Um....I've stayed out of this for a while, but I was a gate agent in MEM in a past life and I can honestly say it was at that time (just post 9/11) that we were not permitted to issue jump seaters an F seat from the gate unless there was nothing else available. Whatever the captain did on board was his business and I always did my best to let the captain know what "good" seats were going to be available.:D

Shiz,

A sincere thank you for your input. My intentions are to find out whether the first class seats that I was issued as a jumpseater on NWA (circa 02'-07') were a discretionary effort by the agent, something that was ultimately against policy, or if there was somehow a misunderstanding of what policy actually was.

Not saying you are/were wrong, just trying to find out whether it was "formal written policy", or "informal verbal policy" passed down from a manager, to a supervisor, to the men & women "on the front lines" such as yourself.

Again, thanks for any input. Trying to make this seem as civil as possible, as sometimes through the medium of text alone, words can be taken the wrong way with the loss of voice inflection received in verbal conversation.

Signed,

GJ

P.S. Not going to believe you guys until I see it in writing, which I'm quite sure Bar is working diligently at as we speak with the internet research talent that he has. :-)

Gear... regardless, it's the past.

The policy in whatever form it was is now no longer in existance.

Same happened to me on Christmas Eve. J/S mco to cvg on Delta and gate agent put me in coach. Didn't care as I was getting home for Christmas. I walked into the cockpit to say hi. The crew was great, CA joked that they should put me in coach and I said "Yup, the agents did" As soon as I said that, the CA said "What, just grab a seat in first." Great crew. Wish we (CAL) treated J/S, including our own, with dignity and just put them up front. As a safety measure, I would like any crew member in row 2B, instead of 32B.

Not entirely correct. The crew rest seat on the 737 is in first class.

Gear. It was discretionary except if it was full in coach. If there was a Y seat avail and you were in F/C it was against the rules as written.

To get back on topic, I have not read anything about a change in jumpseat policy in any company communication. I just re-read the FOM on jumpseat and the following is the only thing I can find related to this topic. It's on the first page of Chap. 4.

"The number of seats available to jumpseat riders is equal to the number of
available flight deck jumpseats and available cabin passenger seats in all cabin
classes."

That says to me that a JS'er can sit in any open seat no matter where it is located.

Denny

Thanks Denny.

Oh, and by the way, what kind of deal can you get me on a four-star hotel in Vegas this weekend. :D

GJ

Have I GOT a deal for you!!!!:D

Same experience a few weeks back going to SYD

Dal gate agent said "there are no open seats in coach and I can't put you in First". She accepted my $30.00 fee and told me I was welcome to wait around.

On the way to to the United counter I politely asked a DAL supervisor what the policy was for OAL international jumpseaters. He confirmed that they could only be assigned a coach seat and then it was at the discretion of the CA if they were 'moved up'. He said the problem was that if coach is full you wont get on the aircraft therefore the CA cannot intervene. My companies jumpseat coordinator confirmed with his opposite number at DAL that this is indeed their policy for OAL international jumpseaters.

At the United gate I was assigned a business class (lie flat etc.) seat and boarded the aircraft. No cost.

Not a stab at DAL. I have no idea what would have happened if I had waited around at their gate. I have also had good experiences commuting to work on them.

You also got to list for both the jumpseat and the cabin.

And now make sure you list for one or the other not both. Doing that will get you in hot water. (on the same flight) If I can get an earlier flight I will non-rev list and then if I get bumped/rolled over to my JS flight, I notify the gate agent so she can cancel my non-rev listing.

That's not a correct policy on their part.... sounds like a call to the jumpseat coordinator is in order.

Haven't had one problem yet with placing jumpseaters in 1st.

This is exactly how I handle it. Ask F/A's politely first then if they say no, I'll insist and tell them where the J/S is going to sit.

Works every time.

This is a first for me. I am now quoting myself.
See below.




If you meant that you were going to call your jumpseat coordinator. Thank you.

In my humble opinion it is up to all of us to ensure everyone gets home. Whether you're a captain or a first officer you need to scan the gate area and ask the gate agent if we have jumpseaters. Get them on board first and settle first class when time permits. I view the whole aircraft as my responsibility if I want a jumpseater in first no FA or gate agent is going to override me. My only variation in the rule is military boys/girls in uniform get a handshake, a sincere thank you and a seat in first before jumpseaters.

Very kind of you and appreciated I'm sure!

I just came back from a trans Atlantic trip on CAL. I was given 1st on the way over which, being the overnight leg, worked out great.
On the way back, the CA wanted to put me up front but the lead FA said I'd have to take coach due to certain politics.

Grateful for the ride anyway!

oal jumpseated from phl to msp yesterday on delta. gate agent put me in first even with 40 open seats in coach. no problems at all. i did check with the lead to make sure it was ok. slept most of the flight and when i woke up the lead offered me breakfast. thanks delta (or in this case, former nwa)!

Glad to hear about the ride over, the ride back should also have included first though.

Politics be damned, ask nicely, then insist, (thats not directed at you but my weak fellow CAL counterpart who didn't follow through).

Its not the F/A's seat to give or take away.

RADC lucky you.

things arnt like they use to be.

Not true. Purchased the wife a ZED fare on DAL ATL-EWR-ATL and she was upgraded to first both ways.

It is true per the "fare rules" on a ZED. ZED's are technically only valid for travel in coach class. DAL agents usually upgrades standbys if seats are available no matter what pass class they are using. I wouldn't count on it all the time, but occasionally it happens.

Understood, I though you were saying you couldn't be put in first if travelling on a ZED fare. Thanks for the clarification.

It always depends on the gate agent.

The only fares I know they will not upgrade are the "Fly Confirmed For Less" fares. Those are a coach only fare.

I buy tickets for international travel on Delta (occasionally operated by a SkyTeam partner) and currently maintain Platinum Medallion status. I was upgraded three times on international segments in 2009:

JFK-TXL-JFK because the flight was oversold and SkyTeam Elite/Elite Plus were given "op ups" prior to boarding

JFK-BCN because the A line/purser was a friend of a friend and had prior knowledge I was on the flight.

Other times, I've introduced myself to the customer service agents, cockpit and inflight crew and not been moved up to business elite (nor did I expect it) but the flight attendants attempted to bring business elite to my economy seat (food, beverages, blankets, pillows, etc).

757Driver,

I actually had the opportunity to use the CAL JS over to TLV on several occasions in the past few years. The ride was greatly appreciated and I always made a point of bringing chocolates for both the Flight Crew and FAs. In about 8 trips in a 3 yr. period I was moved to business only once - and that was at the lead of the purser or "A" FA or whatever you guys call the FA in charge. In most cases, the pilots never even said anything about moving me up (and yes - there were multiple seats up front open) - only once did an FO try to hint to the cappie about moving me up and the cappie didn't bite.

Last Nov. the FA who served my section in the back of the bus (who seemed like she'd been at CAL for a while) expressed her dismay at my location and commented on how "we used to know how to treat nonrevs". She brought me extra bizselect food even though I was in coach, which was sweet of her.

So - I gotta say - most guys (at least on the 777 fleet) don't even seem to try.

Look, JSing is a great perk and a free ride would be appreciated even if I had to stand the whole way (happened once on Air Canada - long story) but this is evidence of the further diminishment of this once great career.

FWIW back in the day when I used to JS on TWA a lot, everyone there treated jumpseaters - even OAL- as royalty. From the agents to the FAs, not only were you put in first but bombarded with great chow and drinks. It really was extraordinary.

These days it seems that of the airlines I've jumped on recently, only US Airways and UAL really try to move jumpseaters to first/biz.

As an FO I am somewhat limited in my powers but FWIW I always do everything I can to make jumpseaters feel appreciated and welcome - both pilots and FAs. Alas, with no first class to offer (despite our claims that it is "all first class") that isn't a option on my jet. At least JSers get to preboard and choose a good seat.