Originally Posted by Imapylot

Tangent; I’m trying to understand how AA pilots think when jumpseating on their own metal. At my airline, if I’m listed for the jumpseat on my own metal but a seat exists in the back and my seniority can get the seat in the back, it’s expected that I will take the seat in the back so the next pilot in line can have the jumpseat. My experience jumpseating on AA is not that way at all. The AA pilot awarded the jumpseat will take the jumpseat regardless of whether or not they could’ve had a seat in the back and I get left behind even though I was next in line for the jumpseat. I’m obviously talking about completely full flights. I’ve been left behind countless times when I could’ve had the jumpseat if the AA pilot took the seat in the back. Conversely, I’ve had numerous AA pilots be able to sit in the jumpseat on my metal because I took the seat in the back seat. It’s my understanding that the way my airline does it is the way most do. Why does AA do it differently? I’m not necessarily complaining because I have no authority to tell any pilot what to do on their own metal. I’m just trying to wrap my head around why AA insists on not doing what is “normal.”