Procedures for jumpseating on Delta?

[FlyGuy78]

Does anyone have info on the correct procedures for jumpseating on Delta? Do you have to list in advance? Do you need to be in uniform or can you wear a coat and tie? Any info would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks...

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Business casual...no tie needed.

Just walk up to the gate, or go to ticket counter if you can't get past security to get a boarding pass.

 

[:-)]

Does anyone have info on the correct procedures for jumpseating on Delta? Do you have to list in advance? Do you need to be in uniform or can you wear a coat and tie? Any info would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks...

I've read here before that CFI's couldn't jumpseat. Are you a new airline pilot who forgot to update his profile, or a terrorist looking for inside information?

Sorry, grouchy day.

 

[cvsfly]

If you are allowed to jumpseat with them, you should know the procedure or know who to contact within your company or Delta. Wrong forum for this.

 

[ATL2CDG]

Don't look 'em in the eye; they'll devour your soul and you'll turn to stone.

 

[chperplt]

If you are allowed to jumpseat with them, you should know the procedure or know who to contact within your company or Delta. Wrong forum for this.

Why wrong forum? This is the perfect place to ask questions like this. This isn't top secret info here. You still need to be verified and accepted for the ride.

Just because you are allowed to jumpseat with them does not mean you have the current info. Maybe his jumpseat coordinator wasn't returning his call quick enough and he needed a quick answer?

 

[Resume Writer]

Why wrong forum? This is the perfect place to ask questions like this. This isn't top secret info here. You still need to be verified and accepted for the ride.

Just because you are allowed to jumpseat with them does not mean you have the current info. Maybe his jumpseat coordinator wasn't returning his call quick enough and he needed a quick answer?

Chperplt,

I have to agree with others that it raised some eyebrows for me, also. I looked at his profile (maybe not updated) and was wondering why he asked the question. All he would have had to do was call his union or even his Pass Bureau at his company. Further, most of this stuff is taught in training. I still think there needs to be vigilence out there to questions that get asked that should be able to be answered by your own company.

Sorry Flyguy78 if I am a little paranoid, but after looking at some of the other posts you have made, it just seems strange to me. With the anonymity of this board, it makes it impossible to know who you are and what your intentions are.

Kathy

 

[FlyGuy78]

I understand your concerns. I am a new 121 FO almost done with training. I just wanted to know if there was anything special I needed to do. I have heard horror stories from others who didn't follow the correct procedures which involved them losing the jumpseat and I don't want this to happen to me.

I thought this forum would be a place to get advice.

Sorry for the concerns...

 

[Tripower455]

New hire rampers waltz in the back door unchecked, and you guys are worried about someone inquiring about JS procedures, based on his profile on an anonymous forum? By the time that offline jumpseater gets to the plane, his a** will hurt so much from all the passenger "security" screening he'll get, that he'll think twice about it the next time and just drive or stay home.

I am a major airline capt, and could not tell you what the current DAL procedures for JS are.............

I am quite sure some have changed since I used to commute, but this is how it went then:

Get to the gate 1:20 prior, check in when the gate agents show up.

Politely ask for the jumpseat, they check your stuff, then inform you, with barely contained satisfaction, that one of their guys is already signed up (standard reply, btw).

You wait around to see if he shows up. He doesn't, so you get a ride to ATL. Unless one of their check airmen show up, and wants to get paid to commute, so you get to stay while they leave with 60 empty seats (happened to me twice in RSW)!

In ATL, you run about 20 miles (since you're invariably late inbound, and the outbound gate is 2 concourses away), to get to the connector flight (meanwhile, there are 6 other guys running for the same gate from other inbounds, so do not pass go, collect $200, get food or use the can). Out of breath and dripping with sweat, you politely ask the gate agent for the jumpseat. Again, he/she replies that it is taken by one of their guys, so you now run to your first backup, which, of course, is 2 concourses over, next to the flight you arrived on, where the above scenario is repeated. Repeat as necessary (and it will be necessary). After covering every inch of ATL airport, passing the same harried potential jumpseaters each time, the commuting gods feel that you've had enough for one day, and you FINALLY get on a flight that will put you less than 200 miles from home, and you jump on. Another 30 minutes to get the rental car, and a nice 3 hour drive later, you are home!

Repeat weekly, until you get smart enough to move to a domicile!

 

[chperplt]

Further, most of this stuff is taught in training

I've been through 2 different 121 training programs and absolutely nothing about jumpseating is covered. It's something you either ask your buddy about or lean here.

 

[FlyGuy78]

Thanks chperplt...Nothing was covered during training pertaining to jumpseating. That is why I am asking here.

 

[Long Time Gone]

Don't forget.....

If the commute involves ATL, Airtran is an option, also. They take unlimited JSers, and are fairly easy to work with.

LTG

 

[Tripower455]

If the commute involves ATL, Airtran is an option, also. They take unlimited JSers, and are fairly easy to work with.

Too bad that they didn't become an option until the very end of my commuting career. The few times that I did use them, it was a pleasant experience, especially compared to DAL.

FWIW, I was always treated GREAT by the DAL flight crews (pilots and FAs)...it was the gate agents, in ATL particularly, that were unecessarily nasty to jumpseaters.........

 

[Resume Writer]

I've been through 2 different 121 training programs and absolutely nothing about jumpseating is covered. It's something you either ask your buddy about or lean here.

Once again, sorry for my paranoia, but these questions could have been asked to your company and answered by them. Like I said before, there is always the pass bureau or even the Chief Pilot's office. So, even if it is not learned in training, there are resources within your own company.

Congrats Fly on getting the 121 job and for being concerned about how to act when asking for the jumpseat and making sure you follow the rules so you do not affect others. Commuting is always a pain!

As far as gate agents being somewhat rude about jumpseats, I worked at two different airlines and did not have that attitude at all. I always tried to help the commuters by asking the Captain if he would sign "just one more" so the person could get to work or get home. Sometimes they were great and did it, other times they did not want to have to answer for going against policy. But I always asked - a question not asked cannot possibly get answered!

Kathy

 

[FlyGuy78]

Will wearing my uniform help in an effort to jumpseat or is business casual accepted?

Thanks...

 

[chperplt]

Will wearing my uniform help in an effort to jumpseat or is business casual accepted?

You can't go wrong with your uniform, but business casual is generally accepted.

 

[Tripower455]

As far as gate agents being somewhat rude about jumpseats, I worked at two different airlines and did not have that attitude at all. I always tried to help the commuters by asking the Captain if he would sign "just one more" so the person could get to work or get home. Sometimes they were great and did it, other times they did not want to have to answer for going against policy. But I always asked - a question not asked cannot possibly get answered!

Please don't take offense at my comments, as in the 10 years that I commuted off line, MOST gate agents were professional and many pleasant. There were definitely a few times that I would have been spending the night, if it weren't for the efforts of a few gate agents!

Thanks for being a good one!

 

[Resume Writer]

Please don't take offense at my comments, as in the 10 years that I commuted off line, MOST gate agents were professional and many pleasant. There were definitely a few times that I would have been spending the night, if it weren't for the efforts of a few gate agents!

Thanks for being a good one!

No offense, Tri. I have definately seen my share of militant gate agents! I think coming from being a crew member and understanding how hard everyone works on the airplanes, how tired you are after a 4-day trip and just wanting to get home, that the difference between making a good experience for someone was worth it. I used to get all kinds of goodies from my jumpseaters, like Starbucks coffee cards and Cinnabon rolls. (was especially nice when I was pregnant with the baby! )

I used to get a lot of jumpseaters on the airplane who would bring us goodies or just ask if we wanted some food (not saying they paid) because we could not get off the aircraft during tight turnarounds. It was just something unexpected and very nice on their part.

Kathy