AA: I was at AE after 9/11, at ORD trying to get to DFW for work, so I try one of the 30 flights a day between ORD and DFW on AA. Gate agent gives me the 1W (boarding pass for the jumpseat), for the flight is full.
I head down and board when called, give the CA the 1W and my ID (certificate is on my ID necklace), and the CA says that "he doesnt carry Eagle, get off my airplane" I tell him I work for the Executive side, that our pilots cant take his job (for we only fly ATRs), and to have a nice flight. I traipse over to UA, and that captain bends over backward to get on in F.
ATA: On thanksgiving 2001, oversold ugly DFWMDW flight, captain let me and a WN captain commuting to work in an F/A jumpseat. Thay have 6 F/A seats, but only staff to 4 F/As.
WN: Pre 9/11, was heading between STL and MDW. Showed my ID and cert, and the captain retorted that since my ID didnt say "DISPATCHER" that I couldnt ride - was full in the back (our company IDs dont say what your title is - but crew IDs say CREW). Started carrying a release with my name on it after that. Since we are 121.547 legal to jumpseat, our IDs should say DISPATCHER just like CREW IDs say CREW.
I dont travel anymore. Just went to the DFW SABRE conference this past week. While it was fun, getting thru ORD, getting on the flights as an NRPS, was nothing but a complete and royal pain in the arse. Other than my mando rides, the next time I fly will be next year when I head to China for our adoption.