jumpseat abuse on jetblue

[a320drivr]

As a Jetblue Capt. I am tired of having our jumpseat policy abused. We allow unlimited jumpseaters from all other airlines including flight attendants. Pilots and FA's are allowed to ride in our FA jumpseats if there is no room in a cabin seat. My beef is that people have come to expect a ride. They rarely check in with the captain and just go grab a seat. As an example I had a FA show up in shorts and a T-shirt and she expected to ride in a FA jumpseat. I wont say what company she worked for but I said not dressed like that. I also had one of the Generals cohorts come on the airplane and tell me he would be in a FA jumpseat. I said "oh really, are you telling me you are riding or you would like a ride" He was actually taken a back by that. When I ride on DAL I practically have to give the Capt. a blow@#% to get a ride.
I am tired of eveyone ripping JB to peices when we are so good to your pilots and FA's when it comes to commuting. I am tired of being given a rash of sh&^ every time I commute.
I personally think we should cutoff the unlimited jumpseats to other carriers that wont offer us the same thing. I dont think we should carry FA's either since the only carriers out there that will take ours is Spirit. Other airlines have now had 3 yrs to allow our FA's to ride so why should we take yours when you wont allow ours. Enough is enough!!!

 

[Beerme]

WAAAAHHHH!!!!

 

[saltyswede]

with you 100%

 

[Draginass]

I agree with you 150%, A320drivr. Although I've never jumpseated on JB, I know the Jumpseat is a privilege and at the Captain's discretion. I may get a boarding pass from a gate agent, but I NEVER go past the cockpit door without first asking the lead flight attendent permission to see the Captain, then asking the Captain's formal permission. I also have my credentials out and ready for his inspection, so not to waste the cockpit crews' time.

 

[crazee8]

I understand what you're saying - I've dealt with it for years but I dare say that posting here about it isn't going to help your case at all.

It just makes you look like a controlling pilot who doesn't get all the "respect that you deserve."

Welcome to the real world of human beings.

If you want to change things, you should go about it from within - POLITELY - not on calvary charge of indignation on public forums.

If someone shows up in shorts and t-shirt, you have to assume that they don't know the rules and then you can politely educate them.

Just remember - it's not an affront to your authority as captain - it's just someone trying to push the rules.

Whether you intended it to or not - your post will only escalate the tension not solve it.

 

[Beerme]

a320drivr
Junior Member



Registered: Nov 2002
Posts: 4
jumseat abuse
whats your malfunction?


Answer: Whiners

 

[727PAA]

Colgan

I know at Colgan we take your F/A's and a whole bunch of your pilots. If you ever have a problem with one of my crews give me a shout.

 

[chperplt]

I know at Colgan we take your F/A's and a whole bunch of your pilots. If you ever have a problem with one of my crews give me a shout.

Unless things have changed since I left last month, Colgan is not authorized to take FAs. I was told that by the Ass CP in November..

If you made it past the gate agent and had proper ID, that was good enough for me.

 

[VADriver]

A320drivr,

Your concerns are valid and common of a capt who operates for a carrier that has a liberal js policy, takes the high road and leads by example.

Don't be afraid to deny someone the privildge of riding jBs jumpseat. You set the tone and protocol and people will follow. If jb captains take a non chelant [sp] attitude toward jumpseat requests, the jumpseaters will try and take it to the next level... and according to your post they are...- Above all you want to keep the goodwill going and continue to show the rest of the airline industry one of many successful ways to do business.

When a pilot or FA jumpseat on jetblue they in fact become a representative of jb in the customers eyes. " hmm why is that person in civilian clothes sitting in the jumpseat with the crew?They must work for jetblue" Therefore make sure they represent your airline well.

Another way they will represent your airline is during an emergency. If they are wearing sandals, heels, using crutches etc, they no ride. The FAA has cognitive requirements and when the blue juice hits the fan your passengers will be looking at your jumpseaters to operate doors and provide leadership to get them the he11 off da bus! The last thing you want is a NTSB report critizing your choice in jumpseaters. How emarrassing that would be? It's better to be repsected rather than liked...

Like many movements in todays culture people are demanding thier priviledges become thier rights. Don't apologize or hesistate for a minute to take my advocated position when it comes to your jumpseat.

The posters that indicate your are whining or have a capts complex are perhaps the type that feel uncomfortable going through the full protocol of requesting the jumpseat. ie, showing respect for our profession, the PIC authority and common courtesy. (flame away...my mama taught me well)

Keep high standards and keep it fun...

 

[Dieterly]

Before 9-11 I jumpseated a lot on JB and more than once the captain didn't even wanna see me, I was just told by the FA to "take a seat and that it was OK with captain". Maybe that is part of the problem?

 

[Mr Hat]

I personally think we should cutoff the unlimited jumpseats to other carriers that wont offer us the same thing. I dont think we should carry FA's either since the only carriers out there that will take ours is Spirit. Other airlines have now had 3 yrs to allow our FA's to ride so why should we take yours when you wont allow ours.

Ya definatly got a point there. We also take unlimited jumpseaters at ExpressJet, its annoying that it is not reciprocated. Hell, Even CAL doesn't allow us unlimited Jumpseats (its not the pilots fault, CAL mgmt simply wont allow it) I also feel that FA's should be able to ride offline carriers. There is no excuse not to be on your best behavior while asking for a jumpseat....remember you basically hitchiking!

 

[AA717driver]

I am in support of you 100%, a320driver. Nothing frosted me more than someone "assuming" they would get the jumpseat and "assuming" they would be in First Class(a privilege TWA extended to jumpseaters).

I suggest you refer these people to your jumpseat coordinator. They all work pretty closely together to maintain the peace.TC

 

[yaks]

Show some respect for the profession and it might show some respect for you.

 

[Tim47SIP]

JB dude is almost right

I agree with everything that you have stated. But, if your company policy is for the gate to clear the jumpseater and they give him/her a boarding pass (as is at my airline), then there is no reason to see and bother the Captain. The Captain does not have to verify cridentials, sign or turn any paperwork in. If it is your policy that you see each individual riding in the back then let the gate agent know and every hitchhiker will stop by. I know that if I was given a seat assignment, I would go to the seat and not bother you. That is what we expect at my airline. Heck, unless you were in uniform, we wouldnt even know you were jumpseating.

As for reciprocal agreements, I fully agree! I am sick and tired of trying to get on airlines who only allow one jump seater for each jump seat only to have 5 of them getting on our aircraft such as AA. I think our jumpseat rules should be the exact rules of the individuals airline trying to jump seat. Not meant to punish anyone, but it might put pressure on the pilots to get their jumpseat rules changed. OK, I am done now. Someone elses turn

 

[dlredline]

Re: JB dude is almost right

I agree with everything that you have stated. But, if your company policy is for the gate to clear the jumpseater and they give him/her a boarding pass (as is at my airline), then there is no reason to see and bother the Captain. The Captain does not have to verify cridentials, sign or turn any paperwork in. . .

Wrong!

As a jumpseater, you ride as an "additional crewmember", with all that entails, and thus become a valuable resource to the Captain in the event of an emergency. The Captain should always know what resource(s) is at his disposal, and speaking with the Captain prior to flight, irregardless if you already have a seat assignment, is a practical application of CRM. And finally, jumpseating is a "courtesy", not a right. Apparently some have forgotten this basic principle.

Red

 

[FLB717]

A320drivr,
AAI does and continues to take JBLU F/A's on the F/A Jumpseat.

 

[KC-10 Driver]

But, if your company policy is for the gate to clear the jumpseater and they give him/her a boarding pass (as is at my airline), then there is no reason to see and bother the Captain.

I wholeheartedly agree with dlredline above. As a jumpseater, you are part of the crew. How is the captain (or any other crew member, for that matter) supposed to know where you are seated unless you introduce yourself first? Incidentally, this would also be the perfect opportunity to ask for a ride.

 

[Ty Webb]

Hey, I hear ya, but I have a different perspective-

AirTran does take JB F/A's . . . a lot of them. Every time I have been to LGA, we have at least one, often more.

The problem that I have with them is that they often get on the aircraft without ever stopping up front. I guess that they think that if they see the Lead F/A that it is OK, but I have had at least three Captains mention to me that they believe the JetBlue F/A's are violating the jumpseat protocol by not greeting the flight crew before taking a seat.

It seems to me that there is an obvious problem here- one that needs to be addressed pronto, unless the JB F/A's want to lose the AirTran jumpseat privilege.

 

[Dave Benjamin]

We take unlimited jumpseaters as well. Like the original poster I've noticed a trend towards jumpseaters not checking in with the CA. I think it's just common courtesy and as others have mentioned good CRM.

 

[CALformerCALX]

Without quoting everyone here I'll just make some points:

- First of all, everyone should check in w/the CA. It's the courteous thing to do as well as informing him that there's another soul on board who may have something to offer if a circumstance arises where it's needed.

- I disagree about those that feel tit-for-tat. You don't offer us unlimited so why should we allow you unlimited? Well I'll answer that. Regardless of what anyone thinks here; management owns the jumpseats first and formost. Here at CAL we have tried to get unlimited and Gordon is 100% against it. So should someone now deny us for that reason. Hell no. It's the same with cargo now. Should we deny them outright because they can't take us at all. Hell no because it's not the pilot groups fault.

And I'll include this, SWA doesn't have International destinations so should CAL take them off our approved International list since they don't offer it to us? Hell, no. It isn't their fault that they don't fly to Paris, Rome, or Hong Kong.

My point is this: CAs need to deny those that don't act right or don't dress appropriately or simply show zero regard for the priviledge but every pilot should be happy to extend whatever courtesy to others in this profession that their respective managements allow them to do. If someone is allowed, by their management, to offer unlimited, International, first class, or whatever then the CAs at that airline should go out of their way to extend that courtesy so long as the person asking does so in an appropriate manner.

No wonder this profession is gettting closer to being just another job every day.