jumpseat experiences

[meatwallet]

Anyone care to share their jumpseating experiences? No one at my carrier seems to know what our agreements are with other airlines (we allow as many as we have seats available).

How many offline jumpseaters do Pinnacle, Midwest, and Air Wisconsin take?

 

[PCL_128]

The book says 3 at Pinnacle, but we'll take however many show up.

 

[Alchemy]

At Expressjet, as many as we can carry. Come one, come all.

 

[Flyforyou]

We will fill up the plane at Independence. Welcome aboard!


Fly

 

[Jeep4X4]

Wasn't on your list - but Horizon takes unlimited also. Only exception is at discretion of the captain - I've seen some captains turn down multiple United guys - because United only takes as many jumpseaters as there are jumpseats and I agree with his decision. His actions were not intended to cause friction, only to be fair and send a message.

 

[PCL_128]

I've seen some captains turn down multiple United guys - because United only takes as many jumpseaters as there are jumpseats and I agree with his decision. His actions were not intended to cause friction, only to be fair and send a message.

Yeah, because it's really the fault of the guy trying to get home that his airline won't take unlimited jumpseaters. Don't be a jerk, let them ride.

 

[HowlinMadMurdoc]

Anyone care to share their jumpseating experiences? No one at my carrier seems to know what our agreements are with other airlines (we allow as many as we have seats available).

How many offline jumpseaters do Pinnacle, Midwest, and Air Wisconsin take?

Can't say for sure about Midwest but at Midwest Connect/Skyway, to my knowledge, it's unlimited. If there's space available, we'll take you.


HMM

 

[Jeep4X4]

Yeah, because it's really the fault of the guy trying to get home that his airline won't take unlimited jumpseaters. Don't be a jerk, let them ride.

You must not commute - I've tried to commute home on United and saw the plane leaving with 50+ seats open because they already had 1 jump, causing me to stay the night till the morning flight. I'm not an ass, and ultimately it's not my decision (FO) but what goes around comes around.

 

[mckpickle]

Yeah, because it's really the fault of the guy trying to get home that his airline won't take unlimited jumpseaters. Don't be a jerk, let them ride.

But maybe the guy will call his jumpseat committee and complain. I have encouraged Express Jet pilots to allow AA pilots to ride ONLY on the condition that they contact their JS committee and ask we be placed on AA's list. If things are not reciprocated than we will remove them and not allow AA pilots to have unlimitted access to our jumpseats.

 

[PCL_128]

You must not commute - I've tried to commute home on United and saw the plane leaving with 50+ seats open because they already had 1 jump, causing me to stay the night till the morning flight. I'm not an ass, and ultimately it's not my decision (FO) but what goes around comes around.

Yes, I do commute. I even commute on a 1 jumpseater only airline: Delta. Does the plane sometimes leave with empty seats and me stuck? Yep, but it's not the fault of the pilots. Jumpseat fights help no one and can cause a lot of problems if they get out of hand. The only people that shouldn't get a ride are SCABs and Freedumb pseudo-SCABs.

 

[slomo]

But maybe the guy will call his jumpseat committee and complain. I have encouraged Express Jet pilots to allow AA pilots to ride ONLY on the condition that they contact their JS committee and ask we be placed on AA's list. If things are not reciprocated than we will remove them and not allow AA pilots to have unlimitted access to our jumpseats.

Since CAL does not take unlimited jumpseaters, we should not reciprocate and allow CAL pilots unlimited access to our jumpseats.

 

[acaTerry]

America West will fill the boat. Always great crews, front and back.

 

[RampTower]

Mesaba, unlimited jumpseaters.

 

[jetalc]

UAL's STUPID jumpseat policy

But maybe the guy will call his jumpseat committee and complain. I have encouraged Express Jet pilots to allow AA pilots to ride ONLY on the condition that they contact their JS committee and ask we be placed on AA's list. If things are not reciprocated than we will remove them and not allow AA pilots to have unlimitted access to our jumpseats.

While we have always been courteous (should be the norm) to UAL jumpseaters, I too believe they should change their RIDICULOUS jumpseat policy to reflect what other airlines are offering to THEM. True, the Chief Pilot's office is usually the one who normally signs the jumpseat agreements, but it is up to the PILOTS to make sure this outdated jumpseat policy of UAL (and others) changes. Either that or make the jumpseat agreement reflect that we will ONLY offer as many jumpseats to UAL pilots as there are physical jumpseats in the airplane. Why would that indicate jerk behavior?

 

[wil]

I have gotten dispatch to change altitudes, routes of flight, et cetera. I have taken "pink tag" bags (remove the tag) and fit them in the overhead bins for the passenger. The bottom line, even with the changed weights, whether you are going home or to work, you will ride on my plane! ASA offers unlimited jumpseats so welcome aboard. My policy is unlimited and will always override company if the policy should change. Also, any Frac pilot is welcome! Fly safe and cheers, Wil

P.S. I have a 100% record of getting non-revs/jumpseats on and take pride in this fact.

 

[RAV152]

Chautauqua fills the boat too.

 

[CapnVegetto]

Same thing with Mesa. However many seats open in the back....fill 'em up, plus one up front!! Most guys I know will work the numbers as much as possible to get someone on board.

 

[Vandelay]

Unlimited for Wisconsin.

 

[DontFeedTheBear]

As many as we can fit at Skywest, welcome aboard!

 

[jtharth]

why is it that US the regionals take unlimited and the majors only take a couple? eye for an eye?!?!?!

 

[ackattacker]

Cape Air unlimited jumpseats also...

Noticed a trend - all the regionals unlimited, only about half the majors. How about this question: Which MAJOR airlines take unlimited jumpseats? And for those who don't, what reasons if any does your company give for the restriction?

Related, if you take cockpit jumpseaters, do you know what steps if any your company had to go through to allow them? Is there any TSA guidance on the requirements, and if so is this published somewhere? What about international? I know about CASS (or SONIC for CAL employees flying on CAL) but not why these systems had to be implemented other than broad statements about post-9/11 security...

 

[psysicx]

What do you guys do with Fedex and UPS pilots.They don't have agreements yet.

 

[Roger Murdoch]

I fly for a Feeder for Fed Ex and we get Fed Ex pilots all the time. They are the same guys and are great to give a ride to. We ask them about the jumpseat situation and you can tell that they get embarrased about it. We fly into a small city with limited airline service so we really do help their commute. I'm only an F/O now so it isn't necessarily my decision, but I can't see saying no to these guys because of a decision handed down by management. They are changing things as we speak (or type) so hopefully it will be a moot point by the time they get a new contract.

 

[Traumahawk]

SWA takes a boatload and they are always awesome to deal with...


No Offense to Delta but 1 day in ATL when I got there at 8am and lost every single jumpseat opp to either FAA or DL crew while the plane left with 40+ seats open all morning long until I got the brains to try airways.

Didn't know ASA had unlimited, I'll keep that in mind.

--T Hawk

 

[Longhorn]

We take as many as we can at Jetblue. You can even use the extra F/A jumpseats if there are no seats available in the cabin. Online and offline F/A's have priority on the f/a seats but you can use them if there open.

 

[sweptback]

No Offense to Delta but 1 day in ATL when I got there at 8am and lost every single jumpseat opp to either FAA or DL crew while the plane left with 40+ seats open all morning long until I got the brains to try airways.

If you lost the DL jumpseat to a DL pilot, that's just them being a dick because they could have nonreved in the back for free. Especially with 40 seats open.

As for the FAA, I jumped on an United flight (thanks guys!) who worked the paperwork to let me on, even though there was a Fed doing a cockpit ride. When I saw the fed up there I assumed I wasn't getting on, until the Captain said to sit in the back and let him work everything else out.

 

[PCL_128]

If you lost the DL jumpseat to a DL pilot, that's just them being a dick because they could have nonreved in the back for free. Especially with 40 seats open.

He wasn't necessarily being a d!ick about it. Most of the gate agents won't ask the DAL pilot if he's willing to use a pass, so you'll have to ask him yourself if he doesn't notice you at the counter trying to catch a ride. In my experience 99% of the DAL pilots will burn a pass to get you on.

 

[Glacialfury1906]

While we have always been courteous (should be the norm) to UAL jumpseaters, I too believe they should change their RIDICULOUS jumpseat policy to reflect what other airlines are offering to THEM. True, the Chief Pilot's office is usually the one who normally signs the jumpseat agreements, but it is up to the PILOTS to make sure this outdated jumpseat policy of UAL (and others) changes. Either that or make the jumpseat agreement reflect that we will ONLY offer as many jumpseats to UAL pilots as there are physical jumpseats in the airplane. Why would that indicate jerk behavior?

I mean who cares???? There is a pilot trying to get home, and if there are seats in accordance with your current jumpseat policy (take unlimited), he should get on. Do you really think that by denying this pilot the jumpseat you are making progress towards getting unlimited on UAL? Might, might not. Not attacking you jetalc or saying i know what you currently do or would do. But bottom line is, if there are 7 UAL guys trying to get on, then all 7 should get on. Big picture, not their fault, they just want to make it home to the spouse and kids. To professionally comment something to them would be justified, but to leave one IMHO would certainly indicate "Jerk" behavior. Same goes for Fed Ex, UPS, AA, etc. We're just pawns, everyone should ride.....

I have gotten dispatch to change altitudes, routes of flight, et cetera. I have taken "pink tag" bags (remove the tag) and fit them in the overhead bins for the passenger. The bottom line, even with the changed weights, whether you are going home or to work, you will ride on my plane! ASA offers unlimited jumpseats so welcome aboard. My policy is unlimited and will always override company if the policy should change. Also, any Frac pilot is welcome! Fly safe and cheers, Wil

P.S. I have a 100% record of getting non-revs/jumpseats on and take pride in this fact.

Wil, I don't ride ASA, but thank you. As a commuter I dream of getting captains like you on my commuting legs that take pride in helping out. I'm not saying Captains should risk their careers but there are a lot of guys that don't or will not even think about going above and beyond, or thinking outside the box to help a pilot or f/a get to home. I haven't riden with you but it's appreciated.......

 

[Rook]

For you other regional guys...

Do the mainline pilots have priority on your jumpseat? This scenario using eagle as an example, AA guy and Eagle guy show up for the jumpseat on an eagle bird. Does the AA guy bump off the eagle guy? That's the way it is at 9E. Man I love this place. I can't wait to tell my co-worker that he's S.O.L. cuz I need to get a mainline guy to work. Seeing how they 'own' our airplanes and all.

Rook

 

[Wang Chung]

SWA takes a boatload and they are always awesome to deal with...

I was working for a smalltime unknown 121 Supplemental carrier a few years ago, and I had jumpseated back to Seattle to visit my family for a few days. That was on September 9, 2001. When Sept 11 went down, jumpseating back was a big question-mark, of course, so I bought some tickets from SEA-MDW-CMH (that was sorta tricky by itself, especially on Thursday or Friday after Sept. 11). I made it to MDW, but my MDW-CMH flight got cancelled, along with many others. I thought I would be screwed and I wouldn't make it back to work on time.

Well, there was a SWA flight leaving in the next couple hours and I decided to give the jumpseat a shot. The gate agent was cool - he took my stuff and brought it to the Captain as the flight began boarding (about 10 pax). At the last minute, the gate agent tells me to go see the CA, and I gave him my sob-story. I was in street-clothes (uniform was hopelessly crumpled up in my bag someplace), I had about 2 days' worth of stubble on my face, I had a no-name Carrier I.D., and our company wasn't on the SWA jumpseat list. The CA wasn't thrilled about giving me a ride, but he gave me the thumbs-up anyway and I made it back OK.

That SWA Captain is my hero - he totally saved my a$$ that day!