waflyboy

This is the way it should be done. The gate agents need to be educated. Otherwise they should issue an OMC card to eveverybody trying to jumpseat and let the captain decide who rides in the correct order.

Waging a jumpseat war is not going to fix anything, but it will certainly serve to screw UAX commuters who rely on mainline for a ride to work. (Yes, I know the UAX letter says it's not a jumpseat war. You can call it anything you want - semantics will not fool anybody. Especially not UAL mainline guys, who have been fed BS for years.)

gettinbumped

Actually, YOU are incorrect. The new jumpseat priority came out two months ago. This issue is totally different and two YEARS old. I'm sure your jumpseat committee will be happy to explain it to you.

Iowa Farm Boy

1) If UAL pilots hadn't knowingly been taking UAX Jumpseats in front of the UAX pilots, this wouldn't even be an issue. Stand up, be a man, do the right thing. After a couple of times, it actually feels good.

2) As has been said MANY times in this and other threads- if the roles were reversed, UALPA would've had it fixed YEARS ago. Since it benefits them, they expect other companies to pay to fix it. Otherwise, shut up and get out of YOUR jumpseat so I can go home.

LITTLEa905

If it's entirely true what UALPA is saying about not being able to fix this problem quickly (i.e. rewrite the software programs, etc.) then you think they would at lease acknowledge that they should not be taking the jumpseat over uax pilots on uax airplanes. Not once have I seen any initiative for them to say "you know what, this isn't right and even though we can't fix it right now because of [insert BS reason here]" what can we do to make sure that the official priorities are observed?"

Which brings me to my next issue. Are the official priorities those in our manuals, or that of the stupid UAL computer? I am assuming that our manuals are correct with jumpseat priorities. The reason I ask is that UAL is not going to back down from this IMHO and we are going to have ourselves a jumpseat war.

I really do think UAL (still not sure to blame the MEC or UAL management or both) is totally in the wrong here, but wouldn't a short term solution of just overriding the gates decision on priority just be better than both sides losing out?

e.g. United pilot shows up for the actual on a Shuttle America flight... F/O or captain says it's ok but just needs to verify with the gate whether or not a Shuttle pilot was waiting for the jumpseat. If there is, than the United guy unforunately needs to be denied.

I know that's totally a hassle at some airports, but if we educate our employees, then maybe we all can avoid this whole denying the jumpseat thing. Captains should know the priority and it's their final say, not the gate's.

ToiletDuck

I'm not for the jumpseat war. Completely against it. But UAL's talk about how it isn't a quick fix is BS when they've had two years to work on it.

Flyer2000

That is the way it is now. There is nor has ever been anything stopping captains from going up and resolving the issue.........not happening. Or, at least not to the extent that the problem is resolved.

The problem with "sending them down to the captain" is one of both security (if there is not a jetway), and time. If it is going to delay the flight agents are in a difficult position, if they take a delay their managers are going to get after them (Skywest anyway).

Truly the simplest solution is to get the software fixed and then there isn't an issue of depending on the agent, or the captain.

Newty

Boy howdy am I glad I don't have to commute anymore. Most of the skyw capts I have flown with say they won't deny the JS anyway but something needs to be done. Again, living in base or even better being based where you live is the way to go. I won't upgrade or transition or anything else unless I can do it and hold SLC

ToiletDuck

I feel while most won't deny it will only take one or two before things get blown out of proportion.

TonyWilliams

Let's concentrate on the fix. There is, or shouldn't be, anybody denying anybody.

I will guess that there won't be a UAX issue, even on Aug 1, if UAL and UAL/ALPA can come to a meeting of the minds on how this needs to change. It doesn't need to change prior to that day; just set the wheels in motion to the cure.

I sincerely hope that if the UAL MEC does in fact start actually denying JS riders in 9 days, that we stick to our guns and continue working the issue until Aug 1. That means letting UAL guys on, per your respective SOP's, until that date, NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO.

It can't be ignored that many UAL guys feel powerless. Their MEC is telling them one thing, and they're hearing something else in person, and on the internet, from UAX pilots. Don't fret, we feel a bit limited on power to fix this issue, too.

I don't see a FOOLPROOF way to fix this short of fixing the software. It was changed at the UAL MEC's request.

Change it again.

SaltyDog

The solution is so simple, can't believe ALPA hasn't stated the obvious: The UAL pilots should not take a JS out of the correct order. The pilots should standing in the gate area can figure it out. Geez Lillian, It really is that simple.
Whoever said this is a management wet dream is correct. Laughing like h#ll at all of us.
BTW, anybody except scabs are welcome on my flight.