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
#91
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,379
Quote:
Originally Posted by sukn
AA has adopted the US Air 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, with the top prize being $10,000 (I believe).
Quote:
Originally Posted by sukn
10 employees $10,000 each
100 employees $1,000 each
250 employees $250 each
Originally Posted by sukn
AA has adopted the US Air 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, with the top prize being $10,000 (I believe).
Quote:
Originally Posted by sukn
10 employees $10,000 each
100 employees $1,000 each
250 employees $250 each
So yes, employees from the regional carriers can participate.
#92
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
The monetary amounts have been in place with the US program and were adopted by the new merged program from what I understand. FA whom I awarded an A&B cert indicated he had previously won the top award and thanked me for the opportunity to enter again. Recently a FA on an Express flight indicated that she enjoyed the "new" website used for the numbered certs from the AA program when I provided a classic pmUS A&B cert.
So yes, employees from the regional carriers can participate.
So yes, employees from the regional carriers can participate.
If only management could incentivize some genuinely decent service from all...
I've felt comfortable giving out the chits but always am sure to thank those rendering good service face to face, and to be specific in my positive feedback - and if I do so in front of other cabin crew members, well...
On another note, I've done some curating: updated the wiki (please remember any signed in member with 90 days and 90 posts can update the wiki - which is community property, and not a responsibility of moderators) and archived off old posts with outdated information. /Moderator hat on
Last edited by JDiver; Aug 15, 2015 at 6:27 pm
#94
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: SFO/STS
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond
Posts: 395
I had two Compass operated flights this week on E75s between LAX & IAH both of which were delayed. The crew on Tuesday literally ran off their inbound flight and rapidly prepared to get us out of the gate on the aircraft that had been awaiting them. Even with this rush they served a PBD and were extremely pleasant. I gave awards to each of them. The return leg yesterday with WX delays and a change of aircraft was a whole different story...
#95
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
I had neither anything to do with the decision (it was a positive transplant from LUS) nor did I announce it here, but you're welcome. And, yes, I think this incentivises us to carry these and hand them out when due. Safe travels!
#97
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Programs: AA Exec Plat, Marriott Plat, Priority Club Plat, HHonors Diamond, Avis CC
Posts: 673
US Airways Above and Beyond Certs...
Can I still give out my US Airways Above and Beyond Certificates? I have a stack of them (probably about 2 inches thick) from my years of travel. I try to give them out as much as possible, but I still have ton.
Now that the airlines have consolidated and completed the merger can the FA's still benefit from getting these?
Now that the airlines have consolidated and completed the merger can the FA's still benefit from getting these?
#98
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
Actually I was on a US flight recently and a pax in F gave the FA an AA certificate, or maybe it was a LUS certificate (I couldn't see but saw this happen across the aisle from me) and she gave it back (very nicely and discretely) saying it was no good. Thought that was interesting.....
#99
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,379
US Airways Above and Beyond Certs...
I also have a large stack. Give them out generously on Express flights where the crews are especially appreciative. Heard both LUS and LAA certs were usable thru year end but have not heard of the plan for next year. Anticipate the LAA style certs will be the new norm to enter in automated app, but I hope old certs will be valid or exchangeable for the new numbered certs that LAA used if that is the go forward plan.
#100
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Houston, TX/Australia
Programs: AA EXP/Exec Citi, NZ* G, Nat EE, Avis PP, HH Gold
Posts: 649
I also have a large stack. Give them out generously on Express flights where the crews are especially appreciative. Heard both LUS and LAA certs were usable thru year end but have not heard of the plan for next year. Anticipate the LAA style certs will be the new norm to enter in automated app, but I hope old certs will be valid or exchangeable for the new numbered certs that LAA used if that is the go forward plan.
#101
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,379
#102
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Houston, TX/Australia
Programs: AA EXP/Exec Citi, NZ* G, Nat EE, Avis PP, HH Gold
Posts: 649
I'm familiar with the LAA numbered certs, but I'm curious out this "automated app". I'm fine with you posting second-hand knowledge, as long as you label it as such. Then someone with more info can confirm/disprove it.
#103
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948