USAIR Capt denies JS to SWA commuter!

[Frap]

Last Friday I was informed by the agent at BWI that the 757 Capt had informed him he didn't want any Southwest pilots in his Jumpseat. The agent told me this as he informed me not to worry because he had a seat in the back (he thought the Capt meant he didn't want them on the flight deck). However after going onboard to say hello and giving the lead FA my ID she entered the flight deck and just behind her was the agent with the final paperwork. I overheard the Capt giving the agent hell and telling him he had usurped his powers as a capt in allowing a JS. The agent came back out and told me to take a seat in the back. I assumed he was relaying this from the Capt. Today I returned to BWI and talked to the agent. He informed me the Capt didn't want any SWA people on his aircraft period. I am posting this not to flame USAIR. They have always been great host. I would like any USAIR commuters who read this to have a little conversation with this Capt(email, letters, phone call, etc) about his past and future actions. I am not posting his name here but will be glad to supply it if you contact me direct via email here.

Assumed he was relaying this from the Captain?? Uh, what??

I hope I'm mis-interpreting your post (it's certainly possible), but did you really do the Captain end-around and take a seat w/o introducing yourself and asking for a ride? It is indeed HIS jumpseat to give, be it in the front or the back--not the gate agent's.

And it doesn't appear that the Boss even talked to you, so you can't complain to your j/s committee about disrespectful treatment in front of family, employees or passengers. In fact, if he hadn't verbally singled out WN guys, I don't believe you would have any recourse at all.

Look, I'm all for helping to get as many guys home as possible. Just be respectful of the fact that it's the Captain's jumpseat (toolbag status notwithstanding) and only the Captain's and he does not have to give it to anybody.

 

[stagger]

jumpseat

please post the day and flight number so this numb nutted dude can be spoken to

 

[capt. megadeth]

Seems to me that the Capt would get in a bit of trouble for not having a good reason for not allowing you to JS.

Everybody freaks out about captain's authority being degraded these days but then when he/she uses it.....everybody freaks out. Albeit, the captain may have been a d!ck and have had no good reason to deny SWA pilots the jumpseat, but the bottom line is this.....The captain doesn't need a reason to deny a jumpseat. It's is the captain's jumpseat. Period. By trying to get the guy in trouble is further degrading captain's authority.

 

[airlinepilot]

All the info has been sent to the JS coordinator at SWA. I know there are a good number of Philly crewmembers that use us (SWA) to get from Pitt to Philly.....Those are the guys and gals I want to have a word with the 757 capt. Those are the people who need to know what he is doing. Philly is his Dom.

As for your comments Weasal Lips...I take exception...there is nothinig cowardly about telling the truth...he made a decision and was very vocal in doing so. Now he needs the peer pressure of those USAIR commuters that also rely on the good faith of SWA among others to get to work. I didn't post his name here because not everyone needs the info...but I think his peers deserve to know. He will respond much quicker to them than anyone else.

 

[airlinepilot]

Not so fast capt. megadeth

Not using authority correctly or misuing it is what weakens real authority because then others have to get involved to make sure that the Capt knows how to correctly apply his authority. Additionally....this was not just a case of the an actual JS in the cockpit...it was allowing commuters in the back where there were open seats. Misure of authority is one reason we have so much oversight....because there is always that 10%.......that needs it.

 

[johnnyV]

Get off your high horse!

The Captain's JS my wazoo! It is an open seat on whatever company's a/c & should be treated as such. All this power hungry BS. Bet these guys have the last two words in every fight at home...yes dear. Get a life.

JV

 

[capt. megadeth]

The Captain's JS my wazoo! It is an open seat on whatever company's a/c & should be treated as such. All this power hungry BS. Bet these guys have the last two words in every fight at home...yes dear. Get a life.

JV

Yep, and like I said.....if the gate agent denied the dude without consulting the captain, or, better yet, the guy was a scab or GoJet pilot, you all would be crying "It's the captain's jumpseat! They can take or deny whoever they want! Our captain's authority is being flushed down the toilet!" Don't deny it because you know it's true! You can't have it both ways.

 

[jhill]

Be a professional and take the next flight. Then talk to your JS coordinator.

Threatening to give his name out to whomever emails you is tasteless and cowardly.

Is the new procedure going to be “If you don’t let me ride jumpseat, I am going to post your name on flightinfo.com”?

It is a privilege not a right.

Its a damm good idea. Post it anywhere else you can think of as well.

 

[DCitrus9]

Whether it is a seat in back or the actual js, you are still riding on jumpseat priveledges. That means you stop and say hi to the crew, ask if they have room for a freeloader, and take whatever seat is offered. It is captains's authority to take you. If you are polite and professional and still get denied, then the guy is simply a d1ck, but it's his call.
If you buy a ticket or nonrev/id90 pass then you don't need to say hi to anybody but the gate agent.

 

[ultrarunner]

Pretty soon, management is going to take back the jump seat and tell everyone to screw themselves. You think commuting to work is bad now....just wait!

In the end, management owns the seats...and don't be surprised to find them exercising their authority one day. Ask any Delta pilot...they remember when they couldn't even offer a ride.

It's coming if this keeps up, you watch.

 

[PCL_128]

Some of you guys really need to relax. So some a$$hole denied you a ride. Big frickin' deal. Go to the next flight and forget about it. If I came on this board and posted a complaint every time that a NWA Captain treated me like s*#t when I was a commuter, then I'd have more posts than The General by now. Some guys are just jerks. Live with it and just remember not to be the same way when you're the one making the decision about who rides your jumpseat.

 

[Tejas-Jet]

Let your JS coordinator know the flight number/date...let them handle it. FI.com can't do a doggone thing for ya.

 

[stonewall]

Some of you guys really need to relax. So some a$$hole denied you a ride. Big frickin' deal. Go to the next flight and forget about it. If I came on this board and posted a complaint every time that a NWA Captain treated me like s*#t when I was a commuter, then I'd have more posts than The General by now. Some guys are just jerks. Live with it and just remember not to be the same way when you're the one making the decision about who rides your jumpseat.

Not everyone has the ability to just "go to the next flight." You should always have backups, but alot of cities that people commute out of might have only two flights/day (or even one). And, based on my last few rides on some legacy carriers I won't mention, there is a better than average chance your backup will be hours-delayed or CNX. Every open seat is valuable to a commuter.

How would you feel if you took an earlier flight, got denied by a CA being a tool, and then your backup fell through and you missed a trip or a kid's game? You'd want to choke out said Captain, no?

 

[GuppyWN]

Assuming my brother is a commuter it sounds like he did an end around. I can't say the thought of slinking to the back wouldn't cross my mind but you MUST check in with the Captain. It's in the unwritten code of ethics.

Gup

 

[PCL_128]

Not everyone has the ability to just "go to the next flight." You should always have backups, but alot of cities that people commute out of might have only two flights/day (or even one). And, based on my last few rides on some legacy carriers I won't mention, there is a better than average chance your backup will be hours-delayed or CNX. Every open seat is valuable to a commuter.

How would you feel if you took an earlier flight, got denied by a CA being a tool, and then your backup fell through and you missed a trip or a kid's game? You'd want to choke out said Captain, no?

I commuted for over 5 years, so I know very well how much it can suck. That being said, jumpseating is still a privilege, and the Captain owns his jumpseat. If he turns you down for whatever reason, then that's his right. Going on flightinfo and sending the guy's name to a bunch of people via PM is even more unprofessional than the Captain who was a jerk. The only professional way to handle it is through the jumpseat committee. Let the guy's jumpseat coordinator have a talk with him. If that doesn't work, then oh well, it's still his jumpseat.