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01-19-2024, 11:43 AM

#11

fcoolaiddrinker

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Joined APC: Dec 2012

Posts: 2,102

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProperMike

This is the polo-rization I mentioned before. If I was in full uniform, would that have helped my case in getting on that flight? I don’t think so. They completely dismissed my presence and my logic of letting me on the airplane. The gate agents knew I was a pilot, the manager knew I was a pilot, and I’m damn sure the captain of the flight knew that I was a pilot because the gate agents all knew I was a listed pilot for the flight when they went back down to tell him the situation. What makes you think the gate agent would tell the captain that I was a passenger if they all knew I was an employee of the airline? Again, are we saying that if commuting or nonreving, we need to do it in full uniform so that you can be positively ID’d by the captain through a window as being a Frontier pilot? Where does it end?

Let our ALPA jumpseat committee know about this. Thier good at dealing with these sort of issues. Got bumped by a swa dh pilot on swa. Told our jumpseat coordinator and the next week the same gate agent was apologizing to me.

These things happen especially with all the new people in the industry but the union needs to know about it so it can get fixed.

01-19-2024, 11:56 AM

#12

ProperMike

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Quote:

Originally Posted by fcoolaiddrinker

I don’t commute (fingers crossed) so I’ve never had to reach out to them. Per your advice, I’ll do that to make sure they are aware of the issue.

01-19-2024, 12:59 PM

#13

Salukipilot4590

ILL BEE DAT

Joined APC: Aug 2006

Position: Rollin' Down tha 405

Posts: 2,550

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProperMike

I was wearing my Frontier polo and black slacks, which my FO also wore. We packed out shirts and ties just in case they swapped us to fly a revenue flight, then we could toss our uniform shirts on. But otherwise, yes I looked professional, the other captain saw me and sent the gate agent up and things went downhill from there. My frustration lies in how long it took them to figure out whether I was the deadhead or not, they could have gotten me onto the airplane. But I couldn’t be more aggressive because then I’m just wrestling a pig in the mud and the other captain didn’t intervene on my behalf. That’s the portion that we need to do better with, looking out for each other in those moments where as a nonrev pilot you’re at the mercy of the gate agents.

You didn’t do anything wrong at all, sorry if it sounded like I was insinuating that you had.

I’m just flabbergasted at the thought of a pilot seeing another pilot with a badge waving trying to get on and NOT getting that pilot on.

01-19-2024, 01:12 PM

#14

ProperMike

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Salukipilot4590

No, you didn’t insinuate anything. My response was in reply to ColdWhiskey, which is there was only so much that I could have done better. I was polite, I was clear on my intentions, I was visible to all, but his argument was that I maybe had the wrong type of visibility to the flight crew.

My first officer and I both wound up in the cockpit of a Delta 321 for a four hour flight, so if it was sufficient for them, wouldn’t it be enough to stand out in the empty window of a terminal?

01-19-2024, 02:08 PM

#15

ColdWhiskey

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Joined APC: Jul 2009

Posts: 410

I wasn't suggesting that you did anything wrong, just giving the benefit of the doubt that the Captain may not have realized that you were a Frontier pilot. If that Captain did realize you were one of our pilots, shame on them for not helping to get you on.

I agree that going to your jumpseat representative is warranted. Hopefully some education can happen with the crew and/or gate agent.

This thread should also serve as education that we cannot leave it up to our gate agents to take care of our commuting crewmembers. We need to take an active part in assuring we are looking out for them.

Could you keep us updated on any future developments with the JS committee?

01-19-2024, 02:11 PM

#16

TheBear

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Joined APC: Nov 2023

Position: 727 Flight Engineer

Posts: 111

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProperMike

This is the polo-rization I mentioned before. If I was in full uniform, would that have…………Where does it end?

I award you 100 internet points.

01-19-2024, 02:18 PM

#17

biigD

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Joined APC: Oct 2010

Posts: 1,728

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColdWhiskey

With all due respect, this kind of thing shouldn't be specific to your own metal. I'm not Frontier, but if someone that looks like they might a pilot needing a ride - polo or otherwise - is waving at me through a window, you better believe I'm going to at least get out of my seat and run up to the gate area to investigate. Don't care who they work for.

01-19-2024, 02:34 PM

#18

ProperMike

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Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBear

I award you 100 internet points.

I’m not worthy.

I don’t know if everyone at F9 knows this, but business casual is acceptable for Part 91 reposition, ferry or maintenance flights, so if your flight number is 9xxx you can pack a uniform but fly in a polo and slacks.

01-19-2024, 02:47 PM

#19

TurboFanMan

Last To Know First To Go

Joined APC: Sep 2016

Posts: 605

I’ve asked the gate agent multiple times in multiple cities if there is any Jump seaters waiting. The answer I have gotten from them multiple times is NO, only to walk up myself and find Jump Seaters standing there. My point is this, I wouldn’t believe everything a gate agent tells you! I’m not so sure that captain knew exactly who you were. Maybe he or she did, but I have my doubts.Also if that captain did, I’d love to talk to that a***ole.

01-19-2024, 03:08 PM

#20

ProperMike

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Quote:

Originally Posted by TurboFanMan

I’m absolutely capable of giving them the benefit of the doubt. If they somehow read this and have a completely different understanding of what went down, of course I would want to hear it, because hearing their side being different from mine might remove the pilots from the equation completely and put this all on the gate agents. What I experienced yesterday was a complete failure of the system that is supposed to be in place to help us. This literally happens to the best of us. I just want to remind everyone that the worse the gate agents are, the better we need to be about things like this.