SEA 737,

In the past, I received many rides from your colleagues between SEA and ORD to commute for my RJ job. I often rode on the flight deck, and even during times when tensions were highest between UAL and UAX crews, I was treated with respect and professionalism. For that I have always been grateful.

More than once, when riding in the back under OMC authority, I had a captain tell me that if I was assigned a seat in the back I didn't need to check in with him/her. I followed this advise exactly once: I ended up receiving a verbal lashing from an A319 captain just before the red-eye pushed back at the N concourse. But I made it to work.

Since then I always checked in with the captain, and was happy to do it. And I often watched as other OMC riders didn't even look the way of the flight deck before proceeding down the isle to their middle seat. Sometimes they were regional pilots, but plenty of these folks were mainline too. AA, AS, heavy freight drivers. I never saw them singled out for not "checking in"...

I agree with you: OMC riders should always check in with the flight deck. Riding as a jump seater - in the back or up front - is a privilege, and at the captain's pleasure. Although I've since handed off my RJ job (and jump seat rides) to guys who are younger and more ambitious about a flying career than myself, I thought you might enjoy this perspective.

 

Well, like everything else, it was negotiated item with a cost. So yes, it was "fought for" at the mainline level. Although the mantra among many was that it's a "no cost" item. Whatever, it's done and over with.

Remember, most it not ALL "regional" airlines had unlimited cabin jumseats with NO reciprocity at the mainline level. This was before the legacies stepped into the 20th century and decided to allow it on their equipment.

Mainline/legacy carrier commuting pilots have been enjoying the unlimited cabin JS'er privilege on "regional" carriers long before mainline/legacy pilots "fought" for it.

Also worth noting, you didn't "fight for it" just so "regional" pilots could take advantage of it, the OTHER legacy pilots benefit as well.

Over 1O years of commuting on every legacy and many LCC's to 8 different domiciles. I ALWAYS politely ask the CS if I can request an OMC card. Then I ALWAYS say hi to the lead/purser/FA at the door, and ask if I can step up front and see about a ride home/to work. Then I ALWAYS politely ask if I can get a ride with them, OMC card, ID, medical and cert in hand. Back in the days when an OMC card was issued, but no seat assigned I would ALWAYS ask the lead/purser where they wanted me to stand till all the seats were full, as well as where they want me to sit when it's time. If FC was offered, great!! Always nice to get, if they said they wanted me in the back, OK, and off I go.

It's NOT rocket surgery.

 

A word to the wise....

I was traveling home last week as a paying customer on a personally upgraded ticket. I was in uniform, but I took off my rank, etc. I was not drinking either. It just so happened that the flight attendant asked me if I were aircrew. I said yes which prompted the businessman next to me to ask for which airline. It turns out that he does a significant amount of business with us. Minding your Ps & Qs is always the best policy.

 

As a former JSer on CAL, I'd say 85 to 90 percent of the time I was treated with kindness when checking in. The other percentage I've heard it all:
"Didn't you get a seat?"
"Why the f*ck are you here?"
"What's wrong with you friggin' RJ guys?"
"Did you talk to the agent? That's how we operate here."

And so on, and so on.......So just because a few CAs don't like the upfront check-in doesn't mean the rest don't want you to talk to them.

 

Well, in all fairness, you did interrupt him thinking about himself.

 

I don't identify myself to RJ pilots when I'm jumpseating... just can't ask for something from someone I don't respect.

 

I do the same think when I'm jumpseating with Delta pilots. I'm afraid of heights, so it's quite hard for me to climb up onto their pedestal.

 

As a rule, I did not jumpseat on DAL flights during the SLI process. I felt that it was too big a distraction to everyone.

I went out of my way to JS on other lines.

It's NOT that I didn't have respect, or that I thought people couldn't compartmentalize, but why press someone's sore button when you don't have to?

Nu

 

You were either drunk or high on glue when you posted this statement. If you were truly serious. I can only hope you were joking.

 

When I flew at a Regional I found most of the "guilty" folks that would not come up & say hi or anything else were the Mainline pilots (United). While I agree that everyone should go and ask for a ride I think Mainline guys should have a reminder as well.