In a nutshell, the powers-that-be are so worried our customer service people will be overwhelmed during the switch that they don't want any additional bodies in the terminal.

Like too many other things here, Flight Ops has bowed to Customer Service and said "yes massa"...

I like several things about working here but the "kum-ba-yah" factor is about worn out and we as pilots really need to be asserting our authority in the operation. Unfortunately senior leadership still thinks gate agents and gay inflight supervisors are actually what move jets, and Flight Operations is too wimpy to stand up to them. Bring on ALPA.

PS several of us are trying to get the CPO on board with getting this fixed for jumpseaters. Stay tuned.