Originally Posted by
tupues
So it’s not his decision but only a matter of how many seats there are in total including the JS
The jumpseat riding can choose to take the jumpseat, with Captain's approval, instead of a less desirable cabin seat. He was telling you that he was going to do what he could to ensure that the jumpseat stayed open for you.
So should I be doing the same when I list in the future?
You, as an OAL jumpseater, only has one listing. It puts you at the bottom of the standby list for both the jumpseat and for a cabin seat. If a cabin seat is available, it will be offered to you.
The issue is that when there are more non-revs than seats, a senior UA pilot has the choice of taking the jumpseat, and allowing another cabin seat for a non-rev, or taking the jumpseat, and allowing a lower-priority jumpseater to get on who wouldn't have cleared for a cabin seat. There is no policy as to which seat he should choose.