My Alitalia Jumpseat story...

[Seggy]

So I arrive in Milan on Thursday morning after a hop across the pond on Airways. Yes, I was that toolbag that wore the uniform to nonrev BUT, let me tell you in Europe, they have a total respect for it. There was a flight to Florence that leaves at 10:10 Alitalia A319. The Airways Station Manager said I should go to the gate and try to jumpseat on the flight. I was thinking to myself, yeah like that is going to work.

So I head over to the Alitalia gate and start waiting in line at the counter. The ticket agent puts his hand up to the person he was talking to, motions me over and says, "Sir can I help you with something."
Mind you he was talking to PAYING customers (heard it in English).

Me: "Ummm, any chance I can try to jumpseat down to Florence."

Him: "Well sir the flight is full but let me check with the crew, who do you work for."

Me: "USAirways Express"

The gate agent gets up in front of the paying passengers goes down the jetway and no later than one minute later he is motioning me down the jetway. It was still about an hour to go before departure. I get down there and I am greeted EXTREMELY warmly by the ENTIRE crew. They say, yes it is full, but they will offer me ANY jumpseat, cockpit or flight attendant as long as there are no Alitalia Pilots or employees that request it above me. Then they ask if I want to join the crew for coffee. So we go to the coffee shop and sit down for some coffee and discuss flying stories. Pretty interesting BOTH the Captain and First Officer did their training in the states!

It was a great experience.



If you go to Europe, I recommend jumpseating in Uniform. Yes it is a PAIN, but you are treated MUCH better. When I boarded the train to get back to Milan, they DID NOT check my ticket, but did all around me, then they did not charge me for the bus from the train station to the airport. Have backup plans, BUT if you are flexible you could probably save some serious cash, especially when trying to jumpseat around Europe.

[meritflyer]

Originally Posted by Seggy

If you go to Europe, I recommend jumpseating in Uniform. Yes it is a PAIN, but you are treated MUCH better.

I was just doing a checkout for a CA who flies for a major over in Europe. He had told me that being a pilot over there still has some major glam and pay to it.

He couldn't believe how we're paid and treated here in the States.

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Originally Posted by meritflyer

I was just doing a checkout for a CA who flies for a major over in Europe. He had told me that being a pilot over there still has some major glam and pay to it.

He couldn't believe how we're paid and treated here in the States.

I think that the difference is that in other countries there is no middle class. It is just the rich and the very poor. And only the rich can afford to flight train. So the job has more glamour, because not everyone can become a pilot.

Where as here anyone with a 750 FICO and a good co-signer can become a pilot. Is that an excuse to treat pilots like crap, no. But sounds like just one possible reason.

[MarkE]

But the chicks man....did it get you the chicks??

[Qgar]

Ahh, leave it to the Italians. They are the warmest people, no??

[ElyJs]

.......yup

[Seggy]

Originally Posted by WildCougar

Ahh, leave it to the Italians. They are the warmest people, no??

Yep, just be careful of their doorbells at 3:00 AM!

[bike21]

Nice story Seggy! I can't wait to get back to Italia again. Manco l'Italia!!

[mattp1803]

Nice recap on your trip man! That sounds so awesome. Like I told you before, Italy is on the top of my list whenever I get around to traveling over seas. Sounds like it was a great experience for you!

[kellwolf]

Originally Posted by Maximillian_Jenius

I think that the difference is that in other countries there is no middle class. It is just the rich and the very poor. And only the rich can afford to flight train. So the job has more glamour, because not everyone can become a pilot.

So, that's pretty much where we'll be in a few years if things keep up.....well, minus the glamor and respect part.

[Doug Taylor]

Sounds like a fun trip!

All I remember of the MXP airport is getting off at the wrong terminal. THAT SUCKED because it wasn't marked well then.

[Louie1975]

Seggy, as someone who has a dad who is from 'the boot' (Abruzzi region), and whose aunt worked for Alitalia for many years(in NYC) and just retired, let me just say thanks for sharing that story. As I sit here and read this in Atwater, CA(where I am CFIing), I realize it is now time to fire up the espresso machine that my parents shipped to me in the latest care pack.

I have heard from a source or two that Alitalia does have American Pilots working for them.

I also hear that Alitalia is struggling financially lately. It is my hope that this great and global airline bounces back!

[seagull]

Originally Posted by kellwolf

So, that's pretty much where we'll be in a few years if things keep up.....well, minus the glamor and respect part.

Actually, despite the hype, it's as unlikely as "one world govt".

[Captain_Bob]

Originally Posted by Seggy

Me: "USAirways Express"

Soooo.... you don't think they've heard of "Colgan"??

Sounds like an awesome experience!

I had a single buddy in my new hire class... he would JS to Europe every period of days off he had while he was on reserve... every week I saw him he told me how easy it is to jumpseat and how much fun he had in Germany, England, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, etc... even though it was only for 3 days at a time...

Meanwhile... here I am 2 1/2 years later and I haven't even jumpsat over the pond once... Of course it's because I have my lovely family and that kinda puts JS'ing all over the world on the backburner since it's just not that practical... but still... I always felt a twinge of jealousy when I'd see him in the crew room and he'd tell me about his most recent experience.

Bob

[meritflyer]

Bob,

Why arent you a CA yet?

[Captain_Bob]

Originally Posted by meritflyer

Bob,

Why arent you a CA yet?

Waiting it out for a Line... I don't wan't to go back on reserve. It looks like I could have held a CA Line in SAT on the last bid... so I took it as an FO to get a feel for the base and the flying on our new branded operation. I'll know for certain if I would have held a line as a CA in a few more days. If so... I'll most likely take the next upgrade class... depending on how the junior CA lines look.

My seniority held Captain back in November. But everyone one of my classmates that upgraded are still on reserve... while I've been enjoying bidding @ number 40 out of 700+/- pilots in IAH and getting lines with 18+ days off. For now... I'll be the number 4 FO in SAT.

One man's trash is another man's treasure... I'm not persuing TPIC at the moment. Especially with two young'ns in the house. Right now... it's all about the QOL.

Just to add perspective... I'm able to be home with my wife and those two beautiful children in my Avatar between 6 to 9 extra days a month by staying a senior FO... picking and choosing my trips with easy commutes and nice overnights as well as getting what days off I want.

Bob

[B767]

Originally Posted by meritflyer

I was just doing a checkout for a CA who flies for a major over in Europe. He had told me that being a pilot over there still has some major glam and pay to it.

He couldn't believe how we're paid and treated here in the States.

Look at Emirates. The company sends a car to pick the pilots up when they start a trip. The airline (or a company associated with it) gets you a car, a house, and puts your kid(s) through school. As long as you fly for them for at least 7 years, you don't owe a dime back. I'd say they're treated pretty well. Plus I think they get something like 42 days of vacation.

But I'm not sure there's more than one class in Dubai, and that's rich! But I've never been, so no personal experience.

[amorris311]

SEGGY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you now need to let everyone know about how you were telling girls int he bar that you were on a five day trip and will be flying back over the pond in the 76. some of the stuff that came out of our mouths this weekend should be bottled and sold!!

[SkyCougar]

Originally Posted by Seggy

Yep, just be careful of their doorbells at 3:00 AM!

There must be a story there.

[Doug Taylor]

Originally Posted by amorris311

SEGGY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you now need to let everyone know about how you were telling girls int he bar that you were on a five day trip and will be flying back over the pond in the 76. some of the stuff that came out of our mouths this weekend should be bottled and sold!!

Did it work?

Did the chicks dig it?

Quick, tell me before Kristie sees this thread!

[amorris311]

they were all over it. that is so cool. they wanted to know if you could bring wives and girlfriends with you. it was embarrassing but made me want to be a pilot more and more. hahaha.

[Kristie]

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

Did it work?

Did the chicks dig it?

Quick, tell me before Kristie sees this thread!

too late!

[DE727UPS]

Nice job Seggy, I was under the impression you couldn't jumpseat on international carriers unless you had a ticket.

As to respect for pilots in other countries, I was flying out of Narita last week to Shanghai. I couldn't understand a friggen word the ground guy said on the intercom. I said "turning the right engine" and I swear he said "banzai". But, anyways, after we started all the ground guys, about seven of them, got in a line to bow as we started our taxi.

All I could do is wave....

[frog_flyer]

Originally Posted by DE727UPS

Nice job Seggy, I was under the impression you couldn't jumpseat on international carriers unless you had a ticket.

As to respect for pilots in other countries, I was flying out of Narita last week to Shanghai. I couldn't understand a friggen word the ground guy said on the intercom. I said "turning the right engine" and I swear he said "banzai". But, anyways, after we started all the ground guys, about seven of them, got in a line to bow as we started our taxi.

All I could do is wave....

awww, comon Don. You owed 'em a salute!

Next time..

[Seggy]

Originally Posted by Captain_Bob

Soooo.... you don't think they've heard of "Colgan"??

Even with that, they thought I flew with USAirways MAINLINE

Originally Posted by amorris311

SEGGY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you now need to let everyone know about how you were telling girls int he bar that you were on a five day trip and will be flying back over the pond in the 76. some of the stuff that came out of our mouths this weekend should be bottled and sold!!

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

Did it work?

Did the chicks dig it?

Quick, tell me before Kristie sees this thread!

So I start conversing with the ladies, talking about Europe, the museums we went to, the museums they went to, goals after graduation and they ask...

"How long are you over for?"

And I say, "Oh five days."

the ladies: "Wow, why such a short time?"

Honestly, what can a man say? I had a GORGEOUS captive audience, what else could I say? I spent 50,000 for my training for this career, don't get paid squat at this point to do it, so might as well use the money I put down on the training in other areas!

Originally Posted by DE727UPS

Nice job Seggy, I was under the impression you couldn't jumpseat on international carriers unless you had a ticket.

Yep, that is the procedure BUT if you can get in touch with the flight crew there is a good shot they can get you on. I would NEVER use this as the only option, just a backup. I couldn't use a ZED fare or ID90 because the flight was full. The Alitalia guys both trained and instructed in the states. They were quite interested what was going on over there. In Europe GA is all but dead.