DAL jumpseat courtesy

[flying bubba]

I recently did a flt from JFK to MCO. Kinda busy up front with seven wheelchairs of children from "Make a Wish" going down to Disney, Five Unaccompanied minors, and a full load of pax. In my cockpit jumpseat was FAA doing spot checks. Not your typical loading process but not overwhelming either.
Upon arrival in MCO we are working hard to get everyone off the aircraft when off walks a DAL FO. That was the first I saw of him. He walks by me with a short little "see ya round". No thanks, no introductions, just see ya.
I thought he must have checked in with the FO during boarding, or maybe the lead FA. So I ask both and neither one had even seen or talked to him.
The FAA proceeds to ask me, "you mean you had another airline pilot onboard and you didnt even know about it?"
What can I say? Uh no.
He proceeds to tell me that I have to know these things and that I should be more aware of who is on my aircraft in case of emergencies, etc.
After it was all over, all I could think of was that this all could have been avoided with a 10 second hello from this guy. Apparently, the nonreving etiquette for DAL doesnt require this. I guess from now on I will be a little more alert as to offline personnel on the aircraft (because we have so much time on our hands to watch everyone board).
Sorry for the rant but I just had to voice this.
Lastly, JB has one of these finest jumpseat policies in the business, please dont abuse us, or treat us like proverbial red headed stepchildren. (sorry if youre a redhead.)

Thanks

 

[WorldOnTime]

I recently did a flt from JFK to MCO. Kinda busy up front with seven wheelchairs of children from "Make a Wish" going down to Disney, Five Unaccompanied minors, and a full load of pax. In my cockpit jumpseat was FAA doing spot checks. Not your typical loading process but not overwhelming either.
Upon arrival in MCO we are working hard to get everyone off the aircraft when off walks a DAL FO. That was the first I saw of him. He walks by me with a short little "see ya round". No thanks, no introductions, just see ya.
I thought he must have checked in with the FO during boarding, or maybe the lead FA. So I ask both and neither one had even seen or talked to him.
The FAA proceeds to ask me, "you mean you had another airline pilot onboard and you didnt even know about it?"
What can I say? Uh no.
He proceeds to tell me that I have to know these things and that I should be more aware of who is on my aircraft in case of emergencies, etc.
After it was all over, all I could think of was that this all could have been avoided with a 10 second hello from this guy. Apparently, the nonreving etiquette for DAL doesnt require this. I guess from now on I will be a little more alert as to offline personnel on the aircraft (because we have so much time on our hands to watch everyone board).
Sorry for the rant but I just had to voice this.
Lastly, JB has one of these finest jumpseat policies in the business, please dont abuse us, or treat us like proverbial red headed stepchildren. (sorry if youre a redhead.)

Thanks

Maybe he had a ticket?

 

[Purpledog]

I fly a lot in uniform with a ticket and I have gotten the stink eye a couple times as well. So if a pilot with bloodshot eyes, giant bags under his eyes, a uniform that looks like he's been sleeping on an airport bench gets on your plane early in the 'morn, don't take offense if I don't come up and chat.

 

[FR8mastr]

was this guy listed as a jump? If he was I agree, if not, the fed is out of his mind. Why should a non-rev or pax come up front to chat. Even if he wanted to it sounds like you guys had your plates full especially with a fed riding the jump seat. I say tell the fed to go back to his cubicle and leave the flying to the pro's.

 

[PHXFLYR]

Many times we have Fed Ex ,NetJet or Mesa pilots on board that have "space p" tickets purchased by their respective companies to position them either home or to work. They never came up to say hello to let us know that they were back there,nor are they required to. It also seems to me the Fed didn't know what he was talking about and was just looking to do some "chest thumping". If the pilot in question was indeed traveling in uniform and there was an inflight emergency, I'm sure the F/A would have asked him/her for assistance when she was looking for ABP's to assist in the emergency,and I'm sure he would have obliged in any way possible.Therfore ,in this case there was no requirement to know he was back there .For the Fed to say otherwise and to give you a ration over it shows you just how far removed from common sense they are sometimes.

PHXFLYR

 

[Lake Alice]

For the Fed to say otherwise and to give you a ration over it shows you just how far removed from common sense they are sometimes.

What???? the feds clueless??? Never!!!

Heck, I had a fed the other day JFK-FLL who, no lie, harldy spoke english. Obviously there is a need for spanish speakers in the S. Florida area but it was extremely difficult to communicate with this person.

 

[batsky2000]

PHXFLYR is right, I work for NetJets and our company purchases our tickets for us to go to work and to get home. I usually wear my uniform just because I might get stuck with a trip on my way to work and this way I don't have to change, but for all practical purposes most of us are gold,platinum,etc. members in FF programs due to the amount of flying we do. I always get the eye from the pilots when I get off, I have even had one Capt. pull me aside after I got off and whale at me for not checking in with him, after he was done, I told him he should get his facts staright before he just go's off at people, me showing my full "Y" fare ticket shut him up fast, I have even had FA's tell me that they will serve me last after everyone else gets their food, I told her NO, I will take my food now, I have even received the evil eye from customers walking past me wondering why I got a 1st class seat and them not knowing that I am a Delta Platinum member and had priority over them, they just assumed that I was a free loading non-rev and don't deserve the 1st class seat

In other words, don't assume that the guy in the pilots suit in the back is a non-rev, you may make an A** out of yourself!!!

 

[737 Pylt]

Apparently, the nonreving etiquette for DAL doesnt require this.

I realize you are emotional about this situation, but don't let one incident spoil the lot! He may have been on a paid ticket.

I guess from now on I will be a little more alert as to offline personnel on the aircraft (because we have so much time on our hands to watch everyone board).
Sorry for the rant but I just had to voice this.
Lastly, JB has one of these finest jumpseat policies in the business, please dont abuse us, or treat us like proverbial red headed stepchildren. (sorry if youre a redhead.)

Thanks

I agree, you guys do have THE best JS policy in the biz! Its ok to rant, but don't let one incident get your feathers in an uproar. Try to find out the facts first.
737

 

[Uppercrust]

Unbelievable.

 

[Falcon Jet 1]

I thought SWA had the best JS in trhe Biz?

 

[crxpilot]

I would have loved to see the look on his face when you showed him your full fare ticket. Ha!

PHXFLYR is right, I work for NetJets and our company purchases our tickets for us to go to work and to get home. I usually wear my uniform just because I might get stuck with a trip on my way to work and this way I don't have to change, but for all practical purposes most of us are gold,platinum,etc. members in FF programs due to the amount of flying we do. I always get the eye from the pilots when I get off, I have even had one Capt. pull me aside after I got off and whale at me for not checking in with him, after he was done, I told him he should get his facts staright before he just go's off at people, me showing my full "Y" fare ticket shut him up fast, I have even had FA's tell me that they will serve me last after everyone else gets their food, I told her NO, I will take my food now, I have even received the evil eye from customers walking past me wondering why I got a 1st class seat and them not knowing that I am a Delta Platinum member and had priority over them, they just assumed that I was a free loading non-rev and don't deserve the 1st class seat

In other words, don't assume that the guy in the pilots suit in the back is a non-rev, you may make an A** out of yourself!!!

 

[wms]

I would have loved to see the look on his face when you showed him your full fare ticket. Ha!

And how would you be responsible? The gate assigns him a seat and he sits, never coming by the cockpit. Are you supposed to do a cabin search every flight or go ask every gate agent if there are undisclosed jumpseaters on your flight?

As a courtesy the DAL guy should've stopped in, but if the gate checks his docs and gives him a seat, I don't think he is required to. At least I know he's not required to at our airline. As a commuter I always stop in and say hi.

 

[8vATE]

close.. but no cigar..

I thought SWA had the best JS in trhe Biz?

JetBlue allows the Offline Pilot to sit in the FA jumpseats (2)... (if no flight deck or pax seats available)

I don't believe SWA allows this..
Someone chime in if I'm wrong..

And the A320 has two cockpit jumpseats and two extra F/A jumpseats.
Plus offline F/A's can "jumpseat" in the back.

FWIW..

 

[Dan Roman]

Why would you say it's a Delta problem? If the guy was in fact jumpseating than your airline was at fault also for letting him on as a jumpseater and not letting you know he was on. Also, just because he was a Delta pilot doesn't mean it had anything to do with his airline, it means he was one of the small percent of rude jumpseaters that exist at every airline.

 

[vtwo]

Mabe he bought the uniform on ebay and just wanted to pick up chicks.

Who cares..........

 

[Sluggo_63]

Maybe he had a ticket?

Exactly what I thought. Again, we are like one... you are my soulmate...

...now clean your f-ing dishes in the sink

 

[Judge]

JetBlue allows the Offline Pilot to sit in the FA jumpseats (2)... (if no flight deck or pax seats available)

I don't believe SWA allows this..
Someone chime in if I'm wrong..

And the A320 has two cockpit jumpseats and two extra F/A jumpseats.
Plus offline F/A's can "jumpseat" in the back.

FWIW..

Actually, you're wrong. At SWA, anyone who works for the company can sit on the F/A (fourth) jumpseat.

 

[Hair-on-Fire]

Actually, you're wrong. At SWA, anyone who works for the company can sit on the F/A (fourth) jumpseat.

Actually, you didn't answer his question. He said that JB allows offline pilots to sit in the extra 2 FA Jumpseats. It really doesn't matter if you allow your own company employees to do it. That doesn't help any offline persons commute.

 

[flying bubba]

Judge, what he means is that we take any "offline pilot, fa, and dispatcher" at no charge and allow them to sit in the extra back jumpseats.

Dan, you can put the blame on our airline. NO problem. At least the ATA fa and the AA fa, both took the time to stop by and say hello and thanks.

737 pylt, no feathers lost or even panties in a wad. Just a rant. I kinda thought that all the "maybe he was on a ticket" comments were unjust. Not positive but I dont think DAL would go buying tickets on JB so send a pilot from JFK to MCO a route you already serve. Just a thought.

Kinda PO'd, yep. Over it, yep. still willing to take any and all, as many as I can, JS'r in the future, of course.

Common courtesy does go along ways doesnt it ladies and gentlemen?

 

[WorldOnTime]

Exactly what I thought. Again, we are like one... you are my soulmate...

...now clean your f-ing dishes in the sink

Hahaha! Hey, everyone in the pad knows who picked the last sloppy joe roomate. I don't care if you run the joint or not, you don't get to pick again!

And yes, you are my soulmate.

Hugs and Kisses...

 

[737 Pylt]

Judge, what he means is that we take any "offline pilot, fa, and dispatcher" at no charge and allow them to sit in the extra back jumpseats.

Like I said, I think B6 has THE best JS policy in the industry!

737 pylt, no feathers lost or even panties in a wad. Just a rant. I kinda thought that all the "maybe he was on a ticket" comments were unjust. Not positive but I dont think DAL would go buying tickets on JB so send a pilot from JFK to MCO a route you already serve. Just a thought.

And yet your first inclination was to come on to FI and post it!?
Why would I think he was on a DL paid pass. Maybe he was on an ID 90!

Kinda PO'd, yep. Over it, yep. still willing to take any and all, as many as I can, JS'r in the future, of course.

Again thanks, I wish our js policy was 1/8 as good as B6's!

Common courtesy does go along ways doesnt it ladies and gentlemen?

It sure does, especially when you go right home and post it on Flight Info!
737

 

[Whistlin' Dan]

That's why I try not to wear my uniform when repositioning. When traveling in uniform, I feel like I represent the employees of the airline I'm traveling on, even though I don't work for them. (How many people actually take the time to decipher the symbology on our lapel wings or hood ornaments?)

In civvies, I can scratch my ba11s, pick my nose, farht like a pack-mule and read off-color magazines anywhere in the terminal. I can talk to attractive women if I want. But in uniform...that's my uniform, not the uniform of the carrier on which I'm flying...it's a different story. I have to mind my P's & Q's. It doesn't matter that I (or my company) have paid for the ticket, or that I work for somebody else. I'm "high-vis" to every passenger on that airplane...the lightning rod for every question, every comment, every beef they have about your airline or our industry. I don't know which gate the 11:15 to Des Moines departs from, where baggage claim is, or why their last landing was so bumpy. And frankly, I don't care.

As for the "Wow!" factor, and just to show you how much this business has changed in the last 10 years...I stopped wearing my uniform around airline terminals when I realized I met a better class of woman when I wasn't wearing it.

I'll usually identify myself to an F/A via business card when boarding, simply because it makes good sense for me to do so. And I'll often ask who's in the cockpit, in case there's somebody up there I know. But other than that, the fewer people who know what I do, the more relaxing and enjoyable the trip is for me.

Oh yea, and I agree...the guy was probably traveling on a ticket, and was simply showing a professional courtesy by acknowledging you on his way out. He didn't do it while boarding because he knows how busy it can get, especially on a short turn, and didn't want you to feel you needed to break pace to make small-talk with him.

 

[LetsGoBuffs]

FWIW...

last fall, while I was at Indy, i was JSing to Denver from IAD on UAL. i checked in at the gate and was told that I "didnt have to go to the Capt because it was all taken care of at the gate now."

well, upon boarding, I introduced myself to the FA's and told them that I was a JSer and wanted to check in with the Capt.

"That is so nice. No one ever does that anymore. Im sure the Capt will be happy to see you." That was the response from the lead FA.

I checked in with the Capt and told him that I was told that I didnt have to check in with him but I didnt feel right about that. So, here I am.

He was very nice and said he appriciated me stopping by and that most dont stop by anymore.

just thought I would add this. i just think its the right thing to do. FWIW.

 

[flying bubba]

And yet your first inclination was to come on to FI and post it!?
Why would I think he was on a DL paid pass. Maybe he was on an ID 90!

Not at JB he wasnt! We dont do ID90's. EVERYONE rides for free.
Not my first inclination, but not allowing any DAL JS's didnt seem quite like the thing to do does it? Somebody said earlier, dont hold everyone accountable for one bad apple.

Again thanks, I wish our js policy was 1/8 as good as B6's!

Thanks

It sure does, especially when you go right home and post it on Flight Info!
737[/quote]
I see your point in that, however I would rather have this here than questioning someone in the jetbridge, terminal, etc.

 

[Networ-King]

Wait....

bubba....

Did you find out if the guy was a JSer or not? That is the one question you should be asking right now. Cause if UPS buys me a ticket and Im in uniform I don't have to do shiat in the flightdeck. If I was jumpseating then he11 yes Im gonna check in with you and ask permission no matter what the ticket agent says. Was he on a jumpseat or a paid ticket?

 

[B6Guy]

Even When I Pay

Even when I'm a paying customer, I stop up front [if I can get by the FA] and introduce myself, tell them I'm in seat XXX.. This is if I'm in uniform or not. I consider it a courtesy to the flight crew. You never know when an ABP may be needed.

If I'm in uniform [ticketed or not] I ALWAYS stop by the cockpit just to eliminate any assumptions by the flight crew about being curtious or not.

It's just easier to be curtious than not.

B6Guy

 

[flying bubba]

King, to answer your question, he was just bumming a ride. The funny part was that he sat next to one of our own positive space pilots going to MCO for recurrent training.
That was the whole point of this thread, he isnt new to the game, he knows better.
But as I said earlier, no major harm, just a bit ticked off.

 

[A350]

All:

I have had several instances where I have found people in the back of one of my flights wearing a uniform.....and it is the first time they speak to me.

While I leave the chest pumping to others, I feel it only a courtesy that someone who is getting a ride to work or home comes up and says hello. That is, and always will be the standard.

I am sure some have had positive space tickets.....however, I have never, nor will I ever get on someone elses plane with an airline uniform on and not come up and say hello....It relieves all doubt in their mind who is where and what "assets" they may have at their disposal.

A350

 

[MrCoffee]

Heck, at FedEx, they send us through a jumpseating class during ground school (I guess they still do it) to let us know how we are supposed to conduct ourselves on our own jumpseats as well as offline. They even tell us to bring cookies for the flight crew.

 

[General Lee]

I recently did a flt from JFK to MCO. Kinda busy up front with seven wheelchairs of children from "Make a Wish" going down to Disney, Five Unaccompanied minors, and a full load of pax. In my cockpit jumpseat was FAA doing spot checks. Not your typical loading process but not overwhelming either.
Upon arrival in MCO we are working hard to get everyone off the aircraft when off walks a DAL FO. That was the first I saw of him. He walks by me with a short little "see ya round". No thanks, no introductions, just see ya.
I thought he must have checked in with the FO during boarding, or maybe the lead FA. So I ask both and neither one had even seen or talked to him.
The FAA proceeds to ask me, "you mean you had another airline pilot onboard and you didnt even know about it?"
What can I say? Uh no.
He proceeds to tell me that I have to know these things and that I should be more aware of who is on my aircraft in case of emergencies, etc.
After it was all over, all I could think of was that this all could have been avoided with a 10 second hello from this guy. Apparently, the nonreving etiquette for DAL doesnt require this. I guess from now on I will be a little more alert as to offline personnel on the aircraft (because we have so much time on our hands to watch everyone board).
Sorry for the rant but I just had to voice this.
Lastly, JB has one of these finest jumpseat policies in the business, please dont abuse us, or treat us like proverbial red headed stepchildren. (sorry if youre a redhead.)

Thanks

Maybe his wife is a Jetblue stew and constantly brings home tons of blue potato chips? I've seen guys do that from time to time. If they say "thanks for the jumpseat" as they are walking off, then that may be a problem...Anytime I jump I always see the crew first.


Bye Bye--General Lee