NWA family used to be free on the company you worked at but a fee on the rest of the family. i.e. worked at pinnacle but taking a mesaba flight would be a fee. but mesaba taking a mesaba flight free for either coach or first. Now travel is free in coach on any family flight but first class has a fee even on your own company. There was never an issue to jumpseat to avoid the fee like you are describing, and now it's not an issue since there is no fee unless you are in first. which I suppose if that happens you just request the jumpseat and avoid the fee. Not that there is ever a seat in first open with all the ways people get to upgrade now....