CloudSailor

Does anyone on here have recent experience jumpseating internationally, originating in Europe to the U.S., on United, Delta, or American?

I used to be much more familiar with this, but haven't done it in a while. I know it can be difficult/impossible to list ahead of time as a jumpseater. Any recommendations are welcome. Thank you.

MaydayMark

Cloud,

Back in the NWA days, I know we had jumpseat privileges ANYWHERE they flew including all of their International destinations. I "think" that's still the policy with DAL?

Recommend that you contact our FDX ALPA Jumpseat Committee for latest guidance ...

http://fdx.alpa.org/CommitteesAK/Jum...4/Default.aspx

CloudSailor

Thanks MM.

Yeah, I jumpseated on NWA internationally before the merger, and they were great. Hopefully DAL has kept those policies in place.

I'll look for guidance with our Jumpseat Committee, although recent experiential advice would also be very welcome.

Brokenwind

Delta are good. They have a large European network to a diverse number of US cities.
Depending on your city of origin you will find many non-revenue/employees trying to do what you want to do. International JS is limited to cabin seat only, so there has to be room in back.
AMS and CDG are their biggest European cities with several daily departures to multiple cities on the US East coast and more (DTW). You need to be listed at least 75 minutes prior to the flight (departure), it's a TSA requirement and if you're checking in at the ticket counter 74 minutes prior, you will be blocked by the system. It's walk-up only, no listing online or by phone.
Depending on city pair, you will be charged $65-$75 in departure/airport taxes at the ticket office/counter and will proceed to the check in counter as a jumpseater and make your way to the gate for seat assignment. I've been doing this for many years, just make sure you have a plan B.
Getting bumped at the gate means you have to start all over again at the ticket counter 75 minutes before your next try which also means you have to re-enter the country and pass through customs again, etc...

A good way back is on Atlas from LUX to HSV. LUX is easy to reach by train from anywhere in Europe and the crew hotel is across the street from the train station. Hassle free and comfortable...

Good luck and breathe easy...

Raptor

I jump seat back to the USA about twice a year from vacation. I've always found it very easy. But, I do my homework ahead of time and look at seat load factors (through someone you know at the airline, "almost" booking a ticket on the airline's website to look at seat inventory, etc). I travel on off days generally (Tuesday through Thursday) and in the off season of October through April. I also take a look at the airline flight schedules and pick off cities if I can. A lot of family, friends, and employees use their travel benefits too and they will fill the Delta flights to ATL for example. As a jumpseater, you are the last to board behind ANY other non-rev travelers. I try to find a city pair, like CDG-CVG on Delta that leaves AFTER the ATL flight and have had great success getting aboard as all the non-revs with priority ahead of me fill the ATL flight.

My last trick is listing for the seat ahead of time so I make sure I meet the cut off times (60 minutes to 2 hours depending on the airline). There are three ways to do this: 1) go to the ticket counter for the airline when you arrive in CDG/AMS/CHR and pay your taxes/fees for your outbound--that will create a listing. 2) Call up the airline (or use a listing tool for AA--see the ALPA J/S info) and ask for a "meal" listing, tell them you're planning on jump seating back and want to meet TSA requirements for listing in advance and use the terminology "meal listing" or "non-rev listing" as airline reservation agents understand that. Even though you are not non-revving, that meal listing will fulfill the TSA requirements or, 3) pay your taxes and fees for the return flight in advance at any airport ticket counter, or special services desk in a terminal. I generally do option 3 as it's easy, although you may find some counter agents who don't do it a lot and it may take some time. I try to find an international ticket agent if I can as they generally have done it before--note that a ticket window agent is necessary, not just any bag drop off agent.

These prepaid taxes/fees "tickets" for your potential return flight are refundable. Several times, I haven't been sure of the airline I want to come back on and have purchased two or three taxes/fees "tickets" in advance for returns from CDG and ATH, for example. When I arrive at the airport for my return flight, I go to both check in counters (always try to avoid checked bags when jump seating) and process with my taxes/fees ticket in hand. When I get back to the states, I just go to the airline I didn't fly with and refund my taxes/fees ticket.

If you want to jump seat over to Europe, it's very easy too. No taxes or fees are involved. Just go to the counter or gate and ask to list just as you would for a jump seat within the states. Just be a decent time in advance and it will work fine as you don't want the stink eye by walking up while they are very busy.

I've jump seated internationally within the past two years on Delta, United, US Airways, and American and have had no problems. Many airlines can't jump seat internationally on American, but FedEx pilots can (don't know if UPS or other cargo carriers can). One of the great perks of jump seating internationally over non-revving is that you get to interact with the crew getting permission to fly with them. This almost always results in an invitation to sit up front if the seats are available.

CloudSailor

Brokenwind, Raptor,

Thanks for the great gouge! I really appreciate it.

cp44fla

Looks like you already got good gouge...... But I used US Air FCO-CLT in September. Really, REALLY easy. Got to the ticket counter 2.5 hours early. Listed, paid taxes and that was it.
I did call the reservation line of a few different carriers the night before to get an idea of loads. Good luck!

Brokenwind

Just to add to Raptors gouge...

There is a bonus to the interaction with the flight deck in the way of a "field upgrade" (space permitting). However, I make a point of always stopping in at the duty free and picking up a large bag of candy (good chocolates) and after formalities with the front end I give the lead FA the goodies for the back end crew to share.

Most likely you won't see the pilots again inflight and as it is the pilots' mutual professional (reciprocal) agreement in the first place, we always think of it as an even trade, as they are free to get a JS from us too.
However, the appreciation from the FA's for the little token of respect you just showed them goes a long, long way no matter where you end up (near front or back). I have received more attention from the FA's in economy on some occasions with that small gesture of goodwill, than on some flights in Business Class.

Just a little trick to make the flight go really well for everyone...

Breathe easy...

CloudSailor

Yes indeed, high quality chocolates go a long way. Even when jumpseating on freighters.

B727DRVR

Hey Cloud,

I would definitely wear your uniform when jumpseating internationally. Also, when jumpseating on the way out of the US, I always ask the crew where their crew hotel is and actually try to ride in with the crew so they know to expect a jumpseater. Some might consider that overkill, but I have been saved by that tactic more than once when the crew came out looking for me while I was trying to convince a new gate agent that I needed to be on that flight.

Good luck..