CAL Contract

[zonker]

What did the FCO Captain get ...like 30 days off when it was written into the contract about the First Class seat?

He didn't get any time off.

 

[flyboy006]

I agree it is a lousy, punitive and disrespectful policy. It is a policy that management has which essentially caters to the complaints of all non jumpseat qualified personnel and the flight attendants. You can rest assured the flight attendants upgrade their own all the time.

Until ALPA grows a set and starts acting like a real union versus a country club and cash bonanza for a select group of individuals..nothing will change.

I would imagine the FA's upgrade their own as you say. To be honest all the times i Jumpsat on CAL i never noticed it cuz once im in my seat and we are away from the gate I could care less, although there was one time on a 737 that we came back to the gate and one of the 2 jumpseaters had to get off for weight and balance. Not sure how they chose who got off but it wasnt me.(luck) Maybe it helped that I was near the aft end and the other guy was near the front. But again im sure the FA's move their own up but I never pay attention. I hope(not being CAL) your next contract is what you all deserve and nothing like this current one you talk about...

 

[IAHERJ]

I don't think the FA's move their "own" up too often as they are the ones constantly writing each other up. The other night, I had a FC seat to DCA(traveling to see family over Christmas). I burned a vacation pass since FC showed some open seats. The gate agent told me that I could have just listed as a SJ1A(jumpseat for CAL pilot) and that she could have upgraded me as SJ status is "upgradable". I looked into this and she was right. The only catch is that when one lists as an SJ then he/she goes to the bottom of the non rev list and that those above me who listed as SA(space available, which if you have less than 10 years costs money for coach and first) would have probably been upset. Didn't matter as I have so many of these free vacation passes I used them both ways and got FC the whole roundtrip(very odd for our domestic flights but the Holidays and DCA mean a lot less business travelers). Point of the story is that this agent knew the policy and actually encouraged me to use the jumpseat pass. This has been a nice but slow change I've noticed with the agents. In AUS, where I commute out of; the agents always seem to treat the commuting crews extra nice. We, in turn take care of them during the holidays. SJ's are upgradable but it is just almost unrealistic to expect it domestically. International is another story. Most of our pilots burn vacation passes when traveling to Europe etc. as you will almost always get Business First and it gets you up the list, and of course, it's free.

IAHERJ

 

[LJDRVR]

CAL FA's are not allowed to move anybody into business first. To do so is a fire-able offense as I understand it. The Gate Agents are in complete control of the process.

That having been said, I've had some luck as an FO in getting folks into first. Both were military travelling home from Iraq. In both instances the Gate Agents were in agreement.

As far as BF goes, I've yet to ride up front in one of our airplanes in the last four years.

Ce' est la vie.

The biggest single thing we can do for each other as Aviators is simply be aware. When you show up to the gate, ask if there are any pilot jumpseaters. If so, go introduce yourself, it saves them the hassle of toadying up to you and interrupting the normal pre-flight routine. It also sets an expectation in the gate agents mind that that person is going with you.

Asking:

"Is it looking good for him getting a seat in back?"

goes a long way in that department. So does

"Mind if they board with us?")

The very best leadership I ever witnessed jumpseating was an American S80 CA who walked up the jetway and stood there until the gate agent cleared me and put me in first. He was late because of it, but did the right thing anyway.

We've got to take care of each other.

 

[Bavarian Chef]

I have been following this thread with amusement:

An empty seat is an empty seat, right?

WTFKINDOF company nonrev policy is that?