Why do captains authorize cabin jumpseaters?

[curtis46]

Hey, when did the Captains start doing preflights.

when they need a cigarette break

 

[Crossky]

Why do captains have to authorize a jumpseater with a seat in the cabin. It seems like a waste of time and paper and should be handled by the gate agent.

Maybe you should work for American, maybe you do. I believe they don't require a Pilot to meet the CA to cabin jumpseat. I do out of Professional courtesy. It takes 15 seconds tops if the guys up front are busy. Per the FAR's also, wouldn't you like your CA to know that he has an official ACM/OCM in case of 'the unlikely event of an Emergency'? What if one of the pilots becomes incapacitated (happened twice recently, one of the cases the remaining pilot had a civvie Priv pilot help out with checklists).

It seems you're one of those who doesn't like to be bothered by JSer's. Variety is the spice of life.

 

[SteelerMan]

Good post Kenny, it is a privilege, not a right. I am tired of people, including my own airline's pilots, not asking and just assuming they can have a free ride. I don't know of anyone who has or would ever deny someone who politely asks for a ride. Hard to know when someone gets denied if there is a good reason without being there first hand, but it should always be the crew's discretion and the one wanting a free ride should always ask permission prior to boarding. Otherwise, write a pass or buy an ID90. It is not the gate agent's decision.

 

[pa31capt]

This is all new to me, should you say hello even if you are positive space deadheading?

 

[Spectre]

Why do captains have to authorize a jumpseater with a seat in the cabin. It seems like a waste of time and paper and should be handled by the gate agent.

A good way to start is to review your airline's policy on jumpseating. At our airline, there's no requirement to check credentials of any jumpseaters assigned a cabin seat. Gate agents have already checked ID's etc of offline jumpseaters. Only those riding in the cockpit (CASS) or on the flight attendant jumpseats need to see the Captain for approval.

I always brief my flight attendants that jumpseaters do not have to see me if they have an assigned seat in the cabin. They are welcome to say hello, but are not required to do so. How often do you see the plane's departure delayed as we wait for those jumpseaters who have to wait to get on the plane last, then have to check in with the Captain, then have to find a place for their bags, and then find their seat. Jumpseating offline is stressful enough. So why not make it easier on each other? It's much nicer to have your lead flight attendant say, "Welcome aboard, the Captain said to just grab a seat and make yourself comfortable."

I've flown out of SLC several times with 10-15 jumpseaters both online and offline. If I had to check everyone's ID's, we'd never get off the gate on time. Sure, it's always up to each Captain how they handle jumpseaters. But if they got a seat in the back, why bother. It's almost discriminating our own profession as some Captains want to see everything a fellow pilot carries, yet the same Captain lets offline flight attendants on their planes without asking to see their FAA certificate.

 

[Slice121]

What do you hand the captain?
Pilot certificate
Medical certificate
ALPA card
Employee badge from current airline
jumpseat pass for him/her to sign

It just seems like a lot of unneccessary stuff to be handing a captain when he/she could spend their time accomplishing the preflight and checklists

Bypass my cockpit without asking for a ride and I become aware of it...the only thing I'll need to see is you walking back up the jetway.

 

[Beetle007]

Bypass my cockpit without asking for a ride and I become aware of it...the only thing I'll need to see is you walking back up the jetway.

Why do you even care? Is it a power trip for you that strokes your ego? I think Spectre has a good attitude and I wish there were more pilots like him.

I am convinced it is a power trip for most pilots thinking they are doing other pilots a "favor". My grandpa hated dispatchers telling him how much fuel he needed. Pilots like power regardless of its inefficiency or usefulness.

 

[Deli Guy]

Why do you even care? Is it a power trip for you that strokes your ego?

I am convinced it is a power trip for most pilots thinking they are doing other pilots a "favor". My grandpa hated dispatchers telling him how much fuel he needed. Pilots like power regardless of its inefficiency or usefulness.

Dude, you sound like an idiot. Its SA in the case of an emergency for you to know you have qualified extra hands. The meeting and documentation check is to see if potential J.S.er might have slipped past the overburdened gate agent and allowed Osama Wannabee onto the plane. Why are we having this discussion on the Majors page? Can you go over to the regionals page please?

 

[Beetle007]

deleted

 

[Dogwood]

Why do you even care? Is it a power trip for you that strokes your ego? I think Spectre has a good attitude and I wish there were more pilots like him.

I am convinced it is a power trip for most pilots thinking they are doing other pilots a "favor". My grandpa hated dispatchers telling him how much fuel he needed. Pilots like power regardless of its inefficiency or usefulness.

No, I have to disagree with the power trip thing, in most cases. This mostly is an old school professional courtesy. It's not so much as a thank you for this flight, but rather an overall show of appreciation that both of our companies have workout this agreement.

 

[Deerkiller]

This is all new to me, should you say hello even if you are positive space deadheading?

There was a whole thread on this a while back. In short, no, you're on a pass. Do you introduce yourself when you non-rev? It's the same thing.

 

[mynameisjim]

Bypass my cockpit without asking for a ride and I become aware of it...the only thing I'll need to see is you walking back up the jetway.

And the only thing that'll do is have me re board as a non-rev. I've only been denied the jumpseat once, and I just got right back on the plane. Big deal.


Those of you who are sticklers for checking ALL of the IDs, why do you do it? Do you think I faked it all, faked CASS, got a bunch of beat up pilot luggage, wore a uniform, and look like I haven't had a decent nights rest in a week, just to ride for free in YOUR cabin?


I had one Captain who did a perfect check. I handed him all my stuff and asked to ride along. He asked if he could borrow my pen. I handed him a Holiday Inn pen from my uniform shirt pocket and he said, "a hotel pen? You must be a pilot, welcome aboard!" and signed the form.


In my opinion, for cabin jumpseat, if you made it through the gate agent, welcome aboard.

 

[mynameisjim]

Oh also I was flying with a Captain who saw a pilot in uniform board our plane and not say hello. He got up to go see why. Turned out he was a fractional guy on a ticket. Hope he felt like crap for wasting his time.

 

[JethroFDX]

This is all new to me, should you say hello even if you are positive space deadheading?

ID on, ticket in hand and just say howdy, even if the FA's are the only ones that see you. Or they just see the trousers and know it's a FedEx guy on his way to parts unknown.

Sitting first class on a long flight ID comes off!

 

[Slice121]

And the only thing that'll do is have me re board as a non-rev. I've only been denied the jumpseat once, and I just got right back on the plane. Big deal.


Those of you who are sticklers for checking ALL of the IDs, why do you do it? Do you think I faked it all, faked CASS, got a bunch of beat up pilot luggage, wore a uniform, and look like I haven't had a decent nights rest in a week, just to ride for free in YOUR cabin?


I had one Captain who did a perfect check. I handed him all my stuff and asked to ride along. He asked if he could borrow my pen. I handed him a Holiday Inn pen from my uniform shirt pocket and he said, "a hotel pen? You must be a pilot, welcome aboard!" and signed the form.


In my opinion, for cabin jumpseat, if you made it through the gate agent, welcome aboard.

First, it's called common courtesy. Second, I look at it no differently than if you were checking in to ride up front and there's a seat available in the back and you take it instead of being in the j/s. I've never had to deny anyone in all my years of flying, but if you don't want to check in with me buy an ID90. BTW, a Capt can deny you boarding when you try and do your ID90 re-boarding trick.