Airtran Jumpseat/Non-rev

[Capn Mike]

When commuing yesterday out of ATL I was told by the agent that I was not the first jumpseater and that I would be charged $30.80 for the flight. I said okay and while she was processing the charge I asked what airline the other jumpseater was from. She stated "that there were several of them."

I was the third person to board and met the crew. From where I was seated, I noticed that no other people went into the flightdeck to meet the crew. During the flight I asked the lead F/A if there were any other jumpseaters onboard. She stated none that she was aware of.

I understand the policy of charging after the first jumpseat has been requested and I am very thankful to be able to get to and from work.

I was just surprised to see no other jumpseaters on the a/c after being told that there were several and charged for the flight.

Does any Airtran crews know how this could have happened?

Thanks,


Mike

 

[RedDogC130]

The gate agent just assumes that they will show up. In the future, I would wait until the end and then see if any showed, then pay.

 

[FlyAuburn]

Man that sucks. I also hear that they (agents) charge a tax on top of the 25 dollar fee. My friends at the Tranny say that they are not suppose to charge that tax. who knows? A friend paid 38 dollars not long ago. I wonder why your fee was different? Nothing against FL, but I can't wait until they get CASS!

 

[bestpilot]

Man that sucks. I also hear that they (agents) charge a tax on top of the 25 dollar fee. My friends at the Tranny say that they are not suppose to charge that tax. who knows? A friend paid 38 dollars not long ago. I wonder why your fee was different? Nothing against FL, but I can't wait until they get CASS!

DUDE, waht else could I be, all apologies, my brother. Yeah, we wants da CASS too, bro ,but it aint commin yet cause we gots all sorts o dat negotiatin to do. It's still freaking great dat we can get dem pilots home, but it ain't ALLLL GOOOOOOD, and until it is, then like I'm like sorry dude.

 

[newnan]

the next time this happens let the captain know. They charged a jumpseater of mine (the agent said there was another jumpseater listed?? I didn't know off line jumpseaters could list?) and then was to lazy or trying to get the aircraft out on time and wouldn't refund him his money. Since the jumpseater let me know about it, when we got to MKE I got him in touch with a supervisor that was able to reverse the charges. Maybe if we start calling the agents on this when they screw up that will help in getting rid of this assinine policy.

 

[Ty Webb]

Hey, Cap'n Mike:

Did you stop up front and introduce yourself to the Flight Crew? Because if you didn't, how do you expect them to know you were charged in the first place? Or, if you did, if you had let him know at the end of the flight, maybe he could've done something about it.



.

 

[cobalt]

Hey, Cap'n Mike:

Did you stop up front and introduce yourself to the Flight Crew? Because if you didn't, how do you expect them to know you were charged in the first place? Or, if you did, if you had let him know at the end of the flight, maybe he could've done something about it.

.

did you read his post? cause when I read it, it seems pretty clear he did:

I was the third person to board and met the crew. From where I was seated, I noticed that no other people went into the flightdeck to meet the crew.

 

[Clyde Frog]

Let that be a lesson to you, stay away from AirTran. I do.

 

[Ty Webb]

did you read his post? cause when I read it, it seems pretty clear he did:

Did you read my post? Because when I read it, it seems pretty clear there was a caveat:

Or, if you did, if you had let him know at the end of the flight, maybe he could've done something about it.

.

Since you seem inclined to split hairs, "Met the Crew" doesn't necessarily mean he met the Captain. It could have been the Lead F/A and the F/O, for all you know.

 

[seahorse]

Hey, Cap'n Mike:
... maybe he could've done something about it.

What you could do there critter is get together with your other pilots and get rid of that policy of ripping off other pilots for a ride. That's what you could do about it.

 

[Phaedrus]

seahorse! Great idea! I don't believe that has been considered up to this point. You, sir, are genius personified. Hey fellas, convene the pilot group and let's get rid of our silly policy. How could we have overlooked this?
Crescent wrench on an OTIS.

 

[newnan]

Actually, I don't think Critter ever charged for the jumpseat. Secondly, I'd like to know what company you work for. It must be great to be able to just get together with your other pilots and get rid of a policy management puts in place that you disagree with. Are they hiring? Where can we send resume's? We don't like this policy anymore than anyone else and we'd like to see it changed. Until then, take frog's advice and stay away. Maybe if management started losing revenue from the jumpseat it wouldn't be worth the bookkeeping and they'd drop it! By the way, you suggested it and I'm open for suggestions. How would you suggest that we and our other pilots get together and change this policy.

 

[newnan]

to late, Phad beat me to it

 

[crosscut]

Let that be a lesson to you, stay away from AirTran. I do.

You just can't help it, can you, Einstein? I figured your obsessiveness with Airtran, your interest in Midwest Express, and, of course, your membership recency to jump the gun on getting your one-month old screen name (Einstein) banned gave it away (& all in 4 posts) Oh well, knock yourself out.

Hey, while I have your attention, what's up with Midwest painting 4 stripes on the left eng nacelle & 3 on the right nacelle (717)? Seriously..., problems with identifying on which side of the airplane the captain sits? Really, what's the reasoning there? At least, ya'll are original. Fly safe.

 

[bestpilot]

What you could do there critter is get together with your other pilots and get rid of that policy of ripping off other pilots for a ride. That's what you could do about it.

DUDE!

I like try to be like cool abouts it, and like tell da peeps we feels bad, but, dude, you jus wont let it go. If me and da Ty Guy would be runnin da Tranny, then all yooos pilots be travelin for free like all da time. But, dude, if me and ole Ty Guy be runnin da Tranny, we be out a da bizznizz by now.

Dude, you bringin up da freaking policy again is like, like, like dat movie I like keep seein on dat TeeVee. This is like dat Bill Murray movie, when he like wakes up and stuff with dat gooofy song on da radio. Itt's GGRRRRROUNDHOG DAY!!!!!!


Ned? Ned Freaking Rhyerson? Dude, freaking A bubba, I'll be like buyin all dat insurance you gots! Dude, if I play my freaking cards right, maybe I can gets with ole Andie freaking McDowell. Ewwwwwww, YUK! Sea-horse, dude, you can have her, bro, cause she's like BO-heemIUM!

 

[cl65capt]

What you could do there critter is get together with your other pilots and get rid of that policy of ripping off other pilots for a ride. That's what you could do about it.

Yawn. Let me guess, you work for someone who only takes one jumpseater.

 

[j41driver]

If I am trying to jumpseat on mainline Delta and I'm not the first offline jumpseater there then the only way that I can get a ride is if I already have an ID90 in my pocket for just such a case. A round trip ID90 on the city pair I use will cost me $199.xx according to our pass bureau and it has to be purchased in advance.

Consider AirTran's policy as this: We take one offline jumpseater. If you aren't the first offline guy to show up then you have to buy the equivalent of an ID90 for $25...and you can get it when (and if) you need it...not 6 months before you actually need to use it.

I don't like our management's policy at all (my previous airline ACA/IDE had a wide open jumpseat policy and it certainly made everyone's life easier) but there's not much we can do to change it right now. Hopefully CASS and a better jumpseat policy will be in the future.

 

[DonVerita]

Hopefully CASS and a better jumpseat policy will be in the future.

We'll definately have both items in the next contract. This B.S. greed policy by management is going to get the deep-six.

If anyone has a problem with our mostly poor excuse for gate agents in ATL, just ask to speak with the Captain. 99% of them will get it straightened out.

None of this would be a problem if management would take some of that fat bonus money they give themselves every quarter and put it towards recruitment of gate agents from somewhere else other than Roy Rogers restaurants and pay them a decent wage.

 

[Ty Webb]

None of this would be a problem if management would take some of that fat bonus money they give themselves every quarter and put it towards recruitment of gate agents from somewhere else other than Roy Rogers restaurants and pay them a decent wage.

Are you sure it is Roy Rogers? I was pretty sure it's Taco Bell. I will ask at recurrent next month.

 

[mnboyev]

The jumpseat form should be changed to include 'off-line' jumpseaters with a Captain signature.... I have asked our jumpseat committee chairman to inquire and work to get it changed ..(twice in writing).. and to remove the 'cheesy' photo copy excuse that some agents currently use. All I can say... is it is in the works to better control the jumpseat form and know who is riding on a 'pass' or offline jumpseat. Hopefully the 'pass' thing will get negotiated away in the near future. CASS is being looked at ..Call our jumpseat chair and get it changed !!

The problem is the gate agents just 'list' the pass rider and issue a seat assignment. He11 we dont know if we have people in the back or not who are flight crew. Sometimes tough to tell with companies moving their pilots around .... revenue ticket riders... exec jet.. Cat... ATI... Ryan... Miami Air... etc.. etc... I hope the agents are checking their credentials...

I will call and email again today...

 

[Lear70]

If I am trying to jumpseat on mainline Delta and I'm not the first offline jumpseater there then the only way that I can get a ride is if I already have an ID90 in my pocket for just such a case. A round trip ID90 on the city pair I use will cost me $199.xx according to our pass bureau and it has to be purchased in advance.

What he said.

I start next week with AirTran and was looking into how to get back and forth from Nashville since AirTran doesn't fly in here and, much to my surprise, Delta only takes ONE jumpseater, regardless of how many people are in the back.

In fact, I was coming back home FROM MY INTERVIEW and a AirTran F/O was trying to jumpseat. At Pinnacle, we're on CASS, so even though she showed up first, they were going to let me on and not her. Didn't even know they were going to do this until she brought it up after my seat assignment and I had to go back to the gate agent and say, "Whoa, wait a second, she was here first, this ain't right."

The pass I wrote to go to the interview COST ME $70 BUCKS! And you guys complain about an AirTran jumpseat charge of $25 bucks plus tax??!!

So go easy there, there are LOTS of airlines who have crappy jumpseat / pass travel arrangements (Delta, American, etc), but at least AirTran passes are relatively cheap AND CAN BE PURCHASED AT THE GATE. I'm looking at writing some ZED passes on CAL or USA and two-leg it as my backup to and from Atlanta because of crappy jumpseat policies that other airlines have.

The problem is the gate agents just 'list' the pass rider and issue a seat assignment. He11 we dont know if we have people in the back or not who are flight crew. Sometimes tough to tell with companies moving their pilots around .... revenue ticket riders... exec jet.. Cat... ATI... Ryan... Miami Air... etc.. etc... I hope the agents are checking their credentials...

That's just wrong. Jumpseat etiquette has ALWAYS been for the jumpseater to check with the Captain, even if they have a seat. Not to mention the gate agent, but the jumpseater should know better...

 

[mnboyev]

Have fun in class next week.. welcome. I have a buddy starting Monday as well.

Yeah.. they should stop by... but ... some dont... in the heat of 'loading up' they walk by the front office. They have their seat assignment.. done deal...
Had a back pack toting FO from somewhere... new to the industry .. we nicely educated him on the traditional 'Hows it going' routine'.
However, most do stop by and say Howdy.. whip out the ID and medical and chat about small talk and who everybody knows bla bla bla...

Last trip we had a nice Delta fella and a North American commuter. Neither were 'charged' for their ride !!! I had a ol grey United fella out of LGA one day get charged... He stopped by to 'chat'... I gave him 25 buck out of my pocket. He didnt take it.. but was grateful.... Our pilots will make it work if they know what is going on... Please stop by the office and WE WILL GET IT WORKED OUT. All welcome..... commuting is the pits... lets take the pain out any way we can... Our workdays are long enough...

 

[Lear70]

Have fun in class next week.. welcome. I have a buddy starting Monday as well.

Cool, thanks! I'm really psyched and just plain GRATEFUL to be moving up and on with the career!

Let me know who your buddy is, I started an email chain between all of us with the email Gretta sent us, trying to coordinate housing if anyone hasn't gotten around to it yet and so forth. Still trying to find a good place myself, haven't had time to go down and evaluate the 2 options I've found so far, will probably do that first day of class.

Last trip we had a nice Delta fella and a North American commuter. Neither were 'charged' for their ride !!! I had a ol grey United fella out of LGA one day get charged... He stopped by to 'chat'... I gave him 25 buck out of my pocket. He didnt take it.. but was grateful.... Our pilots will make it work if they know what is going on... Please stop by the office and WE WILL GET IT WORKED OUT. All welcome..... commuting is the pits... lets take the pain out any way we can... Our workdays are long enough...

WELL SAID!

I've been a commuter for the last two airlines I've worked for, it's a pain but you gotta keep the wife happy and staying here in Nashville does that for her. She's been a pretty good sport about this goofy career,,,

Guys going the extra mile to get stuff worked out is what makes this career still workable in light of all the crap that's happened in the last half-decade. Nice to see there's a bunch of you at AirTran, too!

See you on the line!

 

[Lowrider717]

Jumpseat etiquette has ALWAYS been for the jumpseater to check with the Captain, even if they have a seat. Not to mention the gate agent, but the jumpseater should know better...

Jumpseaters are ACM's and thus have the responsibility to notify the crew of their presence and ability to help in an emergency if needed. At minimum the jumpseater should intro him/herself to the CAPT. with the proper minimum documentation (License, Medical, Crew ID)out and available for inspection.(don't make the Capt. ask for ID). Just because you bought a seat for 25 bucks does not relieve you of this responsibility. Not to mention its just plain courtesy and proper etiquette.
If you were Capt. wouldn't you want to know who was on board? Do you want to accept riders who have had their Credentials checked by the Gate Agent?

 

[-9Capt]

I can see both sided of this debate:

I paid for a non-rev pass, I don't have to talk to anyone.

However, if you showed your license and medical as a condition of getting on the aircraft, you'd better check in up front.

 

[Lowrider717]

I think that may be part of the problem. But I had a guy on the other day, from a Major and apparently a regular jumper, that just went back and sat down, I had to go introduce myself to him. Some of the problem is some people just don't know proper etiquette.

 

[-9Capt]

I think that may be part of the problem. But I had a guy on the other day, from a Major and apparently a regular jumper, that just went back and sat down, I had to go introduce myself to him. Some of the problem is some people just don't know proper etiquette.

Was he on a pass or was he the only jumpseater?

I've had the gate agent tell these guys that I want to see them before we depart.

On a recent commute to work, the capt threw an offline JSeater off for not coming up front before he took his seat.

 

[Lowrider717]

He was the only jumpseater period. I guess some reeducation is needed. Sad to say, this fella was 20plus year veteran of a major. I figured it would be the folks new to the commuting/jumpseat that don't check in with the crew.

 

[Capn Mike]

Hey, Cap'n Mike:

Did you stop up front and introduce yourself to the Flight Crew? Because if you didn't, how do you expect them to know you were charged in the first place? Or, if you did, if you had let him know at the end of the flight, maybe he could've done something about it.



.

Yes Ty, I met the Captain, F/O and two of the F/A's. At the end of the flight, after waiting for the Passnegers to deplane, the captain was not in the flight deck when I got off of the aircraft.

Mike

 

[Uppercrust]

Was he on a pass or was he the only jumpseater?

I've had the gate agent tell these guys that I want to see them before we depart.

On a recent commute to work, the capt threw an offline JSeater off for not coming up front before he took his seat.[/quote]

What a hero!!