Atlas or similar jumpseat international

TowJoe

TowJoe

You really Schruted that one
We are planning another trip and are TDY to a large cargo hub. Any tips or tricks for a first timer on non pax airline as a jumpseater?

My biggest question is how does customs work for international trips? (Thinking NRT specifically, but open to others)

Thanks!
 
TowJoe said:
We are planning another trip and are TDY to a large cargo hub. Any tips or tricks for a first timer on non pax airline as a jumpseater?

My biggest question is how does customs work for international trips? (Thinking NRT specifically, but open to others)

Thanks!
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It seems daunting at first, but once you see how it works it's a pretty decent way to get around.

I'd say step one is finding the flight you want. A quick google search for Atlas Jumpseat Schedule should lead you in the right direction. Some important notes about that is ALL TIMES AND DATES ARE IN Z TIME. Also the Atlas and Polar flights are listed separately. International flights (including ANC) must be listed 24 hours in advance.

Fill out the form and you'll get an email from ops confirming it. I believe they tell you where to be and when, if not either send them a return email asking or shoot me a PM.

Customs is pretty easy. You'll be on the general declaration as a crew member. Once you land in NRT a bus picks us up from the airplane and drives everyone to a passenger terminal. You clear customs in the crew line there and are set loose. Super easy and as far as I know, no taxes need to be paid.

Return from NRT is the same thing. Be at the specified location an hour and a half prior to departure. Ops should know about you ahead of time and will be looking for you.

As far as I know, Atlas is the only cargo airline that allows you to jumpseat internationally. Don't quote me on this, but I believe business casual should be enough. If you have a uniform maybe bring it just in case you run into issues somewhere. Then bring something comfy to change into for the flight.
 
@Screaming_Emu is it the same process if I zed in on a pax airline to Japan? Not sure if that is allowed or if that makes customs different? Thanks for the great information!
 
Screaming_Emu said:
With a ZED customs would be just like riding as a regular passenger I believe. You get a reservation number and everything.
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We zed fared last time, but I'm wondering if we're able to ZED in and then cargo out, or would that be an issue with customs?
 
TowJoe said:
We zed fared last time, but I'm wondering if we're able to ZED in and then cargo out, or would that be an issue with customs?
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Only had an issue once in HKG because I rode in as an Atlas "crewmember" and the handler basically just walked us through and didn't give me any entry paperwork is my passport. Leaving on a ZED a few hours later the official was confused, luckily the crew gave me and I still had a copy of the gendec.

Other than that, never an issue.
 
Adler said:
Only had an issue once in HKG because I rode in as an Atlas "crewmember" and the handler basically just walked us through and didn't give me any entry paperwork is my passport. Leaving on a ZED a few hours later the official was confused, luckily the crew gave me and I still had a copy of the gendec.

Other than that, never an issue.
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ALWAYS have a gendec.

You can international jumpseat on Kailtta, WGA and Southern. It's basically just no FedEx or UPS, they're the only two that don't allow it.
 
TowJoe said:
We zed fared last time, but I'm wondering if we're able to ZED in and then cargo out, or would that be an issue with customs?
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Many countries won't let you in without an outbound flight listing. A cargo jumpseat might be a little hard to explain, especially if there is a language barrier.
 
BobDDuck said:
Many countries won't let you in without an outbound flight listing. A cargo jumpseat might be a little hard to explain, especially if there is a language barrier.
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I have never had a flight out, and have never had an issue.
 
BobDDuck said:
Many countries won't let you in without an outbound flight listing. A cargo jumpseat might be a little hard to explain, especially if there is a language barrier.
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Nah, it's beyond a non issue. You clear in as a crewmember and there's a handler and everything. It's completely normal ops to not have a flight out. Even as an actual crewmember.
 
BobDDuck said:
Many countries won't let you in without an outbound flight listing. A cargo jumpseat might be a little hard to explain, especially if there is a language barrier.
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I think back in the regional days I had them ask going into NRT once. I told them I was an airline employee and that was the end of it.

I’m sure that doesn’t work in all places though.
 
New Zealand is notorious for requiring a return flight. Japan, through regular customs, is hit or miss. The EU doesn't care.
 
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