Experiences commuting on ExpressJet

[FDAFCFI]

Well I can't tell you how many rides we've given over the years to Express Jet pilots and flight attendants. Without a frown or a sniff or a comment, we've welcomed countless numbers of very demure and appreciative pilots and FAs into the cockpit for a request to jumpseat with us. The commuting guys who know what its like to commute on a daily basis are more than gracious when the return favor is needed, but I'm wondering about a few things...

Why is it that several of you guys don't ask about the one guy or gal who is sitting up near the gate with their rollaboard trying to make their commute to base? Most of the time all I've seen is flippant crews sitting in their ERs unaware that there may be a commuter up at the gate. Perhaps at those outstations of small stature you enter in through the ground and never see the gate area. I understand this. Please always check with the gate agents and grow a pair to take command of their tendency (as Continental nazis) to refuse jumpseaters and max out their revenue customers.

It isn't cool that for the last two weeks I have had to drive up to 100 miles at times to commute on an airline with more gracious and aware hosts. I'm frankly getting annoyed and am thinking about bringing this before your jumpseat committee to discover the problem with your general lack of interest in non XJT crews. Why is this the case?

I'm not talking about the rare accommodating crews I have the pleasure of riding with from time to time. You guys know who you are and are much appreciated. Thank you.

I'm talking about the non-commuters who push without ever knowing that a jumpseater is wanting a ride simply because some bumble headed gate agent likes to exert her measly sense of power over others. Stand up for your airline guys and change this practice. Commuters are depending on you.

 

[viper548]

I have jumpseated on expressjet several times back when they had the branded flying. Great experience every time. Once the captain listed me in the computer and got cass approval because the gate agent was busy.

 

[FDAFCFI]

The branded side is totally different. I agree; very amenable, mostly long term captains. I am just saying, before every push I ask if there are jumpseaters. ALWAYS. Because they are gate agents and get payed muy poco and want to call the shots. I have told agents point blank that its my decision to bring them on board, period.

 

[viper548]

SkyWest has some nazi gate agents too, especially in SLC

 

[willbob]

I've had nothing but good experences with XJT

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Maybe if you were more attractive like myself. Chicks tend to notice the cute hunky types more readily. Perhaps some more time at the gym might help.

Maybe it's the hair sprouting from your ears. Hot chicks dislike ear hair.

 

[Salukipilot4590]

Maybe it's the hair sprouting from your ears. Hot chicks dislike ear hair.

Tell me about it...I found a long blonde one this morning...and I'm only 23...

...crap I'm getting old...

 

[CiFIknow]

Probably because CAL has this game they like to play with us called "Find the Release". Just about every other airline has the release printed at the gate or delivered to the gate or to the pilots when the door opens. Not CAL. The CA has to run down to ops which is located underneath a gate half way down the terminal to retrieve the paperwork themselves. On a 20 minute turn? Guess who's running to find the release? Think the ops people would maybe deliver it to the plane or the gate? Nope. It's messed up and that may be why you never see us at the gate. FYI

 

[Sandhawk]

Probably because CAL has this game they like to play with us called "Find the Release". Just about every other airline has the release printed at the gate or delivered to the gate or to the pilots when the door opens. Not CAL. The CA has to run down to ops which is located underneath a gate half way down the terminal to retrieve the paperwork themselves. On a 20 minute turn? Guess who's running to find the release? Think the ops people would maybe deliver it to the plane or the gate? Nope. It's messed up and that may be why you never see us at the gate. FYI

What is the hurry?

 

[SkyBoy1981]

What reason are they giving you for being denied? I've commuted on Continental for almost 2 years and their crews are generally just as clueless as to whether or not I'm in the gate area.. but I've never been flat out denied unless there was a reason for it. If it's a weight restriction then sometimes you just can't take everyone... especially if you're flying out of someplace that has mostly old 145ER's with the lower zero fuel weight restriction. The Captain may have very well known of your presence and been unable to get you on.

 

[DoinTime]

Please always check with the gate agents and grow a pair to take command of their tendency (as Continental nazis) to refuse jumpseaters and max out their revenue customers.

I've had nothing but great experiences on XJet. You do realize that you will never board before a revenue customer, right?

 

[Popeye0537]

What reason are they giving you for being denied? I've commuted on Continental for almost 2 years and their crews are generally just as clueless as to whether or not I'm in the gate area.. but I've never been flat out denied unless there was a reason for it. If it's a weight restriction then sometimes you just can't take everyone... especially if you're flying out of someplace that has mostly old 145ER's with the lower zero fuel weight restriction. The Captain may have very well known of your presence and been unable to get you on.

This is one more reason to keep the CRJ's flying.........no weight restriction

 

[FDAFCFI]

This is not Continental, its Continental Express dba Express Jet, two totally different entities no matter how much they'd like to say otherwise.

They just want Continental to buy them back. They believe this is going to happen. I feel for them though...their boss is an idiot, see failed branded flying idea.

Yes, the weight restrictions are a bear at times since they fly the most restrictive of all regional jets but even if we never go up to the gate to see anyone and we sit inside the cockpit, I would think it would be the proper thing to ask if jumpseaters are there. We've taken jumpseaters on a restriction of weight. I've just told the gate agents how many revenues can get on and allow for room for one in the cockpit. That's helping a brother out. That's all.

I've heard this same complaint from jumpseating XJT pilots who have spoken poorly of the habits of their own airline with regards to this process. Its not new even to their own commuting pilots. I just want the practice stopped of using the excuse of going to get paperwork when all you have to do is ask the bridge driver, etc... if there are jumpseaters who need to go to work. They take priority with us.

 

[Baronman]

I'm not sure where you commute out of, it must be somewhere close to IAH because that is where all the "ERs" are located. You wouldn't be complaining weight issues with the LRs/XRs.

Anyways...With regard to the weight restriction, that is determined before we get to the gate. It's just an estimated number of pax that we can take predicting our load and required fuel. It's going to come down to half weights and bags. But how do you suppose we bump rev passengers and get one jumpseater up in the cockpit? It's not going to happen.

It seems you have two issues. One being the weight restrictoins which sometimes the flight crew can help with. The other being notifying the flight crew that you are jumpseating. I'd suggest you do your best to become familiar to the gate agents. It must be a pretty small station that we're talking about (within 100miles of IAH), take some time to get to know the agents.

And really...100 mile drive, as unscenic as it may be, doesn't sound so bad. I'd probably chose that over flying to work in most cases. That's just me though.

 

[yasir1212]

This is one more reason to keep the CRJ's flying.........no weight restriction

Are you kidding me? You obviously have no clue then. When XJT lost some of the routes to CHQ in the beginning, they were returned to XJT within weeks cause the CHQ CRJ were weight restricted like crazy and the XJT XR's could take all 50 pax plus 2 jumpseaters, whereas the CRJ was weight restricted to like 40-42 in the winter on routes like IAH-MSP, etc.

 

[lowlycfi]

The only problem I've ever had is with IAH gate agents working mainline CAL flights. They seem to think only CAL pilots can sit on the jumpseat. Hell, when I worked at XJet I had them tell me I couldn't jumpseat on CAL. If it's an outstation that XJet does the ground handling, I've never had a problem.

 

[yasir1212]

As a captain at XJT, I can reassure you that most of us will do almost anything to accommodate another crew member. Obviously you might have run into some bad apples, but they exist at every company, not just here. Weight restrictions and jumpseaters are usually never much of a problem except on those short hops in and out of IAH on the ER/EP's. If there is a weight restriction, many times the gate agent will just tell you that straight out, and if there is a revenue stand-by, remember they will always go before you and other non-revs. Also, it is your job to come down and talk to the crew if a weight restriction exists, it's not my job to come up to the top of every jetway just to make sure there are no jumpseaters, etc. considering the time constraints.

 

[FDAFCFI]

I appreciate the responses. All informative and useful. Glad I got to hear some of the other side. Thanks a ton. The weight restrictive ERs have been a problem. FWIW, I rode on a CRJ the other day that was weight restricted and still got on. Very inventive WB.

I have to agree that a leg like MSP-IAH is just asking for a restriction regardless of the regional airframe. Is CHQ still flying to MSP? Surely the CRJ-200 hasn't the fuel capacity to make that.

 

[SkyBoy1981]

This is not Continental, its Continental Express dba Express Jet.

You implied that the agents are Continental employees. ExpressJet has very few stations where it's own employees are staffing the gates anymore.

two totally different entities no matter how much they'd like to say otherwise.

How is this comment in any way related to this thread?

We've taken jumpseaters on a restriction of weight. I've just told the gate agents how many revenues can get on and allow for room for one in the cockpit. That's helping a brother out. That's all.

So you're suggesting that we leave revenue behind so that you can make your commute? I'm sorry.. I've commuted halfway across the country for 3 years now and I've never expected anyone to do that for me.. nor will I do it for anyone else.

 

[FDAFCFI]

"So you're suggesting that we leave revenue behind so that you can make your commute? I'm sorry.. I've commuted across the country for 3 years now and I've never expected anyone to do that for me.. nor will I do it for anyone else."

Hmmm, sounds like the same old Continental kool-aid here. One of the reasons I would never work for that company. I avoid Houston and the arrogant employees like a case of herpes.