Originally Posted by
snippercr
There is that, but a lot of times it is down to the last minute anyways. I took the jumpseat one time to help out a fellow non-rev passenger. We were last ones on (gate agent closed door and walked down with us). It was not entirely selfless though... it was on a 767 so the JS was much nicer and otherwise I would have been middle seat last row. Plus I got a meal. Worth it.
I think the biggest thing - don't screw another pilot out of the JS.
I don't think I'm going to be successful, but I'll try anyway.
It's easy to get into "group think" mode if you've been in a culture that allows or even encourages this. This is not the norm guys. I seriously doubt you'll find any US major airline pilot group that would consider this option a good thing. Ask any ALPA jumpseat committee member if they think this is a good idea.
First, you're not "a fellow non-rev". The gate agents might call you that, but you are a positive space deadheading pilot. The company is basically paying (by not selling your seat) to get you where they need you. It's no different than Mr. Smith who works for company XYZ in the seat next to you flying on company business.
I get that you want to help another employee out but sometimes you have to hold the line on your contract (even if you get stuck in a middle seat and you're hungry). It's a slippery slope.
Second, the fact that it's last minute is irrelevant. A lot can happen at the last minute. A gate agent looking at now removing a non-rev pax or maybe even a revenue pax, re-seating you in your old seat and boarding a last minute jumpseater is probably just going to say "no, the JS is occupied". Little would suck more than doing the strut of shame from the F gates to the C gates at Ohare only to find out a pilot with a positive space seat is now in the JS you need to get to work or home.
Please give it some thought.