LoneStarM1A

Hi,

I work for a CASS approved 121 US carrier and have jumpseated successfully on USAirways several times over the last few months.

I've just been showing up at the gate and filling out the form, on both mainline and express.

Recently, in MYR, one agent got catty with me and told me I was supposed to check in at the ticket counter or call and make a reservation before I came to the gate. I couldn't really decipher what she was trying to tell me since the flights were oversold and all the agents had obviously worked themselves up into a tizzy. I had asked for the jumpseat and filled out the form 1:15 prior to the flight's departure, but apparently they still hadn't made my reservation when I tried to board at the last call, so they got upset.

Not a big deal, I still got on, but I did a search for US jumpseat procedures and came up empty. Sure I could probably email my airline's JS coordinator but I figured I'd try to get the straight dope from some of you on here.

So to sum it up, am I supposed to list or check in at the ticket counter for a jumpseat or is coming straight to the gate the best way for off-line jumpseaters to handle things?

Thanks in advance. The crews are great and I enjoy riding on US whenever possible.

pokey9554

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but all airlines want you to list prior to signing up for the jumpseat with the exception of Delta and Continental. For those two, you can just show up.

Rabid Seagull

I hate to say it, but it might just be a local thing. USAir in CLT, LGA, JFK, MCO, and any other large airport have all been accommodating without any prior reservation. I just walk up to the gate and ask.

Now with MYR you might be running into a multi-agent. One that has more to do then run the gate and may be too busy to deal with any pilots and "free" rides to work.

If your in-and-out of MYR alot bring them a treat/ snack and they'll remember you.....don't forget the flight crew snack either

Sniper

You did it right, the agent in MYR didn't (though 'Rabid Seagull's 'multi-agent in MYR' theory is a good one).

snippet of US Airways' official policy (bolding is my own):

Proceed directly to the gate and request and complete a jumpseat boarding pass from the gate agent, then proceed to the aircraft to get the captain’s approval. . . .

Without getting into specifics, I'd say it's the exact opposite. The official policy of just about every airline out there is to 'proceed directly to the gate', including United/Continental, Delta, Southwest/AirTran, Alaska, Hawaiian, US Airways, and Spirit. Every regional out there also has this policy, b/c, by the very nature of their business, they don't control the seats on their own planes.

American, Frontier and JetBlue are really the only US airlines who's official policy is to pre-list (though only American requires it), other than the cargo carriers, who generally all like to pre-list, if only b/c there's no gate agent to list you.

If you have questions about a specific airline's jumpseat policy, your jumpseat committee is always the best contact.

LoneStarM1A

Thanks fellas.

I'm pretty sure the agents US in MYR aren't cross utilized ramp workers, it's a sizable station for US. As always, I could be wrong. They probably just screwed up by not checking me in when I initially asked them for the jumpseat at 1:15 prior to departure and just wanted to scold me to make themselves feel better. Even though I fly freight, I have enough experience with gate agents to know the routine

In any case, it doesn't matter, I'll probably never go back to MYR. It was a one time thing.

Thanks again.

VenetianFryCook

I work for US. I apologize ... you just got a cranky gate agent. You simply show up, fill out a form, and the gate agent will list you, verify you in CASS, and clear you to either a passenger seat, if available, or the jumpseat. The procedure to list you in QIK/Shares takes about 30 seconds and is necessary to run the CASS query anyway. MYR frequently has full flights and has plenty of commuters.

The only mechanism to pre-list on US is for mainline pilots - we can reserve the jumpseat in advance.

EWRflyr

I use USAirways to jumpseat quite often. I was having this issue 50% of the time with gate agents at a certain station. Finally one day I asked an agent who was helping me (who didn't ask me to list prior) why some agents say jumpseaters have to list on the phone? She said I am the station manager here and you don't list. As a matter of fact IF you list prior we cannot associate that record number with the jumpseat and CASS because an agent on the phone doesn't set up the record number that way. She said that they would just have to create a whole new listing anyway that gets associated with the pilot jumpseat request.