Hey United crews,

For what it's worth, I'd like to send my thanks out to the good people of your organization. I commute between SEA and ORD for Skywest. Lately I've had a bit of trouble getting a seat in the back of the plane, but was fortunate enough to be welcomed aboard the flight deck jump seat. I've always found the entire crew to be courteous and professional, and the flight attendants to be very hospitable. This, of course, makes my commute much less stressful.

Although the Airbus jumpseat isn't my idea of paradise, I always enjoy observing a professional crew at work. Thanks for the rides (and for keeping me out of trouble with the Chief).

 

To drag this slightly off topic, anyone care to rate jumpseats in order of most to least comfortable?

From my experience:
777
747
757/767
A319/320
727
737
CRJ-170
MD-80
Saab 34

Some of those were recent rides; others were quite a while ago. I'm always thankful for the ride and have always been treated great by the crews.
I still remember my first experience jumpseating - on a TWA MD-80; ORD-STL in F.

 

Put EMB145 between MD80 and Saab 340.

 

MD-11 was tops for me. Electric adjustments, armrests and an amazing view. And UAL has always been amazing with their treatment towards jumpseaters in my experience.

 

With these two I guess it depends on which jumpseat (left or right, if so installed) you sit in. left on both really sucks, especially in the 75/76.

 

The High Chair is less than comfy, but it beats a middle seat in the back between the two biggest guys on the aircraft...which is where I'd be otherwise when I was commuting.

 

I fly the Saab 340 and have never had a jumpseater. I would welcome you guys though as all the crews I have ridden with have been great. It may be a little tight up there.

Last time I actually got a seat in the back but didn't have room for my rollerbag--the guys up front stowed it for me so thanks to them!

 

id take a middle seat over that js. i did PHL-LAX in that thing and it made me never ever want to sit up front again, but i was very thankful for the ride. USair guys are awesome and always accomodating

 

All jumpseats are comfy as long as it's a ride home.

But if I did have an opinion on the matter;

73-middle is not bad on anything under 90 minutes. Take the covered smoke goggles and place the concave side toward you, then place it on the little ledge to your right. Makes a handy head rest. 73 behind the CA, uh, not so much. I once did that from DEN-EWR. Thankfully the other guy got out for a while.

75-I commute on UAL's, naturally, it's rarely (if ever) the 3 or 4 that had the second seat installed. Not too bad, but when the CA brings his seat back and you gotta go sideways, your feet fall asleep. At least you can stand up and stretch if you want.

319/320-Center is better. I like the H-harness. If you're gonna study your eyelids, just cinch it up. And remember to ask for a cup to put in your lap to catch the slobber. Behind the CA, not bad, not good. Kinda like the 73, anything over 90 mins can be tough. Good thing is it has PLENTY of bag storage.

777-The main seat is a king's throne. It goes up, it goes down, has a foot rest, reclines, has a table that folds out, it's the shizzle. The one behind the FO, it's like your stuffed in a corner.

MD80-Not bad, especially after you figure out that there are foot rests.

727-I once spent 4 1/2 hours in the rearward js. Good grief, what a loud/cold cockpit. At least back there.

CRJ/ERJ-Both crap. At least on the ERJ you can fold the back down which gives you a little more leg room.

 

I got the jumpseat on the Saab 340 out of MSP-OMA back in 1999. On my way home. I was very thankful for the seat; as always, the crew was great.
At 6'1" (fortunately, I was 40lbs lighter at the time), I was pretty much wedged into the seat; my knees were a bit in the way.


Different airlines have different jumpseats on the same equipment. Anyone care to comment on UPS/FedEx jumpseats? I'm looking at them for my commute.