Asking for the jumpseat and other lost traditions

So what's the problem then? Why did you post this scenario in the first place? what was your quandary? The agent put you in a crummy position because you will have to tell #5 your playing musical chairs? or, you're in a crummy position because because now you have to tell the agent that they don't know how to do their job and set them straight with Priority.

You don't work for that regional that you were bumming a ride on, you mainline types seem to forget this fact all to often, It's not your place to tell #5, you would be right to tell the gate agent the boarding priority was mishandled and let them fix it.

Clearly you have never read the AMR/AAG Trip Book. He might work for AA and not Eagle but in AMR/AAG world they are both listed non-rev/JS the same. The FDJ pilot gets to pick if he wants the JS or not. It would be the same if it was a Eagle pilot on a AA flight, ask me how I know? @learhawkerbe400 you would have done nothing wrong with asking the agent to move you to the jumpseat.
 
We have lots of ASAP data to show that preflight interruptions are a significant contributor to pilot deviations. From my point of view, the guys who expect everyone to pay homage to El Capitan are the ones who are self-important.

Yeah, I happen to know a little about ASAPs as well. Again I say "give me a break with that." Perhaps those who aren't able to run their pre-flight cockpit without a sterile environment should close the door until they're finished with their pre-flight surgical prep?


I never said anything about "expecting" any visit or paying homage to El Capitan. Perhaps the one suggesting anything about homage should look in the mirror? Instead I was merely commenting on the asinine assertion that cockpit pre-fight action is so taxing to not have a second for a hello from another crew member.
 
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We're all right, we're all wrong, who cares!?

Pilots seem to be the worst about thinking our own particular qwerks should be codified as a rule that everyone else should follow, else face the wrath.

I love it when riding in the back as a jumpseater on SJI (technically a "flowback", since they have to have a different name for everything, don't get me started), I check in with the CA ('cause that's how EVERYBODY else does it):
CA: (looking annoyed) "You don't have to check in as a flowback, you know"?
Me: "Sure, boss. Nice to meet you. Thanks for the ride"
Chuckling to myself as I go to my seat...

When I'm working, I couldn't care any less. Check in, don't, whatever. Unless you barge in while we're briefing, spit in my face, and scream "I'M RIDING ON THIS PLANE!!!" You're probably good.

I have "caught" jumpseaters who didn't check in, pulled them aside, and warned them that it might cause problems with some of my more "up-tight" brethren....
 
I recently stayed in a hotel that we use for training and figured I would talk with the new hires. They told me that they would jump seat home in shorts and flip flops and thought they only needed to talk to the CA if they had to sit in the cockpit. Needless to say I gave them a clinic that night but I'm pretty sure this etiquette should be covered in indoc.
 
Yeah, I happen to know a little about ASAPs as well. Again I say "give me a break with that." Perhaps those who aren't able to run their pre-flight cockpit without a sterile environment should close the door until they're finished with their pre-flight surgical prep?


I never said anything about "expecting" any visit or paying homage to El Capitan. Perhaps the one suggesting anything about homage should look in the mirror? Instead I was merely commenting on the asinine assertion that cockpit pre-fight action is so taxing to not have a second for a hello from another crew member.

You're right. Preflight interruptions aren't an issue at all. What was I thinking?

Interruptions aren't taxing. It's about breaking the train of thought, and how the brain works. Studies show it takes a while to regain concentration after an interruption. I'm not saying that they should be eliminated entirely. But they should definitely be reduced as much as practical. Needless interruptions increase risk.
 
Meh, I'm done with this conversation. I've gotta go preflight and shoo away everyone, lest I make a mistake...
 
JetBlue FO didn't check in for the OAL Jumpseat with a seat in the back yesterday, DAL CA did.

You should, but he didn't.

Oh well, not going to blow a blood vessel over it.
 
Does it REALLY matter???
Apparently it does.. but my god.
When I jumpseat w/ seat in back, I check in but hate being in the way- my bags sitting there in the FAs way while I say hi to the CA- some FAs clearly get annoyed.
Maybe the whole ritual should be eliminated- it'd speed up things. I don't know what the right solution is, but there's got to be something.
 
Not going back to read all of the pages. It's a tradition. Want a free ride offline? ASK for the JS. Don't just say, "hi I'm Bob from Compass and the agent says there's seats in the back." or

"Hi, I'm Tom from Republic. Guess I'm gonna be up here with you guys."

A simple, "mind if I hitch a ride..." is all you have to do.
 
Not going back to read all of the pages. It's a tradition. Want a free ride offline? ASK for the JS. Don't just say, "hi I'm Bob from Compass and the agent says there's seats in the back." or

"Hi, I'm Tom from Republic. Guess I'm gonna be up here with you guys."

A simple, "mind if I hitch a ride..." is all you have to do.

2 things:

1) if it's a ZED don't expect me up front

2) companies have taken that out of your hands. In the Delta system it's likely you'll never see a jumpseat request card if they immediately put you in back (or if someone online is already in jump it won't place you); no obligation at that point. I fought that battle at the regionals and lost

I had a guy get upset today online non-revving because I didn't have a jumpseat request for him to sign and approve. Oh well, be angry.
 
2 things:

1) if it's a ZED don't expect me up front

2) companies have taken that out of your hands. In the Delta system it's likely you'll never see a jumpseat request card if they immediately put you in back (or if someone online is already in jump it won't place you); no obligation at that point. I fought that battle at the regionals and lost

I had a guy get upset today online non-revving because I didn't have a jumpseat request for him to sign and approve. Oh well, be angry.

How did it even get to this point?
 
Not going back to read all of the pages. It's a tradition. Want a free ride offline? ASK for the JS. Don't just say, "hi I'm Bob from Compass and the agent says there's seats in the back." or

"Hi, I'm Tom from Republic. Guess I'm gonna be up here with you guys."

A simple, "mind if I hitch a ride..." is all you have to do.

I think you're being a bit pedantic.

I commonly say, "Hi, I'm Captain McDoucheyPants from California Pacific, they've got a seat in the back if you don't mind" and I've NEVER had a captain give me trouble or question my etiquette. In fact, I have other jumpseaters say the exact same thing to me when asking for a ride and frankly, I appreciate that they keep it colloquial and brief. We all know that we're doing; asking for a ride. To walk up to the flight deck and expect someone to do the exact specific Captain Honoring Ceremony that we'd expect them to know, as if it's a secret handshake, devalues our profession.

Not checking in is unacceptable, but commanding verbiage that others wouldn't know is no different than captains who make up techniques and expect unwitting FO's to know them without being briefed on them. If someone makes the effort, then they're welcome on my aircraft anytime.
 
I think you're being a bit pedantic.

I commonly say, "Hi, I'm Captain McDoucheyPants from California Pacific, they've got a seat in the back if you don't mind" and I've NEVER had a captain give me trouble or question my etiquette. In fact, I have other jumpseaters say the exact same thing to me when asking for a ride and frankly, I appreciate that they keep it colloquial and brief. We all know that we're doing; asking for a ride. To walk up to the flight deck and expect someone to do the exact specific Captain Honoring Ceremony that we'd expect them to know, as if it's a secret handshake, devalues our profession.

Not checking in is unacceptable, but commanding verbiage that others wouldn't know is no different than captains who make up techniques and expect unwitting FO's to know them without being briefed on them. If someone makes the effort, then they're welcome on my aircraft anytime.

Ooooohhh pedantic... BOOM! You gonna take that Zap?
 
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