Cessnadriver

Anyone know if you need a passport with you to jumpseat on other airlines if you are not sitting in the cockpit jumpseat? Is a passport number ok or do you need to have the passport with you? Is this something that varies from airline to airline?

FOblondie

I think it really depends on a lot of things like what airline you work for or what airline you're jumpseating on. I've even had vary between gate agents. I went to one who said I needed it, she left, the guy who came on after her was friendly and not busy and I asked him to check if it said I needed the passport (because I had never had to show it on that airline) and he said no. That was the weirdest.

Anyway, I always carry it with me because I don't want to get in the position of needing to have it if it's not on me. It would really suck to want to get home and not get on a flight because you don't have a passport.

ToiletDuck

You must have a passport and you must have it on your person. To give you an idea I was going to jumpseat on southwest, sit in the back, when they asked for my passport. It was shortly after my truck had been broken into and was robbed. I had a new passport but different number. They wouldn't let me on the aircraft because the numbers didn't match even though my airline ID was valid, had a current valid passport, current DL, was in uniform, was current in CASS, and CASS had my picture up proving it was me even further. This was the only instance in which I was ever actually checked for it. However it is required.

Koolaidman

If you need the cockpit jumpseat, then my understanding is that you need your passport.

If you are riding on an airline that you code share for, then you wouldn't need a passport as you could non-rev. However, if the flight is full then you would need it for up front.

I wouldn't take a chance and travel without. Also, Toiletduck must be right about needing it to sit in the back of other airlines. I didn't know that you had to have it to sit in back, I thought it was just for CASS (cockpit access).

I always enjoy the gate agents who ask for your license. I give the my cfi and they obviously don't know the difference. Only the CA is required to view licenses, medicals, right? I thought gate agents only looked at company id's and passports?

Anyways, just bring it and you won't have to worry about it.

ToiletDuck

On the back of a CAL form to JS on the aircraft, up-front or in the back, it lists the dress code and required materials to have on you. Passport is one of them.

exp96

The passport is no longer required by TSA for access to a jumpseat (I was on a UPS jumpseat 2 months ago without one). Individual airlines may still require the passport for cockpit access, but that would be a COMPANY policy. I do agree that it is a good idea to carry it at all times though.

koka

as a former gate agent, we had to scan the passport to make sure it matched up with what was in CASS. Good idea to always have it with.

Flyer2000

The problem is the gate agents don't understand that CASS stands for "COCKPIT ACCESS" not cabin access. CASS is only required for offline use so if you are riding on your own metal, or codeshare you should not need a passport (unless they use CASS for all cockpit access like Delta, or FedEx). Exp96 is correct in saying that passports are no longer required by TSA. The picture displaced the passport requirement in September of 2006. The problem is that all airlines who became CASS participants prior to the picture requirement had a passport requirement in their Ops Specs. Some are going back and getting it removed, and I think most of those participating after the picture requirement are not even entering it into their Ops Specs.....therein lies the discontinuity.

Bottom line........always carry your passport with you if jumpseating is anticipated.

weasil

Gate agents are stupid for the most part and don't understand the rules. They just make up their own so whether or not you actually need one is irrelevant, the question is would it be smart to have one and the answer is YES!

ExperimentalAB

weasil is absolutely correct here...always a good idea to have it! I almost got stuck in FL once - when I put in my resignation with TSA, they had taken me out of CASS at that very same moment without my knowledge. Had a couple days off and flew down to see a friend w/o my Passport...

AirTran FO on the way down was former TSA and talked the CA into giving me the Jumpseat...On the way back the gate agent wouldn't let me onto a Freedom flight - So I jumped out and asked the Captain...got to sit up front again. Just be courteous and always, always, always get down to the Captain.