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J/S Question for Southwest Pilots

First I'd like to express appreciation for the many rides I've gotten to/from work on Southwest. I just have one question regarding the boarding process when I jumpseat on SWA: I thought I was supposed to board last in order to avoid disturbing the boarding process when I ask to speak with the captain. However, the last few times that I've hitched a ride on SWA I noticed there was a line of jumpseaters in the "pre-board" section so I just jumped in with them.

Being relatively new to the industry I don't want to step on anyone's toes or practice poor jumpseating etiquette out of ignorance. So when should I board? Pre-board or last?

Thanks.

The protocol is to preboard so you can talk to the Capt. That's with SWA, with other airlines, I usually ask the gate agent.

Thanks for the info....

Quote:

Originally Posted by BYUFlyr (Post 236513)

... I thought I was supposed to board last in order to avoid disturbing the boarding process when I ask to speak with the captain. However, the last few times that I've hitched a ride on SWA I noticed there was a line of jumpseaters in the "pre-board" section so I just jumped in with them ...

I've commuted on SWA for years and they've always been great to me. As long as I can remember, their policy has been for all jumpseaters to pre-board specifically "in order to avoid disturbing the boarding process."

That's one of the things they've always been famous for - common sense ... and it does make most sense as most of us leave our flight bags outside the aircraft while we introduce ourselves to the crew and get the captains permission to enter the ship. Then we have to go back out to get the bags and if it's in the middle of boarding, now you are "disturbing the boarding process."

Having said that, about 3 months ago, there was a new station agent being trained in LAS and when I introduced myself the "instructor" who was teaching the new lady how jumpseating worked, etc. She also said that "technically they're supposed to pre-board ONLY IF they actually ride in the cockpit. If they ride in the back, they are to board with everyone else; however, we normally let them pre-board anyways."

I was suprised to hear this, so when she was done instructing the new station agent (and since there was no one else in line behind me) I asked the “instructor" if someone really had to ride in the cockpit in order to pre-board? I said that as long as I’d been jumpseating this was the first time I’d heard of the rule.

She said, yeah it's a new rule, we got a memo about it but no one likes it and no one follows it. While she was explaining she even pulled up the memo on her computer and asked me to come around to check it out. Sure enough, everything she said was right there in writing.

I sure hope this rule won't ever be enforced. She said that during her shifts several SWA captains had specifically requested that all jumpseaters pre-board despite the memo so hopefully this rule will be short-lived. I've commuted on SWA for so many years and it's always been great. I hope they'll use the "if it ain't broke - don't fix it" rule for this.

Thanks to all SWA employees for being so great to us commuting folks...

Never heard that, and is news to me, but I haven't seen anyone enforce it. Grap a seat in the back and not the exit row. Other than that, have a ball.

Thanks for all the replies.... it makes sense to pre-board.... just don't take the exit rows, got it! Thanks again for all the rides!

As always, thanks SWA pilots for giving us freight dogs a ride...

Does anyone have the non-rev listing number handy?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bukowski (Post 253103)

Does anyone have the non-rev listing number handy?

http://airlinepilotcentral.com/airli...southwest.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by 328dude (Post 236617)

Never heard that, and is news to me, but I haven't seen anyone enforce it. Grap a seat in the back and not the exit row. Other than that, have a ball.

328, what is the policy regarding the exit row? Why would you not want someone familiar with aircraft emergency operations to be there?

The exit row window seat has no seat in front of it so it has a ton of legroom and is highly prized by frequent flyers and road warriors, especially if they've recently had surgery or have another reason that their legs need room. They get really ticked if they have checked in early to get the seat and then some preboarder or non-rev bops up last minute and scores the seat.