Non-rev etiquette?

C150J

C150J

Well-Known Member
Is it proper to always introduce yourseld to the crew when non-reving (with a seat in the back)? I had several mainline guys do this on my last working trip, and was wondering if I missed the "memo." Hitching a ride home tomorrow on PDT and Colgan so I just wanted to see what the consensus was...

Thanks!
J.
 
IMO, yes. I introduce myself even if I'm DHing on company business. To me, it's just a common courtesy.
 
If you are paying for pass travel... Go take your seat. However... IMHO... it's still good for the flight crew to know that there is another experienced pilot onboard in case of emergencies, so a short but sweet introduction takes care of that... plus... I've gotten a few upgrades to First just from popping my head in the flight deck and saying "hi".

If you are "Hitching a ride" via Jumpseating or CASS with space available in the back... ALWAYS introduce yourself and ask permission from the Captain.

Bob
 
If in our system or on a DH I head to the back without bothering the crew. It's not required and it's reccomended in our FOM to do it that way.

If I'm trying to JS I always ask the lead FA if I could please speak with the CA. I wait until they're done working if they're running a checklist and I'll introduce myself to the CA and FO, tell them who I work for, ask them if I could have a lift, and show them my credentials.

There's nothing worse than someone who interrupts you when you're trying to do your job and says, "Yeah, uhhh I got a seat in the back so here's my JS form."

The main reason I don't stop up front is, there's often a lot going on and when we have someone who is in our system stop up to "Just say hi" we're usually a little confused as to who they work for and are they trying to JS without asking. Since the new TSA liquid ban I always non-rev in my uniform and I always say hello to the FA(s) so they know where I am if I'm needed.
 
Captain_Bob said:
IMHO... it's still good for the flight crew to know that there is another experienced pilot onboard in case of emergencies, so a short but sweet introduction takes care of that... plus... I've gotten a few upgrades to First just from popping my head in the flight deck and saying "hi".
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That's the reason I do it. Sioux City would have been a totally different ball game if they didn't know that check airman was in the back....

Not saying I could help out MUCH at this point, but it does give the CA options if he knows who's in the back.
 
Just take your damn seat if you got one already, unless you are jumpseating (cabin or cockpit). Enjoy the fact you arent having to ask for the ride, infact put your ID in your bag and wear jeans. If you know the guys up front, different story.


PS. and saying "Well hey Im back here if you guys need any help" nor"You guys gonna de-ice today" "You guys need to get this weight thing fixed" there arent exactly a great idea. Tell the FA that way when the cockpit crew passes out from eating the Fish, you can rush up when she starts screamin.
 
I have always introduce myself to the at least the captain (but usually the FO also) and asked for a ride to wherever I was going. It is not only good manners, but it may also make you a few friends in the business. I always try to not BOTHER them, but if they are in a tlking mood, then hey...
 
I never stop by in front if I am nonreving/DH unless I know the crew and feel like talking to them. Jumpseating (front or back) is a whole different story.
 
Our jumpseat committe is VERY adamant that we speak to the crew even when we have a boarding pass/seat assignment. It seems kinda dumb to me to follow the old procedures of asking for a ride when the gate agents give you a seat. It seems many of the airlines that have the procedure of just giving an offline guy a seat are getting away from formally calling it "jumpseating". I mean, if I'm an offline pilot, what's wrong with the airline just giving me an open seat in the back without the formality of asking the Capt for a ride?

I hate interrupting the crew to ask for a ride. Sometimes they are pretty busy and have better things to do. Also, at times you hold up the boarding process a bit by being in the way.

The old Horizon jumpseat form specifically said NOT to talk to the crew until after the flight if you had a seat in the back.

I think it's just easier for everyone if the airlines get in the habit of opening up the seats in the back to deadheading offline guys, give them a seat assignment, and let the Capt know via the paperwork they have a jumpseater back there.
 
DE727UPS said:
I think it's just easier for everyone if the airlines get in the habit of opening up the seats in the back to deadheading offline guys, give them a seat assignment, and let the Capt know via the paperwork they have a jumpseater back there.
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I think when we say deadhead we mean riding on a space postive ticket, or what my airline calls a "Must Ride."
 
DE727UPS said:
Our jumpseat committe is VERY adamant that we speak to the crew even when we have a boarding pass/seat assignment. It seems kinda dumb to me to follow the old procedures of asking for a ride when the gate agents give you a seat. It seems many of the airlines that have the procedure of just giving an offline guy a seat are getting away from formally calling it "jumpseating". I mean, if I'm an offline pilot, what's wrong with the airline just giving me an open seat in the back without the formality of asking the Capt for a ride?

I hate interrupting the crew to ask for a ride. Sometimes they are pretty busy and have better things to do. Also, at times you hold up the boarding process a bit by being in the way.

The old Horizon jumpseat form specifically said NOT to talk to the crew until after the flight if you had a seat in the back.

I think it's just easier for everyone if the airlines get in the habit of opening up the seats in the back to deadheading offline guys, give them a seat assignment, and let the Capt know via the paperwork they have a jumpseater back there.
Click to expand...


Can I do that on UPS?
 
"Can I do that on UPS?"

Can you do what? Catch a ride? You can if you're on the recriprocal list. As for riding in the back, I suppose sitting on those boxes might me a tad uncomfortable. You might squish something.

"Are you aware if we're able to jumpseat on ya'll?"

Is Amflight in CASS? We can only take CASS. I know I can't ride on Amflight. That needs to be fixed.
 
I just checked the list and Amflight is on it. Talking to Ryan the other day he said I couldn't ride on Amflight, so either he was wrong or the list was wrong. I guess you could call 1-800-228-CREW, prompt 4, then 1, and try to sign up for the jumpseat.
 
Back when I was at AMF we had a memo from Hazlett that specifically said that we are in CASS but that we are ONLY approved in the j/s with Southwest.


If Im non-reving and they aren't busy up front I always say hi and politely ask if I may ride on their plane. ALWAYS works and is never akward.


Also Kingairer, who do you fly for?
 
---I mean, if I'm an offline pilot, what's wrong with the airline just giving me an open seat in the back without the formality of asking the Capt for a ride?
----
Can I do that on UPS on the AC that have "cabin" seating?
 
That's correct, the only people that can ride on us is Southwest. Who would we need to talk with to try to change that? I doubt Amflight would change anything, but you never know.
 
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