The best international jumpseat thread ever

[purduej]

Well, not yet obviously. I have noticed a bunch of threads have been started asking about international jumpseating, specifically on the majors. So I invite all the members to post intformation about international jumpseating on their airline, or if they have information on other airlines. Most needed is information regarding which airlines can do this, such as "can Air Wisconsin pilots jumpseat on Continental internationally?" (no I think). I'll start with where I worked and then with what I know from traveling.

Trans States: Doesn't go internationally, so who cares
SkyWest: As far as I know, no restrictions on international travel (Canada, the loft apartment above a really great party)

Stuff found out from working at Trans States:
American: No for AX and OO (perhaps for other majors, more information needed)

Continental: Same as American, my guess is no for small carriers, yes for large ones (more info needed)

United: Yes, give yourself plenty of time at the outstation. Sometimes it's their first time dealing with jumpseating and they need to call someone. Took 1.5 hours in Sydney for taxes and listing, wonderful people though

Delta: Yes, my personal favorite

Northwest: Unknown, I have heard yes

USAir: I think so, but I was US Express when I did (more info needed)

Polar: Yes, list on their website
Atlas: Yes, list on their website

If you can clarify anything I have put down, I will certainly edit it. I would really like more information for all the other airlines out their, so please add to the thread. Your experiences on other airlines or your airlines' rules.

 

[FlyPig]

"Jumpseat" procedure from another country

OK, I have one. What is the procedure for jumpseating from another country back to the US. Will your company ID get you through security and then do you list at the gate like we do here in the states or is a stop at the ticket counter necessary?

The easiest example I can think of is the case of getting home from one of the London airports (no real language barrier).

 

[dash8driver]

you have to stop at the check in counter. depending on the country/airport they will do one of the following (in my experience):

1. give you a boarding pass and jumpseat form and instruct you to go to the gate. there you can check in with the gate and try to catch the captain.

2. give you a jumpseat form and tell you to go wait for the pilots to check in at their dispatch office (if its nearby).

3. keep you at the front counter until they know there's room on the plane. then they'll give you a boarding pass and the jumpseat form to run to the gate. there you check in with the gate agent and let them know you're the jumpseater and need the captains signature on the form.

there may be other things that happen, but those are what i've experienced.

 

[Ace75]

Continental will let you jumpseat internationally if you work for one of their feeder carriers and have one of their JA numbers. As for other airlines I'm not sure, maybe check with your jumpseat coordinator, they should know. If you have a ZED fare with Air France, and the plane is full, they will let you occupy the flight attendant jumpseat! this was a great help. At some airports in Europe you can get through security with just your company ID badge and full uniform, its up to you, maybe your running late. But I would recommend showing up nice and early at the ticket counter, getting listed and paying the taxes. Last I saw(back in august) the tax from Europe to the US was 20 Euros or 25 US Dollars, make sure you have exact change-if you dont they have ATM's in the airport which will dispatch you foreign currency with a US debit card, your bank may charge an international service fee but I believe its just a percentage of what you take out and it shouldnt be more that what you would be charged for using the ATM at the quick-e-mart. When your leaving the USA, try to get the agent to list you on the return flight home if you know when it is, some gate agents in Europe get confused when you tell them your not listed and dont understand how you can just show up and get on the flight, but like was said before specify your jumpseating on the way back, the supervisors there are trained for this and know what it means.....

 

[Ace75]

found this guide, its a little old but should still apply:

http://www.webnetdesigns.com/aia/jsguide.pdf

 

[RockBass14]

In an attempt at jumpseating to St. Marteen on US Airways out of CLT I walked up to the gate agent and said "I would like to jumpseat to St. Marteen" She looked at me funny and said "Why? There are plenty of seats in the back, I am just going to list you as a non-rev and give you a seat in the back." Figuring something like this would happen, I had already listed on The Hub and paid the taxes. She went on to tell me I was still responsible for all taxes no matter how it was I got there, jumpseat or non-rev. In the end I ended up dropping the $50 or so to get there and back. Now i'm going to try PHL-AMS at the beginning of Oct. In another effort to avoid the fees going out of the country I am going to attempt a jumpseat. A bit hesitant not list ing myself on the hub as I may get stuck in the same situation. One thing I was considering is that, on the hub, you can opt to pay online or pay at the airport. I was going to select pay at airport but never pay, that way I would be listed in the event i need to do the non-rev route. It seems to me its luck of the draw in jumpseating, some gate agents know whats going on, some dont. Any advise in my up and coming jumpseat to Amsterdam from Philly?

 

[Smash312]

If you can jumpseat up to JFK - I think Kalita go to AMS. You're sure to have a better ride and aviod the fees and stuff that way. Only thing is, I'm not sure about the timetable. I think they have it on their website. I've just done London-NY (and vice versa) and both ways been done on taxes etc as the gate agents don't seem to know what to do.

 

[purduej]

If you're going to Amsterdam I recommend Polar. They run a regular scheduled route out of O'Hare and JFK (I think). List via their website www.polaraircargo.com (you need lots of information to list) and when you get an email back about the flight be sure to ask for the local ops number at ORD/JFK and AMS. That way you can get a ride to the cargo apron from the main terminal (yes they pick you up, they're awesome). Be sure to be at least 2 hours early and I would recommend giving ops a call 2.5 before the flight so they can pick you up along with the crew. Happy travels!

 

[newlife1]

International Jumpseat taxes/fees

FYI: jumpseaters are never excempt from paying departure, U.S. or foreign/local/airport taxes. Sometimes taxes don't apply and sometimes the agent choses not to charge them or forgets. Always be prepared to pay taxes whether departing or coming back to the U.S. while travelling as a jumpseater. I recommend paying your taxes at the ticket counter (round trip) ahead of time and if for some reason no one collects them, they are fully refundable. I hope this helps.