Jump Seating Non-CASS
 

My small cargo company is still in the process of getting involved in the CASS system. My question is, can I still, or should I say, will a CA/FO or gate agent let me ride in the back (provided I have all my paperwork, company badge, pilot cert, medical etc.)?

Thanks,

TB

Yes...well, probably. I have been on military leave for about 4 months now (and will be on it for another year plus). I'm with CAL, therefore I was in CASS however after 30 days of continuous leave (military, sick, etc), TSA takes everyone out of CASS. But I have j/s'ed so far successfully in the back on Airtran, DAL, UAL, and US Airways. I explain to the gate agent the whole enchilada and I've had mission success everytime. I hope this helps.

This will be my first time ever jump seating. If I plan on ridinging the back, do I have to be in uniform? It's obvious that I will dress appropriately (business casual). I'm trying to go from DEN to NY (LGA, JFK, or EWR) to see my grandmother (health issues), do I just start walking aroung the concourse looking for flights to NY and ask the gate agents if they have room for me?

I think the better question is; Does your company have reciprocal agreements with other airlines?

FFT and SKW

Turn,

Does your company have any j/s agreements with air carriers? Check with your Chief Pilot or Union Rep.

Next step is to call the Jumpseat hotline of whichever carriers you have agreements with and list. These are usually the non-rev travel lines, ask the Res agent about loads - you usually only get code words like, "good", or "not good", sometimes you get actual booking numbers like "110 booked, 100 capacity" (ie 10 oversold) or "37 booked, 82 available" (ie wide open).

Last, show up at the gate, in biz casual, no uni required, about 45 min prior to departure - (gate agents are never there 1 hour prior, and are busy getting ready for the first 5 min anyway) and ask for the JS. They'll probably run you on cass anyway, and discover that you're not Cockpit JS qualified, and either give you a seat in the back if the plane is wide open, or more likely ask you to have a seat, and call you just prior to departure, assuming a seat is available in the back. Don't forget to say hello to the cockpit crew, introduce yourself when they are not running a checklist, and ask for a ride - even if you've got a seat assignment. Its mildly irritating when OAL JSers failt to ask for a seat. Plus you lose a networking oportunity. One of my Captains ended up with a LOR to UPS from a JSer who asked for a ride -and it works the other way too.

Luck!