Myself and another individual were attempting to js on frontier last Friday from iah to atl on the 545 pm flight. The sky train in iah wasn’t working properly and we got to the gate at 520 pm . Flight was closed already. In addition, there were atleast 20-25 paying pax who showed up around the same time . Gate agents didn’t care , did not attempt to help in any way, just didn’t care .
Turned everyone away . Ac was still at the gate and it was more than 25 prior .
The other js and myself were wondering if the captain knew what was happening at the gate and is this standard practice now at frontier?
I was fine , got on a different flight but the pay pax were told to wait until thx next day to get rebooked . It was insane .

 

Report this to your jumpseat coordinator please.

 

Door closes at 20 prior now which is absurdly early IMO. I’ve heard stories of IAH being problematic. As F-cool said please send a report.

 

tried to get a gate agent to reopen the flight when 5 people where there 20 mins early a couple days ago heading to ATL. They refused to reopen the flight sighting it was too much work.

WE CANT EVEN DROP THE BREAK going to ATL or in general until 10 mins prior.

we need to bring GA in house… it’s very frustrating.

 

At most airlines they can go early if all *revenue* pax are accounted for, they may need dispatch permission but it's common enough.

No airline is going to hold the door open just in case some OAL commuters might be coming. Nothing the JS committee can do about that.

Now I did see a gate agent get in trouble once because she let a plane go early right before I and five other deadheads from a late inbound rolled up. By the time phone calls were made, the plane had taken off.

After more phone calls and discussion, they ended up having the plane return Otherwise our am departure from the outstation would have cancelled. Turns out that while deadheads are technically nonrevs, they are also "must ride". Oops.

 

The airline's bell ought to jingle just a little for 35 passengers waiting at the gate, hitchhikers not withstanding.

 

Totally understand this point of view, but they way our contractor gate agents do it is so much worse then other airlines.

we leave so many people that would never have a problem with any other airline.

 

Interesting discussion I witnessed at recurrent...

According to the union, we do NOT NEED PERMISSION to leave 11+ early. We must COORDINATE with dispatch - whatever you take that to mean - but it's not permission.

 

I have made the call to SOC before. It has always worked when I am sure they are breaking the rules. I’m not going to let a $5 per hour employee jeopardize my multimillion dollar retirement if I can help it.

 

Just finished up another round at the school house this week. AL the new flight ops VP was in and this was brought up.

They stated the leaving of pax is totally unacceptable and the memo from both him and BB is to not leave pax behind in these sorts of circumstances. Said to absolutely get involved, call SOC if need be and get the people on, use common sense, etc.

We asked for this to be put in writing in an official memo to the pilot group and that they should also communicate this with the agents, so they aren't constantly fighting us due to being at fear for their own jobs.

They said they will be sending something out, but we will see if that eventuates. But apparently BB was unaware of these things happening and also agrees it's unacceptable and needs to stop. But it's their policies that have created the issue.