Originally Posted by
guppie
A deadheading Pilot in uniform shall be permitted to board the aircraft as if he were a working crewmember once the minimum number of flight attendants are on board or anytime thereafter, unless prohibited by government regulations. Other deadheading pilots may board at any time during the passenger boarding process. A deadheading Pilot must, prior to boarding, check in and have his boarding pass scanned.
Hoss. It's not about being special, it's about the contract. I always board group 1. Gives me a chance to get settled and go say hello to the crew. I don't care what the card says. And yes, I'll argue the point and show my ass if need be. Haven't had to do that since the early days of the merger in Houston and Newark, tho.
As mentioned UAX ain’t covered under our CBA. Also self booked business PS isn’t a dead head thus boarding group 3.
Plain and simple the OP didn’t understand that he’s not entitled to pre board. Doing so in his circumstance is a privilege not a right. No policy change, like it or not it’s simply policy enforcement. A good CSA isn’t going to enforce it, and you know the rest of the story.