Mainline Jumpseaters

[bogberto]

Porra: if you're with an ALPA carrier, please have your Jumpseat Chair contact the Mesa Jumpseat Chair to clear that up. We have open jumpseat policy and the only snag I can see is getting you into the U.S. from Canada, but if (as mentioned before) you're in the back, I wouldn't think it's a problem.

 

[Russ]

Its funny to see the changes with the UA guys. Won't even give you the head nod in the terminal, but eager to talk to bag a free ride.

As to jumping on DAL I have had great times with the excepion of one guy. Unfortunately I kept getting him. Short little Captain with a mullet. That was how we was described to me and it was a perfect fit when I met him the first time. Within a minute you knew he flew tomcats in the Navy. He had a serious dislike of regionals and that I found out at about minute two. He had the gaul to ask me why I didn't join the military if I wanted to fly airplanes. He thought regionals should only fly piston aircraft. I hope he is nicer to his FO's than to jumpseaters.

"You can do something about it if you want to. You are the Captain, right?"

That fight is not going to get you anywhere you want to be after the coordinators start talking to each other.

 

[Vortilon]

Russ,

Sorry to hear about your mullet encounter! Sounds like you were a victim of the a$$hole per thousand ratio. Everybody has em.

I agree the jumpseat is no place to be political but I can understand how some of the UAL folks might not have warm fuzzy feelings towards Indy Air pilots. Both carriers are in a real-life fight for their lives, especially at IAD. If this were the early 80s right after deregulation there'd be a lot more than dirty looks going on.

 

[J32driver]

I had a UAL guy give up his jumpseat about 2 years ago so that I could get home. He said he'd make sure I was able to get on and then he took the next flight. Certainly doesn't happen often, but they aren't all bad.

I was bumming a ride from another UAL crew a couple of weeks ago, the FO was bit ching to the Captain about how a previous captain had denied the Jumpseat to an Indy guy. Both were pis sed that the Indy guy got denied. Again... they aren't all bad. Just a couple bad apples like every company.

 

[higherflyer]

I've had jumpseaters from virtually all majors, LCC's and regionals on board and have yet to have anyone show up with an attitude. I have jumpseated on virtually all as well and have never received an attitude from anyone in the front office (lots of attitude from some gate agents, but those stories are for a separate thread).
I make a point of ensuring that whoever is onboard knows they are welcome no matter who they are and who they fly for. We all have to get to and from work somehow. Some have to fly to get there and if we can make it easier for our fellow pilots, we can make it better for all of us. To those who want to make a statement by giving a rider a hard time or denying him/her a seat: don't; you will only $crew it up for all of us.