Jumpseating to Anchorage

[relief tube]

Tried a search and found nothing, so thought I'd see if anyone has jumpseated to Alaska before. I know which hub airports have the most frequency, but does any one hub/airline work best in terms of loads.

Alaska Air has a bunch of flights out of Seattle. Anyone know if the loads are tough or wide open?

Thanks for the help in advance.

 

[Singlecoil]

Where are you trying to get there from and when?

 

[iflyabeech]

Seattle usually works well. Lots of Alaska flights, and they will take many jumpseaters. . .Also if Alaska is full, Continental usually has seats out of Seattle also.

 

[Twotter76]

Depends where you are coming from - if you are on the west coast AK has service from PDX, LAX, DEN, PHX, and about 14 flights from SEA. Loads vary significantly based on the day of the week. As was pointed out they take unlimited jumpseaters and have always been good to me. If you are out east you might consider flying from ORD on either UAL or AK, both go nonstop. Also consider the frieght carriers as many of them fly from various places in the US to ANC - especially UPS and Fedex but then this probably only helps you if you have CASS. I go up north all the time and can't say that I have ever really had a problem. Good luck!

 

[Buzo]

A year of commutting between SEA and ANC I probably only missed 4 flights. In the summer they run 18 flight a day. You should be fine. You can also try Northern Air Cargo.

 

[relief tube]

Anyone know the easiest way to check Alaska Air Loads?


Thanks again in advance

 

[ILStoMinimums]

I would recommend SEA, many options and not only AS. If you can get the frieghter schedules and JSing figured out - that's probably the easiest ride up.

 

[sleddriver77]

Bad news with AS... Their gate agents seemingly have all been told "if they're not in the computer (CASS) they DON'T jumpseat!!!" CO is a pretty good bet, and their ANC folks are awesome to jumpseaters. DL out of SLC will work, NWA out of MSP is always FULL FULL FULL. Even if it shows 20 open seats, you can bet there will be 30 NW guys standing there with fishing poles. Frontier does a DEN-ANC in the summers as well. Always look for something with open seats. Even if you are cockpit elegible on a certain carrier, chances are that the guys flying the thing won't want someone in the JS for a flight THAT long. As far as instate jumpseating, Everts Air Cargo is the way to go. As long as they can verify you with your crew sked dept, you're good to go. Just remember, non-rev/JS to AK works like a funnel. Once you pick a carrier that looks like it has space and travel to their hub city, you're pretty much committed for the day; if it backfires, you probably won't have time to get to another hub and try from there. Coming back, you're golden. Most Lower 48 flights from Anchorage are redeyes; take whatever flight you can get on to any hub (where you will most likely arrive about 5 in the morning) and you have all day to go on from there.

Good Luck.
(signed)
A guy who has been non-revving/jumpseating to/from Alaska WAY TOO LONG

 

[Twotter76]

I just want some clarification here - my airline IS in JACS but is not CASS approved. Can we still jumpseat? I am heading up in a few weeks and if I can't use AS it would become much more difficult...

 

[767200]

It's difficult to jumpseat these days without being CASS/JACS qualified. If you are not....good luck!.

You mean cockpit access jumpseating? Please tell me you're not denying a jumpseater having an open seat in the back....please

 

[Singlecoil]

I just want some clarification here - my airline IS in JACS but is not CASS approved. Can we still jumpseat? I am heading up in a few weeks and if I can't use AS it would become much more difficult...

If you are in JACS, you should be good to go in the back.

 

[r1830]

They require CASS to ride in the back as well.
If you are not in the computer then you do not get a ride in back or up front.

 

[BeachBummer]

I thinks that we were all born 20 years too late. I know its a dead horse, but they've taken the fun from our industry.

 

[Twotter76]

They require CASS to ride in the back as well.
If you are not in the computer then you do not get a ride in back or up front.

Based off of Singlecoil's reply to my question this statement would seem to be untrue. As long as they have you in JACS (their internal jumpseat verification system) then you can ride in back. CASS should only be required if you need to ride up front. Some here from AS will correct me i'm sure if this is inaccurate.

 

[flx757]

They require CASS to ride in the back as well.
If you are not in the computer then you do not get a ride in back or up front.

Partially true, partially not true. You DO have to be "in the computer", but you do not have to be CASS authorized to ride in the cabin. "The computer" in this case, is JACS.

Our FOM spells out the JACS/CASS procedures very clearly. You do not have to be a CASS participant to get a ride in the back. Your company is required however, to be in JACS. Also, if you are an OAL CASS participant, you must present a valid passport in order to access the jumpseat in the cockpit.

But for a ride in the back, all that is necessary is that your company be in JACS, and that you present yourself and your credentials to the agent in time to be processed.

Also, JACS is used to verify companies that are approved for multiple jumpseats in the cabin.

 

[tsky]

Southeast Alaska

If you need to get to Southeast Alaska-Ketchikan, Sitka or Juneau-Empire flies to these places from SEA. We accept most jumpseaters as long as their company complies with TSA mandates.

 

[sleddriver77]

They require CASS to ride in the back as well.
If you are not in the computer then you do not get a ride in back or up front.

This seems true, but strikes me as odd. According to a couple of AS CREWS I've talked to, they said it is NO PROBLEM for any 121 pilot to CABIN jumpseat with them, and that the gate agents are mistaken. I also know of people at in-state 135 operators who have cabin jumpseats with AS, and as such, there's NO WAY they're in CASS. Maybe it's the classic tale of gate agents being (for the most part) a bunch of underpaid, undertrained beeyotches who dislike the fact that pilots can jumpseat at all. (DISCLAIMER- I am married to a former gate agent.)