The best time to delete this was before you posted it. The second best time is right now.

Wait until you miss a flight due to flight attendant turbulence safety seats. They literally block passenger seats from non-rev use so the flight attendants have safety seats available to sit in during turbulence. Of course paying passengers are allowed to occupy these seats so better hope if they are really needed, the flight isn’t completely full of paying passengers.

To me the above is more infuriating than payload optimization. It’s punishing employees. If those seats really are needed for safety, no one should sit in them.

Are you talking about me or the OP? As soon as he said payload optimization, every 320 guy here knew what happened and also knew that if revenue is getting bumped, an OAL JS has zero chance of getting on.

Get hired at Delta as a pilot and then you'll be able to get the jump seat . Problem solved.

This. 100% this!

To include FAs who are using the FA jumpseats. I’ve seen jumpseating FAs in the “safety seats” vs in the actual seat. God forbid if a jump seating pilot were to sit in one of those. They may not have a union, but the FA mafia is strong.

I fully understand the complaint about payload optimization. They put that label on a flight and it’s an excuse. The better captains I’ve worked with are proactive and figure out early if a jumpseater is trying to get on. Many times we can take them once we know the numbers. “Payload Optimized” is an easy excuse to tell someone no. If all parties involved would put in some effort we can, in many cases, still get a fellow pilot home.

It starts with walking up to the captain in the gate area and introducing yourself, not avoiding eye contact and hoping they come up and check on you 10 minutes before push.

This a common experience.

When I see 5 pilots loitering in the gate area and no one says “hi”, I assume they’re all on company deadheads or purchased tickets.

You’re the one asking for a favor.

Ask.

(Yes, I get tight connections. Your just-in-time commuting plans are not my problem).

wait so you’re old enough to hold a grudge over prior JS rules but you don’t understand how payload optimization works and how that’s not unique to Delta? Quick Look at your brief post history gives us all the information we need.