Originally Posted by Bernoulis 2nd

Just after DFW base closed for ASA, found myself on reserve. I had one day off in between reserve block and was trying to catch the last flight home before the off day to see the wife and newborn daughter. Was jump-seating on a company RJ and the FO was having trouble getting the whiz wheel to allow the weight. The captain, in true Captain form, trying to get me on, takes the whiz wheel, does his magic and shows the FO that we are just on the line, good to go. He looks back at me and says strap in, but not soon enough, the FO grabs the whiz wheel with his fat pudgy fingers, starts running the numbers again. The Captain, looks at him and tells him he just ran it, and we are good. The FO doesnt take the hint well, and starts verbalizing ever step of running the numbers with the whiz wheel. For those that remember those things, give it to 10 different pilots and you would get 10 different answers, they weren't exactly the most exact science. Long story short, the FO keeps reiterating that he cant make it work, the Captain takes a long sigh, and tells me better luck next time. I never forgot the frog lipped FO, and was hoping that one day he would try to get onto one of my flights, but alas, I was never blessed with the opportunity.

Originally Posted by 80ktsClamp

When I was brand new at DL, I commuted from DTW-LGA.

I had a 0800 or so report the next morning, and was grabbing a 1800ish flight to LGA on NW to make sure I gave myself 2 flights for commuting.

As luck would have it, I was in line for the jumpseat in front of an AA guy. I was 26 at the time, so pretty dang young looking for a DL pilot. I notice the AA guy in line behind me, turn around, smile and greet him.

His response to me saying hi: "What regional do you work for? I have to go to LGW tonight. I really need to get to NYC."

I look down at his badge, look back up at him... "I work for the regional that flies to more places in europe than your carrier does" and turned back around.

He pleads a couple more times with london and asking me where I'm going...(full flight and a 757, so one jumpseat), needless to say he was going to need to jump on the next flight after showing that attitude.

Ironically, I'm pretty sure he was the AA guy I had fudged the numbers to get on the jumpseat in the CRJ about a year earlier.

Originally Posted by ShyGuy

So he thought (and legitimately so, come on, you were 26) that you were a RJ FO, and you decided to respond like that? If that's the story, I'd have to say the tool here wasn't the AA pilot.

Originally Posted by 80ktsClamp

Yeah, there is nothing toolish about trying to talk another guy out of the jumpseat by repeatedly saying how you have an international flight to fly that night...

Originally Posted by ShyGuy

I would have responded, "I'm sorry...... my pet cricket has restless leg syndrome......."

0.5% of airline pilots would have gotten the reference.

Originally Posted by ShyGuy

Eh, he's establishing he has work. You could have easily coutered that you had a flight to XXX at [whatever time]. When's his flight leaving? Tonight? I will say this, the times I have commuted, if I'm going in the day before (and like you, I have two-three options) and another guy is trying to go on that same flight with work that same night, I'll relieve the seat. I've done that a couple times. Sounds like he was desperate because his departure was that same night. Your's wasn't.

Edit: I don't mean to judge, I wasn't there!

Originally Posted by D B Cooper

Pair of VA pilots, chose to take Jumpseats so they can get Pax on, while, I am standing at the gate. Both refused to look at me as they walked past and flight left.