kalyx522

I just spoke to a friend... and he told me Delta (and Comair he guesses) isn't cass so we're not technically allowed to jump in the cockpit. (So no point in trying to contact anyone about the event.) He thinks I've been able to do it other times because some gate agents and pilots don't really care.. but advised me to just stop riding on Delta because this problem isn't rare.. which sucks for me because it would make my 2 leg/5 hr commute into a 3 leg/12 hr one. I checked this site and it says they ARE cass. Can anyone confirm?

OrionTanker

The key to commuting in my book is talking to the Captain or First Officer as you are waiting in the gate area. The Captain has to do his terminal walk. Introduce yourself and tell him or her that you are trying to get on the jumpseat. If he or she knows that, he or she will not let the plane leave the gate without you (99 out of 100 times). Flight crews know the importance of commuting. This applies to on-line and off-line commuting.

If you do not have a jumpseat coordinator, then go to your union rep, if that does not work, go to your chief. Believe it or not, most chief pilots are good people. Just talk to people you trust. Good luck on future commutes.

TristarJS30

Comair is CASS. I've had many jumpseaters from other companies. Not sure about Delta 100%, but I believe they are too.

FlyerJosh

Delta is CASS. So is ASA.

dba74

Delta IS CASS

FlyerJosh

Here's a list of CASS airlines:

ABX Air
Air Cargo Carriers
Air Midwest
AirNet
AirTran
Air Wisconsin
Alaska
Allegiant
Aloha
America West
American
American Eagle
Ameristar
Astar
ASA
ATA
ATI
Atlas
Capital Cargo
Champion
Chautauqua
Colgan
Comair
Commutair
Continental
Delta
Empire
Eos
Evergreen
Executive
ExpressJet
Everts Air
FedEx
Freedom
Frontier
Gemini
GoJet
Great Lakes
Hageland Aviation
Hawaiian
Horizon
Island Air
Kalitta Air
Kalitta Charters II
JetBlue
Kitty Hawk
Lynden
MAXjet
Mesa
Mesaba
Midwest
Murray Air
North American
Northern Air Cargo
Northwest
Omni Air Int'l
Piedmont
Pinnacle
Polar
Primaris
PSA
Republic
Ryan Int'l
Shuttle Am.
Skyway
Skyway Enterprises
SkyWest
Southwest
Spirit
Sun Country
Swift Air
Tradewinds
Trans States
United
UPS
US Airways
USA 3000
USA Jet
Virgin America
Xtra Airways

Should be able to add Compass Airlines (NWAirlink) to this list in the next few weeks.

jedinein

You the pilot can lose your job by arguing with the gate agent of another airline.

The gate agent may not even get a chat with their supervisor, or lead sup if already a lead agent.

Let your union jumpseat coordinator know about the declined listing and the agent blowup BEFORE your chief pilot has you doing the carpet dance.

Remember the experience so that when you become Captain and see flight crew hanging around in the gate area, you'll specifically ask the crew if they're looking for a ride, and make the jumpseat available.

I overheard the captain of a recent flight advising their jumpseat rider that they always check the gate area as the agents aren't listing jumpseaters properly. Apparently the gate agent of that flight had told that pilot he was dog excrement, but I watched as the pilot had hung around respectfully, and asked the Captain directly, presto, he's now on that flight.

ERJ Driver

I've had a number of run-ins with gate agents when dead-heading (mustride). There's a species of GA that seems to think they run the show or are able to chose their passengers without following procedure or something.

Twice I was denied "mustride" (DAY and RDU), and twice I called my SOC to speak with a crew tracker regarding this problem and twice a dispatcher called the captain of the flights in question to hold them until I got on.

When the second incident (RDU) happened, the GA's made a huge scene in front of passengers (including some colorful language). I documented everything, did my best to get the 3 individuals names (4, as the super actually came on the airplane to b#itch me out again and further delay the flight), and wrote it all down in an email to the CP afterwards. It was amazing the performance I saw that day in RDU... I even saw 1 of these 3 GA's allow a passenger to walk behind the aircraft wing to the belt-loader, retrieve a gate-checked bag, put something in it and get back on board. HOLY MOLEY DUDE. I didn't think of the security aspect of this little stunt until talking with friends about it afterwards.

Of course all of this behavior is unacceptable- especially the potential safety violation. I haven't seen this gate crew since- not saying that because of this they were let go or anything, but I am sure it did not go down well for them.

Bottom line?
1. Document everything. EH-VA-REE-THING. E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G

2. Never, EVER let them get under your skin- it is unprofessional on both of your parts then, and you will have no leg to stand on for defending yourself. Don't let your ego creep in- this is not an ego thing for you: take the high road.

3. Write your supervisor (CP) or ALPA JS coordinator. The proper chain of command will deal with the situation from there.

Good luck.

Oh and the scenario Jedinein offers inthe post above is instructive:

I overheard the captain of a recent flight advising their jumpseat rider that they always check the gate area as the agents aren't listing jumpseaters properly. Apparently the gate agent of that flight had told that pilot he was dog excrement, but I watched as the pilot had hung around respectfully, and asked the Captain directly, presto, he's now on that flight.

kalyx522

I will do that next time, but often the crew isn't accessible in the gate area... because let's say the crew is on the flight coming in, and it's a quick turn, and they never even get out of the cockpit (like this time.)

kalyx522

Who is ''SOC''? Were these incidents with the same airline that you fly for?