Jump seating ?s

Airdale

Airdale

Well-Known Member
It was hard to get a straight answer today in class, other then what is printed in the regs, so if you don't mind giving me a little more information about jumpseating, that would be great. (Referring to CASS)

When jump seating, it is my understanding that you show up at the airport, go to the security line - do you go to the front, show your employee ID and they let you go through without having to wait in the long line? Is there separate security line for airline employees, even if you don't have an airport ID badge?

My next question is, you show up at the gate for a flight thats going where you want. For example, a flight to your domicle. You show the gate agent your ID, they give you a form to fill out, and then you board after everyone else. Do you typically get to sit in the cockpit jumpseat, or do they make you sit in the cabin if there is an available seat? Are most Captains cool with you sitting in the jumpseat even if there is space available in the cabin?

The reason I ask these questions is because more then likely, probably definitely, I'm going to have to commute to my base. The class instructor today made it seem like jumpseating is a royal PITA, but I would imagine this would have to be a very painless process, especially if you have to do this a lot. The first few times, I'd like to sit in the cockpit jumpseat. I think it would be awesome.

Thanks!
 
Procedures differ by airline. Will you be commuting on your own carrier? An airport served by your carrier?

Log into alpa.org and check it out. Lots of good jumpseating info.
 
stultus said:
Procedures differ by airline. Will you be commuting on your own carrier? An airport served by your carrier?

Log into alpa.org and check it out. Lots of good jumpseating info.
Click to expand...

I'll be flying for Colgan out of the NE, so more then likely I will have to jumpseat on US Airways out of PHL. I'll be operating for US Airways though.
 
Trust me you do not want to sit in the cockpit JS. They are not fun. If there is a seat in the back that is where you should be sitting. Just ask a more senior pilot at your company and I am sure they will give you the skinny on how to do it.

This isn't info that should be on a public forum IMHO.
 
Bandit: Just curious...could you expand on why you wouldn't want to be sitting jumpseat? I think it would be great to have a "Catch Me If You Can" moment sitting up front. Also, why is it better for this info to be kept private?
 
When jumpseating, don't cut to the beginning of the security line if you're in plain clothes. If there is an employee line, in all cases it would be appropriate to take that line. Keep in mind that if you're travelling from an airport that doesn't know your company, you may have a little trouble getting though security with your badge. For instance, you work for Colgan and you try to get through the security line in the Contitnental terminal at Newark. The TSA people may have never heard of or know what Colgan is, in cases like this where you're jumpseating out of an airport that you don't serve, it would be wise to go get a boarding pass from the ticket counter upon arriving at the aiport.

If the flight is "wide open" you may be given a seat early on in the process at the gate. If there are fewer seats available they may wait till the end of the boarding proceess to give you a seat. If there are no seats in the back then the cockpit jumpseat may be your last option (provided there are no other guys there waiting for it who could bump you off it).

Jumpseats suck and most try to avoid them if possible. Keep in mind it is their cockpit and you may find yourself sitting there with nothing to do, not even read. Some companies prohibit reading on the flight deck, even for jumpseaters. Also, most narrow-body and RJ cockpits are cramped for three guys. Honestly we usually moan for a second when we know we have somebody riding up front with us. It stinks but we understand someone is trying to get somewhere and we try to accomodate. So...if there is a seat in the back, I would stick to that one. If the need arises to ride up front, use it but I'd be cautious about asking to ride in the cockpit even with seats in the back.
 
Most airlines prohibit offline guys from riding up front if there is an open seat in the back. Airdale, just make sure you ALWAYS check in with the captain before you take a seat in the back (unless of course it is Horizon and they don't want you to).
 
I find jumpseating wonderful and convienient. I have yet to go to an airport that dosen't have an employee line, and if you're dragging a rollaboard and flight case and wearing an employee badge, you'll usually have no trouble, even if you're in plain clothes.

Riding in the cockpit jumpseat is cool only once- the first time you do it. The rest of the time you'll be hoping for a seat in the back, hopefully an entire empty row, and once in a blessed blue moon, a seat in first class. You'll find that jumping on your mainline carrier to be a much less pleasant experience than jumping on another airline- that's just the way of the world for regional carriers.

Of course, there's rules and courtesies. Always be as polite as you can, have your passport and certificates handy, and always, but always, talk to the Captain as soon as you step foot on the plane.
 
CapnJim said:
I find jumpseating wonderful and convienient. I have yet to go to an airport that dosen't have an employee line, and if you're dragging a rollaboard and flight case and wearing an employee badge, you'll usually have no trouble, even if you're in plain clothes.

Riding in the cockpit jumpseat is cool only once- the first time you do it. The rest of the time you'll be hoping for a seat in the back, hopefully an entire empty row, and once in a blessed blue moon, a seat in first class. You'll find that jumping on your mainline carrier to be a much less pleasant experience than jumping on another airline- that's just the way of the world for regional carriers.

Of course, there's rules and courtesies. Always be as polite as you can, have your passport and certificates handy, and always, but always, talk to the Captain as soon as you step foot on the plane.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I guess its just one of those things I'm a little nervous about getting to and from work because I've never done it before. You know how in indoc training they basically tell you 101 ways to get fired, so you start getting nervous about commuting and getting into an entirely different side of aviation that you're not used too. I hope I can drive to my base, but you never know. With the aircraft I'll be flying, some of the potential bases are commutable only by aircraft.
 
I used to commute from Dallas to Newark, on reserve. It sucked balls. Having a line really improves your QOL, but if you can't hold a commutable line (late show time with plenty of flights beforehand) then you're stuck commuting in the night before and then paying for a crashpad or hotel.

Still, lots of folks do it, and it's kinda the way of the world. My company did the whole scare-tactic thing on the commuters in the class as well, but it's pretty well accepted that it is a wildly unrealistsic proposition to expect that everyone hired will be able or willing to move to a base.
 
CapnJim said:
My company did the whole scare-tactic thing on the commuters in the class as well, but it's pretty well accepted that it is a wildly unrealistsic proposition to expect that everyone hired will be able or willing to move to a base.
Click to expand...


I think its ridiculous that they actually except you to move to your base, family and all, on a sub $30k salary. Unless you're in the middle of the desert, you're not moving anywhere on that salary if you're married. My fiance is a special education teacher, and it will take me 2 years and a Captain upgrade to meet her salary, pointless to move her away from her job right now. Definitely not for a Regional. We agreed that when I get hired by a Major, depending on which one, we'll be open to a move because the money won't be so bad, but not right now.
 
Airdale said:
I think its ridiculous that they actually except you to move to your base, family and all, on a sub $30k salary. Unless you're in the middle of the desert, you're not moving anywhere on that salary if you're married. My fiance is a special education teacher, and it will take me 2 years and a Captain upgrade to meet her salary, pointless to move her away from her job right now. Definitely not for a Regional. We agreed that when I get hired by a Major, depending on which one, we'll be open to a move because the money won't be so bad, but not right now.
Click to expand...

No kidding. My fiance makes about 12 bucks an hour, and I can't match our current combined income of 55k if we move. We get raped because people are willing to BUY their way into a cockpit, so they act like it is a privilege to actually PAY someone to fly right seat.
 
Can someone please explain in general terms the comment about "we shouldn't be talking about this on a public forum"?
 
gredenko said:
Bandit: Just curious...could you expand on why you wouldn't want to be sitting jumpseat? I think it would be great to have a "Catch Me If You Can" moment sitting up front.
Click to expand...

The first time or two its cool sitting up front. Because its new. But the seat isnt comfortable, its a pain if you have to use the lav, and no sleeping, no reading, no portable electronics.
 
blee256 said:
...no sleeping, no reading, no portable electronics.
Click to expand...

Who's jumpseat have you been sitting in?;)

One of the nice things about sitting up front when jumpseating off line is you get to talk to a crew from another carrier. You find out all sorts of things, like it probably sucks just as much over there as where you are. It's a great cure for the whole "grass is greener" thing. Of course, that all goes out the window when you sit up front on something like Delta or Southwest and you start drooling over their pairings and work rules.
 
BobDDuck said:
Who's jumpseat have you been sitting in?;)

One of the nice things about sitting up front when jumpseating off line is you get to talk to a crew from another carrier. You find out all sorts of things, like it probably sucks just as much over there as where you are. It's a great cure for the whole "grass is greener" thing. Of course, that all goes out the window when you sit up front on something like Delta or Southwest and you start drooling over their pairings and work rules.
Click to expand...


Funny you mentioned DL. A few times when commuting I had to sit up front with those guys. I already had that sense that all DL pilots hate Comair pilots and think we are scum of the earth. I couldn't have been more wrong. Maybe I was lucky with some of the crews that I sat up there with, but those guys/gals were great. The same issues that we have they have. Scheduling, dispatch, hotels, etc., blah, blah, blah. They always welcomed me and gave me some great advice about airlines and about general life issues being a pilot. Sitting up front may be uncomfortable but you might get something out of it. But if there is a seat in the back take it without hesitation.
 
I rode up front from Nashville to Los Angeles (about 4 hours) in a Southwest jumpseat. Super cool crew, but after about 2 hours my butt went numb and then I had another 2 hours to watch the FMS tick down the time until I could regain feeling down there.

Take the seat in the back if you can.
 
CapnJim said:
Of course, there's rules and courtesies. Always be as polite as you can, have your passport and certificates handy, and always, but always, talk to the Captain as soon as you step foot on the plane.
Click to expand...

Actually, with CASS, you're assigned a seat in back. As far as I'm concerned, just go sit down like any other non-rev. Wear your ID and let the A F/A know where you're sitting in case there's an emergency and she need your help.
 
I agree with "just go sit down if you have an assigned seat", but that's not how much jumpseat committe wants it done. Even on AK or QX. Old habits die hard, I guess.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top