Best American Airlines Business Extra Points Redemption
You earn American Airlines Business Extra points when you book your own tickets or others under a business account. You can sign up for a free account and then give out the number to your employees and have them add in the business extra number when booking on AA.com. Over the years of flying, I have accumulated a few points on that program. I just got an email saying about 2500 points would expire in a month. So naturally, I looked through all the options and what the best value was.
Upgrade and AAdvantage Redemptions:
At first glance, an international one-segment discount upgrade was 3100 points, while admirals club membership was around 2400 points. I would equate admirals club membership at 400 a year and a one-segment upgrade to be about $300 maximum. The highest value would clearly be the Admirals Club Membership.
The only real monetary benefit for gifting Gold Status (2400 points) would be for the extra 25% miles, but the only benefit occurs between the flyer’s 0-25000 miles before he/she gets gold status themselves (based on RDM earnings before mid 2016 when AA changes to revenue based). That is only about 6500 extra miles a person would earn, or about $65 worth of value. They would also earn 8 500-mi upgrades, or another $320 in value, for a total value of $385, just a bit lower than the Admirals Club Membership.
The one-segment domestic upgrade is an interesting redemption. This would only be beneficial for Platinums and Gold members, but at only 650 points for a one-segment upgrade, this would equate to a maximum of 5 500-mi upgrades, which can be valued at $200. You can get 5 of these one-segment upgrades in the place of an international upgrade (discount-fare), which can hold a theoretical value of $1000. For Platinum and Gold members, this is one of your best redemptions, unless you rather get an international award.
Award Redemptions
After looking at the chart and sorting by the best redemptions, the best redemption are all under 10k Business Extra Points. The only good redemption over 10k miles is for the Anytime Business or First award on AA between North America and South Pacific (18000 Business Extra Points for Business, worth 140k AA miles (value 7.78 miles/point), 25000 for First, worth 180k AA miles (value 7.2 mile/point).
Here are the best redemptions:
Between 0-5000 Points:
Within North America PlanAhead Award:
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | 2016 Chart | Miles/Point |
Coach | 2000 | BX1A | 12500 | 6.25 |
Business / First 2 class cabin flights | 3200 | BX1B | 25000 | 7.8125 |
First 3 class cabin flights | 4800 | BX1C | 50000 | 10.41667 |
Between North America and Hawaii PlanAhead Award
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | 2016 Chart | Miles/Point |
Coach | 3000 | BX2A | 22500 | 7.5 |
Business | 5400 | BX2B | 40000 | 7.407407 |
Between North America and Japan, China or South Korea PlanAhead Award
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | 2016 Chart | Miles/Point |
Coach | 4400 | BX7A | 35000 | 7.954545 |
Between North America and South Pacific PlanAhead Award
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | 2016 Chart | Miles/Point |
Coach | 4400 | BX9A | 35000 | 7.954545 |
Between 5000-10000 Points:
Between North America and Hawaii PlanAhead Award
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | 2016 Chart | Miles/Point |
Coach | 3000 | BX2A | 22500 | 7.5 |
Business | 5400 | BX2B | 40000 | 7.407407 |
Between North America and Europe:
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | 2016 Chart | Miles/Point |
Coach | 4400 | BX6A | 30000 | 6.818182 |
Business | 7200 | BX6B | 57500 | 7.986111 |
First | 10000 | BX6C | 85000 | 8.5 |
Between North America and Japan, China or South Korea
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | 2016 Chart | Miles/Point |
Coach | 4400 | BX7A | 35000 | 7.954545 |
Business | 7200 | BX7B | 60000 | 8.333333 |
First | 10000 | BX7C | 80000 | 8 |
Between North America and South Pacific PlanAhead Award
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | 2016 Chart | Miles/Point |
Coach | 4400 | BX9A | 35000 | 7.954545 |
Business | 7200 | BX9B | 70000 | 9.722222 |
First | 10000 | BX9C | 110000 | 11 |
Full Chart:
Below is the full Business Extra Award chart combined with the AA miles chart. The last two columns are the number of miles (based on the new 2016 award chart) needed for an equivalent Business Extra award, and then what the miles/point ratio is (higher is better). The highest AA miles to Business Extra point is 11.25, so that is a very good redemption.
Within North America | Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | 2016 Chart | Miles/Point |
PlanAhead | Coach | 2000 | BX1A | 12500 | 6.25 |
Business / First 2 class cabin flights | 3200 | BX1B | 25000 | 7.8125 | |
First 3 class cabin flights | 4800 | BX1C | 50000 | 10.41667 | |
Anytime | Coach | 5000 | BX1D | 20000 | 4 |
Business / First 2 class cabin flights | 8000 | BX1E | 45000 | 5.625 | |
First 3 class cabin flights | 12000 | BX1F | 85000 | 7.083333 | |
Shuttle between Boston, Washington Reagan and New York LaGuardia only | |||||
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | |||
PlanAhead | Coach | 1400 | BXS1 | 7500 | 5.357143 |
First Class | 2200 | BXS2 | 15000 | 6.818182 | |
Anytime | Coach | 2400 | BXS3 | 20000 | 8.333333 |
First | 4000 | BXS4 | 45000 | 11.25 | |
Between North America & Hawaii | |||||
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | |||
PlanAhead | Coach | 3000 | BX2A | 22500 | 7.5 |
Business | 5400 | BX2B | 40000 | 7.407407 | |
Anytime | Coach | 7500 | BX2D | 40000 | 5.333333 |
Business | 13500 | BX2E | 67500 | 5 | |
Between North America & Caribbean | |||||
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | |||
PlanAhead | Coach | 2400 | BX3A | 15000 | 6.25 |
Business | 4800 | BX3B | 25000 | 5.208333 | |
Anytime | Coach | 6000 | BX3D | 27500 | 4.583333 |
Business | 12000 | BX3E | 50000 | 4.166667 | |
Between North America & Central or South America Zone 1 | |||||
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | |||
PlanAhead | Coach | 3000 | BX4A | 20000 | 6.666667 |
Business | 5400 | BX4B | 30000 | 5.555556 | |
Anytime | Coach | 7500 | BX4D | 35000 | 4.666667 |
Business | 13500 | BX4E | 65000 | 4.814815 | |
Between North America & South America Zone 2 | |||||
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | |||
PlanAhead | Coach | 4400 | BX5A | 30000 | 6.818182 |
Business | 7200 | BX5B | 57500 | 7.986111 | |
First | 10000 | BX5C | 85000 | 8.5 | |
Anytime | Coach | 11000 | BX5D | 55000 | 5 |
Business | 18000 | BX5E | 110000 | 6.111111 | |
First | 25000 | BX5F | 160000 | 6.4 | |
Between North America & Europe | |||||
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | |||
PlanAhead | Coach | 4400 | BX6A | 30000 | 6.818182 |
Business | 7200 | BX6B | 57500 | 7.986111 | |
First | 10000 | BX6C | 85000 | 8.5 | |
Anytime | Coach | 11000 | BX6D | 47500 | 4.318182 |
Business | 18000 | BX6E | 110000 | 6.111111 | |
First | 25000 | BX6F | 140000 | 5.6 | |
Between North America & Japan or China or South Korea | |||||
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | |||
PlanAhead | Coach | 4400 | BX7A | 35000 | 7.954545 |
Business | 7200 | BX7B | 60000 | 8.333333 | |
First | 10000 | BX7C | 80000 | 8 | |
Anytime | Coach | 11000 | BX7D | 62000 | 5.636364 |
Business | 18000 | BX7E | 120000 | 6.666667 | |
First | 25000 | BX7F | 170000 | 6.8 | |
Between North America & South Pacific | |||||
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | |||
PlanAhead | Coach | 4400 | BX9A | 35000 | 7.954545 |
Business | 7200 | BX9B | 70000 | 9.722222 | |
First | 10000 | BX9C | 110000 | 11 | |
Anytime | Coach | 11000 | BX9D | 65000 | 5.909091 |
Business | 18000 | BX9E | 140000 | 7.777778 | |
First | 25000 | BX9F | 180000 | 7.2 | |
North America, to/from Europe | |||||
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | |||
Partner Award | Coach | 6000 | BP01 | 30000 | 5 |
Fly more destinations worldwide | Premium Economy | 9000 | BP02 | ||
on British Airways/Iberia. | Business | 14000 | BP03 | 50000 | 3.571429 |
First | 20000 | BP04 | 62500 | 3.125 | |
North America, to/from Africa | |||||
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | |||
Partner Award | Coach | 11000 | BP05 | 37500 | 3.409091 |
Fly more destinations worldwide | Premium Economy | 17000 | BP06 | ||
on British Airways/Iberia. | Business | 27000 | BP07 | 75000 | 2.777778 |
First | 37000 | BP08 | 100000 | 2.702703 | |
North America, to/from Indian Subcontinent/Middle East | |||||
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | |||
Partner Award | Coach | 11000 | BP09 | 45000 | 4.090909 |
Fly more destinations worldwide | Premium Economy | 17000 | BP10 | ||
on British Airways/Iberia. | Business | 27000 | BP11 | 67500 | 2.5 |
First | 37000 | BP12 | 90000 | 2.432432 | |
Central/South America Zone 1, to/from Europe | |||||
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | |||
Partner Award | Coach | 13000 | BP13 | 45000 | 3.461538 |
Fly more destinations worldwide | Premium Economy | 18000 | BP14 | ||
on British Airways/Iberia. | Business | 25000 | BP15 | 55000 | 2.2 |
First | 32000 | BP16 | 70000 | 2.1875 | |
Central/South America Zone 1, to/from Africa | |||||
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | |||
Partner Award | Coach | 18000 | BP17 | 67500 | 3.75 |
Fly more destinations worldwide | Premium Economy | 26000 | BP18 | ||
on British Airways/Iberia. | Business | 38000 | BP19 | 90000 | 2.368421 |
First | 49000 | BP20 | 110000 | 2.244898 | |
Central/South America Zone 1, to/from Indian Subcontinent/Middle East | |||||
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | |||
Partner Award | Coach | 18000 | BP21 | 60000 | 3.333333 |
Fly more destinations worldwide | Premium Economy | 26000 | BP22 | ||
on British Airways/Iberia. | Business | 38000 | BP23 | 82500 | 2.171053 |
First | 49000 | BP24 | 102500 | 2.091837 | |
South America Zone 2, to/from Europe | |||||
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | |||
Partner Award | Coach | 14000 | BP25 | 50000 | 3.571429 |
Fly more destinations worldwide | Premium Economy | 19000 | BP26 | ||
on British Airways/Iberia. | Business | 26000 | BP27 | 70000 | 2.692308 |
First | 40000 | BP28 | 90000 | 2.25 | |
South America Zone 2, to/from Africa | |||||
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | |||
Partner Award | Coach | 19000 | BP29 | 75000 | 3.947368 |
Fly more destinations worldwide | Premium Economy | 27000 | BP30 | ||
on British Airways/Iberia. | Business | 39000 | BP31 | 97500 | 2.5 |
First | 57000 | BP32 | 117500 | 2.061404 | |
South America Zone 2, to/from Indian Subcontinent/Middle East | |||||
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | |||
Partner Award | Coach | 19000 | BP33 | 67500 | 3.552632 |
Fly more destinations worldwide | Premium Economy | 27000 | BP34 | ||
on British Airways/Iberia. | Business | 39000 | BP35 | 90000 | 2.307692 |
First | 57000 | BP36 | 110000 | 1.929825 | |
Within United Kingdom | |||||
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | |||
Partner Award | Coach | 3000 | BP37 | 10000 | 3.333333 |
Fly more destinations worldwide | |||||
on British Airways/Iberia. | |||||
Within Spain | |||||
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | |||
Partner Award | Coach | 3000 | BP38 | 10000 | 3.333333 |
Fly more destinations worldwide | |||||
on British Airways/Iberia. | |||||
Within Europe | |||||
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | |||
Partner Award | Coach | 3000 | BP39 | 10000 | 3.333333 |
Fly more destinations worldwide | |||||
on British Airways/Iberia. | Business | 6000 | BP40 | 20000 | 3.333333 |
Within Africa | |||||
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | |||
Partner Award | Coach | 3000 | BP41 | 10000 | 3.333333 |
Fly more destinations worldwide | |||||
on British Airways/Iberia. | Business | 6000 | BP42 | 17500 | 2.916667 |
Europe to/from Africa | |||||
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | |||
Partner Award | Coach | 5000 | BP43 | 30000 | 6 |
Fly more destinations worldwide | Premium Economy | 8000 | BP44 | ||
on British Airways/Iberia. | Business | 13000 | BP45 | 37500 | 2.884615 |
First | 17000 | BP46 | 50000 | 2.941176 | |
Europe to/from Indian Subcontinent/Middle East | |||||
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | |||
Partner Award | Coach | 5000 | BP47 | 20000 | 4 |
Fly more destinations worldwide | Premium Economy | 8000 | BP48 | ||
on British Airways/Iberia. | Business | 13000 | BP49 | 30000 | 2.307692 |
First | 17000 | BP50 | 40000 | 2.352941 | |
Europe to/from Asia | |||||
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | |||
Partner Award | Coach | 6000 | BP51 | 35000 | 5.833333 |
Fly more destinations worldwide | Premium Economy | 10000 | BP52 | ||
on British Airways/Iberia. | Business | 16000 | BP53 | 52500 | 3.28125 |
First | 21000 | BP54 | 70000 | 3.333333 | |
Europe to/from South Pacific | |||||
Cabin of Service | Points | Award Code | |||
Partner Award | Coach | 13000 | BP55 | 35000 | 2.692308 |
Fly more destinations worldwide | Premium Economy | 20000 | BP56 | ||
on British Airways/Iberia. | Business | 32000 | BP57 | 52500 | 1.640625 |
First | 36000 | BP58 | 70000 | 1.944444 |
Leave a comment