Commuting on AirTran

[XJguy]

I was curious if anyone out there could let me know about commuting on AirTran....

Do you guys have a call in honest policy? What are the procedures for reserving the jumpseat? Finally (I think I already know the answer to this one), are there a lot of folks who commute to Miami???

Sounds like a great place to work, but I wasn't sure about commuting....

Thanks for the info!!

 

[Ty Webb]

Probably well over half of our guys live in ATL, especially the senior pilots. As such, there really aren't any decent commuting safeguards. It's pretty much "be here, or be sick, and if you're gonna be sick, then please have the decency to call out early enough to get a replacement".

The good news is that if you do have to call out sick, there's no hassle. Usually crew scheduling, if you give them some decent notice will work with you to get you to be able to pick the trip back up in ATL, or swap for something else, or, worst case scenario, use sick time.

Also, there is no way to reserve the jumpseats (you can also use the aft F/A jumpseat if you are in uniform, but a commuting F/A gets it first) but you can list yourself to non-rev and check the loads . . .

Most MIA pilots commute out of FLL because there are many more flights.

 

[mnboyev]

Commuting is pretty easy... I believe the commute from FLL is easier for folks than MIA. Quite a few pilots seem to come out of FLL to get to work.. more frequency. No call in honest program.

I have commuted for two years out of MSP.. No problem, and have only been left once at the gate ,cause I showed too late, and the seat was taken be a fellow pilot. Commuting is the pits, but it's a choice everyone must make.

Our pilot group tries pretty hard to ensure commuting 'off line' pilots are taken without charging the silly 25 bucks... I haven't seen anyone get charged yet !

Hope this helps.

 

[sayagain?]

You may have not seen anyone but I've seen three pilots get charged the $25.00. The only reson I didn't get charged was because I happen to check in before them.

sayagain?

 

[mnboyev]

Its management's policy... certainly not the pilots. None of us like it. I havent worked with anyone that said: "What a great idea!"

 

[717capt]

I just don't understand what all the hub-ub is about this jumpseating thing at AirTran. We take one jump-seater period. everyone else is on passes, just like Delta, United, NW, etc... We actually make it easier for someone trying to commute if the jumpseat is taken. We'll sell you a service charge ticket for $25.00 so you can get home, work, etc.. right there on the spot.. you don't evenhave to go through your respective airlines pass dept...

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

The hubub is probably because the AirTran policy is restrictive compared with some airlines. SWA and ATA (and a number of other airlines) will fill up any open seats with jumpseaters-no charge.

NWA will take up to 3 off-line jumpseaters in the back (plus NWA guys in the jumpseat and in the back). If I had to pay the $25 I wouldn't complain a bit, but it isn't as good of a deal as some.

Cliff
GRB