Thank you for all of the suggestions/advice and info! much appreciated!

 

You heard wrong.

 

I usually call the non-rev number to list and check loads. Every time j/s as an OMC, i've been treated very well. The gate agent will give me first class if it's open. and the crew will go out of their way to make sure i have a place for my bag vs gate checking it since i'm usually one of the last few to board.

 

You guys should be able to get onto expressnet once you start UAX stuff. It is easier to do it on your computer than to do on over the 800 number.

If you list and end up getting a seat in first YOU WILL GET CHARGED for the first class seat...one way around this is to not list and go the gate and tell them you want to "OMC" and then make sure you get your OMC card along with your seat assignment... I commute from a place with only UAX single class planes so my info may be a bit wrong...but that is my understanding.

I've noticed a few guys asking about J/S priority it was all jacked up for a while, but about 6 months ago it finally got settled. Now its pretty cut and dry and they have a sheet you can fill out (some gate agents make you fill it out even though you can only find them online) So make sure you keep some on you. Even though they have the sheet taped at the gate I have no idea why they cant just use it as a guide.... Anyways priority is

UAL or UAX flights
1. Pilots in order of DOH for the airline who's metal is flying the flight.
2. UAL/UAX pilots first come first serve..so a UAX guy could beat a UAL guy
3. OAL pilots

As I told some Expressjet guys a few days ago..."welcome to the suck that is UAX"

 

Thank you for such a knowledge packed and insightful post...

 

Line 1 is right but after that it depends on who you are flying and who you work for.

For example Jumpseats on UAL goes UAL Pilots first then UAX Pilots. K1 K2 K3 H priority and if there are two K1's it goes by First Come or time stamp on the jump seat card you get.

I believe the only pilots that are K1 is Trans States and GoJet because they only fly for United and also they have a deal with UAL to give them priority first after their own pilots on their metal, Masa is K2 and Shuttle is H.

There is a Card out there that explains it all alot better. If I get a chance I will upload it.

 

I was unaware that UAX pilots had K1 K2..etc. Interesting...I just got one of the forms out from my stash and it only lists the UAX carriers with no spot for mainline UAL metal...Also there is no spot for Expressjet or ASA metal either so wonder if they are gonna revise the form soon? Pretty much all gates that have UAX flights will have a copy of this from taped to the desk so that gate agents can look at it.

Main thing with UAX especially in IAD is try to talk the the crew!!!! The gate agents for the most part (there are a few exceptions) are horrible. Air Whiskey ops likes to make up weight restrictions out of the blue and they are usually off by 3 or so people. They would rather be ontime than risk being overweight so the crew is not usually notified of the weight restriction and usually doesn't know that people (both rev and non-rev) are being left behind. The past few months has this situation has started to happend less frequently, but its still pretty much an everyday occurance.

 

Not to be a smarta$$, but I think that what you heard is incorrect. I believe that it's ONLY on flights operated by the holding company of one one of the devil reincarnates himself (Hulas) where UAL pilots get any kind of a higher priority.