Airtran charging for jumpseating

[StopNTSing]

Sheesh! I love all you AirTran guys, but you need to quit being so defensive about this and trying to spin it as some kind of a good deal. The fact is the "bar" HAS been lowered. AirTran mgmt has just set a very unfortunate precedent that, mark my words, will become commonplace throught the industry. The days of the free ride to/from work are rapidly coming to a close.

 

[Caveman]

"You bet they will get involved-- by firing pilots. I bet they would love to start firing their senior capts and replace them with cheap newhires, and force them to live in SDF. Now would be a great time to do it, with thousands of out of work pilots begging for any job. Probably a great tool to break the union during the negotiations. Quick Caveman! Forward your idea to your buds in UPS management! Maybe you'll be the first pilot they hire to replace the dozens they will get to fire."

Why is that when someone has a different or controversial position the best some of you can do is throw insults? Is your position so weak that you can't engage in rational discourse? It's fine to disagree. We don't have to be disagreeable. Sheeesh!

 

[trainerjet]

mark my words, will become commonplace throught the industry.

I guess you and your SWA buddies spend so much time patting each other on the back, that you loose sight of reality. Taking the number of jumpseaters that there are jumpseats on the aircraft IS commonplace throughout the industry. As someone mentioned earlier, many commuting pilots carry passes they have acquired from their pass dept. as back-ups. Air Tran simply allows you to purchase this pass at the gate...if they enforce this policy at all.

If you don't like Air Tran's jumpseat policy, no one is forcing you to ride. However, I'm certain the Air Tran pilots would be happy to have you, and make you feel welcome, regardless of your warped view and attitude.

 

[Spur]

Why is that when someone has a different or controversial position the best some of you can do is throw insults?

My post was not intended to insult you. I was using sarcasm and ridicule to emphasize a valid point. UPS is not responsible for getting its pilots to work... the pilots are. End up with several missed assignments because your jumpseat fell through and you will get fired. Having a bunch of fired pilots trying to get their jobs back is not good for negotiating a new contract. I bet UPS would love to have that card to play.

Is that better?

 

[Caveman]

Yeah, it is better. You also have a valid point, but I'm assuming a commuter clause is in place to preclude mgmt from firing anyone.

 

[adqrip]

$25 won't pay for my gas

The $25 bucks that I have only paid once would not even pay for the gas my trusty F-150 (Ford) would burn between MEM & ATL. I will gladly pay the coin so I can get to work. Many thanks to the AirTran guys/gals that allow me to fly with them. rip

 

[freightdoggie]

I work for a 135 company and have had no problems jumpseating with AirTran yet, they are great.
I jumpseat on Southwest all the time and they are great too. Ive only been bumped once due to a late arriving passenger. However, from other friends in the company, they say they have problems jumpseating with America West. Can anyone tell me why that is?
We just signed agreements with ACA and Northwest too, I have not yet tried to jumpseat with these carriers, mainly because I already know the answer to my question. Any thoughts??

 

[klhoard]

Commuter Clause??

Yeah, it is better. You also have a valid point, but I'm assuming a commuter clause is in place to preclude mgmt from firing anyone.

At FDX, the only "amnesty" you have is if you are booked on a FDX jumpseat that meets certain parameters. Even then, if you miss your trip, it still has to be filled with a reserve pilot (at straight pay), and you lose the pay for the trip.

Anything else and you're operating in Class G airspace. . . .

 

[StopNTSing]

I guess you and your SWA buddies spend so much time patting each other on the back, that you loose sight of reality.

Uh-huh. That's about as relevant to this issue as me saying that chip on your shoulder towards SWA seems to be clouding your ability to understand my point.

Taking the number of jumpseaters that there are jumpseats on the aircraft IS commonplace throughout the industry.

Yes, but charging a jumpseater for a ride is not. Why is that so hard to understand?

As someone mentioned earlier, many commuting pilots carry passes they have acquired from their pass dept. as back-ups. Air Tran simply allows you to purchase this pass at the gate...if they enforce this policy at all.

If you don't like Air Tran's jumpseat policy, no one is forcing you to ride. However, I'm certain the Air Tran pilots would be happy to have you, and make you feel welcome, regardless of your warped view and attitude.

Let's see if I have this straight....AirTran is now charging me or other commuting pilots $25 for something that used to be free. And expressing my disappointment with that fact gives me a "warped view and attitude?" The value of this profession has already taken so many hits in the last two years....it's just a shame to see yet another bennie going by the wayside as well. That's all.

 

[FL717]

Yes, but charging a jumpseater for a ride is not. Why is that so hard to understand?


Let's see if I have this straight....AirTran is now charging me or other commuting pilots $25 for something that used to be free. And expressing my disappointment with that fact gives me a "warped view and attitude?" The value of this profession has already taken so many hits in the last two years....it's just a shame to see yet another bennie going by the wayside as well. That's all.

I have quoted your post because it is completely WRONG. You make it sound like you cannot jumpseat on AirTran without paying money. That is NOT TRUE. What is so hard about understanding the AirTran jumpseat policy. People like you make this so frustrating.

We STILL allow one "jumpseater" to jumpseat for free. Okay.. stop. You got that part. Okay.. How is this different than many other airlines? There are some that allow unlimited riders. AirTran used to be like that for years. Management changed it to ONLY one jumpseater per flight. Okay... now here is the difference: The difference is that the company decided that rather than let all additional jumpseaters stay behind to go catch another flight, you can on-the-spot non rev for $25.00. If you were to go out and buy a non-rev pass at your pass bureau, it would cost more than that.

This is NOT lowering the jumpseat bar. It is not as good as unlimited, but still better than an empty plane pulling away from the gate with you sitting there trying to make a show time at work. No other airline that I am aware that allows only one jumpseat rider does this. Why don't you start a thread harping on the airlines that only allow one jumpseat rider per aircraft.. period. Their policy is worse than ours. They are the ones lowering the bar - according to your logic.

Guys.. I'm done with this topic. Its not that difficult to understand.. and quite frankly I don't understand how this is so complex to some people. If you don't like it then wait for the next flight and sign up early for the FREE... FREE... FREE ride.

 

[Ty Webb]

Yes, but charging a jumpseater for a ride is not. Why is that so hard to understand?
[/i]


As has already been pointed out many times, they are not charging a jumpseater- if you were the jumpseater, you would already have your seat. Sheeesh!

And, if an AirTran pilot shows up for the jumpseat, or three, or four, or a hundred, they will STILL take one off-line jumpseater for free.

Try that at Delta, American, etc. Unless the guy will write himself a pass, you're cooling your heels. buddy. . . . . buy a seat for $25.? Not an option.

 

[trainerjet]

Uh-huh. That's about as relevant to this issue as me saying that chip on your shoulder towards SWA seems to be clouding your ability to understand my point.

No..my point is that it seems to be clouding YOUR ability to understand this issue. As others have said...over and over and over...and you still don't seem to get it...let me go slow.

Air Tran does not charge for the jumpseat. Regardless of the number of Air Tran pilots on the "jumpseat" they will take one off-line pilot on the 'jumpseat" for free. Any additional pilots wanting to ride can purchase a non-rev pass for $25.

If you can't understand that, go back to school. I suggest the 3rd grade, for starters.

 

[StopNTSing]

We STILL allow one "jumpseater" to jumpseat for free. Okay.. stop. You got that part. Okay.. How is this different than many other airlines? There are some that allow unlimited riders. AirTran used to be like that for years. Management changed it to ONLY one jumpseater per flight. Okay... now here is the difference: The difference is that the company decided that rather than let all additional jumpseaters stay behind to go catch another flight, you can on-the-spot non rev for $25.00. If you were to go out and buy a non-rev pass at your pass bureau, it would cost more than that.

This is NOT lowering the jumpseat bar. It is not as good as unlimited, but still better than an empty plane pulling away from the gate with you sitting there trying to make a show time at work. No other airline that I am aware that allows only one jumpseat rider does this. Why don't you start a thread harping on the airlines that only allow one jumpseat rider per aircraft.. period. Their policy is worse than ours. They are the ones lowering the bar - according to your logic.

I agree that AirTran's policy is better than a one-and-only-one free jumpseater, no if's, and's or but's. But if I am the hapless second jumpseater who used to ride for free on you guys....that's the raw deal. It's the whole notion of charging pilots to jumpseat that I hate to hear in any way, shape, or form. Because it won't stop here with only the second jumpseater. Why do you think your management changed the policy to begin with? Revenue. In this revenue-starved environment we're all in, it's just a matter of time before the bean-counters at perhaps some other airline realize they could squeeze a few more bucks on to the bottom line by tagging those pesky off-line jumpseating interlopers with a "handling fee" of some sort. Then before you know it, badda-bing badda-boom, no more free rides....anywhere. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm afraid the camel's nose is already under the tent on this one.

 

[FLB717]

If Delta had our jumpseat policy it would be an improvment for using them? Nuff said Im done with this thread.

 

[Dizel8]

AAI did not change the policy recently, it was in effect prior to all the mayhem, however, I have never seen it enforced. Apparently some people have

But I still think AAI policy beats most airlines. Of course there are some airlines, who have a great and very liberal attitude. They are to be applauded heavily and we can only hope that all airlines goes that route, U came onboard recently. There is enough shat going on these days, that, regardles of who you work for, we all need to try to make the commute as easy as possible. We got enough grief as is, why add to it.

I know, that the company I work for, allows as many jumpseaters as there are seats, we even allow OAL access to the F/A's extra seats. Being a commuter myself, I bend over backwards to accomodate this need.

Not allowing jumpseaters acces when there is room is just silly, IMHO. So yes, free is great, but AAI at least allows me to buy a pass, something which cannot be said for most of the "ONE jumpseat airlines".

Just my two cents.