Here we go again.
First of all, pal, we do not charge for the jumpseat, period. The first off-line jumpseater rides for free, period. There could be 25 AirTran guys riding, and the first ASA guy would still ride free, period.
Additional pilots wanting to catch a ride can buy a pass, on the spot, for $25.
In other words, we treat you better than Delta does.
If you ever had a gate agent try to charge you for the jumpseat, and you are the first off-line guy, all you would have to do is mention it to the Captain when you introduce yourself. The Captain would clear it up. The first offline jumpseat has to be offered free, and every pilot here knows that.
I've seen this happen one time in over two years, (out of LGA) and the confusion was over the fact that there was an off-line F/A on the F/A jumpseat, and the gate agent made a UAL guy buy a pass.
In the case above, the UAL guy mentioned to the Capt that he was "on a pass". We noticed that there was no toher pilot j/s form, so we took a delay while they sorted it out and gave the UAL guy his money back.
I know that the policy says the first J/S is free, but I've heard too many stories of the only J/S getting charged.
Yeah? You really believe that, huh? Sounds to me like you WANT to believe it, but I doubt it happened. The ONLY way it could happen is if the guy who bought the pass didn't introduce himself to the Capt. on the way to his seat, because if he told the Capt. he was riding on a pass, the Captain would have cleared it up- period.
You have yourself a good one, there, Cletus.