What was Airtran thinking?

[Focus]

This is a bad policy to have in our industry as already mentioned. To say that pilots commuting to work should start subsidizing the revenue for this privledge continues to diminish our overall benefits package/perks.

To say that the individual who brought this topic up is ungrateful is certainly and without doubt pure BS. If my airline had this policy which it doesn't, I would be embarassed every time we had to charge for an extra seat in the back.

Keep giving away those benefits and someday it will come back to haunt us all as it already seems to be doing.

 

[USMC319]

Its a bad policy guys. I can't imagine that your pilot group came up with this duzzy but it reflects poorly on you, so I would find the "bean counter" over in the GO and get it changed. I've had multiple Airtran pilots and FAs on the same flight before...no charge.

 

[jball2]

I was talking with our jumpseat coordinator the other day and he says that the AirTran Pilots ARE trying to get rid of this. Apparently they have already lost one JS coordinator fighting this battle. Give them a break, they don't like it any more than we do.

To the Airtran folks- Thanks a million for all of the rides to work. You folks do a Great Job!

BTW- I have yet to pay anything, usually the gate agent just lets two of us on. It happened twice in the last week. Kill them with kindness and bring chocolate!

 

[Steeler Fan]

well at least delta takes as many as they can fit in the back. I think they are hurting more than airspan. They took 3 of us last Friday

Since when did DL start taking multiple JSers? That's news to me, and I hope you're right, because I've been left at the gate with 60+ seats open in coach numerous times (check airman in JS, FAA observation, NW Airlink guy beat me to the gate).

 

[Steeler Fan]

We carry a lot of their people, and it is becoming more than just an incident or two over there where we are being denied. Three last week. That is bullshat.

Individual cases of people being denied the JS should be elevated to JS committees for both airlines. I don't know who was right or wrong, but I do know that I've seen 3 things happen (some more frequently than others) in terms of jumpseating gone bad:

1. JS (in the back) never introduces himself to Captain and asks for a ride
2. JS is either not dressed appropriately (sandles and Jimmy Buffett shirt and shorts).
3. The Captain is a jerk, period

All of these are unacceptable, and if our pilots have wronged any of your friends, I'm sorry, because that's not professional at all. However, it's not always the Captain's fault, because some jumpseaters just don't get it.

 

[klhoard]

Why is the jumpseat being used as a negotiating tool? "We are cutting your pay here a little, but in return you can take a couple of offline jumpseaters".
Sorry Ty, can't agree with you here. IMHO, if there is a seat open and a pilot at the gate, he gets it...FREE. If I have a 100 seats open and 100 jumpseaters, they all ride...for nothing. BTW, when is enough enough with the NWA thing? We carry a lot of their people, and it is becoming more than just an incident or two over there where we are being denied. Three last week. That is bullshat.

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Now that's funny. . . a B6 guy beaatching about another groups negotiating ability!!!!
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[IB6 UB9]

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Now that's funny. . . a B6 guy beaatching about another groups negotiating ability!!!!
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What is it we need to negotiate? We have better work rules than most.

 

[CapnVegetto]

I agree.....this policy sucks. It is bull$hit. Nobody else out there charges anything, and some of them will take as many as can be put in the back. There is absolutely no reason to charge for this. I know it's not the pilot group's fault, it's some dam-n bean counter in the corporate office that thinks they can make an extra buck to stuff in their pocket.

 

[klhoard]

What is it we need to negotiate? We have better work rules than most.

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That's not the point. You were flipping Ty a ration of crap because the jumpseats were being used by AirTran management as a bargaining tool.
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We'll see what happens to your work rules once the legacies start putting the heat on JetBlue and y'all have a few more money losing quarters. It still cracks me up when you guys talk about your "pocket sessions" and your management "listens" to the pilot group.
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[wndshr]

Now that is Funny

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That's not the point. You were flipping Ty a ration of crap because the jumpseats were being used by AirTran management as a bargaining tool.
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We'll see what happens to your work rules once the legacies start putting the heat on JetBlue and y'all have a few more money losing quarters. It still cracks me up when you guys talk about your "pocket sessions" and your management "listens" to the pilot group.
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Now THAT is funny....a guy with 2000 hours who thinks he has got it figured out! Sorry Klhoard....couldn't resist! You are still playing in a sandbox that is for upperclassmen....come back when you get some more experience!! LOL

 

[MD80DRVR]

Individual cases of people being denied the JS should be elevated to JS committees for both airlines. I don't know who was right or wrong, but I do know that I've seen 3 things happen (some more frequently than others) in terms of jumpseating gone bad:

1. JS (in the back) never introduces himself to Captain and asks for a ride
2. JS is either not dressed appropriately (sandles and Jimmy Buffett shirt and shorts).
3. The Captain is a jerk, period

All of these are unacceptable, and if our pilots have wronged any of your friends, I'm sorry, because that's not professional at all. However, it's not always the Captain's fault, because some jumpseaters just don't get it.

This issue was brought to the JS commitee at NWA. In a nutshell, they said that the Captain has the final word, we can't do anything about it. These bad apples obviously don't commute.

 

[IB6 UB9]

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That's not the point. You were flipping Ty a ration of crap because the jumpseats were being used by AirTran management as a bargaining tool.
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We'll see what happens to your work rules once the legacies start putting the heat on JetBlue and y'all have a few more money losing quarters. It still cracks me up when you guys talk about your "pocket sessions" and your management "listens" to the pilot group.
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Let me guess, first airline? Let me know when the legacies are in a position to put some heat on us will you...I'll try to be ready.

 

[Thunderchief]

I work for AirTran... The policy is trying to be changed by the pilots. We recognize the fact that it is not the norm. We (the pilots) unfortunately don't make policy. Sorry you had to pay the $25 but at least it is a seat you can you use compared to a few other carriers who only take one offline jumpseater period.

-TC

 

[nimtz]

What is it we need to negotiate? We have better work rules than most.

Well pay rates for this thing would certainly be nice.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=929225&size=L&width=1024&height=708&sok=&photo_nr=

 

[Redmeat]

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That's not the point. You were flipping Ty a ration of crap because the jumpseats were being used by AirTran management as a bargaining tool.
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We'll see what happens to your work rules once the legacies start putting the heat on JetBlue and y'all have a few more money losing quarters. It still cracks me up when you guys talk about your "pocket sessions" and your management "listens" to the pilot group.
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Now THAT is funny....a guy with 2000 hours who thinks he has got it figured out! Sorry Klhoard....couldn't resist! You are still playing in a sandbox that is for upperclassmen....come back when you get some more experience!! LOL

But it's military time so he "really" has 4000 right?

(Tongue firmly planted in cheek)

 

[SlipperyPete]

Not long ago there were few commuters and even fewer off-line commuters. I used to carry a stack of ID 90s in case I didn't get a jumpseat. $25 for a ride outta town beats spending the night or missing your trip. Just becasue you choose to commute doesn't mean you have the right to a free ride on someone elses' airline.

At my airline an off-line jumpseater can sit in first class for free but I would have to pay to sit in first. How fair is that? The company can and will charge whatever it wants. What's it worth to you?

Not everyone can reciprocate equally. Would you degrade your pay or work rules for this? Airlines don't just offer unlimited jumseats to be nice. Someone has to give up something. Should the AirTran guys give up something for this? No. It would just lower the bar for the rest of us.

If commuting is too expensive for you try moving to your base and see how many drives to the airport you get on $25 of gas.

 

[fletch717]

Company policy at AirTran is Dictated by management, this includes the jumpseat. Management announced one day that this was the new policy, it was not part of any negotiation. We (The Pilot Group) Expressed our objection to the 25.00 charge. AirTran management does'nt care about you riding on us for free. Just like your management does'nt care about my ability to get on your jumpseat. Offline jumpseating is a priviledge not a right.

 

[atrdriver]

Why is the jumpseat being used as a negotiating tool? "We are cutting your pay here a little, but in return you can take a couple of offline jumpseaters".
Sorry Ty, can't agree with you here. IMHO, if there is a seat open and a pilot at the gate, he gets it...FREE. If I have a 100 seats open and 100 jumpseaters, they all ride...for nothing. BTW, when is enough enough with the NWA thing? We carry a lot of their people, and it is becoming more than just an incident or two over there where we are being denied. Three last week. That is bullshat.

Got news for you, the seats in teh back of the airplane belong to the company, not the Captain. Many carriers, mine included, negotiated unlimited jumpseats for offline pilots. But not all have, and not all companies are willing to give those seats to the Captain for jumpseat use. While I don't really like AT's policy of $25 for other J/Sers, if that's the choice, then it's the choice. It's not the Captains decision. All that having been said, many gate agents will waive the $25 fee.

 

[atrdriver]

Its a bad policy guys. I can't imagine that your pilot group came up with this duzzy but it reflects poorly on you, so I would find the "bean counter" over in the GO and get it changed. I've had multiple Airtran pilots and FAs on the same flight before...no charge.

That's about the stupidest thing that I have read on here in a while. How on earth does it reflect poorly on the pilots of AT that their company has a bad policy? Does it reflect poorly on the DAL pilots that they can only carry as many jumpseaters as the a/c has jumpseats? That's their company policy, and the pilots don't have a lot to say about it. Yes they can negotiate for a change, and I am sure that they have tried, but it is very possible that the company is demanding more than they are able or willing to give.

 

[klhoard]

Let me guess, first airline? Let me know when the legacies are in a position to put some heat on us will you...I'll try to be ready.

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I won't have to, your management will tell you. . . .
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