Why do airlines let gate agents control the J/S

[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!

 

[CitationUltra]

I was standing in line at the ticket counter trying to get on the J/S to commute back to work. As I walked up, the agent sighed and pounded the keys very hard as she typed, in an effort to let me know she was pi$$ed off about something. As she was printing my boarding pass, she looked at me and said "Ya know, I've worked here for 23 years and I've never been able to fly free on this AAirline. It is not fair that all you pilots are able to fly wherever you want, whenever you want, on the jumpseat for free, but we have to pay for a pass!" She continues by saying that some of the ground people and gate agents are trying to get this "policy" changed, so that they can fly free like pilots. She then said that you pilots don't need to waste your time fighting this because mgmt is on their side, and if we all can't fly free, then nobody will be able to fly free.
So my jaw dropped, and I'm left there standing, not really believing what I just heard. Not wanting to get into an argument and put my company's J/S agreement in jeopardy, I politely smiled and thanked her, took my boarding pass and humbly walked away. I've ridden on this AAirline regularly, and never ran across anybody like this.
If I only lived at my base.

The agents have too much control over the pilot J/S.

Some years ago, a certain AAirline started everyone down this slippery slope as part of a concerted effort to diminish the authority, prestige and privileges of pilots in general and Captains in particular. This extended to much added authority given to everyone outside the cockpit, from crew scheduling to ramp agents. It worked, unfortunately.

Some forget that riding on the jumpseat is a professional courtesy extended by pilots to other pilots. They also forget that one must be qualified to be up there, and virtually none of the gate agents are so qualified.

 

[lionflyer]

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!

There's a NWA agent in PHL that does the exact same thing. I've seen her do it twice to get her "On Time". Btch left me stranded both times.

 

[CitationUltra]

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...

I'll tell you that a lot of us take offense at the suggestion that a commuting pilot or JSR is a "freeloader" at all. Many stay in this business only because they can commute, and maybe use some non-rev travel on what few days off we still have. It is, in a way, a part of a remuneration system, most of which we have long ago lost.

Just more evidence of the degradation of the profession.

 

[CA1900]

I'll tell you that a lot of us take offense at the suggestion that a commuting pilot or JSR is a "freeloader" at all.

As you should. It's an earned benefit of the job, and something these agents can't seem to wrap their heads around. They have the option of eventually transferring to a city they actually want to live in. A pilot rarely does, so commuting becomes a way of life.

(Or, if you work for CommutAir, commuting becomes a way of life because they close domiciles one after another; it's like playing whack-a-mole trying to find a place to live!)

Just more evidence of the degradation of the profession.

Absolutely.

 

[Checknsix]

I had a mainline United gate agent try to deny me the jumpseat, because I didn't have my passport (it was in the process of being renewed). It wasn't necessary anyway, as I was a flying for a United regional partner at the time. I explained to her that not only did I not need the passport to jumpseat, but that technically, I did not even have to be verified in CASS (that was the way the policy read at the time anyway). She argued with me, even though I kept a calm demeanor...and refused to list me for a non-rev or jumpseat.

I found the supervisors office in ORD and explained my dilemma to somebody that understood the policy well. She escorted me back out to the gate and explained to the gate agent that she did not know what she was talking about and that her attitude was a problem. The gate agent was instructed to give me a seat and offer me an apology. I humbly accepted it, shooting for a little empathy...however, it was nice to see a supervisor set the gate agent straight. This job is hard enough without letting this nonsense take over.

Whenever I do get that whiny gate agent that complains about my free travel privileges, I always try to go that empathy route and explain to them that I would gladly give up my free travel privileges, if my job allowed me to go home every night and be with my family...that that benefit would be of much more value to me. They generally lose the attitude pretty quickly and actually agree with me.

- Six