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Jumpseating 101 ...pt II

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lookin4better

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 11, 2005
Posts
6,970
ASK the CA if you can get a ride

.......dont just walk on and take a seat just because the agent gave you one..........(psssssssssssssssssssssssssst new guys)

...........I REALLY thought this was industry standard to know this? Why do these 22 somthings get on the plane and think its theirs for the free ride without checking in with the CA??
 
ASK the CA if you can get a ride

.......dont just walk on and take a seat just because the agent gave you one..........(psssssssssssssssssssssssssst new guys)

...........I REALLY thought this was industry standard to know this? Why do these 22 somthings get on the plane and think its theirs for the free ride without checking in with the CA??

I ALWAYS check with the CA, but in the new guys' defense I would say at least 50% of the time I get told I don't need to come up if I have a seat in the back... (This has never happened to me on a RJ carrier just mainline(s).)

So that may be why some people think that. Infact the only reason I still check in up-front is because (1) I would want someone to check in on my flights, and (2) you never know when you're stepping on Captain Compulsive's airplane.
 
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We just had this happen the other day as well. The guy said that since he and the Captain had looked at each other on the jetbridge he thought that was good enough. (I kid you not, that's really what he said.) He also said he commutes all the time and nobody else has ever made a big deal about it. I guess he has made it a habit of not speaking to the captain first.

If he had been really new, we would have let it slide with a polite explanation of how it all works. But when he confessed that he's been doing it for a while, the captain's respone was a little different.

I am a commuter myself. I would never behave this way. It gives all of us a bad name.
 
Don't just blame a 22 year old "kid" I find the guys who are the worst are the crusty old mainline captains. the one that feel insulted when you ask to look at their license and medical. Many of them mostly US and UAL don't even check in at all even when they are JS'ing
 
Ya If im JUMPSEATING im alwayse up front talking........but if im deadheading, I dont want to bother you so dont bother me....
 
I ALWAYS check with the CA, but in the new guys' defense I would say at least 50% of the time I get told I don't need to come up if I have a seat in the back... (This has never happened to me on a RJ carrier just mainline(s).)

I was non-reving (listed on the company website, got a seat assignment at the gate) on our mainline partner that wholly owns us. A F/A was standing between myself and the cockpit, so I introduced myself, and asked if I could speak to the captain to ask for a ride home. She said since I had a seat assignment I didn't have to. So I said Ok, thanks, and took a seat.

I'm guessing I should try to introduce myself regardless of what company (even my own) no matter where I’m sitting (j/s or back)?
 
I agree I always get pissed when people just get and don't say Hi. Come on everyone have some courtsey!
 
(2) you never know when you're stepping on Captain Compulsive's airplane.

You mean like Lookin4Better?

Or were you referrring to someone else. Someone compulsive enough that a jump seater who gets on without kissing his a$$ is enough to come home and post on FI.

:rolleyes:
 
You mean like Lookin4Better?

Or were you referrring to someone else. Someone compulsive enough that a jump seater who gets on without kissing his a$$ is enough to come home and post on FI.

:rolleyes:

funny ....however jumseating is a not a right, its a privilege.....which means you ask for a ride......as for CA Compulsive? Im a new guy to the industry too....not a CA.....I guess I just have enough respect to follow the rules and not think I am some sort of Sky King because I can fly an airplane.

I only posted to let some other people out there that when jumpseating on other airlines you check in and ASK.....just a helpful post for my fellow pilots......why?...because you never know whos airplane your getting on....

and as for the 22 something statement I apologize, that may have been an unfair thing to say .
 
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Jumpseating, we all need to remember, is a tasty little service offered by pilots to other pilots. Not management to pilots, or gate agents to pilots. And it's done at the captain's discretion. Period. Always ask. Even if you have to stand there and wait for the guys to run an hour long checklist. Wait for a lull in the conversation and ASK.
 
Jumpseating, we all need to remember, is a tasty little service offered by pilots to other pilots. Not gate agents to pilots.


Gate agents do not assign the jumpseat, the captain does.

It's been a while now but I haven't run into a gate agent who thinks they assign the jumpseat. I can't stand those types:angryfire
 
my biggest gripe is the mainline guys that don't show ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION!!!!! If I did that on their airplane I would get chewed out for unprofessionalism. We all started out young and ambitious.


The older you get the better you were.
 
Stop and say hi, if j/s offer to show credentials, if not just explain you are deadheading. From a CRM perspective it's good thing for the folk in the front to know who's in the back. [they will have no idea about d/h if you don't tell them]
 
Jumpseating, we all need to remember, is a tasty little service offered by pilots to other pilots. Not management to pilots, or gate agents to pilots. And it's done at the captain's discretion. Period. Always ask. Even if you have to stand there and wait for the guys to run an hour long checklist. Wait for a lull in the conversation and ASK.

HA just like cass was up to use as pilots, or what about Delta's only 2jumpseater rules-not the pilots decisions.
 
I agree 100% about talking to the crew while jumpseating. However, I do not think I need to talk to the crew everytime I am DH'ing. If they need to know if there is extra crew on the plane while we are deadheading it's pretty obvious, I'll be the guy in the pilot uniform sleeping in 9F.
 
I agree 100% about talking to the crew while jumpseating. However, I do not think I need to talk to the crew everytime I am DH'ing. If they need to know if there is extra crew on the plane while we are deadheading it's pretty obvious, I'll be the guy in the pilot uniform sleeping in 9F.

Jumpseating, yes, yes, yes. The CA signed the form, he expects to get to see your face.

Non-rev or DH, No. The crew doesn't even know you're there unless you're in uniform. I might stop and say hi, but not if I would be interupting something.
 
If it's your own airline, or the airline your company flies for, I wouldn't think it necessary to go up and say "hi" to the people up front. PHL to PIT has about 25 commuters on every flight, if all of them came up front to say hi it would be a fiasco. Now if you're j/s on another carrier, that is a privilege and you should make sure to go up front and get permission from the captain. That's the way I see it, and most of the time if the pilots aren't doing anything, and the flight attendant isn't in the way, I'll make sure to say hi real quick on my way back to my seat no matter what.
 
Jumpseating, yes, yes, yes. The CA signed the form, he expects to get to see your face.

Non-rev or DH, No. The crew doesn't even know you're there unless you're in uniform. I might stop and say hi, but not if I would be interupting something.

I didn't see this post before I wrote mine, but that's exactly what I meant.
 
Some of these "super Captains" have this thing about getting respect that they make a$$es out of themselves.

I was in the middle of a trip when the company needed me to do something else, so they deadheaded me on a different airline. During a lull in the boarding process, this a$$whipe sends one of the flight attendants with a message for me to come up to the cockpit. As soon as I poke my head into the cockpit, he fires off questioning if I'm aware of jumpseat protocol. I told him I was not jumpseating a left him there with his mouth open.

Some of you guys need to give up that ego trip. Yes it is a courtesy thing. Yes you should introduce yourself. But this crap about the captain owning the jumpseat is nonsense. If a pilot get CASS approved and presents the proper documentation, there really isn't a whole lot you're going to do about.

Get over yourselves.
 
I too have been told by F/A and gate agents that I do not need to check in with the captain. In fact every time I go through DC that is what I am told. I usually do, but when someone tells me that it is not necessary or that I do not need to I do not, because I figure that there is a reason behind not needing to.
 
Why would you do this if you were non-reving? I mean if a buddy from Delta gives me a pass I am technically "non reving" are'nt I? Would be pretty dorky after I bad 1/4 price of the ticket walked up to the captain and said "thank you".
 
Some of these "super Captains" have this thing about getting respect that they make a$$es out of themselves.

I was in the middle of a trip when the company needed me to do something else, so they deadheaded me on a different airline. During a lull in the boarding process, this a$$whipe sends one of the flight attendants with a message for me to come up to the cockpit. As soon as I poke my head into the cockpit, he fires off questioning if I'm aware of jumpseat protocol. I told him I was not jumpseating a left him there with his mouth open.

Some of you guys need to give up that ego trip. Yes it is a courtesy thing. Yes you should introduce yourself. But this crap about the captain owning the jumpseat is nonsense. If a pilot get CASS approved and presents the proper documentation, there really isn't a whole lot you're going to do about.

Get over yourselves.

I think a lot feel the same way.
 
HA just like cass was up to use as pilots, or what about Delta's only 2jumpseater rules-not the pilots decisions.

CASS at least gets you back in the cockpit if there are no seats in the back. And you should all be glad that your company took the time to get it up and running(one day, when it's all up and running).

As far as Delta....they take as many jumpseaters as there are physical jumpseats. That is totally lame....and you get that changed by leaning on their guys when they try to catch a ride on your carrier. If they complain to their chiefs enough it'll get changed. I used to love getting Airtran guys on our planes because I'd ask them(politely) why they charged me 35 bucks to get to wherever I was commuting to at the time. They'd do a little tap dance and then tell me that they were trying to get it changed. Anybody know if they ever did?


Nobody has to be a d1ck about this stuff. Just be cool and try to keep the jumpseat availble for people who make theirs available to you. Of course, I can't jumpseat anymore so I'm outta here.
 
Ok here goes my speel:

I brief the FA to tell Cabin Seat Jumpers to enjoy the ride and they don't have to see me if they have a properly assigned seat. If they insist or don't have a boarding pass I tell her to just send them up.

All this is in the interest of keeping it simple for me and she. A jumpseater who is going to be in the cabin anyway and has no reason to see me (IE not a FFDO) sort've gets in the way on a 50 seat CRJ.

This is just my preference. If a guy wants to come up just to say thanks or flash his gun permit, fine. But if he has no need to see me and is going to be in the back anyway, just sit down and enjoy the ride.

Say thanks while getting off the plane is good enough for me. Just don't complain about the bad landing. It was most likely mine.

And I think any pilot who gets Peed about a cabin seat assigned guy not coming up to stroke his ego, is a tool.
 
Just because a gate agent says you don't need to see the Captain doesn't mean it's right. Excercise common courtesy, if you're jumpseating, go through the motions. If you're DH'ing or Non-Revving, have a seat.

The only airlines I'm aware of where it's policy not to ask the captain is Horizon/Alaska....at one time it was printed on thier jumpseat form, but that was back in '03.

I don't think I was clear. I was told not to check in with the flight crew, not told that I do not have too. It was in DC and I do not fly in there and I do not commute through there either. Being that it was DC I figured that they do not want ANYONE in the cockpit besides the pilots of the plane. People are extra paranoid in DC and for good reason. Also, while I am at it I would like to say that Airways does a excellent job with the regional gates that go downstairs in DC. I have never seen so many flight ran out of two gates while keeping most everyone happy. Thanks Mainline and PSA.
 
Ok here goes my speel:

I brief the FA to tell Cabin Seat Jumpers to enjoy the ride and they don't have to see me if they have a properly assigned seat. If they insist or don't have a boarding pass I tell her to just send them up.

All this is in the interest of keeping it simple for me and she. A jumpseater who is going to be in the cabin anyway and has no reason to see me (IE not a FFDO) sort've gets in the way on a 50 seat CRJ.

This is just my preference. If a guy wants to come up just to say thanks or flash his gun permit, fine. But if he has no need to see me and is going to be in the back anyway, just sit down and enjoy the ride.

Say thanks while getting off the plane is good enough for me. Just don't complain about the bad landing. It was most likely mine.

And I think any pilot who gets Peed about a cabin seat assigned guy not coming up to stroke his ego, is a tool.

I like that approach. Seems like your laidback style would be enjoyable on a 3-day. Hope to fly with more captains like that.
 
I hope at least someone is checking the jumpseaters credentials for those flying in the back. The only airline where I've seen that done at the gate is Frontier. I mean, someone could buy a $40 one way ticket on Southwest, go through security, and tell the your gate agent they're a jumpseater on your transcon flight and no one would ever know he/she wasn't a pilot. I just think it's respectful to the cockpit crew to check in when jumpseating. Also, I really didn't like it when I had to ask to see credentials. Have them out ready for the captain to look at.
 
I hope at least someone is checking the jumpseaters credentials for those flying in the back. The only airline where I've seen that done at the gate is Frontier. I mean, someone could buy a $40 one way ticket on Southwest, go through security, and tell the your gate agent they're a jumpseater on your transcon flight and no one would ever know he/she wasn't a pilot. I just think it's respectful to the cockpit crew to check in when jumpseating. Also, I really didn't like it when I had to ask to see credentials. Have them out ready for the captain to look at.

The gate agent will always ask for an employee ID, do they? I think it is the Captain's responsibility to check the credential. Many gate agents don't even know what an airman certificate looks like. They see more LEO credentials than they see airman certs.
 
I mean, someone could buy a $40 one way ticket on Southwest, go through security, and tell the your gate agent they're a jumpseater on your transcon flight and no one would ever know he/she wasn't a pilot.
oh horror of horrors! someone who went through security, had his name checked against a no-fly list, and had his shampoo checked to see if it was explosive could get a seat on a DIFFERENT flight than the one he bought a ticket on. hey, i hear the TSA is hiring, gumshoe.
 

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