American Airlines operates a side loyalty program for small businesses called Business Extra. It’s completely free, and just as you earn miles when you fly and include your AAdvantage number in the reservation, you can earn additional credit for your small business when you include your Business Extra number.
The rewards program operates very differently and is based entirely on spend. Your business account will earn 2 points per $10 on qualifying tickets, which must be issued on American Airlines’ 001 ticket stock for travel on American Airlines, US Airways, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, and Qantas. The idea, of course, is that you have multiple employees all using the same Business Extra number to earn points toward a common pool as well as miles for their individual accounts.
Business Extra points can be redeemed for free flights, upgrades, lounge access, and even elite status for your employees. For example, a round-trip saver level award within the continental U.S. costs 2,000 points, an Admirals Club day pass is 300 points, and AAdvantage Gold elite status is 2,400 points. All points expire on December 31 two years after they were earned. (See full Terms & Conditions)
For a limited time, American Airlines is offering 1,000 bonus points to existing Business Extra account holders when they refer a friend, up to 5,000 points total. The friend also earns 1,000 bonus points. The bonus alone is enough for three lounge passes or halfway toward a free domestic flight.
I’m happy to refer any of you if you want to send me your name and email address (send them to scott@travelcodex.com). I don’t recommend you publish your own email address in the comments, but if you have an account already you might find this news worth sharing.
Update: I have already gotten a few dozen requests, and I will be contact those I can’t refer to see if I can share their names with other people who have referrals to spare. But be aware I’m reaching a limit here where I may not be able to quickly respond to everyone or help you make a match.
