CX Passenger fleet jumpseats are open to pilots and dependents of pilots (ie. your son can come with you to Manila and ride in the actual jumpseat), cargo jumpseats can be used to get home with alot of limitations....they will let you stay on the aircraft if is is continuing to where you live (ie. your trip ends in JFK and the a/c continues to YYZ, you live in YYZ. They will let you stay on).
I believe Delta Air Lines just opened cabin jumpseats to crew members of other Skyteam airlines (?). If this works maybe the notion of professional courtesy will open up to other "Alliances" and we will se it one day.
CX is a foreign carrier as well as an international carrier. American Airlines is also an international carrier. Foreign being the key word when it comes to CASS. All of the backround checks done on its pilots are through INTERPOL and not the FBI/DHS.
Personally, screw standby. I just buy tickets on one of the LCCs to get back and forth to work, and have never stressed about a commute in almost 2 years.
FO