I'll answer your question this way. . . don't bring up staff travel or jump-seating with an Air NZ pilot unless your prepared to listen to him/her start complaining.

Seriously though, we, air NZ pilots, PAY for the jump-seat. I had my father on staff travel out of SFO and was asked by the gate agent, a United guy, why with what we pay I didn't just buy a firm seat (basically we pay AD 75 standby and have no AD95 option period. Our firm staff travel is 25% off the full price on the day)as that is what he would/could have done, so yea, I wasn't impressed. As a matter of fact, I had better staff travel when I flew a CV580 out of the Gulf. To top it off, we have people in management who wave it in front of our face like a privilege, in about the same manner as one might deal with elementary school students. It is frustrating and angering at times, but that is a whole other story.

Basically, it is the worst in the industry and I really do not know why. All I get from the masses is "you should have seen it before", as in this is a huge improvement. The excuses are many and all equally ridiculous.

Of course this is all too bad as otherwise it is one of the best airlines in the world to work for; but that has much to do with the people I work with.

. . . told you not to ask.