Jumpseating on United
 

All, as my domicile has moved to IAD I wanted to know how commuting on United/United Express is. Im w ASA and will be commuting BOS-IAD. Jet Blue, United and USAIRWAYS all do direct flights. However , United is the only one of the 3 I have yet to use. Is there anything specific I should know, do you have to call and list yourself, can you just list at the counter/ gate, how have your experiences been on them and Jet Blue and UsAirways. JB and Airways have been good experiences for me. Just would like some details on United since they do the majority BOS-IAD flights so I know I will be using them a little more than the others. Thank you in advance for any info!!!

I've just listed at the gate. I tried using their automated number to list but it's completely useless. I used them from LAX-BWI once and even with me showing up not listed, they still treated me great...upgraded me to Economy Plus with my own row and everything. Crew was great, as well. I can't speak for the UAX carriers but mainline is excellent.

Oh yeah, and I almost always use Airways or JetBlue myself. Neither has ever done me wrong.

As long as you/family does not receive United pass benefits, jumpseating is great and easy.

For those that do it is a constant issue of making sure you are not charged to ride the jumpseat.

I used UA and UAX frequently commuting through IAD and ORD. Never once had a problem. As previous posters have said, calling the 1-800-UAL-LIST number isn't going to do much, unless you need load info.

Listing at the gate is easy, or if the line's short sometimes they can do it at the ticket counter. UA/UAX folks please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think they may refer to an offline jumpseater listing as "OMC".....just a term that may help if there's an issue listing you.

It is OMC, rather than jumpseat, at United. It's been a long time since a gate agent didn't know what I was talking about when I asked for the jumpseat, though, it has happened a few times.

I have been jumpseating on UA for almost two years now, twice a week (uphill roundtrip, in the snow) and have never EVER had a problem. AND, I list at the gate with no problems either.

I almost always use UA to get to and from work and it is always a good experience. If you don't get F class they will put you in Econ Plus and the extra room is well worth it.

OMC is the word they use and if you get a seat in the back just introduce yourself to the CA and FO on your way back.


My 2 fav's to Jump on are United and Southwest.

Jetblue offers the BEST commute. Take Jetblue!!!

call 1800 UAL LIST. keep hitting "0" until you reach a human being. attempting to use the automated system will no doubt result in your phone being shattered against a wall.

you don't have to list this way however. simply walking up to the gate and asking to OMC (as others here have suggested) is an acceptable method. the only benefit of using the telephone is the representative may be able to tell you how the loads look for whatever flight you are trying to get on.

hope that helped

I would like to know how the priority issue is going to be resolved. I've heard anecdotally that UAL mainline pilots get jumpseat priority on all UAX flights. ASA pilots, however, always get priority on our own metal. So something's got to give, and I don't see it being us...

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.