Jumpseat questions
 

I'm going to be new to this privelage and wanted to ask a few questions. I know a girl down in Colombia and the only US airline that goes to the the city she lives in is American. What is their policy towards non AA/AE pilots as far as jumpseating to south america?

I have grandparents in Germany that want me to come see them soon. UAL doesn't do any flights to Germany (that I'm aware of), and it's handeled by Lufthansa. May I jumpseat on Lufthansa to Germany even though it might be a "UAL" flight? How does jumpseating work with Code-share foreign airlines? Hopefully this makes sense.

These are all pending the Gate agent, head flight attendant, and Captain will allow me to do so. Which I plan to ask for each of their permission.

I'm pretty sure AA will take international jumpseaters (in the cabin) but you probably won't be allowed in first class (filthy offline pilots anyway). You can also buy a ZED.

I have a buddy who flys UA widebodies SFO-Germany. Also Continental goes to Germany, if you have UA nonrev you should be able to go on CAL also (I think).

Lufthansa is very hospitable to offline pilots, I'm not sure if you can jumpseat on them but you can buy a ZED fare for sure. Unlike AA, they will put you in first class if there's room.

You have to check in with the gate agent, you're supposed to check in with the CA, and it's certainly nice to say hi to the lead FA (but don't ask her permission).

Search on Google for The Jumpseat Alpa and you will find a pretty useful site with all of these questions answered.

Is this new? This may have changed but last time I checked American only allows a select few airlines (none of them regionals) to jumpseat internationally. Be it cabin or cockpit.

UA's equipment operates plenty of flights to Germany.

International jumpseating is a great benefit. Although you can only do it on US carriers, not codeshared flights. You cannot physically sit in the jumpseat (although that might change soon with recent FAA change in policy) but they will put you in the back if a seat is available. But remember, even a buddy pass has higher seniority than you. As for American, there are a few regionals who can jumpseat internationally. I know Piedmont and PSA and I believe Skywest can. There is a list somewhere online. Search APC to find out if your carrier is authorized.

Some advise cause I've done it alot, arrive really early in a foreign country!!! About 3 hrs normally work. I jumpseated out of Bolivia on American and the flight went La Paz, Bolivia-Santa Cruz, Bolivia- Miami. I got there 2hrs before departure and get checked in 5 minutes before the flight was scheduled to leave. Luckily it was delayed an hour and I made it. If possible, have the agent in the US list you for the return. I've jumpseated out of India several times and to get to the ticket counter, you need an itinerary. Only way to get one jumpseating is at the ticket counter so security won't let you in to the ticket counter even with your ID. You do also have to pay any departure taxes for the leg into the US. It's free to leave they just charge you to get back in.

Also to list leaving the US you normally can't just go to the departure gate and have the agent list you. Most of the time you must go to some sort of special services. In ATL I use the ticket counter in the E concourse right at the top of the escalators. Showed up 45 minutes and was able to get listed on a flight to Dubai. In EWR there is an employee travel office outside security. Go to the southern most checkpoint and look left. It's hidden but its there. For American, you have to list online so then you can just go to the actual gate since you are already listed. Good luck and have fun!! Remember to talk to the Captain and take the flight attendants chocolate or something sweet you bought locally. It's gotten me 1st class on several occasions after the boarding door was closed.

Are the ZEDs usually pretty inexpensive? I really appreciate all the info. I had heard that UAL doesn't do any flights to Germany, so thanks for clearing that up. My instructor in Indoc was telling us to bring the cabin crew some treats, as it goes a long way, even a cup of coffee for the gate agent.

AA's list of reciprocal int'l js agreements is small, very small. As has been mentioned, few, if ANY regional carriers are on it.

Just taking a casual glance at SkyNet and UAL goes to both FRA and MUC from ORD and IAD, didn't look at JFK, LAX, SFO, or SEA. Depending on day/season there's sometimes multiple departures in one day to the same city from the same UAL hub.

ZED stands for Zonal Employee Discount. The price you pay is based on the milage zone between dept/dest. The last time I used one was on the next to most expensive milage zone, 6000 miles dept-dest. It was $225 round trip. And even when JS'ing on a US carrier, never hurts to have a ZED/ID in your back pocket just in case. They are refundable if you don't use them. For more info, do a search on ZED fares, been covered extensively.

I've JS'ed to Europe and South America multiple times on 3 different legacies. I ALWAYS bring a bag of chocolates for the FA's and the cockpit crew to help "grease the wheels" for a better seat if available. There is NOTHING that says you'll get a business/FC seat when using the JS privilege. it's never failed. And if the only seat that was available was in coach I've gotten better food.

There are a couple flights a day to Frankfurt and Munich from IAD serviced by United....

Continental used to be jumpseater friendly circa early 90's.....don't know about now