Deadhead Question
- Thread starter SurferLucas
- Start date
Cav
Former Maddog Whisperer
It was quite hysterical really. You have to picture the scene really. My CA was an ex Eastern, ex NWA, then DAL DC9 CA...now recently retired. He was pretty old school but hysterically funny and we got along great. I mean he'd flown the DC9 at all three airlines. There's a UPS guy trying to get on and the online guy who was a 777 CA. Everyone is trying to get home on the ultra long haul ATL-CHS route. This guy was probably my favorite CA that I've ever flown with. Over the course of his career he'd pretty much seen it all and was still having fun...but he sure as heck wasn't putting up with anyone's Jumpseat BS.
He had a great story about a former Eastern scab now one of your chiefs...I'll hopefully share it with you over a beer one day.
Cptnchia
Dissatisfied Customer
Keep in mind that some companies, (and unions,) forbid a PS from riding the jumpseat. Case in point, Delta. If you are a DH, and give up your seat for a nonrev, if the company/union finds out, you can expect a call. That's just the way it is. Failure to comply with company regs/FOM/PWA.
As a nonrev, it is a DB who won't be willing to take a JS or JC to help a fellow commuter/NR out.
As a nonrev, it is a DB who won't be willing to take a JS or JC to help a fellow commuter/NR out.
Cptnchia
Dissatisfied Customer
Only problem with that, is the Captain at Delta doesn't really have control over the cabin JS. Sure, you have to ask to ride it, but that is more just letting him know you are aboard. The only one who really can say no is the Purser.
Now, I bet that there is only about 10% of the pilot group who know this as it is buried in the FOM, which no one reads.
SlumTodd_Millionaire
Most Hated Member
DALPA really should do something about that. Absolutely crazy for the captain not to be in command of his own airplane.
SurferLucas
Southern Gentleman
I will say that what got me thinking about this was 2 situations that have happened in the past 6 months of commuting. Now I absolutely love Delta...it's the airline I've grown up with and most of the people will go above to get you on a flight.
Day before Thanksgiving I'm trying to get to SEA from ATL on a 767 domestic (only one jumpseat)...there's a SEA based Captain listed for the jump, and a SEA based Captain/FO flying the flight. After I list for the jump, both Captains tell me "We jump on Horizon quite a bit, we'll make sure you get on" (offline Captain volunteered to take the cabin jump...awesome!). Shortly there after a GoJet (kid you not) Captain comes up and list, and being as now they're DCI, he goes above me on the list. Long story short, I get the cockpit jump, DL Captain takes FA jump and all ends well. I was just completely blown away by how far the Captain(s) were willing to go for me.
2 weeks ago, there's a ATL based guy commuting from SEA to ATL on a 767 ER (2 jumps). He held enough seniority to get a seat in the back as a non-rev, leaving the cockpit jumps open for myself and another Delta guy. What caught me off guard is that he let a non-rev have his seat, bumping me after he said he wouldn't do that. I was a little miffed, but all's well that ends well. I took the next flight and had a former QX'er as the FO on the flight.
Just something I'd been mulling over in my head, mainly because I've taken the FA jump/kept my assigned to get guys on our planes and wanted hear some opinions. (and to be honest, I didn't have any doubt what would be the consensus...you guys/gals on here rock, btw)
Day before Thanksgiving I'm trying to get to SEA from ATL on a 767 domestic (only one jumpseat)...there's a SEA based Captain listed for the jump, and a SEA based Captain/FO flying the flight. After I list for the jump, both Captains tell me "We jump on Horizon quite a bit, we'll make sure you get on" (offline Captain volunteered to take the cabin jump...awesome!). Shortly there after a GoJet (kid you not) Captain comes up and list, and being as now they're DCI, he goes above me on the list. Long story short, I get the cockpit jump, DL Captain takes FA jump and all ends well. I was just completely blown away by how far the Captain(s) were willing to go for me.
2 weeks ago, there's a ATL based guy commuting from SEA to ATL on a 767 ER (2 jumps). He held enough seniority to get a seat in the back as a non-rev, leaving the cockpit jumps open for myself and another Delta guy. What caught me off guard is that he let a non-rev have his seat, bumping me after he said he wouldn't do that. I was a little miffed, but all's well that ends well. I took the next flight and had a former QX'er as the FO on the flight.
Just something I'd been mulling over in my head, mainly because I've taken the FA jump/kept my assigned to get guys on our planes and wanted hear some opinions. (and to be honest, I didn't have any doubt what would be the consensus...you guys/gals on here rock, btw)
SlumTodd_Millionaire
Most Hated Member
What happened to the guy who was supposed to have priority above you?
SurferLucas
Southern Gentleman
That I don't know...I went and took a seat in the boarding area/stay out of the way, waited to see if I would get on. Captain flying the plane came and got me, said "Here's your jumpseat pass, we'll see you down there".
I'm just happy to get a ride and try to "do the walk" before flights where we typically have commuters, try to keep my good jumpseat karma bag on the fuller side.
SlumTodd_Millionaire
Most Hated Member
Always a good policy.
SurferLucas
Southern Gentleman
We have some routes where you hardly see a jumpseater (SEA-ALW, SEA-PUW, SEA-LWS), but some like SEA-PDX and SEA-GEG, I make it a point to check and to see if we have any of our pilot's that might be willing to take the aft jump to get another OAL on, even if I'm just the FO.
Best story for me getting on another commuter was Thanksgiving day, it made me feel good to pay it back for a Delta guy. We took 7 jumpseaters on the last flight from SEA to Spokane. We were going to be 140lbs overweight due to the Captain fueling to OP (optimum). Talked him/her into letting me run the APU on taxi out to get below max landing weight just so we could get one more on the flight.
Cessnaflyer
Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
We never get jumpseaters out here. I wonder how hard it will be for me to get home and back on a few days off!
Jet
Well-Known Member
Depends on the equipment typebut with you there for the most part.
Oh you know you would like some fake cheese and crackers with dried cranberry and some stale shortbread.
Cptnchia
Dissatisfied Customer
Ehh...more than likely, if the pilots pushed for control of the cabin js, the company would just remove our ability to use it. The FAs weren't too happy when we got it in the first place. Not sure I'd advocate losing an additional commuting benefit. Besides, we got bigger fish to fry in regards to negotiating capital.
Cav
Former Maddog Whisperer
As long as we never let it get to where CAL is...I've never seen an airline with more degraded captain's authority.
Autothrust Blue
Welcome aboard the Washington State Ferries
Bandit_Driver
Gold Member
Bandit_Driver
Gold Member
Delta/NWA and UAL/CAL merger are killing my pilots. I have never seen so much BS in my life. I even had a DL captain try to get me on and work with the agent to find away. He finally appolgized and said sorry the gate said no and they have final authority.... CAL's new computer system has jacked up all the UAL agreements...
Cav
Former Maddog Whisperer
Hmm, sorry to hear that. What was the issue? I've found our agents to be fairly accommodating. Certainly better than CAL's EWR agents.