Originally Posted by
BizJet
PSA metal jumpseating works before you get CASS. I decided to jump on my flights to and from oral for observation.
I would recommend memorizing the Jumpseat location in the FOM. It helps the Captain when he gives you the *** look. You get very use to seeing the CASS printouts. So a new guy coming up with just an ID sometimes throws you for a loop in my experience.
Also DO NOT jumpseat if your on ANY positive space ticket and there aren't open seats in the back BEYOND yours. PSA bought a ticket, away from AA revenue pax, for your butt to occupy the seat. It is also a huge slap in the face to any commuters that might need the jump.
I only jumped for observational reasons after I determined the flights were wide open with no commuters needing the jump.
Good advice, but... if you are a new hire, and you want to observe, tell the captain the situation. If there is no one on the jumpseat, he/she will likely tell you to sit up front anyways. If there is another pilot on the jump seat, that person would prefer to be in the back anyways, so you can likely switch without getting the gate agent involved.
As a rule, if you have a positive space ticket, DO NOT take the jump seat. It can bump a commuting pilot off of it. But, if it is empty anyways, talk to the captain.
Personally, I would welcome any new hire pilot that wants to learn and get better. Most all captains would.