Towards the end, coach non-rev was free but upgrades cost $30. Now, what an individual gate agent or crew did once you actually showed up is a whole other ballgame, but the "system" did not automatically upgrade you.

In my limited experience it is a f-NWA thing. NWA policy did not allow offline non-revs of any stripe into FC and while the occasional J.S. got in, it was the kindness of the flight crew who made it possible.

Anyone know if the f-NWA Agents are letting non revs into first?

To be clear, I don't hold the pilots accountable. I've got a few buddies working there and I know y'all are in a bit of a war with your F/As about it. And your crew rest policies... ouch. My last couple j/s experiences though have been middle seats on 4-hour legs with F open, and the CA 'asking' the lead to move me up and being denied, so not too optimistic about over-the-pond. At any rate the free ride is always appreciated, no matter where it is. Cheers:)

Hmm... my NWA experience both with Blue and my regional had me in F/C 99 percent of the time.

The FA's are sometimes trying to keep Biz-E open for themselves and their friends to plop down in (and eat the food). Captains let it happen rather than work with a team of PO'd FA's for the rest of the trip.

At least it makes me thankful for my wife's level headed, rational, fitness oriented personality. She thinks it is odd that I always come home and thank her for not being mean & crazy.

Used to not be allowed for non revs. Delta's policy is different.

I often think the same when I come home to the g/f... Although I've used Big D transatlantic twice from JFK now and EVERYONE, agents, FAs and Pilots have been great, despite JFK's overall rep. On the LHR flight the Purser moved me up a good 20 minutes prior to departure and the agent didn't blink an eye, much appreciated. By the same token the DL guy riding with me to AUS today said our j/s phone line had much less wait, hopefully that's improving for y'all.

This is a good way to find out just how entrenched CAL management is in supporting ground staff and flight attendants in lieu of considering pilots point of view, in fact in opposition to pilots. If you make the point of "upgrading" jumpseaters at CAL, you are falling on your own sword. This is a systematic approach to defrock and belittle pilots, both those working in the cockpit and traveling, regardless of the airline that employs that pilot, all at the hands of CAL mgt.

Consequently CAL pilots that have tried to fight this understood policy repeatedly, end up being made examples of. Jumpseat Committee? Ha! Powerless. It serves as yet another example of how compromised ALPA is at CAL.

I'm going to have to disagree with you there Bar. In my experience, NWA always upgraded J/S to first when there was room available. Not only that, but it was the gate agents doing so. I use to ride on them all the time years ago. Maybe I just got lucky.

People are not going to pay $20 more for a ticket on a particular airline despite a one time courtesy upgrade. All this is going to cause is an influx of passengers hounding the gate agents before every flight for an upgrade. Give it to them once for
free and they will expect to be upgraded everytime.