone with ExpertFlyer access can help. I am looking at booking JFK-LAX on June 16 (2 passengers) and was hoping to use BXP1 upgrades to get business class. Since it is a Sunday and Father's Day, the load looks lighter than normal.
LAX is not our final destination on this run, so if that option is not available, we will take the JFK-DFW flight which is a bit shorter of a flight for an MCE seat.
LAX is not our final destination on this run, so if that option is not available, we will take the JFK-DFW flight which is a bit shorter of a flight for an MCE seat.
Jan 27, 2019, 6:46 am
#784
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,419
I am hoping someone with ExpertFlyer access can help. I am looking at booking JFK-LAX on June 16 (2 passengers) and was hoping to use BXP1 upgrades to get business class. Since it is a Sunday and Father's Day, the load looks lighter than normal.
LAX is not our final destination on this run, so if that option is not available, we will take the JFK-DFW flight which is a bit shorter of a flight for an MCE seat.
LAX is not our final destination on this run, so if that option is not available, we will take the JFK-DFW flight which is a bit shorter of a flight for an MCE seat.
Jan 27, 2019, 11:23 am
#785
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Kamuela, HI
Programs: AA-Plat
Posts: 462
Thank you for checking - I did expect that to be the case, but was hoping since it was an early morning Sunday flight. Rather than chance it, I will book though DFW - sitting MCE is preferable on a 4 hour flight.
Jan 28, 2019, 4:59 pm
#786
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: LAS, ZQN
Programs: UA PP (2MM), BA gold
Posts: 2,193
New to this Biz Extra and chose award for domestic biz (2 cabin). Called designated line to book starting December and not available on many chosen possible trips. OK- I asked for the details and informed need to have "U" on all segments. Finally found a ticket to book and called this morning. PSP-ORD and told not available. I gave the person the flights PSP-DFW-ORD and was told yes- "ok, and the return date/" Provided the date and informed not available. Gave the flights ORD-PHX-PSP I saw "U" available and told yes and booked. I asked why she could not see what I did to tell me was not available and got a ridiculous answer that she would have to look at each flight of the day. Did I just get a lazy person or is there something I should be aware for future?
Jan 28, 2019, 5:15 pm
#787
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,419
New to this Biz Extra and chose award for domestic biz (2 cabin). Called designated line to book starting December and not available on many chosen possible trips. OK- I asked for the details and informed need to have "U" on all segments. Finally found a ticket to book and called this morning. PSP-ORD and told not available. I gave the person the flights PSP-DFW-ORD and was told yes- "ok, and the return date/" Provided the date and informed not available. Gave the flights ORD-PHX-PSP I saw "U" available and told yes and booked. I asked why she could not see what I did to tell me was not available and got a ridiculous answer that she would have to look at each flight of the day. Did I just get a lazy person or is there something I should be aware for future?
Whenever I book BE awards, I always put the award flights on hold at aa.com, then call meeting services and have them book it as a BE award. If they start giving you what seems like nonsense, HUCA.
Jan 28, 2019, 8:42 pm
#788
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: LAS, ZQN
Programs: UA PP (2MM), BA gold
Posts: 2,193
The meeting services reps are no different from your basic AA phone agents, i.e. some are ok but others are poorly trained and/or have no idea what they're doing. If you read back over posts in this thread over the past few months there are lots of examples of award flights being available at aa.com yet the meeting services reps can't book them for BE awards for whatever reason, while you can HUCA and the next rep will have no problem booking it. HUCA is key.
Whenever I book BE awards, I always put the award flights on hold at aa.com, then call meeting services and have them book it as a BE award. If they start giving you what seems like nonsense, HUCA.
Whenever I book BE awards, I always put the award flights on hold at aa.com, then call meeting services and have them book it as a BE award. If they start giving you what seems like nonsense, HUCA.
Feb 1, 2019, 10:01 am
#789
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: Once a somebody now a nobody
Posts: 514
Apologies if this was covered upstream somewhere, but can someone tell me where BXP1'a would be in the upgrade hierarchy at the gate? I currently have zero status and < $1k in rolling EQD. It's a SFO-ORD late afternoon flight so I figure if it goes to the gate F will probably be sold out anyways. Just want know if I have little chance or no chance. Thanks!
Feb 1, 2019, 10:33 am
#790
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, SC
Programs: AA Plat, SPG/Marriot Gold, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Expl
Posts: 2,363
Apologies if this was covered upstream somewhere, but can someone tell me where BXP1'a would be in the upgrade hierarchy at the gate? I currently have zero status and < $1k in rolling EQD. It's a SFO-ORD late afternoon flight so I figure if it goes to the gate F will probably be sold out anyways. Just want know if I have little chance or no chance. Thanks!
That will be an entirely separate ranking from anyone waiting on an elite/500-cert upgrade, which comes out of a separate inventory (R, I think). It's quite possible AA never opens up C, and everyone on the elite upgrade clears and you fly in the back (which has been my experience). *If* C opens up, you'll clear if there are no elites ahead of you.
Feb 1, 2019, 11:21 am
#791
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: Once a somebody now a nobody
Posts: 514
BXP1 requires C inventory, and you'd be ranked according to your status and rolling EQDs over the past 12 months among anyone else wait-listed for C.
That will be an entirely separate ranking from anyone waiting on an elite/500-cert upgrade, which comes out of a separate inventory (R, I think). It's quite possible AA never opens up C, and everyone on the elite upgrade clears and you fly in the back (which has been my experience). *If* C opens up, you'll clear if there are no elites ahead of you.
That will be an entirely separate ranking from anyone waiting on an elite/500-cert upgrade, which comes out of a separate inventory (R, I think). It's quite possible AA never opens up C, and everyone on the elite upgrade clears and you fly in the back (which has been my experience). *If* C opens up, you'll clear if there are no elites ahead of you.
Feb 1, 2019, 3:10 pm
#793
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: DSM
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Fairmont Platinum, United Silver, National Exec
Posts: 1,035
I'm curious if there's ever been an immediate change in the Business Extra redemption chart? Meaning, more BE points were required for an award without advanced warning? I ask because I'm holding points for a trip in 2020 or 2021 but don't want a surprise in points needed for my trip.
Feb 1, 2019, 4:09 pm
#794
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: BA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,254
I'm curious if there's ever been an immediate change in the Business Extra redemption chart? Meaning, more BE points were required for an award without advanced warning? I ask because I'm holding points for a trip in 2020 or 2021 but don't want a surprise in points needed for my trip.
Feb 1, 2019, 6:57 pm
#795
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: 6,656
I'm curious if there's ever been an immediate change in the Business Extra redemption chart? Meaning, more BE points were required for an award without advanced warning? I ask because I'm holding points for a trip in 2020 or 2021 but don't want a surprise in points needed for my trip.
As soon as you have the points, probably best to redeem if it's something big like TATL F.
