Interested to see in the past year (or more) what kinds of behavior/service have led you to give out AApplause coupons.

For me in the last year:
- The sole AA check in agent at GSP, my home airport with only 13 gates, dealt very calmly and properly with a rude passenger who showed up 30 minutes before their flight was scheduled to take off. That pax was not allowed to board; no other flights available that evening and the agent put them on a flight for the next day. Following protocol and nothing wrong with the agent but the passenger was quite hostile. Agent then immediately greeted me with politeness and a smile; I was in a similar situation, arrived late due to ungodly traffic to the airport. I did not realize I had shown up just a few minutes late to check my bag (even if that hostile passenger had not been in line). She got me onto the last flight of the day to CLT and then on to my destination. I had been upgraded as an EXP to the prior flights but only economy available on the replacement flights. I thanked her for being so polite and professional after dealing so well with the previous passenger in line and dropped her a coupon.
- That same evening I was placed in the very back row of the first flight because no other seats were available at boarding. The flight attendant in the back, despite being stuck in the nauseating fumes from the bathroom there, greeted me by name, was happy and pleasant, and made good conversation with me. Said she did not see many EXP on board often, chatted with me nicely, and offered me a PDB in my economy seat (for a 75 mile flight!!!). Someone in first did not show up for the flight so I got upgraded right before takeoff. I gave that back seat attendant a coupon as well for the PDB and good conversation and calling me by name. Certainly not what I expected on a smaller plane from GSP->CLT on a regional carrier. Is it possible that she saw I was bumped to the flight due to not making my first flight?
- CLT to CMH on a larger plane, similar situation, bumped, ended up in coach due to unforeseen circumstances, called by name and offered PDB. This was mainline. gave that agent a coupon on deboarding. She was in the back jumpseat as well and went out of her way to serve me.
- Flight from CMH to Washington, D.C. (DCA, I think?), PDB offered in real glass for all in domestic first; at least I was called by name; not sure if it was because I was EXP or if they greeted all pax by name, but as always a nice touch. Short flight but crew made sure we were all taken care of in the domestic first cabin. The attendant got a coupon when I was deboarding.

On all 4 occasions the employees were clearly surprised and appreciated the gesture. I realize that the coupons are not worth much but at least in my experience they seem to mean a lot to the agents I gave them to.

The only thing that is an instant no for giving an attendant a chance to get a coupon is an overbearing/pervasive credit card push during a flight.

What are your criteria for giving AAplause coupons? Share stories or criteria here.