Jumpseat Etiquette

[TWA Dude]

Somebody above mentioned how gate agents give JS'ers a boarding pass and seat assignments. I'm sure y'all know but it's the captain and not the agent who grants final JS approval. The seat assignment thing is simply expedient for them and does NOT take away the requirement to ask for the JS from the captain.

Way back when I was a commuter airline newhire they didn't tell us much about JS'ing so I asked many different pilots before I attempted it myself. Just last month I had newbie hop on my J41 and tell me that he's the jumpseater. I resisted the temptation to say, "Are you SURE?" and after finding out that he's a newbie we had a little chat about etiquette. I hope he was paying attention.

Dude

 

[Freight Dog]

As for 9E, and while this "sounds" like an excuse it isn't...

We have about 200-300 new hires who are now armed with a badge and no clue on how to jumpseat. I personally got to witness one of our new hires (not even off of OE yet) make himself comfortable in 1st class and watch as myself and a AMW guy went to the back of the aircraft. He was not even in uniform and BS'ing on the phone minutes after the door closed.

Did not board near the end, went with the first class pax, did not wait until the end to deplane, went with the first class pax.

Some new hires who have never J/S'd before just don't know.

This is where you go to your ALPA Member Services and Jumpseat Committees and ask them to address the issue right there in indoc. Take time to explain and clarify the jumpseat etiquette to the new-hires.

 

[relief tube]

all very good info. but hey, was it really necessary to call out the 2 company's those 2 worked for? This ain't junior high. Every airline has enough pilots to always have a couple idiots lying around.

 

[searching]

PCL Flt-ops, no offense, but last time I checked, Pinnacle used to be a PFT airline, so you guys have alot who paid also. Not that it matters to me, but do you make fun of the captains you fly with? Many of which paid.

 

[dondk]

This is where you go to your ALPA Member Services and Jumpseat Committees and ask them to address the issue right there in indoc. Take time to explain and clarify the jumpseat etiquette to the new-hires.

We are working on the issue, the sad part is we are swamped with new hires and the average line is built between 90-95 hours. No time to work with people when and "if" you have anytime your going to get extended or junior manned.

 

[B190Captain]

Why do you want a "Thank You" from these guys? You're the one who paid for the ride!

OK I guess you're right, they should have thanked you for paying $18,000 to fund the airline so that they could ride in the back!!!

Typical response from someone that has nothing to contribute to the topic at hand. Oh my! You are from PCL. Why am I not surprised.

 

[B190Captain]

BTW,

I do not mean to say that everyone at PCL are complete morons like some examples mentioned here. I am sure there are quite a few true professionals at PCL. Hell, I have friends at PCL.

It just seems that these last few days I have been exposed to the "bad" or "un-educated" few from PCL like junior here (PCL Flt-Ops) and the jumpseater.

 

[OPECJet]

1900, the hottie in your avatar can come jump on my seat anytime.

 

[Freight Dog]

We are working on the issue, the sad part is we are swamped with new hires and the average line is built between 90-95 hours. No time to work with people when and "if" you have anytime your going to get extended or junior manned.

Don't you guys have ALPA days for committee people and the MEC or LEC reps?

 

[dondk]

You must mean those days they cancel due to scheduling (lack of coverage). Our scheduling guru could not get released this past month due to no availability.

 

[lazy8s]

all bickering aside....

Flyindesk pretty much had it all for the proper way to J/S. A couple things though, you should always introduce yourself to the FO as well as the CA. I can't stand when someone comes on my plane and acts like my FO doesn't exist. Second, if you ask for the J/S adn fill out the paperwork for it, DO NOT just go blowing by the cockpit and take a seat. That's a sure fire way to get the boot from that flight. I have seen too many times where someone did just that and "thought it was ok to just take a seat".

When I ride for free, I always ask. You are a guest on that CA's plane treat it as such.


Lazy8s

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

I've always been a commuter and it seems alot of other pilots commute as well. I would be very upset if my company's j/s priveleges were taken away as a result of a rude, incompetent jumpseater who lacks basic etiquite, professionalism and cannot dress themselves properly.
During newhire training, are the airlines taking the time to go over the procedures (listing, dress code, manners, how-to-act) with these pilots before they start jumpseating? Some people need to remember that jumpseating is a priviledge.
sol r.

JMHO

 

[chperplt]

During newhire training, are the airlines taking the time to go over the procedures (listing, dress code, manners, how-to-act) with these pilots before they start jumpseating?

Nope...

 

[belchfire]

God Bless every one of you that have helped me get
my butt to and from work on my miserable 2 leg commute!

Most people are pretty good about it in my experience.
Thing that burns me is gate agents and company policy(s)
that get in the way of the CA using his/her authority on
if, when and how many jumpseaters are allowed. Sometimes
it is up to those of us riding, asking for or giving rides to educate
the ignorant or humble the arrogant...sad but true.

If I know that someone is rushing to a connection or to sign in,
I want them to do what they need to do (if they tell me up front)
if they need to bolt, fine...if they let me know.
Lots of times the door stays closed and I'll thank the FA and ask
them to thank the guys...hope they are doing it!

Have Fun!

 

[PCL Flt-ops]

customer

BTW,

I do not mean to say that everyone at PCL are complete morons like some examples mentioned here. I am sure there are quite a few true professionals at PCL. Hell, I have friends at PCL.

It just seems that these last few days I have been exposed to the "bad" or "un-educated" few from PCL like junior here (PCL Flt-Ops) and the jumpseater.

Actually I'm pretty educated and you can call me junior if you like.

When I jumpseat on Northwest, I don't thank the businessman sitting in first class who paid $800 for his ticket. He's a customer. So you want a thank you for being a customer? We are supposed to thank you for paying for a cockpit full-fare ticket?

 

[skydiverdriver]

Do you also wait for the regular passengers to deplane before you get off? You should do this when non-revving, whether you are jumpseating or using your pass. Also, let any buddy pass riders you sponser to wait as well, and don't drink all of the free drinks on overseas flights. Some paying passenger might want something to drink as well.


Always wait for the paying passengers to get off first. You have plenty of time, and it doesn't matter if they know you work there or not. People will notice, like the pilots who flew you there.

 

[BlackCoffee]

You are pushing it with the free drinks comment!

 

[skydiverdriver]

I probably should have clarified. I was riding next to a couple on an overseas flight, and they kept ordering a certain type of liquor, over and over again. After the Flight Attendant said she was out of that, they started ordering something else, over and over. I started up a conversation with them, and found out they were both on a buddy pass, and it was their first time as non-rev's. They thought it was great that they could drink all they wanted on an overseas flight, but I don't think they gave any thought to the paying passengers around them, or the person who gave them the passes. I didn't mean that there was anything wrong with drinking on a flight, but you might want to leave a little for the people who are paying the bills. Thanks.

 

[j41driver]

Dont want to sound mean, but does any of the other regional pilots notice that the majority of Major airline pilots hand you just their company id when asking for the jumpseat? And then when I ask to see their license, its like I am putting them out of their way. I know if I was to just hand them my company id only asking them for a ride they would have a fit. My little observation.

Been there, done that. If they don't want to show me their license & medical then they must not need a ride all that bad.