A Jumpseating Tale...

[ClearedForOption]

So, I’m jumpseating home. (after a very surreal trip getting ready to move across the country with the wife back to my native land of Chicago)

I followed my usual protocol for obtaining my ride home.

I scoped out the flights heading from point A to point B. I went to the gate of the first flight. When there was a break in the line I went up and politely asked the gate agent if I could please get a ride home. He told me that the plane is pretty full and I’d probably have to ride up front. I told him that wouldn’t be a problem, showed him my documentation and thanked him. Once boarding started I found a break in the line and went up to the head of the Jetway. (I usually go up right at the beginning of boarding – as not to get in the way of the passengers who will be packed in like sardines) I left my bags at the head of the Jetway and introduced myself to the flight attendant at the aircraft door and asked her if I could go forward to ask for the ride home.

When up at the cockpit I introduced myself to the Captain. (the FO was working – I’d talk to him later – I didn’t want to interrupt his flow) I asked the Captain if it was ok with him if I could jumpseat home. He didn’t have a problem, he was quite mellow about it – “no problem, do you have a seat?” he said. I told him that the gate agent told me that the load was full and if it was ok with him could I ride up front since they won’t let me climb into a overhead bin… again, no problem. He told me to fetch my junk.

I brought up my bags, and got settled in the cockpit. I then introduced myself to the FO – and apologized for not introducing myself earlier as I noticed he was furiously punching buttons. (as this is a pet peeve of many FO’s out there) The lead FA comes up, I decline drinks, just happy for the ride home and wait for the doors to close.

So, when I jumpseat – it’s all about being polite.

As many have pointed out in the forums – jumpseating is a privilege, not a right. I’m of the belief that you should never leave a fellow pilot behind, but at the same time, if I’m going to be occupying the front office with a couple of pilot’s for 4.5 hours I am going to be as polite and friendly to them as best as I can, even if I am exhausted and PO’d. I will talk as much as they want to talk, or just sit there in silence with my book once we’ve reached cruise. It’s very hard sometimes – you are tired, angry, emotional, and all you want is your own bed and a warm body next to you. Instead you have had a 12 hour day at the end of 4 long days - filled of delays and weather. You are tired, your wife is bitching about you never being at home, and all you are trying to do is get home for your two days off.

Anyhoo… while patiently waiting for the doors to close a (regional) captain bursts into the cockpit. Tells the captain that they gave him a seat in the back. Introduces himself to all three of us, and is out. Something rubbed me the wrong way about him, but whatever, I think to myself.

So, what happens next is what usually happens in this case:

The (regional) captain gets bumped by a revenue passenger for the last seat on the aircraft. He is a little peeved… and while exiting the plane he wants to see if he can bump me out of the seat in the cockpit. He tells the flight attendant to talk to the Captain and check on MY seniority date. She comes up to the Captain with the (regional) captain’s request… telling us that the other OMC wanted to know the seniority date of the other jumpseater. The Captain picks up my little card, looks at my hire date, looks at me, shakes his head, and smiles.

He then tells the Flight Attendant, “you know what, they are both offline pilots – it’s whoever got here first.” (they had a seniority based OMC policy -I guess- for online pilots) Basically he creatively exerted his Captain’s authority. I thanked him again.

I couldn't believe the (regional) fellows attitude while jumpseating – he wasn’t asking for a ride. He TOLD the Captain that he was getting a ride home. I noticed it, which means both of the crew members noticed it. One big reason why I think that I rode home on that flight and he didn’t.

There were 3 other flights to L.A. within 1.5 hours. I knew that he was going to get home. I wouldn’t have minded taking another flight, I wasn’t in a crazy rush and I probably would have walked in my door at home at the same time nonetheless because of the rush hour traffic. So, instead of trying to creatively bump someone – go grab the next flight. I would understand if it was the last flight of the day or something like that.

It really is about attitude.

So, what’s the lesson… always be polite and respect the Captain’s authority. Remember that jumpseating is not a right.

Oh, and when you come up asking for a ride please don’t give the crook eye (and the YOU work for THEM attitude while looking down your nose) to the other guy just trying to get home.

[SmoothLanderJ]

Great story....and great lesson.......

[N826AW]

Someone needs a lesson in jumpseat/non-rev karma.

[Fly4Pay]

Granted I haven't been on the line all that long, but without exception, I've had great jumpseaters. Everyone has been friendly, polite, and appreciative. On top of that, every captain I've flown with has been more than happy to provide a ride when able. I haven't run into anyone who would turn a guy down for any reason other than a full boat....

Other than guys like Velocipede who uses the jumpseat to teach people "lessons" are there really guys out there who get pissy over the J/S privileges, either as riders or crew?

Life's too short, man....

[Velocipede]

Originally Posted by Fly4Pay

Other than guys like Velocipede who uses the jumpseat to teach people "lessons" are there really guys out there who get pissy over the J/S privileges, either as riders or crew?

Life's too short, man....

And its going to get a lot shorter if we let the downward slide in pay and working conditions. And from this story, who was the clown trying to play the "seniority" card...a non-Union pilot.

The defense rests.

[MQAAord]

At AMR if it comes down to the jumpseat it's:

- 1st AA pilots by senority date (if it's an Eagle operated flight, Eagle pilots are first in line)
- 2nd Eagle pilots by senority date (if it's an Eagle flight, AA pilots are second, behind an Eagle guy)
- 3rd Offline pilots by time-of-check-in



Sorry you had such a lousy encounter, but it looks like Karma got the right guy home that night.......

[JEP]

Originally Posted by Velocipede

And its going to get a lot shorter if we let the downward slide in pay and working conditions. And from this story, who was the clown trying to play the "seniority" card...a non-Union pilot.

The defense rests.

and what's your point? seniority is not a term owned by union pilots. suppose said airline had a policy that was by seniority, by offline pilots vs. first come-first serve.

the defense might want to find a better argument

[calcapt]

No question your politeness and professionalism earned you points. Based on everything you've told me, you would of had my jumpseat regardless of the other guy's seniority. Thanks for sharing a great story of "how it's done."

[Velocipede]

One should never try to impose your practices on another airline. We're strictly first come, first served. However, several years ago, we had a United and Northwest pilot actually get in a fistfight on the concourse comparing seniority dates.

Needless to say, both were banned by name from our jumpseat by our managers.

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Originally Posted by Velocipede

One should never try to impose your practices on another airline. We're strictly first come, first served. However, several years ago, we had a United and Northwest pilot actually get in a fistfight on the concourse comparing seniority dates.

Needless to say, both were banned by name from our jumpseat by our managers.

...and fired from their respective airlines?

[Velocipede]

I don't think they got fired. All I know is they were buying tickets to get to work (it was a pretty remote crew base!).

[jtrain609]

Originally Posted by Velocipede

And its going to get a lot shorter if we let the downward slide in pay and working conditions. And from this story, who was the clown trying to play the "seniority" card...a non-Union pilot.

The defense rests.

I thought Skywest was ok?

[Snickersnwa]

Originally Posted by Velocipede

...had a United and Northwest pilot actually get in a fistfight on the concourse comparing seniority dates....

Wow...

[jtrain609]

Originally Posted by Snickersnwa

Wow...

I'd punch somebody out to get their LAX/ONT base trade right now...

[Seggy]

oh come on EWR isn't that bad.

[jtrain609]

Originally Posted by Seggy

oh come on EWR isn't that bad.

Naw man the base is awesome. The flying out of there is sweet and the crews are the best in the system hands down ($(*% HOUSTON!!!), but the commute blows.

[Snickersnwa]

Originally Posted by jtrain609

I'd punch somebody out to get their LAX/ONT base trade right now...

I put that sign up for ya in the crew room today btw (the one that was mentioned in the aol chat)!

[USMC-SGT]

it wont be long now and Ill be right there with you jtrain. Cant wait to see that marvel that is the ewr commute. Lucky for me xjet has multiple flights nonstop there so MAYBE there is a prayer if I use my nicest jumpseating voice

[MusketeerMan]

Originally Posted by jtrain609

Naw man the base is awesome. The flying out of there is sweet and the crews are the best in the system hands down ($(*% HOUSTON!!!), but the commute blows.

Realistically John..how long 'till you might be out here in CA??

[Doug Taylor]

Great post.

For starters, I edited out the name of the airline because I'd like to keep the discussion flowing about jumpseat etiquette rather than harshing on a particular airline.

That's a little bizarre because generally speaking, as an OAL pilot he ought to know that it's first-come first-served when traveling offline in most circumstances.

If I'm jumpseating to PHX on a US Airways flight and there's already a (for example) Southwest jumpseater in the seat, I'd be embarrassed to demand the seniority number of the pilot in the jumpseat.

Attitude is everything offline jumpseating. It seems like you played the cards right.

[OldTownPilot]

Originally Posted by USMC-SGT

it wont be long now and Ill be right there with you jtrain. Cant wait to see that marvel that is the ewr commute. Lucky for me xjet has multiple flights nonstop there so MAYBE there is a prayer if I use my nicest jumpseating voice

EWR commuting SUCKS from the notheast.

Dads report on Friday night was at 9pm. He had to leave the house at 3am to make it to work because of the holiday weekend. Drive from BGR to Portland, bus from Portland to BOS, 830 BOS-EWR flight. And that is with a union and a commuter clause.

Where would you be commuting from? MHT? that was a COEX ATR base waaaaay back with a lot of "career XJT" folks that would bump you from the ERJ jumpseat. Their worst nightmare would be your best bet and have the Q on your Commute. BGR, PWM, MHT and BTV all have TONS of commuters on them. BOS is usually a good choice solely because of the frequency of flights.

[JEP]

Originally Posted by Snickersnwa

I put that sign up for ya in the crew room today btw (the one that was mentioned in the aol chat)!

I was in AIm as well.....Any takers...

[zmiller4]

Originally Posted by Velocipede

And its going to get a lot shorter if we let the downward slide in pay and working conditions. And from this story, who was the clown trying to play the "seniority" card...a non-Union pilot.

The defense rests.

There are toolbags from every airline regardless of their union status. It's embarassing that the guy works for the same company as me, but I've seen some pretty obnoxious jumpseaters from a variety of airlines.

[launchpad]

Originally Posted by zmiller4

There are toolbags from every airline regardless of their union status. It's embarassing that the guy works for the same company as me, but I've seen some pretty obnoxious jumpseaters from a variety of airlines.

Just had a guy from another airline show up for the jumpseat in shorts, t-shirt and flip-flops.....he was at least polite enough to ask......he then spent some extra time in the terminal finding some decent clothes....

[USMC-SGT]

Originally Posted by OldTownPilot

EWR commuting SUCKS from the notheast.

Dads report on Friday night was at 9pm. He had to leave the house at 3am to make it to work because of the holiday weekend. Drive from BGR to Portland, bus from Portland to BOS, 830 BOS-EWR flight. And that is with a union and a commuter clause.

Where would you be commuting from? MHT? that was a COEX ATR base waaaaay back with a lot of "career XJT" folks that would bump you from the ERJ jumpseat. Their worst nightmare would be your best bet and have the Q on your Commute. BGR, PWM, MHT and BTV all have TONS of commuters on them. BOS is usually a good choice solely because of the frequency of flights.

not to totally hijack this thread but yes, I plan on doing my best to commute out of MHT since it is a VERY easy 35 minute drive from my house but (there always is a but) I attempted to plan ahead when I bought my house so I live roughly 45 minutes (no traffic) from BOS and probably 50 minutes (no traffic) from PWM so between those 3 i can hopefully make it work. The Q should have new bases though in short order so I will probably bid out of EWR when able just to facilitate an easier commute

thanks for the info

sorry for the thread hijack but what would a forum be without a few hijackings