Jumpseat listing etiquette
 

Just wanted people's opinions....what is the proper etiquette for listing for a jumpseat with regards to first come first serve. I only ask because I had the experience of showing up at the gate an hour and a half prior to departure. Obviously the gate agent wasn't there at the time so I took a seat to wait for her to show up. A half hour later another pilot showed up and stood by the counter. I am pretty sure he saw me but he stood there and as soon as the gate agent showed up he listed before I did. From people's experiences should I stand by the counter the whole time until the gate agent shows up? Thanks for any imput

If you really want the seat, you'd best be on your feet. Having said that, while walking up if I spot a fellow pilot sitting in the gate area nearby and it's clear the person was there before me, I do the courteous thing and ask if they have already listed.

Same here. Not like other JS'ers are hard to pick out, even out of uniform. But I'll always scan the area and look for "usual suspects" and say hi and ask if they're waiting, etc.

Sadly, there's a TON of people that have ZERO etiquette.

And because of that, better stand in line until the agent shows up.

In fairness, you really cant say "Well, I was here 3 hours ago, there was no gate agent, so I hold a virtual spot in line if I choose to go walk the airport vs the pilot who stands in line and waits.

Now there was a time when I was number 5 in line for the gate, another JS saw me, and then walked to the customer service counter 3 spots down and listed ahead of me...kind of shady..is what it is. Karma gonna get him

If you're there really early, what about nicely asking a gate agent at another gate to check you in after the other flight completes boarding? Is that "just being first" or "cutting in line"? Obviously don't ask a busy gate agent to spend time on another later flight, but if the gate agent isn't in a hurry...? I've seen it done so is that Cool or Tool?

*edit* - and I don't mean going to a less-busy gate to jump ahead of people already in line... I'm talking about something like 3 hrs early when there is NOBODY waiting yet.

Well shoot. Maybe when I get off my commute Friday morning I'll just have a "less busy" agent list me for my commute next Tuesday. That should be ok, right?

I know thats an extreme to make a point but in all seriousness, it seems like "cutting the line" to me. Don't most airlines have a 1 hour cutoff for offline/walk-up jumpseaters to avoid just that kind of situation? There's gotta be a line somewhere, right? The only time I've seen an offline jumpseater listed well ahead of time is when they were rolled from an earlier flight to a later one. Even in that situation, I'm not 100% sure how I feel about it. Missing a flight sucks sure, but how does missing a flight 3 hours ago give you priority on the list? Seems to me that if we're going to be fair to everyone, the listing gets cancelled if you dont make it on and we ALL roll the dice again at one hour prior to the next flight.

In the end, most of us commute by choice, and most all of us have a commuter policy. Im not going to allow myself to get wrapped around the rails is someone checks in ahead of me using a less than standard way. It is what it is...take it if you need it that bad, if I cant make it, ill call work and they can buy me a ticket or ill head back home.

Its a long career...

I'm with you 100%...going to work. But there's no commuter policy with the wife and kids.

I've been commuting across the country for a decade. Personally, I think that was pretty lame of that guy to do that. Even if he flew for the carrrier you were jumping he could have at least told you so so you could plan accordingly and run to your back up. If I show up and see another pilot in the boarding area I'll walk up and introduce myself and ask if they're jumping the flight I'm going for. It sure seems like basic decent manners to me to list after someone who is already waiting. But I'm sure this thread will go on for many pages as guys point out how I'm wrong and justify their poor behavior.

Yea, exactly! Its more an issue going home.