American Airlines Gives Chicago Small and Medium Businesses A Chance to Earn Equivalent of 10 Travel Award Tickets

CHICAGO, Oct. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- American Airlines today launched a new Business ExtrAA® program promotional offer geared toward small and medium businesses based in the Chicago area. As part of American's ongoing support of the small businesses in a tough economy, newly enrolled Chicago-based companies can receive up to 20,000 Business ExtrAA bonus points – enough for 10 Plan AAhead® economy class award tickets that can be used for travel in the Continental United States, Canada and Mexico.

Based on 2008 data, the most recent available, small businesses represent more than 98 percent of Illinois' private employers and employ more than 48 percent of the state's active private sector labor force. Through American's promotion, companies in and around Chicago have the opportunity to earn important travel resources to facilitate their growth and success. Companies that become members of the Business ExtrAA program will have the opportunity to reach the maximum 20,000 points bonus via a stepped approach. To earn the first award ticket, companies must enroll in the Business ExtrAA program using referral code EARN10 and have any one of their employees fly one qualifying* round trip using the company's new account number during the offer period, Oct. 4, 2011, through Jan. 31, 2012. Newly enrolled companies that spend $20,000 or more on qualifying flights within the offer period will earn the equivalent of 10 award tickets. Every employee who travels using the company's Business ExtrAA account number can help the company earn points, while continuing to earn their AAdvantage® miles. For more information on the promotion, visit www.aa.com/earn10.

Both executives and business travelers estimated that 28 percent of current business would be lost without in-person meetings, according to a 2009 study by Oxford Economics USA. The study also found that for every dollar invested in business travel, companies realize $12.50 in incremental revenue. American's survey of employees at small and medium businesses earlier this year found that approximately two-thirds believe face-to-face meetings requiring air travel are crucial to the success of their business.

"Our customers continue to tell us how important face-to-face meetings are to their business," said Karen Buls, American's Director - Small and Midsized Enterprise Loyalty. "We understand the impact small businesses have on jobs and the economy, and how critically important one new customer can be to the success of a small business. We're focused on providing support through travel to new member companies so they can build relationships that lead to new business and success in this tough economic environment."

Part of the American Airlines Business Suite of travel products, Business ExtrAA is a complimentary program that rewards small businesses for doing business with American and its Joint Business Partners. Companies accrue points when their employees travel for business on American Airlines, American Eagle or American Connection® carrier operated flights and include the company's Business ExtrAA account number in their reservations. In addition to American's domestic and international flights, Business ExtrAA members can also earn points when they fly on American's codeshare flights operated by British Airways, Iberia, and Japan Airlines worldwide. Employees can continue to earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles on their personal frequent flyer accounts when traveling under their company's Business ExtrAA number, so both the company and the individual traveler benefit. Visit www.aa.com/business to learn more.

To join the conversation and vote on the importance of business travel, visit the American Airlines LinkedIn company page at http://linkd.in/AALIDISCUSSION.

* For complete details on eligible travel, please refer to the Business ExtrAA Terms and Conditions at www.businessextraa.com.

Terms and Conditions

This is a targeted offer valid only for new Business ExtrAA® member companies based in New York or Illinois. Business ExtrAA companies located outside New York or Illinois, or with enrollment date prior to October 4, 2011, are not eligible for this offer. Offer valid from October 4, 2011, to January 31, 2012, and available only to new Business ExtrAA accounts.

Additional terms and conditions apply to this promotion. See www.aa.com/earn10 for details. Also for questions about this offer, contact Business ExtrAA® Customer Service at [email protected] or dial 1-800-457-7072, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CT Monday - Friday (inside US and Canada).

AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection, AA.com, AAdvantage, AAdvantage Gold, Admirals Club and Business ExtrAA® are marks of American Airlines, Inc. American Eagle service is operated by American Eagle Airlines, Inc., or Executive Airlines, Inc., each of which is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines' parent company. AmericanConnection service is operated by Chautauqua Airlines, Inc., which is an unaffiliated independent contractors. American Airlines reserves the right to change Business ExtrAA® programs at any time without notice. All Business ExtrAA program details apply, view program Terms and Conditions. For complete details about the AAdvantage program, visit AAdvantage Details. AAdvantage program Terms and Conditions apply. © 2011 American Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved.

About American Airlines

American Airlines, American Eagle and the AmericanConnection® carrier serve 260 airports in more than 50 countries and territories with, on average, more than 3,400 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 900 aircraft. American's award-winning website, AA.com®, provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld® alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. Together, its members and members-elect serve more than 900 destinations with more than 10,000 daily flights to 149 countries and territories. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection, AA.com, and AAdvantage are trademarks of American Airlines, Inc. (NYSE: AMR).

About Business ExtrAA®

Business ExtrAA is a program that rewards companies when their employees fly on American Airlines, American Eagle, or AmericanConnection with points that can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, Admirals Club memberships and conference rooms, and more. There is no cost to join and while the company earns points, employees still earn their AAdvantage miles. For details to enroll, visit www.aa.com/business.

Current AMR Corp. releases can be accessed on the Internet.

The address is http://www.aa.com

SOURCE American Airlines