Some more info for you...
- If there are seats open within 24 hours of the flight, no matter what a/c type, you can reserve it, and then it's yours. A FedEx pilot can NOT bump you. Only FAA, and operational emergency types can bump you. (One of the only positive-space jumpseats out there.) Of course, all seats are at captain's discretion, but if your CASS, you will not have a problem.
- Seats vary on a/c type.
*727 - 2 (in cockpit)
*757 - 3 outside cockpit + 1 in cockpit
*A300/310 - 4-6 outside cockpit + 2 in cockpit
*MD10/11 - 2-4 outside cockpit + 2 in cockpit
*DC10 - 2 outside cockpit + 2 in cockpit
- Availability also changes daily, although Monday nights into MEM and Saturday AM (Friday night) out of MEM are typically heavy commute days.
- FedEx employees use the same system, just we can reserve a seat up to two weeks in advance. To guarantee a ride into and from work, a FedEx pilot will typically reserve his/her seat well in advance. Same day reservations are rare.
- Parking: I have spoken with other airline pilots that jumpseat on FedEx and they say that parking is available for you in the parking lot off Democrat, just across the street from the MEM Air National Guard building. (Main FedEx hub parking.) Tell the security guard that you are jumpseating, they will call to check, and then let you park in the main lot just to the left of the guard shack. (The pilot lot is another separate lot straight back with another gate.) You will either need to walk back to this 'pilot lot' to catch a shuttle bus with the "AOC/DEM/TRAINING" sign. There is a bus stop for jumpseaters outside the pilot lot, but you have to make a big effort to waive a bus down, as they typically don't pick up people there. The normal buses take rampers to the hub; not where you want to go. AOC = Air Operations Center = where the pilots & jumpseaters go.
- Don't forget, you can get schedules at:
Jumpseat Finder
but there may be some flights that make a stop enroute that may not be listed there. (MEM-FLL-MIA)
- Just call the offline jumpseat number 1-866-357-5711. The folks should answer any questions you may have, and help you with flight schedules.
Good luck!