Dispatcher Jumpseating Diaries

Although it isn't really fair, it seems like being at a major does help expedite the jumpseat process vs. working at a regional or small airline...probably because the pilots both have heard of the airline before, and are anxious to have a harmonious relationship with their fellow major employees for when they need to go jumpseating somewhere. It shouldn't really make a difference, but it does to an extent.
 
I'm on my ETOPS jumpseat now, but unfortunately I already sold the publishing rights to Larry Flynt in adavance.
 
Nothing beast being in the middle jumpseat between two FFDO's while they're arguing about unions on a three hour flight.
 
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I jump on Delta and Southwest pretty regularly.

I have to ask. How many of you ladies have a complete nightmare trying to get into the jumpseat...simply because youre a GIRL?
I dress like...well...a GIRL when I jump. (And non-rev for that matter) In the summer, I wear a skirt, stockings, pumps and a nice cardigan. In the winter, Its dress slacks, flats and a nice sweater or jacket. Every time I show up to the gate (Except on Delta out of STL because Ive known the agents for 5 years) I am flatly told "Flight attendants cant jump."(giggity) Or, I request, multiple times, to be listed in the cockpit jumpseat and after the whole process of listing (even approving me in CASS) Im handed a FA jumpseat pass. Fine on my own airline...not so much on mainline or OAL. And it takes 20 minutes to explain that, no, I am NOT a flight attendant, no I am NOT a pilot, I am a dispatcher, and YES I am authorized to ride in the flight deck.

I thought that maybe it was because I looked like too much of a girl. So for a couple of weeks, I showed up to my commute dressed like...well..a pilot. Dark slacks, plain shoes and a simple white blouse. Still got treated like a flight attendant. Gave up and just went back to dressing like Dispatch Betty. Ive just learned to accept it as part of the commute...as routine as stopping for coffee on the way to the office.

I do have a funny story about beating out a pilot for the jumpseat though. :)
I knew it was going to be a hell day for commuting (What I refer to as a "duct tape and goggles" kind of commuting day) so I got the the airport super early and I was the first to show up to list for the jump on a 200. I waited patiently at the end of the counter, browsing the internet on my phone. I had already spoken to the captain as well as a deadheading crew that was going to be bumped (the flights were THAT oversold) 10 minutes before departure a mainline captain showed up and slapped his boarding pass down and DEMANDED the jumpseat.

The agents informed him that there was already someone listed and gestured to me. Said pilot turns to me, looks me up and down, scoffs, and says in a snotty tone "XYZ lets FLIGHT ATTENDANTS jumpseat now???" I really wanted to say " And ABC lets D-bags fly their planes???" Instead, I just held up my badge and replied "Dispatcher."

Well, he didnt like THAT at all. He DEMANDED that the agents go down to the plane and INFORM the Captain that a PILOT was going to be riding his jumpseat. So the agent went down and was gone for several minutes before coming back up to tell him that the Captain was going to take me since I was there first. Well that just sent him suborbital. He demanded to go down to speak to the captain...he was down there exactly 2 minutes before he came up, swearing loudly and yelling "I cant believe they're going to take a $%#&ING DISPATCHER over a pilot!!!" He even tried to appeal to the deadheading captain, who STILL cut him off. Their FOM is final. "XYZ and ABC are both considered OAL...so its first come, first fly."

I did feel bad for him as the agent handed me to the jumpseat pass and sent me down...but then again, I didnt feel for him simply because he acted like an overgrown baby, made a scene in front of the pax, and delayed the flight almost 20 minutes. Besides...he has a commuter clause that will save his hiney. The commuter clause for SOC employees at ANY airline is "DONT MISS YOUR COMMUTE."

The crew saved my butt that day. I offered to buy them lunch, coffee, nudie mags...the insisted they didnt need it. I hope I have a chance to repay it somehow!
 
Krystal said:
I jump on Delta and Southwest pretty regularly.

I have to ask. How many of you ladies have a complete nightmare trying to get into the jumpseat...simply because youre a GIRL?
I dress like...well...a GIRL when I jump. (And non-rev for that matter) In the summer, I wear a skirt, stockings, pumps and a nice cardigan. In the winter, Its dress slacks, flats and a nice sweater or jacket. Every time I show up to the gate (Except on Delta out of STL because Ive known the agents for 5 years) I am flatly told "Flight attendants cant jump."(giggity) Or, I request, multiple times, to be listed in the cockpit jumpseat and after the whole process of listing (even approving me in CASS) Im handed a FA jumpseat pass. Fine on my own airline...not so much on mainline or OAL. And it takes 20 minutes to explain that, no, I am NOT a flight attendant, no I am NOT a pilot, I am a dispatcher, and YES I am authorized to ride in the flight deck.

I thought that maybe it was because I looked like too much of a girl. So for a couple of weeks, I showed up to my commute dressed like...well..a pilot. Dark slacks, plain shoes and a simple white blouse. Still got treated like a flight attendant. Gave up and just went back to dressing like Dispatch Betty. Ive just learned to accept it as part of the commute...as routine as stopping for coffee on the way to the office.

I do have a funny story about beating out a pilot for the jumpseat though. :)
I knew it was going to be a hell day for commuting (What I refer to as a "duct tape and goggles" kind of commuting day) so I got the the airport super early and I was the first to show up to list for the jump on a 200. I waited patiently at the end of the counter, browsing the internet on my phone. I had already spoken to the captain as well as a deadheading crew that was going to be bumped (the flights were THAT oversold) 10 minutes before departure a mainline captain showed up and slapped his boarding pass down and DEMANDED the jumpseat.

The agents informed him that there was already someone listed and gestured to me. Said pilot turns to me, looks me up and down, scoffs, and says in a snotty tone "XYZ lets FLIGHT ATTENDANTS jumpseat now???" I really wanted to say " And ABC lets D-bags fly their planes???" Instead, I just held up my badge and replied "Dispatcher."

Well, he didnt like THAT at all. He DEMANDED that the agents go down to the plane and INFORM the Captain that a PILOT was going to be riding his jumpseat. So the agent went down and was gone for several minutes before coming back up to tell him that the Captain was going to take me since I was there first. Well that just sent him suborbital. He demanded to go down to speak to the captain...he was down there exactly 2 minutes before he came up, swearing loudly and yelling "I cant believe they're going to take a $%#&ING DISPATCHER over a pilot!!!" He even tried to appeal to the deadheading captain, who STILL cut him off. Their FOM is final. "XYZ and ABC are both considered OAL...so its first come, first fly."

I did feel bad for him as the agent handed me to the jumpseat pass and sent me down...but then again, I didnt feel for him simply because he acted like an overgrown baby, made a scene in front of the pax, and delayed the flight almost 20 minutes. Besides...he has a commuter clause that will save his hiney. The commuter clause for SOC employees at ANY airline is "DONT MISS YOUR COMMUTE."

The crew saved my butt that day. I offered to buy them lunch, coffee, nudie mags...the insisted they didnt need it. I hope I have a chance to repay it somehow!
Click to expand...

I could use some nudie mags....:biggrin:
 
Krystal said:
The crew saved my butt that day. I offered to buy them lunch, coffee, nudie mags...the insisted they didnt need it. I hope I have a chance to repay it somehow!
Click to expand...

If he gave the crew the same attitude he gave to you, they were probably looking for an EXCUSE to not give the guy the jumpseat. Catch more flies with honey than vinegar, etc.

I think I have bumped a pilot once or twice during my years of jumpseating - but I much prefer non-revving. Jumpseating is nice to have as a backup in case the flight is full, but I'd much rather just sit in the back and sleep or read a book. Of course, depending upon where you work, jumpseat may be your only option for non-revving.
 
That pilot's dispatchers must LOVE him.

For men, shaving becomes a variable.

I was in Germany and flew to the US, then decided to jumpseat the next leg home on Delta. I got on and hopped in. The Captain was so friendly, and the F/O seemed unhappy, both former Northwest guys. The F/O asked for my certificate, passport, etc., one by one, which is normal, but asked in an "i gotcha" accusatory manner. He then asked "Well do we even have a recip agreement with your company" to which I replied in the affirmative. He tossed a couple more questions at me and then said "You know you're really supposed to be shaven to be up here."

I was a bit surprised because I DID shave just 10 hours prior. I said I did shave that morning, just landed off of a flight from Germany, and that I would be glad to shave in the lav if felt necessary. That Captain waved "down and low" to the F/O, kinda in a "it's fine, don't worry" way. The F/O was complaining throughout the whole flight, no topic could come up without him getting upset about it. The Captain seemed embarrassed by it and kept trying to lighten the mood and make me feel more at home. I was fine though.
 
TomatoFlames said:
That pilot's dispatchers must LOVE him.

For men, shaving becomes a variable.

I was in Germany and flew to the US, then decided to jumpseat the next leg home on Delta. I got on and hopped in. The Captain was so friendly, and the F/O seemed unhappy, both former Northwest guys. The F/O asked for my certificate, passport, etc., one by one, which is normal, but asked in an "i gotcha" accusatory manner. He then asked "Well do we even have a recip agreement with your company" to which I replied in the affirmative. He tossed a couple more questions at me and then said "You know you're really supposed to be shaven to be up here."

I was a bit surprised because I DID shave just 10 hours prior. I said I did shave that morning, just landed off of a flight from Germany, and that I would be glad to shave in the lav if felt necessary. That Captain waved "down and low" to the F/O, kinda in a "it's fine, don't worry" way. The F/O was complaining throughout the whole flight, no topic could come up without him getting upset about it. The Captain seemed embarrassed by it and kept trying to lighten the mood and make me feel more at home. I was fine though.
Click to expand...

It was probably a pilot who had been on duty for 3 hours and the dispatcher wouldn't delay the flight so he could stop at Sbarro...

Oops... Did I say that? Hehehe... ;-)

That was for you, Krystal ;-)
 
I remember a time when I was working the gates at SkyWest and had the jumpseat already spoken for....a mainline pilot from Delta came up to request it and told him that it was already spoken for. He started to rant and rave how he is entitled to because he is a Delta pilot and nobody can bump him on his flight or connection carriers to which I replied, "That is incorrect sir, SkyWest pilots have priority over Delta pilots on their flights" He then demanded to talk to the idiot who requested the jumpseat, I said "okay...he is sitting right there"...Pilot went over and started to tell him he cannot take the jumpseat because Delta pilot are to have priority on ANY Delta or Delta connection flight...(wait for it)....So they guy who requested the jumpseat, said, "okay understood but I think I have more priority that you...I am a FAA inspector, so sorry to burst your bubble and hope you get to where you need to get to today".

Never saw the pilot again that day....
 
Todd Weber said:
I always knew of that law, I know the airport here in LAS has been wanting to get rid of TSA and provided figures that would save the government at least $600-$700k a year....If you have never been to LAS, we have checkpoints at A/B concourse, C concourse, D concourse and the new terminal 3...anytime I go thru the D checkpoints, there are at leas 20 people just standing around and yes I know it may sound like a joke but it is true. Before 9-11 with private security, I remember maybe only 5 just standing around.

I miss the days after 9-11 when the national guard was present...nobody dared to mouth off or do something funny, I am in big favor to have those folks back!
Click to expand...

I believe you will see the end of TSA at some point with in the next 3-5 years at 75% of the airports. I heard one thing that Romeny wanted to do, if he was elected, to bring back National Guard back to the airports. It is crazy the amount of money that cost to have TSA at the airports. You will still have your PSI but the TSA screeners will be old news...

On that note - never had an issue with jumpseating but I rarely do it unless I am doing my yearly check-rides.
 
Todd Weber said:
I remember a time when I was working the gates at SkyWest and had the jumpseat already spoken for....a mainline pilot from Delta came up to request it and told him that it was already spoken for. He started to rant and rave how he is entitled to because he is a Delta pilot and nobody can bump him on his flight or connection carriers to which I replied, "That is incorrect sir, SkyWest pilots have priority over Delta pilots on their flights" He then demanded to talk to the idiot who requested the jumpseat, I said "okay...he is sitting right there"...Pilot went over and started to tell him he cannot take the jumpseat because Delta pilot are to have priority on ANY Delta or Delta connection flight...(wait for it)....So they guy who requested the jumpseat, said, "okay understood but I think I have more priority that you...I am a FAA inspector, so sorry to burst your bubble and hope you get to where you need to get to today".

Never saw the pilot again that day....
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So beautiful. So beautiful. *wipes a tear*
 
Not to revive this thread but it's better than starting a new one on the same topic....

What has been everyone's experience jumpseating internationally? I'm looking at heading to Ireland at months end on Delta. Thus far I haven't had any issues with DL, JBU, UAL. I've looked at jumpseatinfo on it. Is it really that simple(list at the gate or ticket counter, pay fees, get CA approval and be on the way)?

Thanks
 
Mach82 said:
Not to revive this thread but it's better than starting a new one on the same topic....

What has been everyone's experience jumpseating internationally? I'm looking at heading to Ireland at months end on Delta. Thus far I haven't had any issues with DL, JBU, UAL. I've looked at jumpseatinfo on it. Is it really that simple(list at the gate or ticket counter, pay fees, get CA approval and be on the way)?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I made it to London one time jumpseating on United (well before I worked for a major.) Was kind of a long night but it got me there. I non-revved home. Other than that the only international jumpseating I have done has been for my required annual observation time (since getting hired by a major.) I don't remember having to pay any fees and I did list at the gate - but this was many years ago, before 9/11. The crew was pretty cool about it.
 
List at the gate for Delta, they will ask for a CC to pay for the fees once the listing is complete. IIRC it cost me about 40 bucks RT to go to Dublin back in 2009.
 
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