Originally Posted by
GordoCooper
Hey United/Continental pilots; I'm a commuter and it's nearly impossible to jumpseat with you. I've been stranded in California, Denver, and Florida within the last 6 weeks! We understand your merger may be creating problems, but we need YOU to put pressure on the powers that be to fix this before the nasty inevitable happens. Your gate agents, and reservation agents are a crap shoot. If you get a good one, we get a ride. If you get an agent that doesn't know the system, we get the shaft at the gate with open seats on your flight! Please help the jumpseaters, and get your internal emails flowing to the brass. We all know how difficult commuting is. It's now a big problem with United and we need United pilots to get the internal workings fixed for the rest of us.
I'm really sorry to hear of all the problems jumpseating. No one wants this to add to your already stressful commute. Our jumpseat committee is well aware of the issues and is doing everything they can to get the problems fixed. Unfortunately, the company has not been very receptive to our ALPA committees lately.
The problem is that the gate agents are learning a new reservation system that looks like it came right out of the stone ages. DOS system with green screens, etc. What the company considered adequate training for the agents appears to be anything but. Revenue passengers, including top tier frequent fliers, and pass riding employees are all having issues as well. Employees are also being left at the gate with empty seats, and frequent fliers are waiting on hold for hours to have a res agent make changes that they used to make online but can't now. They are also being denied upgrades because the res system in screwed up, and they are being forced to stand in long lines at the ticket counter to check in because the kiosks aren't working correctly. Many more flights than normal are leaving late as the agents try to sort out the mess. I know UAL has some real gems for gate agents, but right now, even the good ones are going nuts trying to make the new res system work, and they probably are not treating anyone like they normally would.
Management completely dropped the ball, and everyone is being affected, not just jumpseaters. It will get better as everyone gets used to the system. It should not be taking this long, but it is. Hopefully, we won't have chased away all of our customers and ****ed off all the people we depend on for rides to work before the mess gets fixed.
With all that being said, do everything you can to alert the crew that you are there if you are having problems. Many crews are taking extra time to check the boarding area before departure.
B