Originally Posted by
busdriver12
I think it depends. I am sympathetic to offline jumpseaters, and in over 20 years, I have never bumped anyone. If my jumpseat cancelled or I was bumped, I have always found another way. However....
We are taking far more offline jumpseaters than we used to. Should we have to buy a ticket in the case that we are bumped or our jumpseat cancelled, when an offline jumpseater is going home, also? How many pilots from other airlines would decline to bump you if they had to buy a ticket, a hotel room and get home the next day? What about when you're going to work, your airplane breaks, the next airplane is full of offline jumpseaters. Should we really sacrifice a week (or more) of pay, in order to not bump an offline jumpseater?
I definitely think people should try to find a way other than bumping anyone, however, when you're buying tickets, hotels and losing trips....and the other airlines will bump you in a minute if someone else walks up, maybe not.
That's not really how it works and it's not that complicated. Just use a little common sense. It's about getting to work.
If you're trying to get to work, you obviously have priority on your own company jumpseat - bump away. Considering how our jumpseat and scheduling system works, I would have to scratch my head a bit trying to come up with a scenario that would require us to do a short notice bump to make a FedEx trip. I suppose on rare occasions (draft, makeup) it might be necessary - but, I usually have my jumpseats lined up weeks ahead of time.
If you and the offline guy are both going home, bump away. You just don't hose a guy
trying to get to work if you can wait for another option if you're just going home or on some other personal business.
It's a simple matter of communication. Find the guy - find out what his situation is and if he has backups or he's down to his last ditch effort to make a trip. As a minimum, give him the courtesy of a heads up.