GoGators85

The other day I was extended and as a result missed a flight to a place where I was suppose to vacation with two of my friends. I now know it was a dumb rookie mistake to make plans after a trip. I at the time thought this was no big deal since AA served the destination I was trying to get to at a later time. I had been up since 4 AM EST and made it to an AA hub at around 6 PM EST to catch the flight to my destination (not having more than a 10 minute break all day, I would have otherwise set up an ID90 ticket as a backup but I did not have the time). Upon reaching the desk in the AA hub I was informed that my airline did not serve enough international destinations (11 total) to be considered for an international jumpseat ... Politely I left and went back home with $300 less in my pockets due to broken plans. While I can completely understand not offering international jumpseats to all pilots, I don't see how selectively offering jumpseats to some pilots and not to others is fair. Could you imagine a regional pilot denying an AA pilot a jumpseat on the fact that AA does not offer enough small town destinations. "I'm sorry, no jumpseat to Peoria for you, your airline does not offer enough small town destinations". While I will agree regional pilots are often times on the better end of the jumpseating deal, this particular case somewhat upset me since it is quite subjective. Let me know how you guys feel about this policy.

freezingflyboy

I would have asked to talk to the captain. In the end its the captain's jumpseat and if he wants to allow you on his airplane as a professional courtesy that would trump the gate agent. Also might be worth making a call to you jumpseat committee and the AA reservations/jumpseat listing number.

I probably would have asked the agent how many international destinations my airline needed to serve in order to have international jumpseat privileges

PS
This question might be better addressed in the "Major" section.

btwissel

you got a lazy gate agent that didn't want to do work and spat you a bunch of BS.

TSA serves exactly 0 intl destinations, yet when i was there you could jumpseat anywhere American went.

like the last guy said, ask to see the capt. whenever a gate agent tries to pull this crap.

Flyer2000

AA is the only airline not offering SkyWest international jumpseats. AA's jumpseat Coordinator blames management, and says they are the ones in charge of that. I believe what he says, but I also believe SWA threatended to remove them off their list, and were promptly added to AA's international agreement.

The only problem with a threat of denying AA's pilots is that you may be leaving behind pilots for no valid reason other than you want a free international flight on AA. AA does offer jumpseats to everywhere they go domestically. And the bottom line is jumpseating is REALLY about getting pilots to and from work. Vacationing is a side benefit to jumpseating.........IMO

ACEAV8R

that would trump the gate agent.

I hear that alot on this forum and this is not necessarily true. Now, I understand that the frustration of wanting to ride and running into a moron of a gate agent that doesn't realize the benefits of working for the airlines. Although the Captain can say who they want/don't want on the aircraft if the gate agent don't process them on the computer and allow them down the jet bridge/through the door, they are NOT authorized to go through that door/down that jet bridge. Also, they are not obligated to call the Captain if requested. If you can wave him/her down yourself, probably would be better off. Sorry guys.....

Also might be worth making a call to you jumpseat committee and the AA reservations/jumpseat listing number.
I probably would have asked the agent how many international destinations my airline needed to serve in order to have international jumpseat privileges

American Airlines particularly are known for their CSA snobbish attitudes. I think it has something to do with them having a union. I would've done the same here and probably got his/her name for further investigation.



All in all, sorry for your experience and hope you are successful in the investigation if you chose to do so.....

GoGators85

Well I'm in no position to deny a jumpseat, but If I was I would not even dream of denying a jumpseat to an AA guy. That line in my post was simply to make a point, nothing more.

flynavyj

Well, it'd seem like a time to inform your jumpseat coordinator and allow the company and union to bring this to the attention of AA and negotiate something more "Fair". If we as a pilot group start denying jumpseat privlages to fellow aviators it'll do no good, and infact might just make tension between two different companies because of the inconvience of one individual pilot.

S80 Dude

Gator:

From what I can tell only Alaska, Aloha, Continental, DAL, FEDEX, USAIR, NWA, SWA, and United are allowed for the international jumpseat per our AA pilots website. Like the others said, I might try to talk to the captain as he may be able to get you on. I am not sure why the int'l jumpseat is restricted to certain airlines, but I will ask our jumpseat chair if there is a possiblility to get that changed for the other airlines not on the list.

Sorry bout that hope we can get you where you are going next time..G

hair-on-fire

Yep, AA can jumpseat internationally on almost everyone but only extends their international jumpseat to a select few. Not fair by any means, but like the poster above said, it's going to take another airline threatening their jumpseat agreement with AA to get something to happen.

B757200ER

Talking to the Captain at AA won't work, and forget talking to a gate agent about jumpseat policy or restrictions. That's like talking to a brick wall, and a complete waste of time.

Int'l jumpseat at AA has been limited to 10-12 carriers for a long time, and SWA just recently got on it after a long time trying. AA management response was always "We give them the world, they only give us domestic", which is flawed because SWA offers thousands of AA pilots a ride to work.

Try working thru your carrier's jumpseat coordinator, let them know your problem and they'll send it on to AA. It doesn't hurt to try, but they'll never add a regional to their int'l list.