Why do airlines let gate agents control the J/S

[jonjuan]

Believe me, if I wasn't required by company policy to travel in uniform on the flights to work, I wouldn't. On my home, I generally change into plain clothes. Makes for less hassle from the airline agents and from TSA.

Can you drink in uniform on the way home from your frac flight? Just curious as you don't work for the airlines.

 

[Checknsix]

Yep....great policy. I tried to do that myself when I was a captain. Rescued quite a few guys from buying hotels by doing that.

I also sorted out a couple of problems where mainline gate agents were giving jumpseats to mainline pilots, over pilots from my regional partner airline. That was fun, calling my dispatch in within earshot of the gate clown, explaining to them that the flight was going to be delayed because the gate agent did not want to respect the jumpseat hierarchy and that I was not leaving until the problem was resolved....and to code the flight late specifically because of gate agent so and so.

- Six

I always find that I have a need to use a lavatory in the terminal about five minutes prior to push. I always look for jumpseaters, and rev and non-rev pax.

I have had gate agents try and refuse revenue passengers because they want the flight to push early.

All it takes to solve this problem is a short walk before every flight. Exercise is good for you.

 

[SonicPig]

Believe me, if I wasn't required by company policy to travel in uniform on the flights to work, I wouldn't. On my home, I generally change into plain clothes. Makes for less hassle from the airline agents and from TSA.

What's the reasoning for that policy?

The Pig

 

[say again]

True conversation from about 10 years ago when I was at a regional:

Me: Is the jumseat available?
Grouchy gate agent: (Sigh) Let me look.
(Long pause)
Agent: (while typing) Why don't you pilots just live where you work instead of taking our valuable seat space?
Me (very calmly): I was going to, but a couple months after I was hired, they closed all the outstation bases and consolidated to three hub bases.
Agent: So? Move there.
Me (smiling through gritted teeth): That was six months ago, and now our Director of Operations says we'll probably go back to outstation basing in a couple months.
Agent (clueless): So?
Me: Would you and your spouse enjoy moving three times in nine months? (She had a rock on her ring finger) Only a tiny handful of our pilots have been able to fly without commuting for at least part of their careers because of base closures, no matter how long or short they've been with the company. Sometimes, it just can't be helped.
Agent: You f***ing pilots complain about everything! (and she stormed off to get my jumpseat form signed).
Me (silently): Sigh.

HAL

I believe it, but why would you waste your breath with such a long, pointless conversation??!!

JK. Typical waste agent trying to prove her/him self importance. :laugh:

 

[AWACoff]

For all the guys that are getting attitude from gate agents while traveling but on a revenue pass...did you happen to get the gate agents name and complain to the airline? You are a revenue passenger. Get these gate agents fired. All of us would appreciate it as these agents seem to always have a bad attitude.

 

[CA1900]

Can you drink in uniform on the way home from your frac flight? Just curious as you don't work for the airlines.

Never really thought about it... Probably would be fine, but I don't know for sure. Obviously I'd skip it in uniform.

 

[CA1900]

What's the reasoning for that policy [traveling in uniform to work]?

Basically because we have to be able to fly a plane immediately after airlining. If the airline loses or delays my bag, I'm still supposed to be able to fly, and that's a problem if my uniform or pilot certificates are in checked luggage.

 

[hoover]

I submit that ANY jumpseat request is made to the Captain, as it is his seat to give.

That is incorrect. The jumpseat is the Captain's to DENY on the basis of safety or an enhanced operation. The Captain does not have the authority to offer the jumpseat to anyone that the company and the FAA have not previously approved.

 

[Frap]

That is incorrect. The jumpseat is the Captain's to DENY on the basis of safety or an enhanced operation. The Captain does not have the authority to offer the jumpseat to anyone that the company and the FAA have not previously approved.

Ok. I thought all of that went without saying...

 

[temcgrew]

That is incorrect. The jumpseat is the Captain's to DENY on the basis of safety or an enhanced operation. The Captain does not have the authority to offer the jumpseat to anyone that the company and the FAA have not previously approved.

So if you have a valid Airline I.D. with a jumpseat agreement in place and in CASS then you have already been approved by the company and the FAA, so it is not the gate agents position to deny you a seat....it is the captains.