Airtran's $25 jumpseat policy

[Resume Writer]

If this is true it would also be news to me. I know that for the last 14 years I have never refused a pilot a free ride ( I have had alot more than 2 jumpseaters on at a time more than once ) and also they have never been charged a penny that I know of. But I have been wrong before, as this post shows and I dont jumpseat since I live in base. I believe we always fill the plane with jumpseaters if theres any empty seats in back. I go in tomorrow for a 3 day and I am going to ask around about us charging any monies for the jumpseat.

Jim - I used to work the gates for SWA. If there was an unlimited jumpseat agreement with an airline, then of course those individuals went for free. For airlines that did not have unlimited jumpseats, we were allowed to put on two pilots from other carriers. If a third pilot walked up from another airline that did not have unlimited, I either had to refuse them the jumpseat OR suggest they go to the customer service counter to buy a non-rev ticket. So, it is not charging for the jumpseat - just following the reciprocal agreements.

Interestingly enough, I had the above scenario with the three pilots without unlimited jumpseats. I asked the Captain to sign one more jumpseat, and he immediately agreed to the request. However, I was working with a new gate agent, and she ran and told the supervisor. So, I got reamed about trying to help a jumpseater get to their destination.

Here is the funny part. The supervisor told me that we could not allow the third jumpseater because it was a violation of security! I was on probation at the time, so I could not correct her!

 

[ProLine4]

To clarify: a "yield fare" is not positive space. Any ID-XX ticket is not positive space.
I have jumpseated on FL more times than I can remember, but only once paid the $28. Thank you to all the Citrus crews that help out us OAL commuters.

 

[bestpilot]

To clarify: a "yield fare" is not positive space. Any ID-XX ticket is not positive space.
I have jumpseated on FL more times than I can remember, but only once paid the $28. Thank you to all the Citrus crews that help out us OAL commuters.

Duuude, jus in time fer da Holidays, showin da luv to da Tranny. Duude, thanks for da kindness and like all da Tranny dudes are diggin dat we can be gettin udder pilot peeps to da wife or da hubbie and to da kiddies to.

Like Tiny Tim says, bro, "God bless us wit dat good freaking Kharma, every one!"

 

[j41driver]

With all of this complaining, I'd like to see it changed to a true reciprocal agreement. Your airline allows unlimited jumpseats = we offer unlimited jumpseats; your airline offers limited # of jumpseats = we offer same limited # of jumpseats.

 

[Jim Smyth]

Jim - I used to work the gates for SWA. If there was an unlimited jumpseat agreement with an airline, then of course those individuals went for free. For airlines that did not have unlimited jumpseats, we were allowed to put on two pilots from other carriers. If a third pilot walked up from another airline that did not have unlimited, I either had to refuse them the jumpseat OR suggest they go to the customer service counter to buy a non-rev ticket. So, it is not charging for the jumpseat - just following the reciprocal agreements.

Interestingly enough, I had the above scenario with the three pilots without unlimited jumpseats. I asked the Captain to sign one more jumpseat, and he immediately agreed to the request. However, I was working with a new gate agent, and she ran and told the supervisor. So, I got reamed about trying to help a jumpseater get to their destination.

Here is the funny part. The supervisor told me that we could not allow the third jumpseater because it was a violation of security! I was on probation at the time, so I could not correct her!

Well they wouldnt be paying for a jumpseat then, it would have been a pass. In 14 years I have only had 1 ops agent in STL try that move to where they denied a third jumpseat. I went down and talked to the station manager and he told me he didnt care one way or another so I put the third guy on. I think thats more of the norm, however a few could slip threw the cracks if the Pilots dont know about it. We now have 12 of the 97 jumpseating approved airlines that have unlimited jumpseat and it keeps getting better every day so in the near future, hopefully it shouldnt be an issue.

 

[Nocturnal1]

As much as the $25 fee sucks, at least you'll get on if there's space. I commute on Delta/ASA regularly. ASA - awesome, unlimited; Delta - great if you're the lucky (1). I'd gladly pay $25 bucks to get on the plane rather than having the plane with 40 empty seats leave without my sorry butt on it because of the (1) only non-Delta pilot rule. By the by, rumor out there is that the company make nearly $4M on the yearly fee so moan all you want but don't expect it ever go away.
Cheers