Though I can't help you out, I can echo what HoursHore said. Pinnacle guys are great about the jumpseat, the key is getting to the captain through the gate agent.
A lot of these outsourced regional gate agents that I've encountered while trying to jumpseat on Pinnacle are flat out lazy idiots. They will say the first lie that pops into their head to just get you to go away so that they can get back to doing absolutely anything except their job.
Luckily I've noticed that when I am able to get ahold of one of the pilots, they completely understand and share the same frustration and they've put the heat on the gate agents for me when I've needed it.