Use of Jumpseat

[Ty Webb]

Guys-

Pease remember that jumpseating is a professional courtesy extended to fellow pilots- it is NOT supposed to be a way for your company to save money on tickets.

In other words- if you are traveling on Company business (such as dropping off an aircraft in Wichita for maintenance) your Company needs to buy you a ticket . . . . . NOT ask you to "try to jumpseat home". Same goes for deadheading a crew to or from an aircraft. The jumpseat is solely for the pilot to for his own personal needs.

We had two guys get on in ICT going to ATL. About halfway there, the Capt. and I started talking about it . . . and figured out that they had probably just dropped of an aircraft for MX.

It really pissed us off that their company was probably dropping $50K or so in MX, then were trying to cheat my company out of a few hundred bucks. . . and asking their pilots to abuse jumpseat protocol.

I went to go talk to them after the flight, but they had beat it.

As a former 135 guy, I am pleased that we at AirTran still take 135 guys, but if we keep getting idiots like those two, I guarantee you it will come to a screeching halt. . . .


TW

 

[414Flyer]

I remember once when jumpseating Hawaiiian and talking to the captain, she asked me, rather nicely, if I had been repositioning an aircraft.

of course I had not been, or else I would not have been jumpseating, but I know some employers try to have employees jumpseat back.

 

[fly2002]

jumpseat etiquite(sp?)

hey guys. Just got on with a cargo company and I'd like to ask the proper do's and don'ts of jumpseating before I get yelled at. My company has jumpseat privileges on almost all the major carriers but i'm wondering when and when not I should be using the benefits. Thanks.

 

[Ty Webb]

The only limitation that I am aware of is that it is not to be used for company business . . . . . in other words, it is for your use, not your company. If I need to get somewhere for recurrent, or to pick up an airplane, my company would have to buy me a seat on another airline, not ask me to jumpseat there. Same with deadheading.

If you are trying to get to work, and it is your own reponsibility to get there, then you are welcome to jumpseat. If you are on vacation or just trying to get somewhere for personal business, then you are welcome to jumpseat.

If your company needs you to get somewhere, and asks you to jumpseat instead of providing you with a ticket . . . then that is an abuse of the J/S policy.

 

[Looking4Traffic]

Thanks, Ty

Hey Ty, thanks for the thoughtful e-mail.

As a current 135 pilot (in the pool at a regional) who lives in one state and commutes to another, I could not do my job without the jumpseat privilege bestowed by carriers like AirTran, JetBlue, ATA & Spirit. You guys don't have to give 135 people that privilege -- it's certainly difficult for an on-demand Challenger pilot to return the favor -- and I certainly really appreciate it.

If you ever come across anyone who abuses that privilege, you be sure to tell them that their fellow 135 colleagues would be happy to kick their ass, for risking the loss to everyone of such a valuable gift.