It is kinda strange how the one time friendliest/easiest airline to JS on (SWA) has become the least and one of the most difficult (Delta used to not allow offline JS at all and when they finally opened it up, it was limited to the number of actual jump seats on the aircraft, even when dozens of seats were available in the cabin) is now one of the easiest to JS on (walk up to the gate and ask for the jump seat). Technology was supposed to make things easier. I remember having to physically run down to the operations agent at Continental outstations or one of the “weather rooms” at a hub to ask an ops agent for the jumpseat. Then you would take your two remaining copies to the gate where you’d go through the drill again with a CSR and finally the captain. When the ops agents were taken out of the loop the gate agents became the ones “awarding” the JS (even though the captain had final say). This made it slightly more convenient from a logistical standpoint but a pain in the rear depending on the CSR’s attitude on that day at that particular hour….they had a little power and they loved it. Today things are so much easier….(well, at UAL that is)