Originally Posted by
Les Habitants
The things you guys are saying about jumpseating is blowing my mind.
Here in Canada we consider the ability to "jumpseat" a complete privilege. There is no such thing as walking up to the gate and asking to "use the jumpseat." You call ahead of time, pay the applicable taxes (yes, our jumpseats aren't free here), and IF there is a seat available on the plane in the back-you cannot sit in the jumpseat-you may sit there. If for ANY reason the gate agent cannot or even does not want to put you on the plane they have every right to refuse it and you are not allowed to complain or say anything.
It seems like the culture down south is very different. If anyone ever said a word about being bumped, no matter how unfair it is, you can be sure his bosses would hear about it.
Jumpseating is indeed a privilege; however, it is a privilege extended by the captain, not by the gate agent. Allowing the gate agent to control access to the privilege effectively denies the captain's authority over the jumpseat, and makes it just another seat on the place, albeit one that can only be occupied by qualified individuals. As such, it is appropriate that the captain may choose to deny access, even to an otherwise permitted jumpseat occupant, but it is not at all appropriate that the gate should do so.