So I am here sitting in Memphis because I missed my flight to Detroit. Here's the rant, please let me know what you think.

I signed up for a MEM-DTW flight via Travelnet with my S3C priority. I went to the gate one hour prior and asked the GA if anyone had signed up for the jumpseat and if not if I can sign up because it didn't look like I'd make the flight. She told me that no one had signed up but it's fine because it looked like I'd make it. So in the meantime an OAL jumpseater signed up for the jump and got the JS. I finally get my boarding pass for the last seat in the airplane. Low and behold, after I'd just finished stowing my bag, flightcase and buckled up, I get pulled off the flight because of a late passenger (of course). I'm not trying to sound entitled or anything but is there something I could've done differently? Also apparently you can't sign up for the jumpseat if you're listed on Travelnet. Has anyone run into a similar problem?

 

Your strategy is exactly what I do when non-reving. I ask the gate agent if I need to sign up for the jumpseat or if it looks like I will be okay. I have never heard or experienced such a thing as not being able to sign up for JS when being listed on Travelnet, I do not think there is any truth to that. I think in this case the only thing you could of done differently was to insist on listing for the jumpseat. Do you have travelnet on your phone? If 20 minutes prior it still looks iffy you can again go up to the gate agent and request to fill out the paper work for the jumpseat. Basically, you just got the shaft, were you able to get home on the next flight?

 

There is no restriction for having listed previously via TravelNet. However, many gate agents refuse to activate you for both nonrev and the jumpseat concurrently. Whether this is a Delta thing or a personal preference thing I can't say. From my point of view, if there's a question of whether I'll make it, I always opt for the jumpseat. Better to be safe than sorry, and if there just happens to be a seat in back then I'll get it anyway.

 

I understand your gripe. As a former commuter I faced this multiple times. For as long as I've been at DAL, they don't allow simultaneous bookings for JS and Non-Rev. Its either one or the other. My advice is always get the JS. If the flight fills up, you ride up front. If its empty, you get a seat in the back. Either way you don't get pulled off the flight. The only issue is you can't reserve the JS so if a DAL pilot comes to the gate then you don't ride up front. However, we take as many JS as there are open seats so that's my best advice. Good luck.

 

Yeah, many CS agents seem to feel that it's either/or. I'm not entirely sure about the policy on that if there even is one.

But it is true that JSer's generally have LAST priority behind all nonrrevs for a cabin seat (even if it's your own airline).

It's reasonable that you should be able to chose your option 30 minutes out, but if it's closing time and the other guy is already in the cockpit it's probably too late. If in doubt, opt for the JS early (and go down early to make sure it's not broken, etc). If the flight's that full you might be helping out a nonrev anyway.

 

I have not made it home. I have however signed up for the JS on the next flight. My only problem with that is, on a DC9, it only takes one mainline guy to bump me off the JS and since JS is last priority for cabin, the cabin could possibly fill up with nonrevvers (even ones with less priority) and I'm out a seat as well.

I do offer to take the JS when I have a seat in the back to help out other nonrevvers that are not able to take the jumpseat.

It kind of sucks too that I was bumped off the flight by retirees/parents.

One last question. the GA didn't seem to know how the priority went for jumpseaters on mainline. She said it was Mainline first then Delta connection carriers then OAL. As far as how the computer prioritized the connection carriers, was a mystery to her. Does anyone know?

 

As far as DCC, it's based on first come first serve (excluding wholly owned). I had a a gate agent show me how the prioritized works on their computers. Deltanet has some info on this system.

 

.......disregard, missed the post above.

 

As DAL4EVER pointed out, on mainline it's either non-rev or jumpseat.

 

I spent my entire northwest career getting bumped by mgmt kids out of grand forks so you are not alone.