Travel transition to AA Rules?
 

Does any one know when the transition to AA rules regarding non-rev/ jumpseats will be?

Right now with USAir walking up and listing for a domestic flight (OAL) can be done in 5 minutes.

USAir international jumpseat is a painless process, and unlimited too.

Looking forward to the combined AA, domestic jumpseat needs to be listed on MyIDTravel and international jumpseat is limited to actual number of jumpseats on A/C?

Looking to international jumpseat on the USAir side in September and doing some planning. Thanks in advance.


p.s. Thanks to the USAir folks for painless jumpseat rides I've taken for the last decade+

Our Jumpseat program isn't changing as of now. Rumor is the US Airways way of doing things will prevail for the Jumpseat...or perhaps a hybrid.

Non-rev wise, however, will go to AA's first come-first served this week, on September 10, followed by access to each other's travel planner on September 15.

Your Jumpseat plans should be ok though!

September 10 will also be the day they implement the new Non-rev categories to include down grading retirees to a status below active employees. Another screw job for the retirees. Yes, as a twenty year commuter I know all the complaints about commuters being bumped by those who have "all day" to get to their destination, etc. however think of this, you will all be retirees, and it will come sooner than you think. With the advances in our ageing process we will be living longer and there is a good chance you may be a retiree for many more years than you were an active employee. While it won't happen now, what they should have done is created a category for commuting TO work, placing this status above D2 and keeping D2 as it has always been, first come first served for active and retired employees. Fire away ye youngsters, your retirement day will be here in a flash.

No other legacy airline had retirees in the same category as active employees. Indeed, even the military "space A" priority has retirees behind active employees. To me (and this is just my humble opinion), the idea that retirees would have the same priority as active employees is ludicrous.

Change is happening. Just trying to catch Old American up to the rest of the industry. & just because you've always done it that way doesn't mean it's right. If there was any precedents other than that's just the way we have always done it you might have an argument

I don't have the reference available but I believe it was stated that there are, or will be in the near future, more retirees than active employees. You covered a good reason for that above.

As for a special class for commuters? Totally disagree except for cases where bases have been closed or forced displacements. Even then there should be a time limit.

For the love of god... Keep the US Jumpseat system!!!!!

Not one ounce of sense in that entire rant. You don't make the donuts anymore, get behind those that do.

Just curious, how close to retirement are you?

It would have a good chance of surviving if seniority was a factor when non-reving in the cabin. Since it is going to FCFS, I don't see a FCFS reservation system surviving for the jumpseat and completely eliminating seniority for the jumpseat and cabin.

I ask this question and have yet to get a straight answer out of any American pilot that advocates a seniority-based jumpseat system: WHY?

And "Because that's the way we've AAlways done it!" is not an acceptable answer.

Not a good reason. The system works if there is NEVER a seat in the back. You will be very hard pressed to find any US pilot senior or junior that does not love our system.

Times change, back when retirees were equal planes also had a 60% load factor now its closer to 90%. So sorry, I think its good that retirees are going behind us, i don't wanna miss my commute because some old couple wants to get on a cruise in Miami. I can't believe anyone would advocate a retiree going above an active employee. That is the pinnacle of baby boomer selfishness.

I have heard the FCFS jumpseat is staying from multiple credible sources. They are moving forward designing a new system for it utilizing both web and mobile apps to make it happen. Everyone including usapa, most apa members and the company want the fcfs reservation system. Just remember seniority can change.

So the only acceptable answer is "Because that's the way We've always done it!" If asked why your way is better.

Seniority determines alot of things. I don't commute and will happily take whatever both groups want. IMHO, I think we may be losing something if a flight departs with a 23 year old new hire in the jumpseat while the 30 year widebody Captain watches from the terminal because his smartphone reservation skills were sorely lacking. Especially if he ate the pile of fly covered #### both sides did in the last 20+ years that junior will probably miss riding the front of the bow wave.

Just get me a reserved stool at the microbrewery near my layover hotel ;)

I would suggest asking a US 30 year WB CA how he feels about our system. I have already been beat out by guys with less seniority when I booked last minute. I didn't mind in the least because I was able to GUARANTEE myself on the next flight.

Plus.. I just flew with a CA that kept his "non smart" phone in his sock. Don't worry about the technical aspect of the system. We are not super high tech.

The true answer is: our system because it is the best out there.

Because with our system, it give you the ability to plan ahead. You look at the flights and if the jumpseat is booked, you make alternate plans and take a different flight.

On the other hand, once you have the Primary, you know you're getting on that flight with about 99% certainty.

With your way, that 23 year old new hire, could be planning on taking the flight and actually have the jumpseat and the 30 year widebody Captain waltzes up and takes it from him, flashes a smug smile and says "Sorry." Now the 23 year old new hire is scrambling to get work.

In my scenario, both flights go out with their original crews because the 30 year widebody Captain has made alternate plans because he knew in advance he wouldn't make that flight.

In your scenario, the flight goes out late (depending on when the reserve guy can get there) or cancels due to lack of crew. The 23 year old loses pay because he has to invoke the commuter policy. He also could face disciplinary action because he didn't make it work, all because the 30 year widebody Captain was hired first.

It's not a smartphone app to check in, it's an 800 number you call. Also, in my limited 18 months, I've never seen every single flight book up right at midnight 7 days out. It's normally never that hard to reserve a jumpseat.

Check PIT flights :)

PIT is the exception to EVERY rule.

I commute on the same city pair as the #2 guy at Airways. There have been times I've beaten him although that is tough as he is a block holder and I am a reserve. Anyway, the US jumpseat system is great solely because of the planning aspect of it. I have done it the other way for years and the stress is tenfold. This way I know if I book it I'm good to go.

Seniority is not everything and is way over blown in the industry. The 23 year old new hire needs to be able to get to work just as much as the 30 year widebody CA. Probably more so seeing as he's on probation.

It's an awesome system too bad we can't book the commuter jumpseats (huge can of worms!!).

Senior guy already makes 5X more money with 2x the days off than the new hire due to seniority. Bumping him at the gate last minute is just getting ridiculous and lazy...but hey, they're baby boomers that's what they do.

Losing what? It's a 45 second phone call with touch-tone prompts...is the old fart using a rotary phone?

There's no excuse for Senior guy not having reserved it in the first place, then junior guy could have made an alternate plan. And because it's reserved, senior guy also has the opportunity to find an OPEN flight instead of just showing up at the gate willy-nilly and hoping he's senior. It's very simple, and benefits everybody. Plan your commute. You'll get there.

In March I will celebrate my 50th anniversary, as things go, I'm pretty sure I will expire in the gate house waiting for a seat..

I've used the J/S line numerous times, and at times I've called it the day of. I have yet to find a flight booked. I'm sure I'll call one day to find someone's beaten me to the seat, but this fear that you'll call 6 days out to find every flight booked solid is, IMO, unfounded.

The corollary to this is that the one time I happened upon a flight that already had primary and alternate jumpseat riders listed, I knew I needed to make alternate plans. It's a great planning tool.

Plus, you can look on the non-rev list and see PRIs and ALTs listed, so you can make alternate plans before you even call.

The 30 year captain won't be watching from the terminal as the plane leaves, he will have made other arrangements because he knew a week ago that he wouldn't have the Jumpseat. That's the whole point, you know where you stand (or sit I guess in this case). No need to check loads the day before your commute, no stress driving to the airport, no stress sitting waiting to be cleared. It is almost like having a positive space ticket on the plane. Same thing going home, just knowing that I will make it home at a specified time is a real morale booster during a trip.

Additionally, until we get an SLI, it'd be the only way that we could have a joint JS. Of course, maybe that has to wait for the SLI anyway, I don't know.

The faster "the way we have always done it" crowd/mentality retires, the better off every one will be.

All,

Thanks for the info on the system. It's pretty much what I figured for planning purposes. I would add that none mention off schedule operations and cancellations which throws the senior guy making alternate plans out the window. As for the probationary guy who "needs it more"? Been there, done that, it sucks commuting.

As for someone mentioning PIT flights (which I guess is related to the past base closing), I think you will find several AA cities that make it look like a cake walk like DFW/MCO-MIA I'd say the average runs 5+ jumpseaters listed along with many deadheaders. Planning ahead? MIA Customs and afternoon TRW's throw that out the window.

As I said, I'm good either way. I don't know the hard numbers as to cabin seats available vs non-rev seniority in your system and how it plays out with losing seniority for the JS.

I always thought you guys had it backwards. Seniority for passes, FCFS-reservation for jumpseat. Oh we'll.

It's not that difficult, Tar heel. Try to keep up.

Keep up? 9 out of 10 of the AA policies we've adopted have been a step down, not up. I'm guessing that you never leave Frisco unless working, so no big deal for you either way. Don't you have a cow's rear end to check?

Sorta have to agree on R57 on this.....definitely scratching ones head on some of the things coming down the pike.

I did not have to wait long for one to show up. Have a nice day.

What sucks more than whatever policy changes coming is AA and a lot of planes only having 1 jumpseat. That's a huge blow.

MD80- 1 jump
737 - 1 jump (?)
757 - 1 or 2?
767 - 2
777 -2 (don't know if they do much domestic like CAL would do between hubs)

You have no idea, on the 767 only the CAPTAIN can call "LOC CAPTURED" and "GS CAPTURED." Only the captain makes PAs. It is like going back in time.

Did I mention I was on 777 pay? The captain can make all the calls he wants.

I enjoy the 18 point section on how to deliver a PA that I'm pretty sure hasn't changed since a PA system has been installed on an airliner.

Haven't got to that part yet. Still trying to memorize "below 240, flaps 1" no kidding.

Are they making us wear our headset over our hats yet or is that RC7 or RC9? Just for planning purposes when I come over next month.

So you shave first thing, huh? You have a great day too, pardner.

Anyone like the new Flt Pln format?! Makes sense?