This policy is pure bull$hit.

For years we had a very liberal open/unlimited jumpseat policy. We would basically take anyone and everyone.

After 9/11 our greedy management came up with a new policy of 1 off line jumpseater. Any additional offline jumpseaters have the option to purchase a $25 pass from the gate agent.

I always ask jumpseaters if they've been charged, and most of the time they aren't. Most agents don't want to deal with it and just stick them on somehow.