How jumpseating is supposed to work

Awesome, awesome, awesome thread.

I'll do everything in my power to get jumpseaters on. EVERYTHING. I've had some great jumpseat experiences, and some not so great ones. Funny how I remember the good ones... can't really remember the bad ones. I've just pushed them out of my mind so it doesn't affect how I treat any guests on our airplane who need a ride.
 
CapnJim said:
For what it's worth, there is an overwhelming majority of XJT crews that will bend over backwards to get a CAL commuter home or to work, and 'weight and balance magic' is an unwritten rule for 95% of us who have a jumpseater waiting in the jetway. It goes without saying that the reason for that is the courtesy that is continually extended to us by CAL mainline crews for our commuting pilots. Please accept my sincere aplolgies for the 5% among us who just don't get it. Hopefully, they'll learn.
Click to expand...

Thanks CapnJim for the nice words. No apologies needed as we all have our pilots that are in need of "additional training." Hopefully this thread inspired a few of us to remember the importance of watching out for one another. Perhaps I will have the opportunity to offer you a jumpseat one day, or better yet, sit on yours and witness the work of a great captain.
 
Here's another good one for you... one of our (AirTran's) captains was trying to jumpseat one day and was given an emphatic NO by the captain. He said that he would NEVER let an AirTran pilot jumpseat on his aircraft because we were trying to put them out of business and he hoped they went under. Our CA said "fine," and walked off.

Two weeks or so later, our CA is doing a preflight, when the rather rude CA from the other airline walks on OUR plane wanting to jumpseat. He came up, introduced himself, and our guy says, "you don't know who I am, do you?" RudeCA says, "no...." Our guy says, "Yeah, two weeks ago you told me that you didn't want anyone from our airline jumpseating. I had to wait quite a while for another flight home." (At this point, you can see RudeCA becoming a bit ill). "But you know what?" our guy says. "You're welcome to fly on my plane." :nana2:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
- Romans 12:20
Click to expand...
 
Fly4Pay said:
Here's another good one for you... one of our (AirTran's) captains was trying to jumpseat one day and was given an emphatic NO by the captain. He said that he would NEVER let an AirTran pilot jumpseat on his aircraft because we were trying to put them out of business and he hoped they went under. Our CA said "fine," and walked off.

Two weeks or so later, our CA is doing a preflight, when the rather rude CA from the other airline walks on OUR plane wanting to jumpseat. He came up, introduced himself, and our guy says, "you don't know who I am, do you?" RudeCA says, "no...." Our guy says, "Yeah, two weeks ago you told me that you didn't want anyone from our airline jumpseating. I had to wait quite a while for another flight home." (At this point, you can see RudeCA becoming a bit ill). "But you know what?" our guy says. "You're welcome to fly on my plane." :nana2:
Click to expand...



Wow, I must admit that I would struggle being nice to this guy. My natural instinct would be to toss him off and take joy in doing so. Your captain friend did the right thing albeit very difficult to do. Out of curiosity, I wounder what Mr. Rude Captain would do today if a AirTran pilot once again asked for his jumpseat. Hopefully he has softened his stand a bit.
 
calcapt said:
Wow, I must admit that I would struggle being nice to this guy. My natural instinct would be to toss him off and take joy in doing so. Your captain friend did the right thing albeit very difficult to do. Out of curiosity, I wounder what Mr. Rude Captain would do today if a AirTran pilot once again asked for his jumpseat. Hopefully he has softened his stand a bit.
Click to expand...
Revenge always seems sweet before hand, but it depends on your goal. Do we want to let the jerks set the agenda? Do we want to follow the lead of those people not so civilized, or do we rise above that pettiness to create a better environment for all of us? By allowing the RudeCa onboard in the above post, the AirTran Ca lived by his ethics, not those of the jerk. He also set a wonderful example of forgiveness that possibly could have affected RudeCa's opinion. Had he tossed him off, it surely would have validated RudeCa's attitude. There will always be jerks and mean people out there. The question is do we want to join them?

I'm glad our Captain helped you out CalCA. I know nearly every Captain I have flown with feels the same way, bending over backwards, to get that last non-rev, or jumpseater on board.

Great story!
 
If we're being brutally honest here, how many of us would turn the other cheek to someone who screwed us over? I doubt I would. However, I'm sure he expected to be treated rudely and was bracing himself for the brush-off. He was probably more than a little surprised and VERY embarrassed when he was offered the jumpseat (with a smile, no less)! I wonder, too, if he has changed his tune. Being the cynic and student of human nature that I am, I somehow doubt it. :rolleyes: Good for the captain who was the bigger person. That good karma will follow him around for a long while. :)
 
I have only had good experiences jumpseating with crews, the only problem I have ever had was a gate agent once told me on a full flight that she didnt know where the jumpseat forms were. When I asked if I should just go to another gate and grab one she said "I dont have time to look for your cass stuff anyway":banghead:

The captian came out to get a coffee and kinda overheard what was going on and after he set the record strait with her I boarded.....I dont understand some people sometimes....
 
Its good to know good CA's are still out there and will be helpful to a young brand new FO like myself. I haven't gotten to jumpseat yet but look foward to it and I don't want to be "that guy" that makes it into these forums as gossip.

Not to hijack the thread but does it look better to wear your uniform, especially when on other than your own airline, or does it really matter? As long as your business casual. One more question...what the sites the list the flights between city pairs for all airlines? I can't seem to find them.
 
saxman66 said:
Not to hijack the thread but does it look better to wear your uniform, especially when on other than your own airline, or does it really matter? As long as your business casual
Click to expand...

Opinions vary but I never ever, never ever, never ever wear my uniform when I commute. If I have time to change I always do. If I don't have time to do a full change, I will pull on a polo shirt and just wear it with my uniform pants. When I am commuting I do not want to be bothered with "are you a pilot?" and the typical "who's flying the plane if you are back here?" I just want to turn off the airline thing and travel incognito. Others will tell you that the uniform makes it easier to navigate your way through the process. To me it is worth a little extra inconvenience or explanation to not wear a uniform and to feel like a regular person while onboard.
 
Thats a great story. It always makes me smile a little bit when a captain calls ops and says I know the delay is on me but I'm gonna take some time to see if I can get this OMC on.
 
calcapt said:
Opinions vary but I never ever, never ever, never ever wear my uniform when I commute. If I have time to change I always do. If I don't have time to do a full change, I will pull on a polo shirt and just wear it with my uniform pants. When I am commuting I do not want to be bothered with "are you a pilot?" and the typical "who's flying the plane if you are back here?" I just want to turn off the airline thing and travel incognito. Others will tell you that the uniform makes it easier to navigate your way through the process. To me it is worth a little extra inconvenience or explanation to not wear a uniform and to feel like a regular person while onboard.
Click to expand...

Besides, not having the shirt on allows you to drink! :nana2:

(no, wait...)
 
i've only been at this game for a short time but every capt i've had has been a great roll model with respect to the jumpseat. basically told not to discriminate. don't buy into all the infighting you hear about, we are all family just trying to do a job and at the end of the day if you need a ride home we'll find a way to get you there. as the great Queen Latifa once said "...U N I T Y, thats a unity..."
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top