Why do airlines let gate agents control the J/S

[Coool Hand Luke]

Could be worse M.F.,

She could have treated you like she treats actual AA pilots.

With certain agents and FA's with this mentality, it's a good idea to keep a cat toy in your bag to give as an icebreaker

That is spot on!

 

[Lear70]

Its the same at JB at times. Most of our gate agents are very good but in some cities, they will make a habit to tell the jumpseaters that they have a seat and to just go down and take a seat. This becomes a problem more with FA jumpseaters then with the pilots mainly because the pilots know enough to at least stick their heads in the cockpit. We had a FA jumpseater last month that did not bother to say hi at all. I did not know about it until after the flight and the F1 did not even know about it. We found out after she thanked us for the ride at the destination. I explained to her that she needs to at least ask someone for the jump seat, if not me then at the very least the F1 and her answer was that she was not on the jump seat, but in a seat given to her by the gate agent. The gate agent also told her to just go down and take a seat...Neither she or the gate agent get it and it drives me nuts at times.

Maybe she needs some "remedial instruction"...

The kind you give at the hotel later, maybe? You *did* get her number, right?

I had one of those days yesterday on SWA. Everyone is great 99.9% of the time but, every once in a while, you get someone who either is just having a bad day or has turned into the "queen bee" that you have to suck up to.

Funny thing was... I was on a revenue ticket, just happened to be in uniform from flying. Still got the attitude... FWIW, the other agents and flight crew were cool, as usual.

There's tools everywhere. Best thing to do in those situations is just note who it is and try to avoid them. Or you can suck up... I just don't do that very well.

 

[C-150ETOPS]

One other note: If someone has a problem, please document it with names, times, dates, flights.

I know most of us will have the first reaction of just walking away, but if a recurring or serious denial occurs, please send it through your JS committee to ours.

AA is pretty much assaulting all areas of our contract, and jumpseating is in our agreement. It was bought and paid for in 1991.

It will get worse. AA has a habit of inciting the contempt of some of the other employees for the pilot group. OA Jumpseaters will feel some of the "love" too

 

[Sig]

This exact thing happened to me, same airline, in DTW. She was melting down, and I thanked her and hauled tail to ask the Captain for a ride... as I was doing it (I left my bag on the jetway- I figured I wasn't on yet until he granted me the seat), she stuck her head in the door and hollered, "<my last name>, get YOUR SH** AND GET THE H** ON!"

The Captain's reaction was priceless. If she still has a job, I'd bet it took weeks for her bite marks to heal...

*And the Lead F/A consideration is important. A box of Rocher and some Toblerones for the cabin crew put me in good graces pretty quick. SOP for SIG when J/Sing.

 

[Gorilla]

Find the cockpit crew. Get to the gate before they do, and let them know you're there and want the seat. 99% of the captains WILL make it happen, regardless of the gate agents.

It is a fact of our corporate culture that SOMEONE will take blaim for a late departure, and that is why in many cases the gate agents are jerks. They have experienced so much punishment, they are afraid and will do nothing to jeapordize an on-time departure.

 

[spacecadet1]

The reason this crap happens is because we have enough weak sisters (sorry ladies) among us, that the agents think they are in charge. There is a diplomatic professional way for the Captain to let the agent know who makes the final decision. But Captains have to be willing to get involved.

 

[Dirty Sanchez]

I have never listed for the jumpseat at the ticket counter. Try going to the gate instead and catch the captain on his way down to the a/c. If the flight crew knows you are there you are much more likely to get on.

 

[waveflyer]

Yeah- but sometimes you can't get to them. Captain or FO- we should be checking the gate for J/S'ers - just make it part of the habit. I've caught more since i started doing this than i ever would have thought.

I also agree with writing it up to your jumpseat coordinator when you run into these deals.

 

[Redmeat]

This exact thing happened to me, same airline, in DTW. She was melting down, and I thanked her and hauled tail to ask the Captain for a ride... as I was doing it (I left my bag on the jetway- I figured I wasn't on yet until he granted me the seat), she stuck her head in the door and hollered, "<my last name>, get YOUR SH** AND GET THE H** ON!"

The Captain's reaction was priceless. If she still has a job, I'd bet it took weeks for her bite marks to heal...

*And the Lead F/A consideration is important. A box of Rocher and some Toblerones for the cabin crew put me in good graces pretty quick. SOP for SIG when J/Sing.

You don't know much about NWA do you.

There are only two ways for a gate agent to get fired here. Not showing up for work or gross insubordination to a manager (although that is even questionable).

Other than that there is rarely accountability or ramifications for their actions.

 

[ableone]

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.

 

[CA1900]

... every once in a while, you get someone who either is just having a bad day or has turned into the "queen bee" that you have to suck up to.

Funny thing was... I was on a revenue ticket, just happened to be in uniform from flying. Still got the attitude...

I got that from US Air the other day riding on a revenue ticket for Netjets... checked in for my flight online, and went to the Dividend Preferred line to check my bag, as I have Silver status with them.

She repeatedly said, "You really shouldn't check your bag, it's a full flight." And, "if you check this bag and you don't get on, I'm not going to be able to get it back off for you." (Well, TSA might have something to say about that one!)

So finally I asked, "Why wouldn't I make it on the flight? I still have a seat assignment, don't I?"

"Well, I show you as revenue standby, and it's checked in full."

"I believe I'm just standing by for First; I should still be confirmed in coach, right?"

A pause.... a look at the screen.... "Aaaaah, yeah. Sorry. :0 "

The uniform just seems to imply "freeloader" to the agents, I guess...

 

[temcgrew]

The uniform just seems to imply "freeloader" to the agents, I guess...

This is the main problem. The perception that pilots commuting to and from work are "freeloaders". If an offline jumpseater is commuting on any AAirline and the gate agents treet them like they are taking up valuable space or they are freeloading, then they should realize that we do not take up a seat unless the plane will push back with an empty one. Second, if the captain or F/O of the flight they are working are commuters and someone treated them like they were scumbag freeloaders who shouldn't be taking a seat then that flight might not be there for her/him to work in the first place.

The point is the airline industry would come to a screaching halt if commuting wasn't a part of the system.

 

[sat74]

The uniform just seems to imply "freeloader" to the agents, I guess...

One of the main reasons I NEVER wear my uniform when jumpseating or DH'ing!

 

[CA1900]

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.

 

[captain dad]

I like your subtle hint as to which AAirline this was.


Whats even better, is being on a paid ticket and walking up to the podium in uniform. The gate agents are quick to say, "its a full flight" or "the jumpseat is already taken". Then hand the agent your ticket, and ask "can I get a first class upgrade with my frequent flyer points?"

(NJs pilot).

Took the words right out of my mouth.

I was in DTW and noticed about ten NWA/Mesaba/Pinnacle pilots watch me casually stroll up about 15 minutes prior to departure when I did that exact same thing. Sorry to the airline guys. I was one of you doing the commute for ten years so I know how you feel, but it is nice to have a stress free and gate agent confrontation free travel home.

God Help them if First Class is full!:laugh:

I don't hold any grudges but I still avoid a certain gate agent named Pat in MEM. She really tries to make people squerm, even paying passengers. Evil!

 

[NuGuy]

Heyas,

True story. Back in the day at PDT, we were DH'ing from CLT to MIA on some goofy holiday trip (pick up in MIA, then go MIA-TPA-TLH-CLT or some such).

Anyway, we get to the gate down on the C, and we try to check in. The flight is full, and the agent pops a circuit breaker and goes "commuters DO NOT have must ride on the mainline. You're NOT getting on".

We just shrug, and the Cap calls crew scheduling to let them know we weren't going to make the flight. You could hear the scheduler go "wha wha what?? Lemme talk to the agent!. Hilarity ensues with raised voices and the result being the agent hangs up on the scheduler.

About 30 minutes later, just about as the door is getting ready to close the phone rings, more loud voices and the agent had to pull 3 revenue off to put us on (drat! I was ready to go home).

Her stare at us could have burnt a hole straight through steel.

Still, Crew Scheduling versus Cranky Agent was one of the funnier Celebrity Deathmatches I've seen.

Nu

 

[Dumb Pilot]

I was in line in Minei (in my civies) but draging my flightbag and such. One of the gate agents that was returning with Java from starbucks, made it a point to tell me as she went by "no more jump seats" I ignored her and remained in line. When I got to her (5 folks later) she said "I told you no more jump seats" Again, I said nothing and handed over my reservation and passport for verification. She let out a sigh! that required 75% of her lung capacity as she was grabbing the paper from my hand. It was priceless to watch her face when she realized that it was a business class reservation, she came back with "sorry it was a misunderstanding" and I again said nothing as I took my boarding pass and left her there with her plastic "thank you for flying with us" face

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

This one time at band camp....

 

[CitationUltra]

...and that's when you politely tell her that she, just like everyone else in the country, could have been a pilot had she chosen to do so. The fact is, she chose to be a gate agent. If flying for free was that important to her she obviously chose the wrong career. So typical, blame someone else because you made a bad decision.

Well put.

 

[Papa Woody]

Similar thing happened to me.

I was DELT A bad hand trying to get home from Atlanta when the pist off agent cleared the flight with about 20 open seats, saying there was no time to handle the standby list!