So trying to get to work the other day was a bit of a cluster hump. As usual, flights were nearly full. No big deal, I'll just take the jump seat. Nope. "Sorry, someone is already listed. You'll have to get a Zed fare."
"To Atlanta!?"
"Yes, to Atlanta."
I use my pass benefits a few times a month to commute, and have never had to pay, other than the yearly fee. That's not right, I think to myself. After some back and forth trying to just get the agent to list me in the back, I finally accept defeat with her and tell her to list me for the jump seat as standby, and hope that the gate agent knows what she is doing. I head to the gate.
"Hello mam, I'm just checking to see if your jump seater has checked in yet."
"Yes, he went down a few minutes ago. You'll have to purchase a Zed fare."
"Is this a new policy?"
"No. It's always been this way. People try and avoid the fare by riding the jump seat. Looks like you'll have to pay this time" (in a quite rude tone)
I'm now starting to loose my patients.
"Mam, I've been making this commute for a few years now. I've never had to pay anything other than the activation fee to use my pass travel benefits to go domestic. So either this is new, or you're mistaken."
She basically refuses to list me in the back. No red coats to be found. So I do some digging to see who is listed in the cockpit. It comes up as "AS." Hmm. Alaska. I fly Delta passengers, and last I remember, have a higher priority than Alaska, because I actually fly Delta passengers, and make money for Delta. And while I hate to bump someone off of a jump seat, if I'm trying to get to work, and have no other choice, I'll do it. If I'm going home, and they listed first, I'll just wait a few more minutes for the next flight.
"Mam, that pilot you've already checked in, works for Alaska. I have higher priority than him on the jump seat. Is he already on?"
"Yes he is. And the only person who can bump him is a Delta pilot."
"You are mistaken. When was the last time an Alaska pilot made a dollar for Delta? I make money for them every time the airplane I operate moves. Its says Delta [Connection] on the side."
"Well he's already checked in. The seat is his."
"You are supposed to wait till the last 15 minutes to give that seat to an OFL guy."
I have had gate agents check me in before that 15 minute window as well. But I still wait at the gate in case a company pilot shows up so the agent doesn't have to come tell me to "GEET OFF MUH SEAT!"
The argument ensues. Of course, I end up loosing a battle I should have won. I finally found a red coat who helped me sort everything out for a seat in the back, which was better than getting a case of "jump seat ass." But the issue may still show it's head again in the future.
What would you have done different short of calling your jump seat rep? I wasn't allowed down to see the captain, and she refused to call him up.
Please let me know when you are ready to apply to SJA so I can write you a letter of referral. We need more scholars like you. 
