Two Jumpseating Questions
 

Two questions for any jumpseating experts:

1. Our pocket calendar says that NW will allow up to 2 off-line jumpseaters. Does anybody know if they will take more than that, assuming empty seats in the back? Will they allow you in the cockpit seat if the cabin is full and if so where do you put your bag? I'm assuming there is a limit to the amount of stuff you can take either way, but figure it would be more if you had to sit in the cockpit.

2. Anybody jumped on Frontier out of Denver? If so, how easy is it (the calendar says multiple jumpseaters) and do you need to get a "boarding pass" at the counter before you go to the gate in order to get through security? It also says to call to list, is that absolutely necessary to do in advance? Does it give you any assurance of a ride (assuming Captain's approval) as ours does, or are you still at the mercy of open seats in the back?

Thanks in advance for any info, I've been here over 5 but only off-line jumped once and it was a while ago. I don't want to goof it up too bad.

My understanding of both NWA and Delta is that if there is an open seat in the back they will put a J/S on it.

I second that, (from a senior ALPA member at Northwest)...they now are unlimited in the back.

I've j/s on NW where there was more than 2. I've also jumpseated on Frontier, but not out of DEN, just into DEN. I quit commuting out of DEN a yr ago, but I quit getting the boarding passes a couple years prior, but as you know, its ever fluid at DEN!

I hardly ever pre-list, except with the CSAs at the ticket counters!

Frontier is great to j/s on. Any seat in the back is available. It helps if you call their reservation number and list for the flight. Tell them you're j/sing. Both times I'm j/s'd the F/A or Captain gave me free TV service. Thanks!

I've gone to the ticket counter before and they gave me a boarding pass for the wrong flight. The gate agent will give you your boarding pass, so need to go to the ticket counter unless you don't trust TSA through screening.

I jump seated to DEN on NW from MEM a couple weeks ago. There were 3 of us on the flight, all in the back.

I second F9 out of Denver. I try and use them almost exclusively out of Denver for both ticketed flights and jumpseating. The corporate culture is great from to check-in to takeoff and you'll find that 99+% of the flight crews are very accomodating and will work to get you a ride if you need it. I am a little biased because I flew with a lot of their guys at a previous airline. They are unlimited in the back and have 2 in the front if need be. Furthermore, they are actually weight restricted less often because they operate the 319 instead of the 320.

They will sit you up front if necessary. I went to San Antonio for personal reasons awhile back. The flight was completely full. The captain let me sit up front.

Frontier hasn't been very good lately. I have done it both ways...I have gone straight to the gate and I have gone to the ticket counter to get a pass before proceeding to the gate. Both ways have ended up with the quad "S" code. I have had to go all the way back through screening and bring the "cleared" boarding pass back. The times I have gone to the counter, I get probed by the TSA, then have to show the proof of it...

They claim they can't clear quad "S" codes because they are being audited. They also claim that as a non-frontier employee you automatically get the S probing. I have had this happen going and coming. I am the only one?

Once all of the probing is complete, Frontier is GREAT! The pain getting on the plane is crazy! Also, I have listed everytime early and I still get the PAIN. Maybe I should change my name from Graabir Boubi to Jeff Smith or something simple...:D

In MEM I got the SSSS but the other FDX j/ser didn't. go figure. Never gotten it in DEN

When I jumpseat it helps if I am in uniform, less probing, get to go through the crew line for the x-ray, and do not need to go to the counter, just show ID to TSA and proceed to the x-ray machines.

If you hate the superhero outfit that much just change once past security. I usually just sleep in the uniform, the epillates (sp) catch the drool better than the polo shirts anyways.:D

I usually do the quick change after I find the right gate. If anybody asks why I just tell 'em I'm changing so I don't have to answer stupid a$$ questions anymore. :mad:

Thanks for the info. Hopefully I can catch a ride on Sunday with them.

Oh, I forgot to mention, Sundays are the worst days to j/s on Frontier. ;)

Actually, if you're trying to catch the evening flight on Sunday, I've done that twice in the last month or so. The plane was only half full, or was it half empty? :rolleyes: No problems getting on. Surprisingly though, the TSA line was long. But I had no difficulty going through the employee/elite status line.

Here we go again....please refrain from talking about security issues on this forum. If you feel you need to tell everyone how to bypass security or other little secrets, please do it elsewhere. This is a public forum and anyone can read it.

Ok, how about another question for the Denver folks.

Saturday afternoon, trip arrives around 1709L, figure I will get to the parking lot of the FedEx ramp about 1730, hopefully a car left for me in the lot.

World Series game at Coors Field at 1800, what are my chances of getting downtown in vicinity of the stadium by game time? Wondering what traffic might be like on a Sat afternoon with the game going on.

Yes I have a ticket, just wondering if I could possibly make it to the stadium in the 30 minutes that the google map says it would take without traffic delays. Any good satelite parking areas on the way with bus service to the stadium?

Thanks again for the info.

Actually I am hoping to get out of town early Sun morning to PHX. So far it looks like there might be some room.

Are you arriving at the cargo ramp or via commercial? Getting to Coors field on that time line from the passenger terminal is probably not doable. I live in Denver, and I live by the stadium. It usually takes me about 75-90 minutes to walk off the airplane (pax terminal) to walk in my front door. From the parking lot to my place, no traffic, usually about 35-40 minutes.

The hang up is waiting for the employee bus to land side parking. And if I'm not mistaken, the cargo bus runs only every half hour (from the pax term). This could extend your wait if you miss one.

And yes, you can bank on traffic around the stadium to be a cluster. I was down there for a playoff game, total zoo.

And as far as using F9, I've been commuting on them for 7 years. ALWAYS list on the phone prior. Gate agents seem much happier when you do this, especially when they are busy. Some stations have a time cut-off, if you are not listed and checked in by X minutes prior to go time, too bad. IAH is an example.

As far as avoiding the SSSS goes, just list for round trip.

BTW, how did you get a ticket? The online sales system they used in Denver this week was completely screwed up. I gave up after an hour of being online trying to purchase.

The game won't actually start until about 6:30 since this is the first game at Coors field. They'll introduce the starting lineups for both sides before the game like they did last night. That will give you a little more time.

Yea, how did you get a ticket?

Thanks for the info guys.

As for the tickets, I was on the computer here in Memphis at 1pm local when they went on sale. My younger brother who lives in Thornton had 4 computers set up in an effort to get tickets and my mom in Phoenix had their computer online trying to get tickets as well.

For whatever reason, I was able to get through to the server and got tickets for my brother for each game. I used his credit card number and he was able to pick them up yesterday at the box office. We are completely baffled how I was able to get through during the feeding frenzy, they were never able to get past the countdown page. I was on two computers for about 2.5 hours, although only 1 was able to get through during the whole thing.

It feels like I hit the lotto for him, he was really excited about getting the tickets. We went to game 2 of the NLCS in PHX with my father and another brother and now he will be able to say he went to a WS game. My dad is flying in for the game as well, so if I can make it that would be cool.

If I can get released from work early enough I will just try to jump in on an earlier flight, but the 1709 flight is my last resort. My brother will leave a car for me at the FedEx ramp and I will meet them at the game if that is the only way I can get there.

Uh, the employee/elite line is clearly marked with a nice sign at DIA. Maybe you should have them hide too, maybe behind one of the big potted trees! ;)

To get to the FedEx ramp, you need to catch the Cargo Shuttle. It departs (can't remember the door number, I just know how to get there when I do it - same side as Burger Whop, one level down, far right, I think). It departs the terminal on the hour and half hour, arrives at the FedEx ramp at :10 and :40. You will NOT make the start of the game! :(

You'd be better off if he left the car at the airport parking closest to the terminal. You'll pay for parking, but you'll save yourself 15-45 mins!

But I'll be coming in on a FedEx flight. I would just have to walk outside and jump into the car. Still no chance of making it?

Ah, gotcha. Thought you were coming the main terminal! You're golden! If you block in on time, you could be driving away by 1720. Might not make it by 1800, but depending on parking could make it by 1830.

One more dumb question. Is it OK to JS on northwest for personal travel?

Actually, they prefer that. If you are jumpseating when you should be deadheading you might get some grief from the ASSO.

I thought it was ok to j/s to/from work as long as you didn't have a confirmed ticket on the flight. I think most would understand that our bank doesn't always cover the cost of a ticket, so sometimes we have to grovel...

Am I mistaken on this?:confused:

Jumpseating is supposed to be for personal travel or commuting to/from work. If there's a ticket authorized, you're supposed to spend the ticket money. If you're found to have been issued a ticket, but jumpseated instead, you could jeopardize jumpseat privileges for ALL of us! Don't do it. The pax carriers need every ticket dollar they can bring in. If you have to chip in some to make up a shortfall in the bank, do it.