Airtran pilots jumpseating on American

[737sluggo]

Does anyone have any info on Aitran pilots jumpseating on American? I ask because I was under the impression that American began taking as many jumpseaters as they had empty seats and that seemed to be the case until just a month ago.The last time I was commuting home from ATL to DFW I was informed by the gate agent that I and the three ASA guys also trying to get home were denied because they already had a jumpseater. The Captain also reiterated this and the flight left with 13 open seats and the four of us stranded.
Does American only have the unlimited policy with certain airlines? Do they only take as many as they have jumpseats?
Just wondering if anyone can clarify this for me. Thx!

 

[75M]

I hope this helps...

Does American only have the unlimited policy with certain airlines?

Yes

Do they only take as many as they have jumpseats?

Unless your airline is on the list, yes.


AA Reciprocal Jumpseat Agreements
List of Approved Airlines – 2/22/05

Alaska Air
Chatauqua Airlines
Comair
Frontier Airlines
Jetblue
MidAtlantic Airways (division of US Airways)
Skywest Airlines
Southwest Airlines (system-wide)
USAirways (system-wide)

Unlimited jumpseat policy only applies on domestic routes (defined as 50 U.S. states plus U.S. Virgin Islands).

 

[Jeff Helgeson]

AA JS must be on the unlimited list

I am furloghed from AA and had a similar experience in DFW. I checked in first, but there was another off-line pilot from a regional on the list as well. I was informed if that pilot showed up, I would not get on, even though there were 30 seats open. Allegiant takes unlimited JSers, both pilots and F/A, but that is not the agreement between AAY and AA. If a pilot shows up with the unlimited status, he rides and the limited guy stays behind.

 

[Jeff Helgeson]

I spoke with the JS coordinator at AA yesterday

​

Below is the text of an email I sent to the JS coordinator and CP Mark Hettermann.

The APA is all for extneding a more comlete list of air carriers, but AA management and the TSA are creating a lot of obsticles.


Captain David Groves
Allied Pilots Association

Jump Seat Coordinator

RE: Reciprocal agreement for unlimited jump seats privileges

Dear Captain Groves:

We spoke some time ago about the possibility of working out an unlimited jump seat agreement between Allegiant and American. As I stated approximately 10% of the Allegiant seniority list consists of furloughed American pilots. Allegiant already offers unlimited jump seats to both off-line pilots and flight attendants. Approximately 75% of our flying is scheduled 121 out of LAS and we are soon to start a Florida operation out of MCO/SFB. I believe this could be beneficial to the employees at American.

Let me share a most recent experience I had jump seating on American without the unlimited agreement. I jumped between BWI DFW DEN. When I checked in at the gate at DFW, the agent informed me there was another pilot listed for the jump seat from a regional carrier that had an unlimited agreement with American. She stated that if this pilot showed up, that he would get the jump seat and I would not be boarded even though I had checked in first. If we both had the unlimited agreement, than both would ride. So the implementation of the policy is those with the unlimited agreement have priority over those that do not, regardless of check in time. The irony is I had flown with the Captain of the MD80 for the DFW DEN and I was furloughed from the MD80 equipment from American. Now I have to give way to a non-AMR commuter pilot to the jump seat and watch the jet push away from the gate with empty seats.

The unlimited jump seat agreement is a win/win for both parties. It is a no cost item that would provide benefit for all and good will between our carriers. Allegiant has taken the high road by continuing to provide unlimited jump seat privileges to pilots and flight attendants of all carriers, including American.

 

[njcapt]

Below is the text of an email I sent to the JS coordinator and CP Mark Hettermann.

The APA is all for extneding a more comlete list of air carriers, but AA management and the TSA are creating a lot of obsticles.

I see AA management is attempting to share the blame for this SNAFU with the TSA. I have NEVER heard of the TSA having any say over how many off-line jumpseaters get to ride in the cabin of an aircraft. The situation lies at the feet of AA management, not the TSA's.

ATA has had an open jump seat policy for as long as I can remember, and I notice that we didn't make the list. Hopefully this will be corrected soon, and in the mean time we will STILL offer jump seats to as many AA pilots that show up.

 

[CLE145CA]

Still no unlimited jumpseats for Continental Express (i.e. ExpressJet) pilots I see.

 

[flyhard]

NJ

Yep that is correct with ATA not being on the unlimited list. I almost was left behind for a similar circumstance. The AA captain and gate agent both smiled and said no you are not on the list. Luckily the other jumper took another later flight so I could get to work. When I spoke with our jumpseat guy he said he was aware of it and AA has decided to not include us at this time. The TSA thing is a chicken $hit excuse. The only way it will change is if someone denies an AA pilot and then he makes some phone calls and explains why he can't get to work with an airplane that is half full.

 

[bestpilot]

NJ

Yep that is correct with ATA not being on the unlimited list. I almost was left behind for a similar circumstance. The AA captain and gate agent both smiled and said no you are not on the list. Luckily the other jumper took another later flight so I could get to work. When I spoke with our jumpseat guy he said he was aware of it and AA has decided to not include us at this time. The TSA thing is a chicken $hit excuse. The only way it will change is if someone denies an AA pilot and then he makes some phone calls and explains why he can't get to work with an airplane that is half full.

ATA guys are super cool and well desrving of many cold brew dogs for how they treat jumpseaters. Maybe it's time to collectively start makin it like REALLY hard for AA pilots to like get to work? Dude, I don't know if that's a cool way to handle it, flyhard dude, I just don't see the Kharma in that at all, my brother from another mother. But I like hear what your sayin Dude, and I think your right.

AA pilots "smiling" as they tell you you can't ride--bad Kharma, dude, but if I'd like expect it from someone, I'd be like expecting it from AA pilots (they are definitely Dudes, but more like entirely too sophisticated and stuff like that for the rest of the regular pilot dudes who are just like tryin to get from here to there). It's like AA dudes don't commute or something, I mean like I know they do, but they really act like they don't have a clue about the hole commuting gig. It's wierd, Dude, just plain weird.

 

[PastFastMover]

"bestpilot,

Maybe it's time to collectively start makin it like REALLY hard for AA pilots to like get to work? "

Interesting take on things bestpilot. I jumpseat on AA alot. Guess what, they smile when I am able to get on and when the seat is full and I am not able to get on. I prefer that to a scowling look of contempt. Maybe I missed the point that you are making. If I read you correctly and it is sometimes very difficult to do that in this format, you think other airline pilots should make it hard for AA pilots to jumpseat because their management is not giving airline A or B unlimited jumpseats. Bestpilot, how many different airlines give unlimited jumpseats? I really don't know. I am getting ready to retire and this great perk of unlimited jumpseats on a very few carriers is a very very new innovation. Hopefully all will follow in the near futrue.

 

[j41driver]

Independence Air is still (incorrectly) on the "limited" list.

 

[AAflyer]

Some AA pilots don't have a clue, as they have never commuted in their life.

Others like myself and my last captain were on the phone with dispatch, trying to change numbers to get a CQ pilot on the jumpseat. The last SWA and JB pilot we had sat in First.

I can not imagine a pilot smiling at you for not getting on the jumpseat, but if ti really happened then I am sorry, EVERY airline has a few bad apples.

Remember for evey 1 WEENY there are 1000+ good guys.

AA

 

[flyhard]

AA,

You are right about every airline and bad apples. I know a jumpseat war is not the answer and everyone will lose. The fact is that it takes one guy getting denied to make a few phone calls and see that things are changed. It seems like AA is making harder than it needs to be. Either you are on the jumpseat list or not, period. With two lists it is only going to confuse the gate agents further than they already are.

 

[Twotter76]

AA,

With two lists it is only going to confuse the gate agents further than they already are.

You mean like having an approved international list and and approved domestic list? But hey no one would ever take it that far would they?

 

[bestpilot]

Maybe it's time to collectively start makin it like REALLY hard for AA pilots to like get to work? Dude, I don't know if that's a cool way to handle it, flyhard dude, I just don't see the Kharma in that at all, my brother from another mother.

I'm guessing like that you didn't get that I was like askin a question, and then like my answer was that I'm thinking that doing that is way bad Kharma, and I'm not diggin that.

I do think the dude was right in that the way some AA peeps treat jumpseaters is like REALLY bad, and the AA peeps act like all superior alot, but dude, screwin a dude out of the old JS is really not good, not good Kharma at all.

Sorry Dudes if I like misrepresented, I'd like to offer a cold virtual brew dog as a sign that I'm regrettin that you thought I meant something vindictive dude, my bad.

 

[JethroF15]

I'm guessing like that you didn't get that I was like askin a question, and then like my answer was that I'm thinking that doing that is way bad Kharma, and I'm not diggin that.

I do think the dude was right in that the way some AA peeps treat jumpseaters is like REALLY bad, and the AA peeps act like all superior alot, but dude, screwin a dude out of the old JS is really not good, not good Kharma at all.

Sorry Dudes if I like misrepresented, I'd like to offer a cold virtual brew dog as a sign that I'm regrettin that you thought I meant something vindictive dude, my bad.

Bestpilot…. Dude…. I’m sure you have a point to make in there somewhere but it’s hard to get through all the “Southern California teenage surfer-dude speak” in your posts. Not just on this thread either but in all your posts.!?

 

[Eagleflip]

Thank God for Jethro...I thought it was the screwdriver I was drinking that made that bestpilot's post indecipherable.

 

[Dave Siegel]

Bestpilot…. Dude…. I’m sure you have a point to make in there somewhere but it’s hard to get through all the “Southern California teenage surfer-dude speak” in your posts. Not just on this thread either but in all your posts.!?

"Best pilot"? I don't think so. Maybe we should call him, "Illiterate Pilot", or "Weed Smoking Pilot". This little punk is an embarassment to our profession. What a loser. I can't believe people actually think you're funny. I pity you. Now, go back to driving a truck, flipping burgers, or collecting welfare checks.

Just remember, READING IS FUNDAMENTAL! Grow up, Sonny!

 

[Jeff Helgeson]

TSA clarification

I see AA management is attempting to share the blame for this SNAFU with the TSA. I have NEVER heard of the TSA having any say over how many off-line jumpseaters get to ride in the cabin of an aircraft. The situation lies at the feet of AA management, not the TSA's.
QUOTE]

I didn't give all the details. The TSA was in reference to allowing furloughed AA pilots to ride in the AA cocpit if employeed by another air carrier on the JS list. Furloughees are still on the seniority list, in the computer, and are mailed an updated senority card by the APA. I had made the suggestion that with this card and other verifiable ID that the off-line fuloughed AA pilot might ride up front when the A/C fills up. That was the answer that the TSA wouild never buy off on that.

AA management is making the process more difficult and using the JS as leverage. They also have used the Non-rev priveledge as a weapon as well. 18 months for a furloughee or 24 months if no sick time is used the last year or so. We all have different work rules we live and deal with.

As far as the pilots go, AA is an airline run by MBA-bean counters, not pilots. Before the policy was a JSer had to physically ride in the cockpit. If the JSer went to the back and the company found out, the Captain would be reprimanded and have to pay a First class ticket to AA.

 

[Snake]

Can't speak for Airtran because I never fly on those scabs and their sorry excuse for an airline. AA pilots for the most part are nice and cordial. AA Eagle is better than the main line when it comes to helping jumpseaters get to where they need to go. All AA crews are welcome on my airline anytime.

 

[75M]

Snake, I got some news for you buddy...When you really need ALPA, they won't be there for you.