The discussion was about employee pass travel, not Other Airline pilots Jumpseat procedures. Yes, I agree, the listing procedure for OAL pilots trying to get a JS is onerous, but it's not the agent's fault. At 20 prior, they are working hard to get passengers and listed non-revs onto the plane, while starting to pull up the paperwork for the final closeout. They usually just don't have time to create a listing in SABRE from scratch for a OAL JS rider. Also, if an agent gave you the actual JS, instead of a seat in the cabin, even if the only seat left was a F class seat, then I believe the agent screwed up. They are normally supposed to give you a seat if one is available, and only give the JS if the flight is full.

Our Non-rev pass travel is pretty good. AE employees are on the same tier as AA employees when it comes to travel on AMR owned or controlled airplanes, since we are sister companies of the same corporation. Yes, there is a small fee, but I have never had an issue with it as long as I've worked at AE (since '91), and I spent seven years as a low paid FO. fares are between $10-20 for a Coach pass. (which is usually all non revs can get on most domestic flights, since Upgraders almost always take any remaining First class seats anyway). Hard to complain about that when it costs nearly $10 just for a Subway sandwich, or similar, at the airport. Besides, after five years of employment, the coach fees are waived (if it were up to me, coach fares would be waived for all employees, but it's not). I don't know, maybe that's how AMR rewards tenure.

It really is nice to be able to get yourself on "the list" early and be higher up the standby list than somebody else who dawdled until only a few hours before departure time. Seniority has no bearing whatsoever on one's standing on the list, and never has at AA/AE. This has never been a problem for me or anybody else here. Also, once in transit on a multiple leg journey, you become a D2T (meaning "through"), so you go above those employees on the list who are just beginning their journeys (D2). This helps to lessen the chance of becoming stranded mid-journey.

It is what it is. I've literally never heard an AA or AE employee or spouse complain about the travel policies (other than the D2 charge for newbies, which is pretty inexpensive, but really not necessary). It feels fair to all, and allows us to travel the world pretty easily - and in top comfort and style if we are willing to cough up a little dough for a 777 first class seat to Europe, Asia, or South America.