The dynamics are interesting. If this becomes a huge issue and fight, it takes the focus off basic pay for quite a while.

Well, that is going to take some doing on a 767 going anyplace an RJ driver is trying to get to work, particularly when our role in the process is to evaluate & load numbers which are pushed to us. With CASS, many of the JS already have a seat in back and some don't even stop by :mad: (one of our express guys was in shorts and sandals ... Captain caught him on the way out of the jet and he got a "briefing" :eek: )

The OP advocating a JS war was stupid. Responding in kind is not a whole lot smarter.

Why not just admit these guys have a point? The conditions and benefits of their employment were unilaterally changed without their negotiation or consent. If the same thing happened to us, we would be upset and might try to get it changed, just like they are doing.

a) This sucks and we should all send a loud message to corporate that we don't like it, both UAL and UAX pilots alike.

b) By and large it won't affect most UAX commutes most of the time.

UA has unlimited jumpseat provisions in the pilot contract.

As long as there is no UAL commuter ahead of you on a full flight, the commuting UAX pilot simply says: "Please may I use the jumpseat?" and viola you are commuting to work sans charges. So the only time this is a problem is if you run into a moronic UAL guy that takes your jumpseat on a flight that is full except for one last seat in coach or two you have an evil and sadistic gate agent that claims the jumpseat isn't available. Hopefully either of those scenarios will happen rarely.

So let's recap . . .

The service charge does little to affect commuting UAX pilots, but it is horrific for FAs, and squabbling on the internet and denying each other jumpseats is pointless for both UAL pilots and UAX pilots.

Divided we fall; united we conquer.


P.S. I commuted from SFO to JFK and JFK to SFO for a brief period after bankruptcy and the company tried imposing "fees" at that time as well. It didn't last long . . .

Suck it up? Do nothing? You serious?
I'm not saying that there's one perfect solution on what to do but I know it's not nothing.

Minus the fact that UAL gate agents are notorious for hating to do jumpseat listings at the gate despite the fact that's the only method in existence. We used to be able to list online but that was taken away too for some reason, despite the fact all it did was save the gate agents time.

Also there is a limit on WebJump as to how many jumpseaters can be listed for a flight. So even if there are 100 open seats on the flight, it won't let the gate agent list more than X number (whatever the number is) of jumpseaters.

Lastly, how many times have you rushed for a commute. Or not even had to rush but known you land and have 45 minutes but because you're listed you you'll make it because your nonrev listing has cleared and there is a boarding pass waiting for you at the gate. Now what? Pay the $20 for a nonrev listing I guess since you're not going to find many gate agents willing to spend 3-4 minutes doing a listing for you while they're boarding Group 5. List for the jumpseat earlier in the day? WebJump won't let you do it more than 2 hours in advance.

So I'd venture to say this policy - if its true - does in fact effect UA Express guys greatly.

No, I am not saying do nothing... Call your ALPA rep, talk to the chief, travel dept ect.... But retaliating against UAL pilots for something they had no say in is just silly.
Blocking out late ect... Hurts the company you work for not UAL. If the performance numbers suck enough Gojetzzz is always there to under bid ya.
I hope this doesn't become the norm, and yes this new fee does hurt my commute as well. But I'll do what's in my power to help change it, already written emails ect.., but ultimately it's UALs decision and we all have to suck it up...

Maybe all UAX pilot's should take a few days off to get their blood pressure down.

Preferably the same few days...

Seriously do nothing? Thank you for accelerating the race to the bottom! I am in no way advocating pilots vs plots and petty bickering over jump seats. However, to say just suck it up and do nothing? That is just plan lazy and ignorant. :mad:

Reference my post 3 lines down

good post