ATR35

Challenged Flight

Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee
Allied Pilots Association

Welcome to the Challenged Flight program. This initiative of your Jumpseat/Non-Rev Committee is designed to use communication, education and pilot initiative to improve the non-rev and jumpseat traveler experience on American Airlines flights.

American Airlines has historically been the worst airline for non-rev and jumpseat travel, and our collective treatment of other airlines' pilots has worsened in recent years. If the DOT measured the rate of failure to properly accommodate other airlines' pilots attempting jumpseat travel, American Airlines would rank dead last by an incomprehensible margin. Our airline's treatment of our fellow professional aviators should be an embarrassment to us all.

The dysfunction and pathetic treatment has reached a miserable level where our jumpseat travel on other airlines is now in jeopardy. All other airline pilot unions have expressed the fact that their patience is running out with American Airlines' treatment of their pilots. They are all considering action if we are unable to turn the tide of failure. Any concerted denial of jumpseat travel on other airlines would be a disaster for us all and especially for those of us who commute on other airlines.

Challenged Flight is the result of hours of deliberation and discussion amongst our Jumpseat Committee and other airline pilot unions' leadership. This initiative, when embraced by all American Airlines pilots, will raise our company's culture to match the industry standard. We and our fellow professional aviators from all airlines will benefit.

We can wait for management to improve the culture at American Airlines or we can take positive proactive steps to implement the culture we desire — a culture that respects the professional aviator.

EMBFlyer

D-10, Close the door, no exceptions!

ATR35

Worlds largest regional airline.
Going for dirt cheap definitely has setbacks.

SilverandSore

The first step to accepting responsibility is admitting your culture f'ing sucks. Good job APA, you're admitting you suck, perhaps now you can look outside of your little bubble and see that there are other, superior ways of doing things. Nah, who am I kidding? It's the company's fault!

aa73

Company instituted this current POS j/s system and OAL harassment despite APA's strong objections. But don't let the facts get in your way...

Carry on.

The Drizzle

Yeah, I don't see how the **** culture at AA in regards to non-rev/jumpseaters is an APA product. Smells of the ghosts of Crandall tbh.

Al Czervik

What's the take on the IVR (other that union guys that don't commute and don't use it) now that it's been in use? Your guys liking the dependability?

jcountry

Could have been prevented with a decent JCBA. AA sure wasn't responsible for dropping that ball.

If APA even halfway tried, we would have a great contract.

aa73

That ship sailed with lbfo2, followed by the MOU, two years prior to the jcba. The jcba was a simple signature that concluded the mou, nothing more. I do blame APA on the whole mou process...allowing P/K to revert to cost neutral arbitration was a huge mistake and completely stripped us of all leverage. Now...had we been ALPA back then, yes, I guarantee we would have come out way more ahead.

But, in the end, the IVR (or whatever it's supposed to be, sure as heck isn't the USAir system), was put in after the jcba with barely any notice and preparation, by management...despite APA and j/s committee's objections. Results speak for themselves.

aa73

I do like it, and the general feedback I get is that there are more who like it than dislike it. I just wish it was exactly what you guys had, instead of this abomination.