Question for XJT pilots...
 

Just a few quick questions for all you XJT guys...

1. What kind of jumpseat/ID90/ZED agreement do you guys have on CAL's INTERNATIONAL flight? I know you guys can jumpseat/sit in the back for free on all domestic, but what about international? (btw, is "international" broken down in Americas and rest-of-the-world or are all international destinations considered equal in terms of jumpseat/non-rev?)

2. What kind of pass (ID/ZED) agreements do you have with other carriers (both US carriers operating domestically and internationally, and foreign carriers)?

3. What travel benefits are available for immediate family (spouse/parents)? On which airlines? domestic/intl?

4. What has been the average length of reserve for new hires (last 6 mo)?

I know, I know.... lots of questions....but I appreciate you help!:)



PS. APC is a great website, with some good info. However there is no mention about travel benefits other than CASS/non-CASS. I was just wondering if I am the only person who would see value in adding a section on employee/family travel benefits, since I'm sure that DOES come into the equation for some guys (especially when choosing between airline/cargo/fractonals/ect). Just a thought.

1) I must preface by saying I havent done international but from what I hear CAL international isnt much different. Going out its still free jumpseat. Coming back to the US you pay taxes which range depending on where you are coming from. If you want to Non-rev (space available) you pay a fee based on destination and class you list for, but thats the same as domestic (just more expensive).

2) I dont have much info on other carriers international as I havent done it. Domestic....take your pick.

3) Immediate family (spouse, parents, a travel companion, kids etc) can list space available same as pilots on all CAL flights. Dont personally know and havent tried other carriers...

4) New hire reserve depends on base. CLE would be well over a year (maybe 2). I was hired in June and would have held a December relief line in EWR but not in IAH. That is only due to holidays... Likely 6-8 months to hold other than reserve in either EWR or IAH.

Hope this semi-helps...

Thanks for the info!

Now here's a question for everyone: What is the difference between jumpseating and non-revving? I mean, I know the difference since I've done both in the past, but i don't really understand why anyone would purchase a non-rev pass (and pay for it) if you could ride for free through CASS....
I'm obviously missing something here. My understanding of CASS is you show up at the gate, they check your credentials through CASS, and they give u either an economy seat (if available) or the cockpit jumpseat (if available). The other option is if you buy a non-rev pass, you pay for it, get listed on the flight, check-in like all other pax, and then wait to see if there are any economy seats available. If there aren't, you might get the jumpseat if you're in CASS.

What did I miss? The only advantage of buying a non-rev is that you'd have priority over other jumpseaters on that flight. Why would you pay if you can have the same thing free?

:confused: :confused: :confused:

I'm just waiting for someone to illuminate me.

You arent missing anything. Thats exactly it...Priority. If you want to get on the flight, sometimes it IS necessary to be non-rev not jumpseat. You can also book a non-rev and jumpseat and if you don't use the non-rev then it doesnt get charged.

If you are a commuter this could be all the difference of showing to work or getting left behind. There are sometimes lots of jumpseaters more senior to you and thats a way to get on before them.....

CASS participants go AFTER all classes of non-revs.

Got it! I guess it makes sense then to buy the non-rev just in case!

Not sure how it works at other carriers but at CAL you don't get charged for the segment unless you use it. So if you list as a non-rev and end up on the jumpseat you won't get charged for the segment. Usually when I travel I list and then when I get to the gate I talk to the agents and they switch it to a jumpseat if there is going to be room in the cabin so I don't get charged, even if I am traveling with someone else who doesn't have jumpseat privileges (the girlfriend). Those that commute and deal with this more often probably have more experience with it but that seems to be how it works.

I have an interview with ExpressJet tomorrow!!!!!!!!!! Wish me luck

Just out of curiosity, how much is XJT charging for non-rev? For example, how much would an IAH-MCO end up costing it's employees.

The reason I ask is Eagle with less than 5 years at the company charges for a seat in the back (not on the jumpseat). DFW-MCO is about $10.

$12.50 per segment for a personal pass (i.e., coach), so IAH-MCO would be $12.50 one-way.

to add to the 12.50 comment. If you are connecting its not counted as 2 legs..... i saw a DTW-IAH-SFO that was $15.00....

Very much worth it. First class is about $45ish per one-way.

Yep, I should have elaborated. Thanks!

If you don't want to waste $12.50, you could just use a vacation pass. Higher boarding priority, 1st class upgrade, and free....you get 12 one-ways per year.

However, I believe those accrue on 01JAN after one calendar year of service (or else I need to make some angry phone calls). In other words, if you're hired in January, you'll have to wait nearly two years to see vacation passes...Right?

Good luck Broke ;)

Anyone have any experience with international jumpseating/non-revving? Both for employee and family members?

I got the job!! All the people over at the ExpressJet facility are awesome! Class starts on the 11th ....just 5 more days!

Awesome dude, congratulations... see you on the line in a couple months.

Nice man LIVINTHEDREAM got the job here to..........................welcome my brothers

Is he the same one that just got the Colgan job? Talk about a huge jump up with the XJT offer.:D Congrats to all you guys.

hey thanks a lot! I can't wait to start.....BROKECFI I probably know you from Tuesday, congrats man!

Have fun at the Holiday Inn!! :D
And don't eat the bicuits at Good Eats.... actually, avoid all the food at Good Eats! :p

Congrats!! Now go memorize your flows. ;)

Buffalo chicken salad man, thats where its AT!:D

Hmm.. never tried the salad.... but the burgers were mediocre... so we'd just call the place Mediocre Eats. The hotel staff got a kick out of that. :D

WTF???? I non-rev on Delta and don't pay squat!

what company? maybe thats why delta is hurting lol

UA charges too.

US does not.

so as an XJT pilot, can you jumpseat on any airline? Non-rev just on CAL?

Yep, any CASS participating airline.

this may be a little off topic but.......how often do XJT pilots on reserve typically fly?

You can put yourself on the "will fly" list, which I did. I was on reserve for 3 months and flew 60 hours, 95 hours and 76 hours. If you are on the "no preference" list Im sure you would fly less. Once you reach 60 hours in a month on reserve, they do whats called "leveling" where they bypass you if they can and call guys who haven't flown as much.

good deal, I'll be on the "will fly" list for sure

A lot of guys do, especially those who commute in for reserve. No one likes sitting in a crashpad for 4 days with nothing to do. Just don't be a whiny b!tch when you get a trip thats no fun with BPT, LCH and GRK overnights:D

Where do you guys / gals live?

I like Houston. Couldn't a new pilot hold houston right out of training for reserve and FO line?

-LAFF

from what I hear its very possible, it just depends on where they place you. They told us that they spilt your class up (in groups of 3) and send 1 group to each base (CLE, EWR, and IAH). They do let you tell them where you would prefer to go, but you'd don't always get it right out of the gate. It is very much a possibility however. I live up on MI and all I'm interested in is the base where I will sit reserve the shortest.

I moved to Houston when I got hired at XJT. It is no problem to get IAH out of training. I did as well as about half my class. No matter where you get based originally, you can get pretty much any other base within 6 months (usually less).

With the exception of CLE (which no one really wants anyway) reserve is running about the same in EWR as in IAH. CLE tends to run into the years but thats because the people who are there want to be there and never leave. Plus its a MUCH smaller base compared to IAH and EWR. If you are commuting from MI you're probably better of with EWR since its a shorter commute and has more flight options than trying to get to IAH. Like you said, you do get to put the bases in order of preference but that doesn't mean you will get your first choice. Just be patient, sit a couple months reserve like everyone else, and move on with your life. Reserve isn't as bad as people make it out to be.

any chance to fly as much as possible and I'm a happy camper :)