I don't know where in the world you are trying to go. But if you want to go somwhere in a first class seat, will cost you nothing but departure tax, and will get fed, try calling Polar/Atals/Gemini.

 

I'm not trying to go anywhere, just trying to compare the travel benefits between SKW and XJT

Here's a question: now that DAL seems to allow more jumpseats than the ones actually present, wouldn't that mean that as a SKW pilot you can "jumpseat" but get a passenger seat, paying only the taxes? Who would pay the "fee" rickair mentioned if you can go for free?

 

Yes, you can JS, just to make it clear. Yes, if you use the JS privledge, no fees for travel, just the departure tax on the way out of wherever you went to.

Couple things, if you JS int'l and they actually put you in first/business, guess what? No drinking and living the high life for you.

If you don't mind me asking, which express/connection/airlink carrier do you work for but seem to know so little about JS and non-rev procedures?

As far as XJET, domestic and int'l travel USING a pass carry a surcharge. Xjet is 12.50 each way domestic in coach. Can't remember how much in 1st class, haven't had it in so long. I can't remember how much for int'l, and yes, 1st/business is more expensive. We (as well as everybody in our family that has privs) are allocated what are called "vacation passes" each year, cant remember how many. If you elect to use a "vacation pass" the fee is waived and you are above all the other non-revs riding on a normal non-rev pass.

 

DAL doesn't charge a non-rev fee, so why bother? International taxes cannot be avoided in any case.

UAL does charge a non-rev fee, so it is pretty popular for united pilots to J/S instead of non-rev to avoid that fee. I think they only 1 or 2 guys (depending on actual jumpseats) are allowed to do this on each flight.

SKW has pretty good travel bennies, I have been at companies that have worse. The option to non-rev on two large legacies provides a lot of flexibility. I know nothing about XJet's bennies, so I can't comment there.

Note: International jumpseating can be complicated. You may not be able to ride in the actual jumpseat outbound from the US, and you WILL NOT be allowed in the actual jumpseat inbound to the US from any foriegn country (yes, canada too).

 

SFO-SYD is flown on a 3 class 747. Business class seats are like a first class seat on most other airlines. First class are the completely lay flat bed suites. They are pretty awesome.

For SFO-SYD, the prices are $80 for coach/economy plus, $135 for business, $165 for first class. Of those fares, $35 is tax, and the rest is charged by United. But remember that SFO-SYD is a LONG flight.

SFO-DEN is $14 for coach/economy plus, $24 for first class (or business on the 3 class 777), and $30 for the first class suites. Of that, $7 is taxes. I found it works out to less than 1 penny per mile. Maybe 2 pennies per mile for first class. Pretty good.

 

Does this non-rev policy (UAL and DAL) apply to ASA guys too??

 

At ASA you have travel bennies on Delta becasue they are a Deltla Connection carrier, get it?

Yes, an ASA pilot can JS on UAL but you have no pass travel on UAL. You can always buy an ID90 or whatever, but why would you want to?

The only thing about JS'ing int'l is this;

1) You CANNOT ride in the front, PERIOD. Not of yet anyway.
2) As a JS rider, you go below EVERY OTHER non-rev trying to get on that flight. So every main line/connection/express/airlink/stand by/ID90/ZED/buddy pass rider is going to get a seat before you.

 

I really find it hard to believe that SKW pilots are allowed international jumpseat on DAL, I duno about United... but def not DAL. You can get approved on a one time basis, but that is for family death's ect.

 

Are you talking about sitting in the actaul JS or just using the JS privledge to go int'l and back?

I've used DAL twice to JS to Europe, not a problem.

 

I jumpseated to Ho Chi Mihn City a couple months ago on United. No problem getting over, except for the mechanical cx that happened in Hong Kong. It would have been completely free, i.e. no tax, but since I had to stay over night in Hong Kong, I had to pay the departure tax (about $15). Departure tax was paid to leave Viet Nam. I think that was $14. I had a couple of ZED fares in my hip pocket for the trip home, as the loads were kind of iffy. I ended up on Eva Airline from HGK-TPE-LAX on the way home. Just as a side note, you (SKYW pilots) CANNOT occupy the actual jumpseat on international flights. BTW, on the flights in between Hong Kong and Ho Chi Mihn City, first class was wide open but they only put me in business class. (I say "only" with my tounge in cheek. Business class is a sweeeet ride after doin' econ across the pond.) I think that's a j/s thing with a 3-cabin class aircraft. Anywho, it was my first international j/s and they treated me great. One word of advice I got from a seasoned j/seater. . . . . . when leaving some of the . . . . . . ummm. . . . . less developed countries. . . . . as a jumpseater, it helps to be in uniform. If you try without it, sometimes they'll tell you that only pilots can jumpseat. You show your i.d. and they still don't beleive your a pilot. Of course if you're in uniform, they won't ask to see your airline id. . . .and nobody will spit on you 'til you get back to the good ol' USA.