pjflyer1999

I've noticed things have changed at USAirways during my last couple months of jumpseating. The last 4 times I've flown USAirways east metal, I've attempted to stop up front and introduce myself and gotten the cold shoulder from both the lead and the Captain. First, I introduced myself to the lead (in uniform) and was told that she needs my ID and jumpseat form. She then told me she needs to ask the Captain if it's okay for me to say hi up front. The last three times the lead has come out of the cockpit telling me that I have a seat and there is no reason for me to be stopping up front. The first time the Captain looked at me with a strange stare and asked why I was stopping up to say hi if I had a seat. The few times I've used USAirways west metal out of SFO the crews have been extremely friendly and invited me to stop up each and every time I jumpseat.

I'm not trying to start an east-west battle here, but I am wondering if there has been a policy change for jumpseating, and if it only applies to east operated flights? To my knowledge every airline out there appreciates when a jumpseater stops up to say hi and request permission for a jumpseat even with a seat in the cabin, but maybe USAirways is changing the way this is done?

Thanks for any info that someone can provide!

piper338

I will say I've been treated with nothing but respect when I've jump seated on US Airways be it East or West. I don't stop by if I have a seat in the back because I work for one of the wholly owned regionals and I'm just a nonrev at that point.

VenetianFryCook

There has been no policy change of any kind. I would honestly say that the issue is some of our more "seasoned" (read: cranky old bats) flight attendants who think THEY own all access to the flight deck. I had one bar me from entering the flight deck last week until she delivered my credentials to the captain in spite of the fact that ... 1 - I work for US, 2 - I'd already spoken to the captain at the gate, and 3 - I had to ride up front anyway!

Just like at any airline, the vast majority of our people are fantastic, but we do have our bad apples just like everybody else ... be it in the cockpit, in the cabin, or at the podium. Don't let it bother you ... unless it jeopardizes your ride home, then make SURE you speak to the captain. We have very few captains that would leave a jumpseater behind!

ChillBillPilot

Never had a problem jumpseating on Usair no matter which crew, from the gate agents to the flight attendants and up front has been nothing but first class for me. I ride on them twice a week mostly up front...

pjflyer1999

Nobody was mean or rude to me in any way and I have had great experiences jumpseating with USAirways for many years. The reason for this post was because I was told by several lead Flight Attendants that I do not need to stop up front if I'm jumpseating (off-line) and I was additional asked by a Captain why I stopped up front if I had a seat. This would lead me to believe that something has changed since for years USAirways has always welcomed me, like all other airlines, to stop up front and introduce myself and thank the crews for allowing me to catch a ride home!

The flight attendants must be instructed to stop you at the door to bring your credentials to the captain or is this just a personal decision? I try to board when my zone is called and feel bad holding up the line of guests behind me when the lead stops me at the door.

I will continue to stop up front, but if anyone who works at Airways has a better suggestion it would be much appreciated.

aa73

My advice is to stop and say hello even as a nonrevving pilot.

Whenever I nonrev on AA or Eagle, I **ALWAYS** stop by the cockpit - whether in uniform or not - and introduce myself as a nonrevving pilot and thanking them for the ride.

I do this because I greatly appreciate it when I am the one working the trip and someone does it for me. It is very reassuring to know that we have pilots (or FAs, too) on board that can assist if needed. It's also a professional courtesy.

Jumpseating on USAir is a wonderful experience. They have been nothing but great to us. Yes, occasionally the F/A will tell me there is no need to say hello up front, but I always plan on doing so anyway.

GW258

Just wondering, how can you tell if the crew is E/W other than asking?

Pilot X

Flight numbers 0-699 are west and 700 and up are east

flyrr100

I commute from MCO to PHL and use US Air's jumpseats all the time. I've never had less than courteous, professional, polite treatment from any crews. And when I have their guys on my jumpseat I return the same.
Maybe your interrupting a checklist, or worse, a call from his ex wife!

RedBaron007

My guess is they're just mis-informed or lazy Captains who don't often use a jumpseat or think of how their professional courtesy affects others around them. I've had it happen to me on a couple occasions - maybe once or twice on US Air (I previously worked at a wholly-owned) and once on a United 747 from HKG. I just shrugged them off as anomalies, based on my many other (very good) jumpseat experiences.

I don't think there have been any policy changes at US Airways. Most captains, I would expect (regardless of the airline), would always prefer you to poke your head up and ask permission to ride. After all, it is the Captain's prerogative to grant access to the jumpseat, whether it's as a cabin occupant or sitting in the actual seat. Captains who don't expect jumpseaters to ask permission are undermining their own Captain's authority - something I think many would agree has been eroded enough already.

As for the flight attendants acting like an agent of the SS and stopping pilots in uniform at the door.... I am usually annoyed by it. I don't know what their manual says, but at least treat me with professionalism. It's something that's annoyed me for years now. But I was able to deal with that more easily than a pilot who brushed me off.

Summary - I always ask the Captain, because I know that's what I would want if I were him or her. And if the FA wants to act like a storm trooper, oh well, go ahead if it makes you feel better.

If you ever run into any problems, I've found jumpseat committee chairmen to be very receptive to both questions and issues. Call yours, if you have one, and deal with it that way if you have problems or questions.