Jumpseat Etiquette
11-30-2010, 06:52 AM
#31
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2008
Posts: 581
I consider proper jumpseat etiquette to be a reflection of the individual's professionalism (or lack thereof).
As a captain I definitely prefer any (and all) jumpseaters to introduce themselves and show ID/ offer credentials etc. It is simply good manners, if nothing else. I jumpseated extensively a few years ago and would always make a point of stopping by the cockpit after the flight to say "thank you". Again, it's just good manners.
I find that in general people appreciate good manners. It doesn't cost you anything to say "please" or "thank you". Opening doors for people, pulling chairs back at the table, waiting for the hostess to take the first bite, etc shows appreciation and respect for others. I promise you it is noticed!
To me when you jumpseat off-line, your conduct reflects the entire pilot group at your airline. If you are professional and polite that reflects positively. If you show up with ear buds, tie pulled down, un-ironed uniform shirt and say "I'm your jumpseater" you come across as unprofessional and an ungrateful slob. That's not a very good first impression!
As a captain I definitely prefer any (and all) jumpseaters to introduce themselves and show ID/ offer credentials etc. It is simply good manners, if nothing else. I jumpseated extensively a few years ago and would always make a point of stopping by the cockpit after the flight to say "thank you". Again, it's just good manners.
I find that in general people appreciate good manners. It doesn't cost you anything to say "please" or "thank you". Opening doors for people, pulling chairs back at the table, waiting for the hostess to take the first bite, etc shows appreciation and respect for others. I promise you it is noticed!
To me when you jumpseat off-line, your conduct reflects the entire pilot group at your airline. If you are professional and polite that reflects positively. If you show up with ear buds, tie pulled down, un-ironed uniform shirt and say "I'm your jumpseater" you come across as unprofessional and an ungrateful slob. That's not a very good first impression!
11-30-2010, 07:14 AM
#32
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2008
Position: Cessna 150
Posts: 655
Originally Posted by Wasatch Phantom
I consider proper jumpseat etiquette to be a reflection of the individual's professionalism (or lack thereof).
As a captain I definitely prefer any (and all) jumpseaters to introduce themselves and show ID/ offer credentials etc. It is simply good manners, if nothing else. I jumpseated extensively a few years ago and would always make a point of stopping by the cockpit after the flight to say "thank you". Again, it's just good manners.
I find that in general people appreciate good manners. It doesn't cost you anything to say "please" or "thank you". Opening doors for people, pulling chairs back at the table, waiting for the hostess to take the first bite, etc shows appreciation and respect for others. I promise you it is noticed!
To me when you jumpseat off-line, your conduct reflects the entire pilot group at your airline. If you are professional and polite that reflects positively. If you show up with ear buds, tie pulled down, un-ironed uniform shirt and say "I'm your jumpseater" you come across as unprofessional and an ungrateful slob. That's not a very good first impression!
As a captain I definitely prefer any (and all) jumpseaters to introduce themselves and show ID/ offer credentials etc. It is simply good manners, if nothing else. I jumpseated extensively a few years ago and would always make a point of stopping by the cockpit after the flight to say "thank you". Again, it's just good manners.
I find that in general people appreciate good manners. It doesn't cost you anything to say "please" or "thank you". Opening doors for people, pulling chairs back at the table, waiting for the hostess to take the first bite, etc shows appreciation and respect for others. I promise you it is noticed!
To me when you jumpseat off-line, your conduct reflects the entire pilot group at your airline. If you are professional and polite that reflects positively. If you show up with ear buds, tie pulled down, un-ironed uniform shirt and say "I'm your jumpseater" you come across as unprofessional and an ungrateful slob. That's not a very good first impression!
11-30-2010, 07:17 AM
#33
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2010
Position: Supine
Posts: 251
My advice would be to read the jumpseat pass of the airline you are riding on. It should be spelled out what to do, either stop by the cockpit or not. Horizon and Hawaiian both had policies to introduce yourself after the flight (Horizon) and only if asked to by the purser (Hawaiian).
That being said, I once jumped on Hawaiian and did as was instructed, I went straight to my assigned seat, and halfway to Honolulu the flight engineer came back and asked for my credentials. He seemed perturbed that I hadn't stopped by to say hi on my way in but I explained that I was doing what the jumpseat pass said. He didn't seem to know those instructions were on there, as I would guess many do not.
That being said, I once jumped on Hawaiian and did as was instructed, I went straight to my assigned seat, and halfway to Honolulu the flight engineer came back and asked for my credentials. He seemed perturbed that I hadn't stopped by to say hi on my way in but I explained that I was doing what the jumpseat pass said. He didn't seem to know those instructions were on there, as I would guess many do not.
11-30-2010, 07:36 AM
#34
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2010
Position: EMB-145 CA
Posts: 456
I always stop by unless they are really delayed, no crew on the plane yet, that sort of thing. I will always try to say thanks at some point during the flight.
I've noticed as a CHQ'er a lot of AA/Eagle guys in ORD are just getting on our flights, we don't bite. Stop up and say hi. I know there's politics in it but etiquette is etiquette.
I've noticed as a CHQ'er a lot of AA/Eagle guys in ORD are just getting on our flights, we don't bite. Stop up and say hi. I know there's politics in it but etiquette is etiquette.
11-30-2010, 08:10 AM
#35
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Posts: 945
As a jumpseater, either in the back or up front, is there anything "required" in terms of notifying the FA's?
I understand the courtesy aspect, and that you are a "guest" on the aircraft and should act accordingly, but I was once grilled by the lead FA because I did not check in with her while jumpseating to ORD (I took all the appropriate steps with the CA; he welcomed me aboard). I apologized and told the CA I was sorry for the mis-step - he said not to worry about it, that she was just old and bitter. So true...
I understand the courtesy aspect, and that you are a "guest" on the aircraft and should act accordingly, but I was once grilled by the lead FA because I did not check in with her while jumpseating to ORD (I took all the appropriate steps with the CA; he welcomed me aboard). I apologized and told the CA I was sorry for the mis-step - he said not to worry about it, that she was just old and bitter. So true...
11-30-2010, 09:15 AM
#36
Banned
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,480
A good thread all in all, but here are a few of my random thoughts on the topic:
1. If you are seated in the cockpit, you are an integral part of the crew and a valuable set of "extra eyes." I once had an America West guy save me from an altitude bust because he heard something on the radio that both the F/O and I missed.
2. Jumpseat issuance policy varies widely between airlines. My CP told me once in no uncertain terms that ONLY the cockpit jumpseat was under my personal control as the Captain. Any other jumpseat request that was processed and assigned a cabin seat was completely at the discretion of the CSA. However, that's just my airline's policy.
That said, its professional courtesy to let the Captain know that you're aboard whether you're jumpseating, non-revving or ticketed. I always let him know who I am and where I'm sitting so he knows he has a trained ABP in the cabin if something goes haywire.
3. Credentials. If you have a cockpit jumpseater MAKE SURE you see his license and medical. I sat next to the ALPA jumpseat Chairman at a meeting once and he told me about a crew that had to fight a certificate action from the FAA because they had an illegal cockpit jumpseater.
The story was typical...CSA runs down at the last minute and tells the Capt. they have a FedEx jumpseater who was CASS approved and could he sit on the flight deck. Capt. approves and goes back to preflight duties. The jumpseater sits down and off they go. Above 10k they start talking to the jumpseater and find out he's not a pilot, but a FedEx courier.
And that's the dirty little secret about CASS that no one seems to know. Its the Companies who put employees into the CASS system. In fact, one helicopter operator has put EVERY SINGLE employee from the CEO to the janitor into the CASS system. So just because someone is CASS approved doesn't mean they are properly documented to ride in the cockpit. I can't tell you how many Capts. have waved me off when I tried to show them my license and medical. CASS was good enough for them.
Personally, I check ID, license and medical for every cockpit jumpseater. However, if you have a seat in the cabin, you're ID is good enough for me...you're just another non-rev by my Company policy.
3. Finally, union affiliation. ALPA recommends due consideration to union affiliation. I abide by ALPA policy. Here's the priority on my jumpseat: Company, sister company, ALPA, other union pilots then non-union pilots. Just to make things easy, I always check in with the CSA to determine if there are pilots requesting the jumpseat. That way I can have them come up to the podium, check their credentials and let the CSA know the order in which they should be accepted. When I jumpseat, I hand the Captain my ID, License, medical and ALPA card. That way he doesn't have to ask for any credentials and if he doesn't care, then that's certainly his call.
4. As others have said, jumpseating is a privilege, not a right. The cockpit is YOUR office. If you don't want someone looking over your shoulder at work, that is entirely up to you. I consider that extra set of eyes an important safety feature, but each individual Captain must make his own decision. As a jumpseater, if a Captain doesn't want you on the flight deck, say thank you for his consideration and walk away. Making a scene isn't going to endear you or your pilot group to him or the jumpseat committee on his airline.
Welcome aboard!
1. If you are seated in the cockpit, you are an integral part of the crew and a valuable set of "extra eyes." I once had an America West guy save me from an altitude bust because he heard something on the radio that both the F/O and I missed.
2. Jumpseat issuance policy varies widely between airlines. My CP told me once in no uncertain terms that ONLY the cockpit jumpseat was under my personal control as the Captain. Any other jumpseat request that was processed and assigned a cabin seat was completely at the discretion of the CSA. However, that's just my airline's policy.
That said, its professional courtesy to let the Captain know that you're aboard whether you're jumpseating, non-revving or ticketed. I always let him know who I am and where I'm sitting so he knows he has a trained ABP in the cabin if something goes haywire.
3. Credentials. If you have a cockpit jumpseater MAKE SURE you see his license and medical. I sat next to the ALPA jumpseat Chairman at a meeting once and he told me about a crew that had to fight a certificate action from the FAA because they had an illegal cockpit jumpseater.
The story was typical...CSA runs down at the last minute and tells the Capt. they have a FedEx jumpseater who was CASS approved and could he sit on the flight deck. Capt. approves and goes back to preflight duties. The jumpseater sits down and off they go. Above 10k they start talking to the jumpseater and find out he's not a pilot, but a FedEx courier.
And that's the dirty little secret about CASS that no one seems to know. Its the Companies who put employees into the CASS system. In fact, one helicopter operator has put EVERY SINGLE employee from the CEO to the janitor into the CASS system. So just because someone is CASS approved doesn't mean they are properly documented to ride in the cockpit. I can't tell you how many Capts. have waved me off when I tried to show them my license and medical. CASS was good enough for them.
Personally, I check ID, license and medical for every cockpit jumpseater. However, if you have a seat in the cabin, you're ID is good enough for me...you're just another non-rev by my Company policy.
3. Finally, union affiliation. ALPA recommends due consideration to union affiliation. I abide by ALPA policy. Here's the priority on my jumpseat: Company, sister company, ALPA, other union pilots then non-union pilots. Just to make things easy, I always check in with the CSA to determine if there are pilots requesting the jumpseat. That way I can have them come up to the podium, check their credentials and let the CSA know the order in which they should be accepted. When I jumpseat, I hand the Captain my ID, License, medical and ALPA card. That way he doesn't have to ask for any credentials and if he doesn't care, then that's certainly his call.
4. As others have said, jumpseating is a privilege, not a right. The cockpit is YOUR office. If you don't want someone looking over your shoulder at work, that is entirely up to you. I consider that extra set of eyes an important safety feature, but each individual Captain must make his own decision. As a jumpseater, if a Captain doesn't want you on the flight deck, say thank you for his consideration and walk away. Making a scene isn't going to endear you or your pilot group to him or the jumpseat committee on his airline.
Welcome aboard!
11-30-2010, 09:23 AM
#39
Banned
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,480
Originally Posted by Mink
As a jumpseater, either in the back or up front, is there anything "required" in terms of notifying the FA's?
11-30-2010, 09:34 AM
#40
Tuk er jerbs!
Joined APC: Mar 2007
Position: B747 Left
Posts: 1,342
Originally Posted by Zapata
To add, I believe jumpseaters in the cabin should wait until all of the paying passengers have deplaned before leaving.
Last to board is a good plan, though. I go out of my way to let revenue passengers on first.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
