Delta CEO gives up seat for late mom

This is a story that makes me smile. Because at a certain other airline, I've watched revenue first class be yanked off for an exec.

I was referring to the flight deck jumpseat, but no doubt.

Yes, that was what I was saying. I just looked in our FOM, and we're obligated to put the CEO, COO, President, and some of our instructors (at least half of these people are or were pilots) onto the jumpseat.

(note, I am very okay with this - especially the last part - and would love to have the chief instructor on the jumpseat. right, Cal Goat ?)

My airline has a specific list of the higher that are authorized to sit in the jumpseat. It even includes our scheduling supervisor.

That should make for a fun time!

The executives are on the jumpseat priority list at most airlines, and typically are far above lowly pilots commuting to/from home. Plus, the VP of Flight Ops can authorize ANY company employee on the jumpseat on a case by case basis. Flight Ops interns are an excellent example.

Ahhhhh I wanted to do that program so bad...

Intrerns are a true story. I was one at my previous airline and had that clearance.
But that took some time to clear and a piece of paper in hand to make that happen.

The whole case by case basis thing- that would be a sight to see. Especially given trying to reach some people by phone, time of day, taking a break, etc etc. It's hard enough to get some support as is.

Guess I'd just really like to see that piece of paper and how that works in these special cases.

It hasn't happened to me yet, but they call Flight Control, get added to the release, and present their company ID to us, and hey presto—unless there's a Secret Service agent or must ride Federale around...they're on.
 
Good for MacGyver! Shows you that some celebrities do have hearts.

Oh, it was the CEO of Delta. Well, good for him anyway.
 
At WN, station managers (Ground) are allowed to fly cockpit jumpseat on their own metal. One of the reasons I'm saddened leaving WN...Hahaha
 
So he supposedly rode in the flight deck Jumpseat.....

How well is that going to go over with FAA/TSA....etc etc when people have to go thru the hoops to get the proper passes to get on the Jumpseat.

Granted yes they probably know who he was.....but still....that's what I want to know.

He's on the approved list.
 
My guess is you guys are getting riled up over nothing. I'll give RA the benefit of the doubt here because his positive space etiquette is well documented.

As opposed to Warren Jenson that had a plane brought back to the gate, two first class passengers removed and put his two kids on so they could go ski.

Or Leo Mullin who pretty much commandeered a 727 to fly ORD to ATL and cancelled a ORD-SLC leg full of passengers. I know the second officer on that one pretty well.

I will certainly give him the benefit of the doubt. They've had "some real characters" in their not-so-distant past that did all sorts of "interesting" things.
 
RA flies positive space like everyone else on company business. Managers over a certain level can book FC while the rest of us book coach but have the ability to standby for FC. I've flown on several flights between ATL and MSP where RA was onboard. He has sat in coach on several of those flights. He is known to give up his seat so customers can be accommodated.
 
RA flies positive space like everyone else on company business. Managers over a certain level can book FC while the rest of us book coach but have the ability to standby for FC. I've flown on several flights between ATL and MSP where RA was onboard. He has sat in coach on several of those flights. He is known to give up his seat so customers can be accommodated.

WHAT. A. NOVEL. CONCEPT.
 
He's on the approved list.

Alright. Cool. That's what I was more curious about.

I know there are situations/people that can be "approved" etc. etc. interns/flight ops...and so on.

Was more curious how easy in this case to just whip out a phone call or whatever step was needed. Or especially if someone needed the proper paperwork IN HAND to show they are approved to sit up front while gate agents barking about who's going to take a delay / and so on....that's where I was going with my curiosity.
 
Not to be a "Debbie Downer" on this uplifting story, but the news just came out that Delta was fined $750,000 for violating passengers' rights on bumping passengers without asking for volunteers. Glad to hear RA has done the right things in the past, though as I've heard horror stories about CEO's at airlines bumping FC, etc., passengers, and it's nice to hear from people that know he has done right in the past. The timing of this nice gesture in the media is suspect, IMO.

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-delta-air-lines-fined-750000-20130626,0,3406387.story
 
This is a story that makes me smile. Because at a certain other airline, I've watched revenue first class be yanked off for an exec.

Yes, that was what I was saying. I just looked in our FOM, and we're obligated to put the CEO, COO, President, and some of our instructors (at least half of these people are or were pilots) onto the jumpseat.

(note, I am very okay with this - especially the last part - and would love to have the chief instructor on the jumpseat. right, Cal Goat ?)

Uh, sure. As long as whoever is sitting in the jumpseat doesn't get all weird when I start playing Angry Birds on my phone as we pass through 2000'. :D
 
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