Arado 234

What's their answer?

Cheddar

I think it's a lot like congress. 11% approval rating but everyone loves their reps. I have warmed up (to a nice even frostyness to 'the outlaw') - but TW is a strange cat. I love his governance ideas he presented, and his idea of the APA president having a veto vote, but I wonder if he would feel the same way if he didn't win the NO election.

In all fairness, I believe he did say that these changes should be shelved until after the election. And I did think he meant no matter who the new NOs were.




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Cheddar

He's (TW) dead wrong on the jumpseat issue though. I don't commute, but some of my close friends/squadron buddies do. We should be able to reserve it, and it's worth fighting for. Call your reps, send sound offs, let your position be known.


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Frip

I know how it works

What if I'd also like to burn a D1 for a shot at First on a long flight?

Can't do that with IVR

Still, the real issue is the near constant referral of the Jumpseat as a Commuter Seat, or issue.

Any pilot's reason to use their travel benefit is every bit as valid, and important, as any other.

flyinawa

When I use to work at Eagle I commuted between DFW and DEN for a few years. Most of the time I was able to check in with the agent an hour prior but the majority of the time I got bumped off the jumpseat by guys who showed up :15 prior. I had absolutely zero issue with this of course because the flights were operated by AA and I was Eagle. Exactly one time, an AA pilot came over, introduced himself, and asked if I was going to Denver for some sort of emergency. I told him I wasn't and he replied, in that case, he would be taking the jumpseat. I gave him a hearty handshake, a very sincere thank you for at least talking to me before heading to the plane, and wished him enjoyable days off. I think he showed an EPIC amount of class by doing that and I adopted that into my jumpseat routine when I needed to get somewhere on a flight operated by my company.

On another trip, after the agent told an AA pilot that an Eagle pilot was also listed for the MD80 jumpseat, I watched the AA guy throw an absolute fit. She kept trying to tell him something but he wouldn't even let her talk. "This is an American Airlines airplane. I am an American Airlines pilot. I *WILL* be taking the jumpseat." He really made a scene. After all the passengers were on....Then she proceeded to hustle me down the jetbridge and make sure he wouldn't try to badger me to switch. He was so pi55ed off but it was hilarious. He just couldn't help himself but be a d!ck to the agent. I don't share these stories to mock AA pilots specifically. They were just the ones I rode on most of the time so I have the most stories.

My point is this... You have to decide, do you want to reserve the Jumpseat or do you want to try to D1 yourself there and risk getting bumped to MAYBE sit in first class. I think it's pretty unreasonable to think you should have slots held for you in every spot on the airplane so you can choose at the last minute what best suits you. There are a lot of other people trying to non rev. But hey, that's just one rookie's opinion.

The Drizzle

It's a good one. One that benefits every member of the seniority list rather than an ever decreasing few.

Frip

Hey,

I have always gladly played by the rules and never ever been upset or bitter about it, ever.

Also have never asked another pilot any favors, re the jumpseat or NonRev priority. I go when it is my turn.

Also have numerous times have gone either earlier or later than I planned when I saw a more junior pilot was going to get left if I followed my original plan, and if it wasn't a problem have given up the seat at the gate and waited for the next flight several times.

I have also had commuting pilots who could have had seats on earlier open flights and instead chose to show up for the last possible commute to their trip try to guilt trip me into hanging around the airport the rest of the day watching full flights leave, and miss out in that day with my family, so that they could spend more time with theirs.

That is selfish and offensive.

IMO, the JS/Cabin Seat issue shouldn't be either/or, our NonRev system doesn't work that way, and the JS Committee has issued guidance that is consistent with that opinion. Specifically, to list as a D1, not import the JS reservation, and then cancel it if it is not needed.

That is a make-shift work-around that causes everyone problems, and that is why I say the system, not necessarily the concept, is screwed up.

I'm only here saying anything because of the apparent widespread presumption that commuters are somehow more entitled to a seat, and to the jumpseat specifically, or that other pilots are expected to screw up their plans to accommodate them.

AppleJuice

But it should be a commuter seat if it's between someone trying to get to work vs someone trying to go on vacation. It would be pretty foolish to do that to someone and if it were my jumpseat I would make sure that would not happen.

Frip

That is your opinion.

It is not, at AA, per company policy, a "commuter seat".

It is a part of every pilot's travel privileges.

Pilots choose to use their travel priveleges for different reasons.

That is fine.

No individual reason is any more important than any other, save a genuine family emergency, and there are A9's for that.

It would be pretty selfish to expect to abrogate a fellow pilot's priveleges for one's own convenience.

if it comes up on one of my flights, it is going by the book, even though I personally strongly disagree with certain aspects of it.

Hueypilot

Just book the jumpseat like everyone else and it'll never be a problem. You guys are making this way too hard.