Mark,

The jumpseat empire is not really out of control, in my opinion. What it is, is a group of people, perhaps 10th grade dropouts, perhaps not, who are charged with the responsibility to maximize the utilization of the FedEx jumpseats. As part of their job, they administer a set of rules. If you cannot live by those rules, regardless of why, then you pay the price. That said, if you call in your reservation, instead of booking online, and then screw up, you have a much better chance of pleading your (whiney-assed) case. If you book online, the reservations agent cannot let you off the hook. Period. End of story. In 18 years I missed two jumpseats, one because of the very reason you use as an example, and the other, I just screwed up. In both cases, I called Mempho, got a hold of the j/s supervisor, pleaded my case, and was allowed to continue with my privileges. She told me that if I had booked online, there would have been nothing she could have done for me. That said, I'd try very hard to not make a habit of missing jumpseats, if for no other reason than you might be screwing a fellow crewmember.

JJ

 

This string is full of inaccuracies. Guys please don't hesitate to send outside queries to the jumpseat committee. As far as getting penalized, and to answer the only question that was really asked here...is yes you can be penalized--BUT--the union can easily get you out of it. In fact, they just did, for an off line, last week. It wasn't a cancellation it was something else--but the process is the same.

We negotiated one very important benefit here for off line pilots...and that is the reservation that they hold over a FedEx pilot. Why did we do it? So you wouldn't get left on Democrat Road at 3:00 A.M. However things have changed since then, with the addition of the day flying years ago. If abuse of this picks up...maybe it is time to revisit this policy? Although I will admit, missed cancellations and or abuse of it is very, very rare. The lesson to take from us continuing this practice, for now at least, though is... if you abuse it and don't take the time to cancel...you now hold an empty seat away from a FedEx pilot that graciously negotiated that benefit for you. That is exceptional in the jumpseat world. In fact it is industry leading. No one gives us that kind of reciprocity--so abuse is major BAD JU-JU. Mistake once...whatever. Mistake twice...hmm maybe you should not have that privilege over a FedEx pilot.