Jan 18, 2015, 1:29 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
FAQ: "In Recognition of Outstanding Service Excellence" Employee Recognition & Certificates AKA "Above and Beyond" Certificates, Previously "Round of Applause" program)
(including how to meaningfully compliment employees using Twitter)
N.B. This “Applause” program has been the "Round of Applause" program and later the "Above and Beyond" program, based on US Airways' original "Above and Beyond" program, with changes to what employees can win in now quarterly draws.
Much of the original information about this program was posted by members HNL and JonNYC. Recent updates thanks to sukn and NovaEngr.
Updated 16 Aug 2015 - JDiver
(including how to meaningfully compliment employees using Twitter)
N.B. This “Applause” program has been the "Round of Applause" program and later the "Above and Beyond" program, based on US Airways' original "Above and Beyond" program, with changes to what employees can win in now quarterly draws.
Q. I received some certificates titled "In Recognition of Outstanding Service Excellence"; what are they and how do they work?
A. These certificates, also called “Applause” "Above and Beyond" and "Round of Applause"), are mailed to elite AAdvantage members with their status credentials. The number of certificates is based upon their specific Elite status as follows:
Requests for More Certificates: "Unfortunately, requests for additional or replacement certificates cannot be honored." (However, some members claim they've called and been issued more.)
The certificates are numbered with a 12 digit code and intended to be given out to employees who who "go beyond the call of duty to truly make a difference when customers fly" as a form of passenger-generated employee recognition to those They can be handed to or otherwise given (ask other employees how they'd like these - you could mail or email and include the 12 digit certificate code) to "all active American (and U.S.) and American Eagle employees worldwide up to and including Management Level 4 are eligible to participate in the employee recognition program."
Original certificates did not have an expiration date.
A. These certificates, also called “Applause” "
- Executive Platinum - 10 certificates
- Platinum Pro - unknown
- Platinum - 8 certificates
- Gold - 6 certificates
Requests for More Certificates: "Unfortunately, requests for additional or replacement certificates cannot be honored." (However, some members claim they've called and been issued more.)
The certificates are numbered with a 12 digit code and intended to be given out to employees who who "go beyond the call of duty to truly make a difference when customers fly" as a form of passenger-generated employee recognition to those They can be handed to or otherwise given (ask other employees how they'd like these - you could mail or email and include the 12 digit certificate code) to "all active American (and U.S.) and American Eagle employees worldwide up to and including Management Level 4 are eligible to participate in the employee recognition program."
Original certificates did not have an expiration date.
Q. How do employee recognition certificates benefit employees?
A. The certificates are not entered into employee's files at this time (as reported by employees) unlike letters and other communications regarding employee recognition. The certificates are entered (using Jetnet, employee identification and the 12 digit code) into quarterly drawings:
"AA has adopted the US Air(ways) program so the drawings, which used to be monthly, are now quarterly. The drawings used to be for 25k miles but now it is various monetary sums...."
Verified and originally posted by sukn and NovaEngr.
A. The certificates are not entered into employee's files at this time (as reported by employees) unlike letters and other communications regarding employee recognition. The certificates are entered (using Jetnet, employee identification and the 12 digit code) into quarterly drawings:
"AA has adopted the US Air(ways) program so the drawings, which used to be monthly, are now quarterly. The drawings used to be for 25k miles but now it is various monetary sums...."
- 10 employees $10,000 each
- 100 employees $1,000 each
- 250 employees $250 each
Verified and originally posted by sukn and NovaEngr.
Q. How do I use an employee recognition certificate?
A. You may personally hand a certificate to any AA (including wholly owned subsidiaries) employee; they're pre-printed with your name and FFN, you can add brief feedback, and the employee will add their information as necessary.
You may also "award" a certificate by phone - the employee will need the 12 digit code from the certificate you have. (Certificates are designed for single use, so it's a good idea to dispose of used certificates awarded this way, or if you wish to retain it you may want to annotate it as used.)
You may still write a letter or use the "Contact AA" e-mail form to pass on your commendation to AA, as the certificates neither go to supervisor / management nor to be appended to the employee's record.) And read on about using Twitter to register your compliments.
A. You may personally hand a certificate to any AA (including wholly owned subsidiaries) employee; they're pre-printed with your name and FFN, you can add brief feedback, and the employee will add their information as necessary.
You may also "award" a certificate by phone - the employee will need the 12 digit code from the certificate you have. (Certificates are designed for single use, so it's a good idea to dispose of used certificates awarded this way, or if you wish to retain it you may want to annotate it as used.)
You may still write a letter or use the "Contact AA" e-mail form to pass on your commendation to AA, as the certificates neither go to supervisor / management nor to be appended to the employee's record.) And read on about using Twitter to register your compliments.
Q. what else can I do to reward an exceptional employee?
A. You can use Twitter - @AmericanAir - to tweet your compliments. The AA Social Media Twitter team will log your comments, which are forwarded to the employee's supervisor and added to their employee file.
A. You can use Twitter - @AmericanAir - to tweet your compliments. The AA Social Media Twitter team will log your comments, which are forwarded to the employee's supervisor and added to their employee file.
Q. Which employees benefit from "Applause" certificates?
All AA employees below the director level from our mainline and wholly owned carriers (Envoy, Piedmont and PSA) are eligible for the program. Employees of non-owned carriers or AA contractors (e.g. Club bartenders and cleaning staff, employees of Compass et al, etc.) do not qualify for the benefits offered by Applause chits.
All AA employees below the director level from our mainline and wholly owned carriers (Envoy, Piedmont and PSA) are eligible for the program. Employees of non-owned carriers or AA contractors (e.g. Club bartenders and cleaning staff, employees of Compass et al, etc.) do not qualify for the benefits offered by Applause chits.
Q. Wasn't the original "Round of Applause" certificate for miles drawings?
A. The certificates originally could be entered by employees by using the 12 digit code on Jetnet in monthly random drawings for chances to win 25,000 AAdvantage miles.
"One-hundred winners will be chosen monthly and announced on Jetnet on the 15th of each month following the drawing. The first drawing will be on December 1st and on the first of each month thereafter with the final drawing on May 1, 2007." N.B. Employees were required to pay taxes on these "winnings" just as we are taxed on non-"earned" miles won in contests.
A. The certificates originally could be entered by employees by using the 12 digit code on Jetnet in monthly random drawings for chances to win 25,000 AAdvantage miles.
"One-hundred winners will be chosen monthly and announced on Jetnet on the 15th of each month following the drawing. The first drawing will be on December 1st and on the first of each month thereafter with the final drawing on May 1, 2007." N.B. Employees were required to pay taxes on these "winnings" just as we are taxed on non-"earned" miles won in contests.
Q. What did the "Round of Applause" certificates replace?
A. The program superseded the "You're SomeOne Special" ("SOS") program as of 2006. Three SOS certificates could be used for one round trip positive space; certificates could be used for merchandise discounts or gift certificates. They were very popular.
A. The program superseded the "You're SomeOne Special" ("SOS") program as of 2006. Three SOS certificates could be used for one round trip positive space; certificates could be used for merchandise discounts or gift certificates. They were very popular.
Links to related resources:
Employee reactions: Question for AA Crew: Your preference on Applause Certs
The archive can be searched for posts by AAFA, jrhone, skylady and sluggoaafa; they are also linked to in the OP.
Other ways of providing employee feedback / recognition:
These are merged, archival threads with information about the SOS program, its benefits, discontinuation and how some attempted to appeal to AA or create their own responses:
The LUS thread: Above and Beyond Certificates (now AA & US - see Combined forum) posts have been merged into this thread (17 October 2017).
Link to ARCHIVE: "Rounds of Applause" Employee Recognition and Certificates
You're Someone Special - SOS program employee recognition [merged]
You're SomeOne Special Program (SOS) - Discontinued [merged]
and Appeal to AA (and attempts) to bring back the SOS / SomeOne Special program [merged]
Employee reactions: Question for AA Crew: Your preference on Applause Certs
The archive can be searched for posts by AAFA, jrhone, skylady and sluggoaafa; they are also linked to in the OP.
Other ways of providing employee feedback / recognition:
Originally Posted by AA.com
Compliment/Complaint/Comment
Contact Information (including)
"We want to be sure we hear from you. Please verify that you are on the correct country version of aa.com, by checking the country flag displayed at the top of the page. Then submit your comments or inquiries using the link below: "
Email AA Customer Relations (pops up AA e-form)
Other relevant Contact Information
Mail/Overnight mail
American Airlines Customer Relations
4000 E. Sky Harbor Blvd.
Phoenix, AZ 85034
Phone: 817-786-3778
Fax: 480-693-2300
Contact Information (including)
- Praise/Compliments
- Concerns/Complaints
- Suggestions/Comm
"We want to be sure we hear from you. Please verify that you are on the correct country version of aa.com, by checking the country flag displayed at the top of the page. Then submit your comments or inquiries using the link below: "
Email AA Customer Relations (pops up AA e-form)
Other relevant Contact Information
Mail/Overnight mail
American Airlines Customer Relations
4000 E. Sky Harbor Blvd.
Phoenix, AZ 85034
Phone: 817-786-3778
Fax: 480-693-2300
The LUS thread: Above and Beyond Certificates (now AA & US - see Combined forum) posts have been merged into this thread (17 October 2017).
Link to ARCHIVE: "Rounds of Applause" Employee Recognition and Certificates
You're Someone Special - SOS program employee recognition [merged]
You're SomeOne Special Program (SOS) - Discontinued [merged]
and Appeal to AA (and attempts) to bring back the SOS / SomeOne Special program [merged]
Updated 16 Aug 2015 - JDiver
Applause Outstanding Service Excellence Employee Recognition Certs / Chits
Feb 17, 2019, 6:22 pm
#166
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Diego US and Brisbane AU
Programs: AA EXP/2MM - DL PM - OZ Diamond - Bonvoy LTT - Hyatt Glob - IHG Plat - National EE - Sixt Platinum
Posts: 1,315
Feb 18, 2019, 2:40 am
#167
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,314
For those of us who have been around since the S.O.S. days, it's a very nice gesture to receive the new(er) Applause certs.
Back in the day, the SOS certs could have been turned in for Space positive seats (any cabin depending how many were turned in), discounts to certain companies, and to show supervisors the work we're doing in-flight.
Now, it's a chance to possibly win a cash prize that is taxed. They are entered into a site and are not turned-in to supervisors. Sure, employees can give them to their supervisors just to show their work, however it's not needed as they are now entered into a website.
I'm always gracious when I receive them as it's an instant gratification that I did a good/decent job. If I receive more than one from the same pax, I will often split the certs with my colleague(s)...depending on how many were received (unless the pax says they're all for me!
LOL)
Back in the day, the SOS certs could have been turned in for Space positive seats (any cabin depending how many were turned in), discounts to certain companies, and to show supervisors the work we're doing in-flight.
Now, it's a chance to possibly win a cash prize that is taxed. They are entered into a site and are not turned-in to supervisors. Sure, employees can give them to their supervisors just to show their work, however it's not needed as they are now entered into a website.
I'm always gracious when I receive them as it's an instant gratification that I did a good/decent job. If I receive more than one from the same pax, I will often split the certs with my colleague(s)...depending on how many were received (unless the pax says they're all for me!
LOL)
Feb 18, 2019, 7:31 am
#168
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
Gave my first one of the year out CLT-MEX this weekend!
Later I heard the FC FA chatting with a nonrev (him and his partner were talking about how they got the last two seats on the plane, but had to split cabins since there was only one FC seat left) about how they miss US Airways.....didn’t they know US Airways is running the show, ripping out IFE screens and cramming more seats in?
Later I heard the FC FA chatting with a nonrev (him and his partner were talking about how they got the last two seats on the plane, but had to split cabins since there was only one FC seat left) about how they miss US Airways.....didn’t they know US Airways is running the show, ripping out IFE screens and cramming more seats in?
Apr 28, 2019, 1:46 pm
#169
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Malibu, CA
Programs: AA CK / Marriott Worthless Ambassador
Posts: 1,158
$5
In flight lax to bos in the new transcontinental F. Had a great Purser- and I was thrilled to learn they now have fresh pressed green juice. Anyway. Lovely service compared to most AA FAs who play angry birds all flight.
I gave a certificate and, though thankful, she said they get $5 for each one and entered into the drawing you never win...
$5?
I gave a certificate and, though thankful, she said they get $5 for each one and entered into the drawing you never win...
$5?
Apr 28, 2019, 6:34 pm
#171
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EXP; Avis PC; Hertz PC; Marriott LT Gold; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,133
Dec 8, 2019, 8:33 pm
#172
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: CMI
Programs: AA EXP & 2MM, HH DIA, Hertz GLD
Posts: 954
Applause! Applause! In Recognition of Outstanding Service Excellence -- Useful?
Wiki says that expired certs can still be redeemed by employees. So if you have any old one's laying around - hand them out.
Hi,
So tonight clearing out a stack of paperwork I ran across a couple of sets of certificates titled:
A. In Recognition of Outstanding Service Excellence
B. Applause! Applause! In Recognition of Outstanding Service Excellence
I'm guessing these are from 2010 - 2014? Some may be newer, not sure.
So the question: Given the above, are these of any value to AA employees? (If so, I'll be handing them to everyone this week -- if not, I'll toss them).
Any thoughts are appreciated.
Hi,
So tonight clearing out a stack of paperwork I ran across a couple of sets of certificates titled:
A. In Recognition of Outstanding Service Excellence
B. Applause! Applause! In Recognition of Outstanding Service Excellence
I'm guessing these are from 2010 - 2014? Some may be newer, not sure.
So the question: Given the above, are these of any value to AA employees? (If so, I'll be handing them to everyone this week -- if not, I'll toss them).
Any thoughts are appreciated.
Last edited by Pakse; Dec 8, 2019 at 9:15 pm
Dec 8, 2019, 8:37 pm
#173
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,813
You should look at the wiki in the Applause/Recognition thread:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...rts-chits.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...rts-chits.html
Dec 9, 2019, 9:50 am
#174
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
I've been handing out a stash of mine lately as well. Recall making sure I used the ones that had an expiration date on them first. Hope the current ones are still "valid" as I suppose AA will be checking the ID#s when the crew turn them in. Even gave one to my favorite bartender at AC SFO. Am totally forgetting his name though... LOL
Dec 9, 2019, 9:46 pm
#177
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Gold; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,811
Last time I wanted to give one out was to a GA when I needed to be boarding. I asked her if it was of any use to her if I didn't fill it out; she was happy to accept it without.
Jan 20, 2020, 2:02 pm
#179
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,666
I used to give those out regularly, but haven't even come close to feel the need to give one out in the last couple of years...Most of the time I am just baffled by the level of ignorance and incompetence I come across, and I am just so relieved when I come across someone who knows what they are doing...
Jan 20, 2020, 6:21 pm
#180
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, National EE
Posts: 1,204
I've lucked out with some fairly competent crews lately, just haven't bothered to carry around the pieces of paper. Wish I could give them out from the app or whatever.