My DAL Jumpseat Experience

[GuppyWN]

One more thing...be thankful that you were never in Iraq, a freshman at a service academy, or a 2LT in a fighter squadron.

What's a 2LT? Is that like a Lav Truck driver for #2? Is there a LT1 for just urine?

Gup

 

[list2002]

You're f-ing kidding right? No matter what the circumstances at your job that day, there's no reason to be unprofessional towards your fellow pilots. If your job is so bad that you become miserable to the point of taking it out on your jumpseaters then quit for everyone's sake.

Ed Zachary! WTF?! Life got you so tense you can't speak to another human being, or fellow pilot, without some common courtesy? Boo on you kook! That's all our job description requires, is that when things get tense, we remain calm and make rational decisions...

 

['72Gremlin]

One more thing...be thankful that you were never in Iraq, a freshman at a service academy, or a 2LT in a fighter squadron.

skibum, come out swingin' for your first 2 posts. Aren't you?

 

[waveflyer]

Yeah- List just said it-- You stress over boarding? What will you do if you lose an engine when you're that stressed?

I don't care about hurt feelings- but what? Should unprofessional pilots- and we all have them, be allowed to run rampant? Give your story to the JSC and let it go- No sweat. If it was a one time gig- they'll know- if it's the 18th time the guy's been reported- the JSC will handle it.

I think of it just like List: There is no situation in the airlines that will be as stressful as a REAL EMERGENCY- and i'm paid to handle that once or twice in a career event calmly and competently. With that perspective- I try- do my best- but I can't bring myself to STRESS about any kind of airline/passenger/boarding/ramp/gate agent/FA drama. Even when de-ice gets stupid- Handle it.... There's no excuse for being unprofessional to another pilot- but then- there's no excuse for getting stressed and unprofessional to anyone.

 

[poppi]

Unbelievable…you we’re chatting it up, blocking the door, got your feelings hurt and now going to tell. What are you 4? The poor Delta CA probably had enough to deal with without your whiny ass showing up and adding more drama to the boarding process.

I can understand going to the JSC or Chief if you were denied boarding for any reason, kicked off inappropriately (like I did by a Freedom guy) etc, etc…but because you got a free ride and your feelings hurt give me a break.

Could the Delta guy have been a little more cordial when he asked you to move…sure. But you have to realize that YOU are the reason he barked at you. Do you think he would have talked to you that way if you were NOT in the way? I don’t think so. Give him a break, (like he did with you) and get over your hurt feelings.

Probably exactly what happened. Sounds like his reality is a little different then others. I assume this pilot has had other crm issues throughout his career.

 

[737 Pylt]

There are always 3 sides to every story; your side, his side, and the truth. Based on this FO's post, I suspect that your version of the events in question are further from the truth than what the Captain in question portrayed to his JSC.
Use this experience as a chance to reflect on your jumpseat etiquette. Or whine about it to the JSC; whichever you prefer.

Or run home and type it on flightinfo, like you're supposed to do!
Things that make you go hmmmmm.................

737

 

[Wesb737fo]

hmmm 5 pages...too many to read but this one is easy....when going through life, try not to be a dick. nuff said.

 

[Andy]

What, exactly, could a jump-seater do that would warrant a captain to berate him?

You're joking, right? Use your imagination. If you're suggesting that the Captain berated him without any provocation, I've got to say that I find it VERY hard to believe. I personally think that the OP needs to take a look in the mirror and ask himself what he could have done better to prevent this.

What we haven't heard here is the Captain's side of the story. However, we did hear from a pilot on a different flight who was not impressed with the OP's jumpseat etiquette. Since the OP seems to have a bit too much estrogen flowing through his/her veins, perhaps the Captain was much less harsh than the OP portrayed the situation. I'm not buying the cobra (striking unprovoked) portrayal of the Captain.

The only time that I've had a problem jumpseating (and I've jumpseated quite a bit) is when the Captain, a fellow United pilot, asked me for my medical. I stated that it was in my flight bag in ops. He said that I couldn't ride because I didn't have my medical with me. I thanked him and walked away. No complaint to the JSC or posting on flightinfo. AFAIK, you don't need a medical for jumpseating, and this was the only time I've been asked for one. No matter; it's his jumpseat and he was going to be doing me a favor. I simply ended up taking a MUCH later flight. That's the way that the cookie crumbles.

 

[JT8D]

Calm under pressure...the mark of a true pro.

I can see irritation with a gate agent, an FA (would take a lot, as they've got my back...literally), rampers...yes.

but, a JS peer?.. "Hey Blue shirt" NOPE...not acceptable...only serves to degrade the profession more.

The only excuse would be if he had recently found that wifey was paying the pool boy with more than cash when he was gone.

But, as someone stated earlier the JSC will know if this is this captains first JS complaint or 20th...that says it all.

 

[ATRCAPT]

Thankfully at an airline you don't have to drop bombs or fly in formation, or memorize a little red book full of quotes. Some pilots like to think their rank in the military still counts, even though other pilots chose to stay out of the military.


Bye Bye--General Lee

Holy crap! I agree with General Lee!

 

[ron burgundy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by debo007
I had been to an unexpected funeral

I had to be at a wedding

Anyone else find this funny? :nuts:

Why is that funny? I was at a funeral the day before and was headed for a wedding the next day. It wasn't funny at all.

Because they are the same thing!!!

 

[BigMeat]

Debo who cares what situation you were discussing with the flight crew. You had no right to be treated with disrespect. I have had jumpseaters not realize that we needed to get going and have told them very nicely that we would have to get going and I will talk to them on the ground. Then again welcome them aboard. I treat jumpseaters better than I do customers because these are my peers. These guys have also sacraficed much to get where we are. Only to get treated like crap from other employees, management and everyone else who has pilot envy. We dont need to be treating each other harshly. Those of you who want to start in with "When I was a Colonel in the mil." who cares. Thanks for serving our beautiful country, your new battle is with shareholders and top-notch management. Not your peers.

 

[say again]

The only time that I've had a problem jumpseating (and I've jumpseated quite a bit) is when the Captain, a fellow United pilot, asked me for my medical. I stated that it was in my flight bag in ops. He said that I couldn't ride because I didn't have my medical with me.

Now that CA is a dick!!! Good for you for handling it the way you did. I cant believe someone would do that to a fellow company pilot.

 

[Bill Mostellar]

It was was General....

Not his base!

William
AKA Bill
Former Moderator

 

[Shaheen]

I'm always nice to my jumpseaters, but if I get ordered around (like I did on AirTran once) I take it - and say thanks for the free ride. I do not run over to Flight Info and slam the crew because as a jumpseater getting a freebie I do not think I've got complete information or any right to complain.

You, Ma'am/Sir, seem like a textbook case of someone with a very 'Low Self Esteem'.

If someone is being rude to you because they are offering you help, you simply can't take the disrespect.

The jumpseat DOES not belong to the captain, it belongs to the airline. The airline management is the authority that made it possible for pilots to jumpseat. NOT the captain!

If someone is rude to you, you must do something about it! Not just take an insult, like you did, and feel you deserve it because it’s a ‘freebie’ you’re getting in return!

 

[Shaheen]

Anyone else find this funny? :nuts:

I didn't!

Happened to me just two weeks ago. Was due to attend wedding in Seattle on Saturday; on Friday morning I found myself in Chicago for a funeral.

Jump seated to both cities on AA and the crew was wonderful!

 

[Shaheen]

I talked with the J/S Coordinator today. It may not do any good. Whatever. Maybe it keeps this guy from mistreating anyone else the same way. Maybe not. Either way, thats the route I took.

For all of you "get over it" folks, I don't know if you commute or not but I do and I jumpseat alot. You are right that the j/s is a priveledge, not a right. That does not excuse demeaning another fellow pilot. So Waaaaaaaaah all you want.

Nicely said!

But, unfortunately, on this board, you'd find bunch of pilots with very 'Low Self Esteem' who are willing to take all the insults in return for a 'free ride'.

On the other hand, there are more pilots who agree with you that the unprofessional, rude, insulting, degrading behavior of the 5% should not be condoned!

 

[Guitar rocker]

You, Ma'am/Sir, seem like a textbook case of someone with a very 'Low Self Esteem'.

If someone is being rude to you because they are offering you help, you simply can't take the disrespect.

The jumpseat DOES not belong to the captain, it belongs to the airline. The airline management is the authority that made it possible for pilots to jumpseat. NOT the captain!

If someone is rude to you, you must do something about it! Not just take an insult, like you did, and feel you deserve it because it’s a ‘freebie’ you’re getting in return!

But it is the captains authority to allow someone on the JS. He "owns" the airplane and is in charge when he is flying it. The company may say which airlines can ride the jumpseat but the pilot chooses which airline pilots ride the jumpseat.

Enough of the low self esteem thing. Believe me, sometimes its better to keep your trap shut and just eat it when its free. When you pipe up and open that cake hole is when your not only jeopordizing it for yourself but others as well who rely on jumpseating. In this case, I would have kept my beak closed and not confronted the captain as perhaps you would have.

 

[~~~^~~~]

You, Ma'am/Sir, seem like a textbook case of someone with a very 'Low Self Esteem'.

If someone is being rude to you because they are offering you help, you simply can't take the disrespect.

The jumpseat DOES not belong to the captain, it belongs to the airline. The airline management is the authority that made it possible for pilots to jumpseat. NOT the captain!

If someone is rude to you, you must do something about it! Not just take an insult, like you did, and feel you deserve it because it’s a ‘freebie’ you’re getting in return!

If someone else is rude - they have a problem. It is not your problem - unless you decide you are going to continue, or escalate, the problem and make it your own. It is not a matter of "self esteem" it is a matter of pragmatism.

"Self Esteem" does not mean you defend your honor at every turn, if so you are going to be a busy person just trying to get a little lunch in Hot 'Lanta where some of the food vendors have elevated being rude and disrespectful to an art form.

But also, respect for authority enters into the picture here. You have a Delta Captain trying to supervise boarding of his aircraft under tight time constraints and an offline jumpseater blocking the door. Obviously the J/S lacked a little situational awareness.

 

[NuGuy]

Heyas,

Sounds like this kiddo got his "feelings" hurt by a guy who was tired and in a hurry.

I agree with the other posters...Way, way too much hormonal action on the part of the jumpseater.

That's an interesting trend I notice with 'utes today. If you don't give them slavish attention and give them heaps of praise about their mediocity, they stand in the corner in a huff and pout like a 4 year old.

That's what we get with a "You're a winner for just participating" education system.

Nu