non-rev/jumpseat tips

Flight81

OO BRO FO
I'm trying to do this jumpseating thing for the first time. My company is in CASS. I showed up early and got the monkey suit on and all that. I have been turned down twice by skywest. They are on our list of recip agreements but they said they don't show that. I even talked to the captain of one flight and he just kind of mumbled and said we will see. So I called and got listed for a non-rev for southwest and am waiting to see if they let me on. Any tips on making this easier?
 
Not sure what happened with SkyWest, but it might help to show them the documentation that has your 2 companies linked and definitely tell your j/s "coordinator", whoever is responsible for the list.

I'm thinking you won't have too many problems with Southwest. They are very good about helping out and getting you on. They only thing about them that I can think of you took care of already- is make sure you list with, who is it? Claire? (the phone bot) because the agents at the airport either can't or just won't list you themselves. I've never asked for a specific reason simply because they've basically always been very encouraging for me to get on.

1. Be polite
2. Be prepared (have your id, CASS code, be dressed right, etc...)
3. Be helpful (you're a crewmember, not a gate agent, but their job is very hard and anything you can do to help out will get you on their soft side. it helps to have bag tags to give to pax, just standing there in line for that very thing, but that's just me)
4. Reciprocate (not just for the crewmembers. the gate agents get NOTHING out of this but you're taking up their time so reciprocate doesn't always have to be for the crewmembers. you can always have a treat for the agents who you are counting on to get you home)

Once you're on the plane:

1. Be polite
2. Be prepared
3. Be brief (introduce yourself. have your id clearly visible. they're supposed to ask for it, but they might not. if you have seat in the back, mention that and thank them anyway and then get out of their face, unless they want to chat.
4. Be a ghost. Try not to be visible in a negative way unless it's crossing seat belts after the flight or whatnot.

I realize a lot of this may seem like obvious stuff, but I've noticed enough bad jumpseat etiquette to bring it up when people ask. Personally, I take notes on each carrier because there are way too many details for my simple mind to hang on to.
 
I'm trying to do this jumpseating thing for the first time. My company is in CASS. I showed up early and got the monkey suit on and all that. I have been turned down twice by skywest. They are on our list of recip agreements but they said they don't show that. I even talked to the captain of one flight and he just kind of mumbled and said we will see. So I called and got listed for a non-rev for southwest and am waiting to see if they let me on. Any tips on making this easier?

Hmm...Tough to say. Maybe a Skywester has their JS committee person's email available for clarification on how to proceed.

Skywesters??
 
My company has had problems with Skywest as well, apparently some gate agents can't find the company code in the computer, so in order to prevent this, we carry a list of all the companies that Skywest has a recip agreement with all their company codes on it. So far it's worked. Maybe they just can't find you in CASS since they don't know the company code.

ChasenSFO would know more.
 
Yeah depending on which Skywest side you fly. I do a lot of the Delta side and usually when listing it will show a picture of you on CASS and will give your company info. Tip wise don't bother the agent, when I'm working most time I tell Non-revs to wait till the end cause most time I am really busy with other flights.
 
Hmm...Tough to say. Maybe a Skywester has their JS committee person's email available for clarification on how to proceed.

Skywesters??

Neither the OP's (nor Kiloalpha's) employer appears on our reciprocal list. I'm not sure why that is, but I don't think that our jumpseat committee arbitrarily keeps people off it--I think there has to be some kind of reciprocation involved.

Without being on the list it, they won't be allowed in the actual or in the back. Cass is simply a method of verification--not an authorization to sit in any CASS member's jumpseat.
 
Neither the OP's (nor Kiloalpha's) employer appears on our reciprocal list. I'm not sure why that is, but I don't think that our jumpseat committee arbitrarily keeps people off it--I think there has to be some kind of reciprocation involved.

Without being on the list it, they won't be allowed in the actual or in the back. Cass is simply a method of verification--not an authorization to sit in any CASS member's jumpseat.
We do have an agreement with Skywest... I even have a copy of the agreement. Like I said, the gate agents can't find us since they don't know the 2 letter identifier.

And we can reciprocate since all our Metros have jump seats.
 
Without being on the list it, they won't be allowed in the actual or in the back. Cass is simply a method of verification--not an authorization to sit in any CASS member's jumpseat.

true, but its still ultimately up to the captain! I have jumped on UsAir and Alaska, but my company only has a recip with Southwest
 
We do have an agreement with Skywest... I even have a copy of the agreement. Like I said, the gate agents can't find us since they don't know the 2 letter identifier.

And we can reciprocate since all our Metros have jump seats.

I'm just going off the official list from June 14th of this year--if it's CASW we're talking about, it's not on there. According to it, Skywest can't jump on CASW and vice versa.

I'll try to find out if something has changed, but as of right now CASW doesn't appear on the reciprocal list.
 
I'm just going off the official list from June 14th of this year--if it's CASW we're talking about, it's not on there. According to it, Skywest can't jump on CASW and vice versa.

I'll try to find out if something has changed, but as of right now CASW doesn't appear on the reciprocal list.
No, I don't work there anymore... I'm with Key Lime now.
 
I'm just going off the official list from June 14th of this year--if it's CASW we're talking about, it's not on there. According to it, Skywest can't jump on CASW and vice versa.

I'll try to find out if something has changed, but as of right now CASW doesn't appear on the reciprocal list.

I believe Kilo works for key lime now.

Edit: Kilo's lightning fast!
 
true, but its still ultimately up to the captain! I have jumped on UsAir and Alaska, but my company only has a recip with Southwest

Maybe so, but if the gate agent is basically saying "no," then even as a Captain it's tough to get someone on the aircraft. Call it erosion of Capt authority if you want. If the gate agent says something like, "I can't find him but it's ok with me," that's a different story.

I agree with Zmiller, CASS is simply a system that anybody can access to see if you have cockpit access, it doesn't necessarily spell out your JS agreement with another carrier.
 
Maybe so, but if the gate agent is basically saying "no," then even as a Captain it's tough to get someone on the aircraft. Call it erosion of Capt authority if you want. If the gate agent says something like, "I can't find him but it's ok with me," that's a different story.
Absolutely! both times the gate agents were doing everything they could to help me out which led up to asking the CA both times. Good point
 
You didn't ask, and I'm thinking that most everyone reading this will already know, but for the sweet love of all things holy don't delay the damn flight because you're chatting with the pilots. We had to put one in yesterday and took the heat for it because some bonehead was jawing on about nothing. Grr.
 
I ended up having to buy a ticket. Neither skywest nor southwest could find my company code. My first attempt at using the system was a complete disaster. Maybe if someone on here from skywest has the ability and time they could pm me and I'll give my company name and cass code to check. I'm gonna really need this cass thing to work to keep my job and family.
 
I ended up having to buy a ticket. Neither skywest nor southwest could find my company code. My first attempt at using the system was a complete disaster. Maybe if someone on here from skywest has the ability and time they could pm me and I'll give my company name and cass code to check. I'm gonna really need this cass thing to work to keep my job and family.

why dont you talk to someone at YOUR company and ask them what the deal is with jumpseating?
 
Maybe if someone on here from skywest has the ability and time they could pm me and I'll give my company name and cass code to check. I'm gonna really need this cass thing to work to keep my job and family.

check your PM's...from this morning. ;)
 
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