Gate Agent Power Trips
 

Hypothetical situation, I'd like your thoughts...

You are non revving and see a group of pilots and FA's (in uniform) doing the same obviously trying to get to work in Charlotte. The gate agent is boarding the standbys and a pilot and FA walk up and get in line. By the time they get to the agent (after standing there for about 5 minutes) and ask for the jumpseats the agent tells them that it is less than 10 minutes to departure time and that she can't help them. They call a supervisor and since the agent really pressed the 10 minute rule the supervisor stands behind her decision. After the pilot and FA walk away upset, he tells the agent she should have let them on the flight since they were only 1 minute late and they had actually been in line longer than that along with the fact that she was still in the process of boarding. He then makes some comment about the jumpseats being empty and having two more people to try and accomodate on a later flight that could have gone on the one that they just boarded.

Is there nothing you can do if this happens to you? Is there a way the crew members could have gotten past this agent?

From your description, it sounds like you arrived (hypothetically) in the boarding area late. If you're at the counter presenting your credentials after the cutoff all bets are off. Some agents will try to accommodate last minute jumpseaters, others won't, but that's hardly a power trip. Best advice is get there early, hypothetically of course.

Okay, maybe it wasn't a hypothetical situation...I call it that because there might have been more to it than was obvious to a bystander and I know that people jump all over you for posting questions that you really might want a serious answer to. BUT, it was NOT about ME as you seem to suggest AND the pilot and FA did arrive several minutes before the 10 minute cutoff. The agent was busy boarding the other standbys which ran into the 10 minute cutoff. I have very little seniority and was not trying to get to work so I fully expected to not make the flight just to clarify my position. I guess I got my answer, just always get there in plenty of time and never expect help, thanks a lot.

Try to arrive at the gate at least 1/2 hr early. If that'a not possible, always be friendly, but realize the agent might not have time for you.

Power tip: if you are late, and you are going home and you are sure there are seats, you can always wave to the flight crew through the terminal windows (if available. Work fairly good sometimes. That said, use it very judiciously.

If you're late and the agent is in a hurry or has had a bad day, all bets are off. There is no rule that says they must accommodate your late butt.

Don't commute much myself, but if you commute often from the same airport offering to buy them a cup of coffee every now and then tends to help. I'm not saying to bribe them with coffee everytime you commute, but they'll remember you and will probably be much more helpful next time you show up close to the cutoff.

Arrive earlier?

If you are commuting out of CLT often, you will see the same agents all the time. Be nice to them and get to know them by name; I used to commute in and out of IAD, I knew all of the US Air agents names in IAD and would always say hello to them and ask how they were doing. Every once in a while bring them a candy bar or something. Then when they were busy I would just wave and walk up and they would hand me a jumpseat form without saying a word, then I'd fill it out and leave it on the counter and they would take care of it.

I guess that wouldn't help if you are in an unfamiliar place; but in my experience kill them with kindness; if that doesn't work try get the crews attention somehow.

I offer them small children as snacks.

Don't take is personal and then be a cry baby about it on the internet. Show up earlier. If you are trying to run and catch a 10 minute connection don't plan on getting. If you are online and prelisted then 10 minutes prior should work, but if it's offline and you just show up that is really pressing your luck.