You're wrong; it is NOT a 'privilage'. It is a negotiated BENEFIT. And YES, you request to ride the jumpseat, not show up and say "I'll be riding in your jumpseat!" The company OWNS the j/s, but the CAPTAIN decides who rides in it---PERIOD.
its always up to the captain…oversold flight going back to training, I talked to the gate agent and they gave up my seat up and got approval from the company so name was on the release to sit up front… the first thing the captain says to me is how old are you kid, and why should I let you sit up here? He seemed a little crusty but as soon as the door closed by far one of the best captains I’ve had the privilege to jump with so far. And some home on my flight back home it was the same guy, made for some good talk, but aviation is a real small world
