Asking for the jumpseat and other lost traditions

ZapBrannigan said:
I've noticed something over the last several weeks.

People don't ask for the jumpseat anymore. They TELL you they're taking it.

"Hey, I'm Joe from Trans States and they said there's plenty of seats in the back"

"Tom from United trying to get to work. You guys have a place for my bag?"

Whatever happened to the good old fashioned "hi I'm Steve from jetBlue. Mind if I hitch a ride to Boston?"

Made me think of other things I miss from the good old days. I miss blazers and hats (not wearing them mind you, but how it looked)

I miss the sound of a Dash 8 taxiing in beta.

I miss Skymall

I miss non-RNAV arrivals that didn't have 20 fixes and stepdowns

I miss bourbon chicken in Philly with my coworkers

I miss load factors of less than 80% so you could actually nonrev sometimes

So what do you miss from the old days?
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I miss this guy I know, Mike, complaining during upgrade training.
 
ZapBrannigan said:
Happens to us all of the time. Had a UAL guy just yesterday come up while the Capt was gone. First thing he said was "Captain isn't doing the walk around is he?"
I said "nope" wondering who this guy is. He was plain clothes. Could've been a pax or an agent. No idea.
"Well, guess I'll grab a seat in the back" he tosses his jumpseat pass on the center console and walks to the back.

Captain didn't care but it rubbed me the wrong way. I guess because so much of the Captains authority has been watered down over the last few decades. Many companies have even eliminated traditional uniform pieces which, in my opinion, lessens the impact of the Captains role. There was a day when the Captain ran the airline. Today though we have TSA planting fake stuff to "test" us... why are they even allowed on the plane unsupervised? The agent thinks it is their airplane when it's on the gate and they'll write us up if we delay to get a pax or nonrev onboard. The FA thinks it's their plane from the cockpit door on back.

(I remember flying with the ubiquitous Tom Block once. He went to get something from the galley and the FA said "get out of my kitchen!" Tom stood up, looked at her and said "from the tip of the nose to the tail this is my airplane. This kitchen included" and went back to what he was doing)

So when a jumpseater assumes they have a ride it bothers me - not because I care whether they ride or not. I was a commuter, I absolutely want them onboard. And I'm not a Captain so it's no skin off my back. But because it's one more thing that has been silently taken away from the captain's authority by a generation that doesn't value those traditions. (not saying it's all RJ guys, the guy in the example above was UAL. It does seem to happen more often with commuter folks though..)

I like Derg's answer though. Passive aggressive and yet still gets the point across. [emoji38]
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Weird. When I used to JS long ago, I always asked. It's just common courtesy, as well as professional. Even nowdays travelling as an LE and having to check in with the Capt and lead FA, I still make sure to do so (if I can't catch the Capt low-key near the gate before the crew boards) even if told by the gate agent "not to worry about it". And when deplaning at my destination, always ensure to thank them for the ride......even though I was on a paid ticket. It's just courteous.
 
People don't ask? Always always always introduce and ask if it's ok to hitch a ride. Sometimes Captain Grumpypants will wave me off quickly if I have been assigned a seat in back, but I can't ever imagine not asking.
 
I always used to ask the crew for permission and I'd thank them upon arrival. I thought this was the norm.
 
I always ask if I can get a ride, and where I'm going (home / work / etc). I try to do it upstairs so they know I'm there.

Last week I even had the CA come back up and get my bag early to get it in an overhead as we were full.

I always introduce myself to the FAs and on that flight got me a warm muffin.

image-3110988429.jpg

I was surprised at the room in the 737-7 over the CRJ/145.
 
ASpilot2be said:
I always ask for a ride. Except for the Alaska combi if I don't see the captain inside. Then I ask the FA at the door..
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You might consider going up to say hi to the FO at least. I had a captain the other day that was pretty upset we had a jumpseater that didn't come say hi to either of us. I don't really care in the Combi but just an FYI.
 
Dan208B said:
You might consider going up to say hi to the FO at least. I had a captain the other day that was pretty upset we had a jumpseater that didn't come say hi to either of us. I don't really care in the Combi but just an FYI.
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One would think a basic courtesy for someone giving a free ride would at least be an acknowledgement of some sort.
 
Dan208B said:
You might consider going up to say hi to the FO at least. I had a captain the other day that was pretty upset we had a jumpseater that didn't come say hi to either of us. I don't really care in the Combi but just an FYI.
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I've had once or twice where the ballet of it all meant I got shoved to the back before I could get up there, I usually give the paperwork to a flight attendant ask her to explain it to the captain for me. Then I'm extra gracious on the way out.

I don't think there needs to be a sacred ritual of asking for the god/goddess' blessing, but its not difficult to be a decent human being.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
ZapBrannigan said:
Happens to us all of the time. Had a UAL guy just yesterday come up while the Capt was gone. First thing he said was "Captain isn't doing the walk around is he?"
I said "nope" wondering who this guy is. He was plain clothes. Could've been a pax or an agent. No idea.
"Well, guess I'll grab a seat in the back" he tosses his jumpseat pass on the center console and walks to the back.

Captain didn't care but it rubbed me the wrong way. I guess because so much of the Captains authority has been watered down over the last few decades. Many companies have even eliminated traditional uniform pieces which, in my opinion, lessens the impact of the Captains role. There was a day when the Captain ran the airline. Today though we have TSA planting fake stuff to "test" us... why are they even allowed on the plane unsupervised? The agent thinks it is their airplane when it's on the gate and they'll write us up if we delay to get a pax or nonrev onboard. The FA thinks it's their plane from the cockpit door on back.

(I remember flying with the ubiquitous Tom Block once. He went to get something from the galley and the FA said "get out of my kitchen!" Tom stood up, looked at her and said "from the tip of the nose to the tail this is my airplane. This kitchen included" and went back to what he was doing)

So when a jumpseater assumes they have a ride it bothers me - not because I care whether they ride or not. I was a commuter, I absolutely want them onboard. And I'm not a Captain so it's no skin off my back. But because it's one more thing that has been silently taken away from the captain's authority by a generation that doesn't value those traditions. (not saying it's all RJ guys, the guy in the example above was UAL. It does seem to happen more often with commuter folks though..)

I like Derg's answer though. Passive aggressive and yet still gets the point across. [emoji38]
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I thought you said he tossed his bag on the center pedestal!
I was all like
image.jpeg
 
I'm not longer an airline guy, but I cannot stand people who assume it's theirs. I always waited until the captain gave me permission, but would also thank the first officer as well. Even if the FO said it was fine and to go grab a seat, I would wait to make sure I had permission from the Captain. It was never "I'm here guys", I would wait until they weren't busy/in a checklist and either explain that the gate had given me a seat in the back, but may I ride on your flight to XXX please? And then I would thank them. If I was up front, I would ask if it would be alright with me riding on their jumpseat. I would thank them before and after the flight as well.


Funny thing now is that I fly on paid tickets. I have airline status and end up in first most flight. I've recently had several flight attendants ask if I was an airline guy or non rev because I cross the seatbelts in my row before leaving, still.
 
Luigi said:
I caught a Jumpseat out of SLC the other day, and once we hit cruise the captain told me how much he appreciated me actually asking for the ride, and introducing myself to the FA first.
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I was going to say, I always always always introduce myself and ask for the ride, even if the answer is "yeah great kid, get outta the way."
Derg said:
I can't imagine anyone NOT doing that, it's kind of weird.

Whenever I do get the very occasional "I'm taking your jumpseat" I sarcastically ask "Are you asking permission or are you telling me? Not sure if I'm sure for a line check!"
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...followed by a stupid look from the JSer.
 
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