Bad blood

[acaTerry]

Question for all the "big" guys:
Reading the regional board, sounds like everybody hates us at the regionals. Now a lot of us have nothing to do with what equipment we have. There are still those of us did our turn in the props but now the RJs are popping up like pimples. My question:
Do you guys really hate us or not? It's getting scary to commute.

Commuting regional pilot: "Hi guys. Wondering if I can have a ride home with you?"
CA of affiliated major: "I don't like what you're doing with your jets. You want to fly a jet, go fly your own".

Really, we did not buy the darn things. Why is the JS being used to punish us for something we can not help?
So is this a rare occasion, or is it getting to be the norm?

 

[klhoard]

Commuting regional pilot: "Hi guys. Wondering if I can have a ride home with you?"
CA of affiliated major: "I don't like what you're doing with your jets. You want to fly a jet, go fly your own".

Is this an actual quote?

I don't want to jump too hard too soon here because this post would be a pretty darn good flame bait. . .

 

[Flash 7]

Huh?

I don't know how much you commute but I would not descibe it as scary.


I've never had a problem with any mainline pilot. As a Comair guy I sit in Delta cockpits all the time and those guys are always a class act.

Sorry I couldn't add to the FEAR!!

 

[46Driver]

I've got to report the same thing about mainline Delta - those guys have gone out of their way to get me on board. To a man, they have been a class act. What company are you trying to jumpseat on?

 

[Ty Webb]

All "Open Skies" list pilots are welcome to ride with us, and most of us will take 135 guys, too.

 

[46Driver]

Forgot to add AirTran, once again, they have been fantastic about getting jumpseating pilots onboard. Also, the gate agents for AirTran are probably the friendliest out of any company I have jumped on.

 

[Medeco]

Scary?

I commute weekly from ATL to DFW and back.

I have only had one JS ride wih American were I thought the pilot was less than nice but he could have been having a bad day.

I agree that Airtran has great people working for them.

When I ride up front on Delta mainline the guys have always been super cool. I always look for something I can use to make myself a better pilot. As i sit quietly in the seat.

I think your fear is from reading this board too much.

I also think that moral at companies like Airtran is much different than the majors

 

[General Lee]

I can't speak for all of us at Delta, but I always try to make the jumpseaters feel comfortable---regardless who they fly for. We just got the jumpseat in '96, and we are happy to have it. I am interested in other companies and what and where they fly, and can also sense when the guy/gal doesn't want to talk and would rather sleep. The jumpseat is a necessity for a lot of people, and that should never be held against someone. The one thing I think the jumpseaters should never do is barge into the cockpit. Always be very courteous to the flight attendants and ASK them if you can come in and talk to us, after showing your badge to them etc. With a big smile on your face, you will have a better chance of getting first class--and the flight attendants will usually put you there if you are nice.

As far as hating the regional pilots, I don't think many of us "hate" them. We can dislike a certain policy that they might believe in, but we know that they do not control their fleet plans etc---Delta management does. I am sure there are many regional guys that dislike Dalpa and ALPA obviously, but probably wouldn't take it out on normal jumpseaters, unless they were acting cocky. On this board we all can disagree on certain policies, but I doubt that people really hate eachother. (except, I think Afellowaviator might actually hate me)

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Flying Freddie]

I have been jumpseating for almost 30 years. Maybe had three guys who weren't nice and only one who wouldn't take me. The old Piedmont was the best! Bless them all!

 

[roadrunner]

I'm a SkyWest pilot and jumpseat all the time, mostly United and Frontier. The crews always treat me great and make me feel welcome anytime. Cant say as much for some of the gate agents, but oh well. As always, you all are always welcome on our planes, we take unlimited jumpseaters, and UAL,UEX, DAL, DLC can sit in the actual.

 

[rjcap]

The jumpseat is a professional courtesy and is not to be used for political purposes.

If a crew gives you a hard time then write down their names and leave the aircraft. Forward the names and the incident to your jumpseat coordinator and let him pursue the matter.

Don't ever subject yourself to somebody elses bullsh-t.

 

[Boeingman]

The jumpseat is a professional courtesy and is not to be used for political purposes.

If a crew gives you a hard time then write down their names and leave the aircraft. Forward the names and the incident to your jumpseat coordinator and let him pursue the matter.

Don't ever subject yourself to somebody elses bullsh-t.

Exactly. The person you deny today may deny one of your fellow pilots in the future.

Those who deny for political reasons are immature and childish.

 

[scopeCMRandASA]

I would have to echo the sentiment. I have never had a problem either on Delta.

I have had a problem on my own airline, surprisingly enough. As apolitical as the jumpseat is supposed to be, many of our more senior bretherin, you know the ones with the lawsuit, have taken the opportunity to lecture me on my beliefs of not participating in their little endeavor.

It is my opinion that the true bad blood lies in the spite which the RJDC folk at our airlines have with our mainline counterparts. I have seen it first hand, experienced it first hand, and witnessed others first hand. You claim it is the mainliners hating the regionals. Well, I think it is certain regional pilots who hate the mainliners, and promulgate that hate within the ranks in order to build concensus.

How's that for theory? Go and read the posts here again. Read them objectively for what they are. You, most of the time, will find rational truth on the mainline pilots part. It will then be turned around by a Comair or ASA pilot who plays the part of the "underdog". You will see a lot of "you guys always look down on us", "you think you are better pilots", when in fact none of those things are reflected in the mainliners post. You WILL find some of this type of language in the "regional" pilots' posts. Go figure. Classic psychological debate. THe RJDC types would have it no other way. You can't keep the masses divided, and thus further your lawsuit, with cohesiveness, can you?

--a concerned regional pilot

 

[acaTerry]

Incident in question was some time ago, but I'm hearing it pop up from others more often. The very FEW times I got a crack from someone was on UAL with the 35-43 y/o 737 CA types. I can see their frustration, the RJ's growing like cancer, but why bust the pilots chops over it?
Bets JS experience I've ever had , and I won't say the whens wheres and names (to protect the guy) was on a UAL 777. Crusty old type of CA. I got to the gate and see a guy from AIr Cheese, NWA, myself and a more senior ACA guy than me. "Well, I guess I go home tomorrow" I thought. The guy let us ALL on. I guess he was a day before retirement or something b/c this was WAY against UAL policy. Had a kid on his knee in the cockpit (prior to flight of course), reminded me of what it was like when I was a kid. This was the kind of guy that makes kids want to be pilots.
Then to boot, I read my copy of Flying magazine (I think it was that one) and Barry Schiff's article was on his retirement day with a recollection of his years as an airline pilot. Classiest article I ever read in any magazine. What a ride home. Sure made it feel good to be a flier that day.

 

[32drvr]

Jumpseating

acaTerry...

Wow. When I was a pilot at ACA, both as a Captain and FO, I remember times when we had our door closed and opened it up again to take a jumpseater. If I remember correctly, we could also fill up every empty seat with jumpseaters if we chose (which I always did when I was a Captain). Considering how great ACA always was to any jumpseater that came along, I can't believe there is anyone out there in the industry that would be rude or refuse a jumpseat to ACA. If I ever get into a position again (airline Captain) to make such decisions, you and any ACA pilot will always be welcome on my airplane.

'32

 

[lazy8s]

I've been denied on UAL one time because I was not a "Major" pilot and the offline "Major" pilot who showed up during the last 10 min. of boarding got the seat (this was the CA's decision).

I was a little upset with the agent for letting me sit and stew for the hour I waited proir to the flight only to give it away under me. For the record, I did check in much earlier and niether of us had any other priority other than first come-first served.

I did get home an hour later.

I fairness to the UAL drivers out there I have had a problem only the ONE time. UAL has always been great about letting me freeload a ride and I welcome Everyone in My jumpseat.

BTW: We have unlimited J/S at CHQ.

 

[MLBWINGBORN]

First off..

As others have said..

The JS is not and should not be a personal bully pulpit..

It is a negotiated benefit for all that have agreements and in some cases those that are known to that particular airline..

I have only once seen it used for a personal attack on a person suspected of being a scab at my previous employer..

Even though the Captain let the guy on he treated him very poorly during the brief conversation..

After the door was closed I made it very clear to the Captain that I thought his handling of the boarding of the jumpseater was way out of line and totally un professional..

It was a very quiet flight to the west coast..

At SWA...We go way out of our way for jumpseaters and try at all times to make them as comfortable as possible...I have yet to see even so much as a sideways look at any jumpseater from any airline...

I have had nothing but great treatment by all of the airlines ive JSd on...I hope this trend continues..

Mike

 

[viking737]

MLWingborn

So what you are saying is you don't have a problem with scabs
getting a free ride?

 

[Boeingman]

MLWingborn

So what you are saying is you don't have a problem with scabs
getting a free ride?

I think that is exactly what both he and I are saying.

 

[Caveman]

As a newly minted Captain I've already decided that my jumpseat will be open to anyone that is legal. I will go out of my way to avoid controversial topics and will do my best to have the jumpseater remember the ride as one of the best they've had. I've never had anything other than a professional and cordial experience when I've jumpseated. I've rode on DAL, AA, and NWA. I once had a DAL Captain give me a friendly lecture on some mainline/regional issues while I was in his JS but it was done without rancor. That same DAL Captain gave me his crew meal when there wasn't enough to go around. I tried to refuse but he insisted. I was impressed. I knew that Marines exhibited that level of leadership, but I never expected it from a Squid.