How many is that actually? Nice deflection job as well. Even senior captains I fly with or otherwise interact with are happy with how our jumpseat system works. I have never actually heard a single complaint about it, but I'm sure there must be at least one person who has a way they think it could be better.

So you prefer that guys show up to one that they aren't going to get on and just don't know it yet? In my experience it seems pretty uncommon to not have a jumpseater when one is booked. The only difference between the two systems is on the UAL one you look to see if the person listed is senior to you or not first and weigh it against the chances of someone senior to YOU showing up.

The Captain has no more or less control of the seat than a Delta captain does. It's still the Delta Captain's jumpseat. It's just with the United one the expectation on who he is probably going to take is different. It's pretty weak to pretend that changing the priority system changes Captain's authority.

It's fine if you don't like it, but be honest about the differences.

I'm guessing you aren't a Delta pilot, since your story doesn't make sense coming from one. If you were then you wouldn't be trying to list with the agent to find out it was booked in the first place. Since it sounds like UAL pilots can still list in advance (just be bumped) the plight of an offline pilot finding out someone is listed already doesn't change. The difference is that the online pilot who listed can't be bumped on a Delta flight.