Originally Posted by
DL757LAX
Hey guys, I tried to do a search, but came up emtpy handed. What is the process for traveling on another airline international (Europe/S. America). Is it still jumpseating, or non-rev? Do I just go up to the counter with my passport and proceed as if it was a normal domestic flight? Also, do I have to arrange anything here in the US for my return flight or just show up at that airline's ticket counter abroad. Thanks a lot guys for your help, I'm just getting the hang of this stuff!
Well, if it's a foreign airline you only have one choice: non-rev. In that case you would want to check with your airline's pass bureau to see what pass options are available and what the procedures are for using them.
If it's a US airline you can jumpseat or nonrev. The only real advantage to nonreving is that you'll have a slightly higher priority code over a jumpseater. You won't be able to jumpseat in the cockpit, as CASS is domestic only, although this may change next year. You will, however, ride free as a jumpseater, except for the international departure taxes on the return leg.
Outbound the procedure is virtually identical to domestic jumpseating except you should show up plenty ahead of time, say 90 minutes prior. Some airlines are very strict on this. Present your passport along with your ID.
Coming back, you should show up at the ticket counter with airline ID, passport, and local currency or Visa card to pay your departure tax. Make sure you don't confuse the ticket counter with the check in counter, as these are in completely separate places at many foreign airports. The people at the check in counter will give you a blank stare when you say you want to jumpseat! Even at the ticket counter, your reception may vary; international jumpseaters are somewhat rare and not all station personnel are well trained on the procedures.
They'll collect the departure tax and issue you a boarding pass with seat assignment if the flight isn't full or standby if it is; that should get you through customs & security, although I'd suggest just presenting your passport as ID rather than your airline ID, especially if you're out of uniform. BTW, there's no reason to jumpseat in uniform internationally, it gets you treated with suspicion especially if your airline doesn't fly to that airport. Business or business-casual is the norm.
Most airlines don't let you list as an offline jumpseater. You may want to make a non-rev listing for the return leg just in case the station personnel are clueless on how to list a jumpseater, they may work around it by having an existing non-rev listing.
Hope this helps, have fun!