Offline Jumpseat "Checking in"
 

I recently had a sour experience deadheading on a revenue ticket. CA happy assumed I was jumpseating because I was in uniform so decided to pull me into the galley while deplaing and asked me why I did not check in. My response was just as I stated, I was a Revenue customer on a paid deadhead. His claim was that we should still check in with them as fellow crew members. I bit my tongue and just walked out.

Now this was an anomaly I understand, but it got me thinking. What the hell is the point even if I am an actual jumpseater, with an assigned seat in the back, of "Checking in." Seems like an old time tradition bought from older generation Captains that has just continued on. I've had multiple pilots come "Check in" with me in the past on a single flight who have an assigned seat in the back. I’m friendly and appreciate the gesture but to me it’s just ridiculous. In no situation unless you are belligerently drunk or not wearing clothes am I going to say “nah you can’t sit in the back”.

Furthermore it interrupts crew and (although I was taught not to do this) people will still “Check in” with you in the middle of a checklist. It also backs up and slows boarding. Personally if you have a seat in the back I don’t give a damn. Sit down and shut up. We don’t require pax to come check in with the captain for approval to sit in a seat in the back, why are we making vetted airline crew do it.

If jumpseating it’s up to the captain to allow you to ride or not. His right not yours. Each company has their agreements and rules.
You don’t have to like it and you don’t have to Junpseat either.
I’ve had the experience you had with a paid ticket and riding in uniform and I professionally and politely told the captain I do not have to check in. He didn’t like it and couldn’t do anything about it. Not my problem.

I'm just spitballing here but did he have his hat on and describe himself as a Servant Leader in his predeparture galley PA?

Completely agree… my philosophy.

If you’re not sitting in a jumpseat, stow your $—t, sit down, and get out of the way.

if you’re in a FA jumpseat, let me know you’re there and that your qualified to do so, so that when I get the WB and it has extra FAs on it, I know it’s right.

if your sitting with us up front, have the obvious docs that I can see ready, then kindly stay out of the way till we’re ready to go. If you’re qualified to sit in a FD jumpseat, then you should know what we’re busy doing and know the drill.

No servant leader speech. But I did get the privilege of being stared down, with the guy in the hat, as I walked up the aisle to exit all the way from row 32.

Personally I like jumpseaters to check in for no other reason than I know you got on the plane and aren't getting left behind.

All of my commutes are offline. 95% of the time I end up in the back, but I'll still pop my head in and say hi and tell them I listed for the JS but got a seat in the back. Obviously I'll wait til any checklists/briefs are done before I say anything to not interrupt their flow. It's also not hard to pull my bags up and stand by the lav in order to make sure everyone behind me in line can continue to board. My thoughts are since it's always offline and since the JS is the CAs (even if I'm in the back) it's still just common courtesy to check in with them.

Also, when I'm operating a flight and I see 3 people are listed for the JS, if 3 people come up and just say hi and let us know they got on then I know they all got accomidated. If only 1 comes up and checks in then I'm probably wondering if the other 2 were accomidated and do the walk up to the gate to make sure that A) there was no buffoonery with the GA and B) that I'm not going to push with 2 open jump seats in the FD, not knowing if the other 2 listed got on or not.

Idk, maybe my philosophy is wrong, but I've never had an issue doing a quick check in offline, and I've always appreciated the check in when I'm operating, just so I know fellow commuters made it on.

Maybe I came off as a Jacka**, But I have zero problem with people checking in. Its the fact that some guys get upset or nasty if someone doesnt. It shouldnt be a requirement.

I also never trust Gate Agents in letting me know there are jump seaters on a flight. I always walk up to the gate once boarding is done to make sure there is no one waiting up there...

Yes I get this. I by no means get upset if someone comes and checks in , and as I mentioned I appreciate the gesture. But it should not be required or guys should not get upset at people if they dont want to do it. I always go up to the gate after boarding is complete to make sure there is no one left behind.

For sure, lol. I would always assume a pilot in uniform is PS/DH if he does not check in with me. If (big if) I would check in with him, it would not be confrontational.

And as a 25 year commuter, this is what I do:
List for JS, doesn't matter if uniform or not, cockpit or cabin seat, check in with the captain, it's his seat to give.
List for nonrev/DH/PS/own ticket, in uniform tell FA I'm not a JS, in case the captain asks. Not in uniform, tell the FA I'm airline to get a free drink.

I agree cabin seat should function like nonrev. Skip the awkward dance with FAs and boarding pax and just take your seat.

But not everybody sees it that way, their prerogative, and I don't know who's who so I'm going to check in.

If you are a jumpseater (cockpit or cabin jumpseat) you are obligated to check in. That is all. Let’s keep it simple.

“Checking in” as a DH isn’t a thing. Ever. YGBFSM, how absurd. Laugh in his face and walk away. I’d love to see that guy to call the CPO about it. A call from Pro Stans might be in order for him.

Checking in as a an JS is expected, however. Seat in back or not. You’ll ride regardless, but I always appreciate the courtesy, P or FA, of asking, not telling me you’ve got a seat in back. Not enough courtesy in society anymore.

I always check in regardless of the situation if for anything to see if I know anybody up there. With friends all over the place, you never know when you'll bump into a former college classmate, regional pal, etc....

Yeah when I said "cabin seat" I meant JS status with seat in back.

I don't check-in for nonrev, DH, revenue ticket etc. If it's company and not congested I might say hi in case I know somebody.

For those who might be inclined to hunt down and school cabin jumpseaters, just don't. If you really must, better be sure they're an actual JSer. I got detained by an RJ CA once when on a revenue ticket, profiled because I had a crew bag (despite sporting both civvies and a beard). He pointed out that I didn't check in and asked what my travel status was, so without saying a word I got out my skymiles platinum card... he looked terrified, must have been hoping to flow to mainline DL. He hadn't quite pushed me to the point of actually complaining to DL.

Agreed on the first paragraph.

second paragraph maybe you missed it but the OP said he was a ticketed passenger. I see Netjets UPS and FedEx guys doing this often. This is why nobody should be calling a uniform or a crew bag passenger out for not "checking in". Some people just make this job harder than it's needs to be. It seems to revolve around the god like captain types.

Maybe I wrote poorly, but that's not what I said at all. FWIW, my second paragraph didn't apply to the OP in any way - it was only germane to the resulting discussion.

Let me try the second part another way. Unless you are have a Jumpseat boarding pass (P1, P2, FA1, FA2...), not only is "checking in" absolutely not ever required, personally I'd prefer you don't. Only if you do have a JS boarding pass, I personally think you should stop by (with your licence/medical at the ready), at least tell me you are here, and preferably give me the courtesy of pretending to ask permission. I get that part is contrary to some here, and that's fine. But that my 2 cents.

I buy revenue tickets to get to work sometimes around major holidays, and usually travel in uniform.

This right here.

Deadheaders, don't care. If you wanna say hi, cool, if not, also cool. Unless you know, you're *special*

Good grief! These types drive me insane! It’s purely an ego thing for them.

What the hell does he want pilots to say to him? “Well hello your majesty, I’m John Baker. How are you doing today, Mr. Aviation God? Permission to ride sir? I’ve got coffee for you and your FO, even though I’m deadheading in the back.” Is that good enough for these ego maniacs??? What’s next? Does he want a salute, too???

I might be wrong here but if you aren’t dedicated or enrolled with the airline, even if the gate gives you a seat in the back, the FARs require you to “check in” with Captain. Say a Spirit pilot wants to ride on Delta for example. The Spirit pilot lists as other airline jumpseat. Delta flight is wide open and gets seat in back. Spirit pilot is still traveling under Cass jumpseat agreement and must check in per the FARs. Can someone chime in on this? (I’m not Spirit or Delta just using those as examples).

I check in every time if I used my JS privileges no matter there I am sitting. Sorry if I am annoying you. I make it short and don't interrupt ever. I expect the same in return.

Like I said, I will always check in when I am JS-ing, regardless if I have a seat in the back, because JS is at captain's discretion. Me on a DH/PS/NR in uniform is none of his business. Dude like that, I would just ask for a CSR to explain to him he can't treat paying customers that way. Would love to see him squirm himself out of that one.

If you’re riding in the back I think it’s important to check in so that the captain knows you got on the plane. If I see there is a jumpseater when I first talk to the gate agent and he isn’t there by 10-15 prior I’ll walk up to see if there is any tomfoolery going on. JMHO

We're not discussing operational details of cockpit access, but for cabin seats the FAA really doesn't care, you might as well be a nonrev. Access to the cockpit requires some specific procedures, as we all know. Access to the cabin does not.

A few airlines have an official policy of don't bother the crew when granted a cabin seat, and the gate will tell you that. I wish we all did, but oh well.

Absolutely agree with the JS part. It’s just I’ve been hearing a lot more lately, mostly from freight guys that are PS on ONE particular legacy carrier where this same thing has been happening. It’s just ridiculous. These guys need to lighten up and just let it go. Who the hell cares (unless they were of course, listed for JS) whether that deadheader ‘checked in’ or not?

My shop sends out frequent reminders that the jumpseat is at the Captain’s discretion, regardless of where the jumpseater sits. So, stopping by the cockpit is appropriate if given a seat in the back. . DH/non rev/regular ticket? If you want to say hi, great. If not, no biggie.

Yes always CA's discretion, although some shops tell the JSer not to bother the crew. Presumably the CA could over-ride the gate on that if desired.

Same dudes start the trip with "Oh you're my copilot this trip huh, I'm Captain Smith but you can call me Dragon. That's my callsign. I fly by the book, and I'm pretty laid back."

One reason that it is nice to know about pilots traveling in the back is the possibility of pilot incapacitation. More and more pilots are over 60, and we are getting more and more female pilots. Of the three pilot incapation events of which I have personal knowledge, two involved pregnant pilots.

You're a lot nicer than I would have been. You're under no obligation to show him any professional courtesy as a revenue passenger. I would have made sure to tell him that he's wrong when he said you should have checked in anyways.
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I was working a foreign carrier. The contract provided confirmed business class travel between my home airport and base. I wore my uniform during departure security and arrival formalities as I was included on the Crew Dec.

I was at JFK, in my uniform, waiting to board my flight. An online captain approached me. No greeting, but a lecture to inform me that I don’t have a chance for the jump seat as the flight is oversold. I thanked him for the information.

I queued up for boarding when Business Class Pax offered boarding.

I knew why he was approaching me. To avoid a public commotion, I suggested we move away from the other passengers. He wanted to see my jump seat slip. I politely said no. The gate agent approached as the captain was elevating the situation. She immediately defused the situation by apologizing to me before telling the captain I am a confirmed business class passenger with an assigned seat. The gate agent asked if I wanted to lodge a complaint. I said not necessary. But requested her name so I could write a letter of commendation to the airline how professional she was in handing conflict resolution issues. Some employees don't receive the recognition deserved... But that's another topic.

After the dust settled, no apology, he, once again, lectured me that I should have told him of my status. I told him I didn’t like his pompous condescending attitude, with his presumptive status of me traveling in uniform. I told him that he really needs to work on his social and customer service skills. Alas… KARMA works both ways… Captain chaos didn’t get on the flight and I couldn’t enjoy a glass of wine, being in uniform.

Yeah. And when I was at allegiant they bought us tickets to move us to and from training or to and from TDY. Usually on Delta or AA. And I traveled in uniform to keep the smurfs at bay. And I can't tell you how many times some god like captain pulled me aside and lectured me for not checking in with him as a jumpseater. Sometimes I was kind about it often not. This thread has gotten off in the weeds but the topic of the OP response is just don't. Don't pull people over like some kind of jumpseat cop and demand to see their papers.

I also got the third degree when personal jumpseating when I checked in (mostly on Delta) many times because they were certain that I was abusing the jumpseat for company business. Um no your highness our company buys tickets for that. I'm actually a platinum medallion.

On company metal, if it's too congested to say hi up front I'll usually introduce myself to the lead FA as I board, that way they know. If you're in uniform it's obvious anyway.

I'd venture that there is *usually* a pilot on any flight with more than 100 seats, the stews can just make an announcement if necessary.

Had that one too, regional jumpseater boarded after me and stopped in the aisle to ask how I got seated in RJ legroom plus (aka 1st class) while he got relegated to the Y seats on his own metal. I was a d*#@ that time, told him that once he made it out of the commuters he too would be able to afford revenue tickets and get mileage plan upgrades. Dude was like a 55 year old lifer. Kind of feel bad about that, not really how I like to convey myself.

I usually travel in uniform if I'm going to work at any point coming or going because I have out-sized liquids and gels. But the pilot costume does sometimes create hassles.

But again, just don't go there. Or how about this... go ask the gate for a list of pilots in jumpseat status rather than profiling people in uniform or with crew luggage.

Bingo

its up to the Captain if you ride or not and it requires the Captains permission regardless where you sit

you are also an additional crewmember by law, and the PIC must be made aware of all additional crew members

i usually visit the gate to check for jumpseaters, if I can I'll preboard them to aid with the stowing of crew bags.

sounds to me like you baited him and allowed it to fester and could have just told him at the outset when he said it's oversold, you could have told him then that you're a revenue passenger.

Negative! I'm the passenger, and he's an employee empowered to provide a service without provocation. He could have extended a hand and introduced himself. But no... he had to try to demonstrate that his ego overrides all.

Why do people make easy stuff hard?

1. If your on a paid ticket or deadheading, no obligation or need to check in.

2. If you listed for jumpseat on your own metal or regional affiliate and a seat opened up in the back, just non-rev. No obligation to check in, but it would be polite to let the captain know that you got on so that they don't go looking for you.

3. If you list for jumpseat on another company's metal, you absolutely need to check in and ask the captain for permission to ride even if the gate agent offered a seat in the back. If you don't have non-rev benefits on that company, so you need to get the captains permission to ride, regardless if it's cabin or cockpit.

There are one or two airlines where the gate will tell you their policy is to not check in for a cabin seat. In that case I do as I'm told.