Here is what I did.

My trip had a 27 hour layover then a deadhead. So I came home a day earlier on the same two flights. The problem was the second flight was $200 bucks more yesterday than it was going to be today. The first flight was on Jet Blue and the connecting flight was NWA/Delta. My bank was $500 bucks. So I jumped on the Jet Blue flight and bought a $440 dollar ticket to Memphis on NWA and got home 24 hours earlier.

I'm being told by a friend (exposter on here) that is illegal. I think he is wrong. I never had a revenue ticket on the flight I jumped on. My position is that once I deviate I'm a free agent and can do whatever I want to get home.

Is there anything anywhere (ALPA or contract) about this. Again I never had a revenue ticket on the flight I jumped on. I know that is a no no.

Thanks

I would consider deleting the post.

While I don't think it is illegal (per the newhire brief and subsequent company comm) some might get offended that a ticket was available but only partially used. That might lead to denied jumpseats other airline managements think we jumpseat to avoid buying a ticket.

I don't know exactly how our jumpseat agreements are worded and they may have recently changed. I would prefer to leave the details out so no one tries to lawyer us on this.

BTW, I get paid tickets to the max extent possible....

I do not see any problem with that, in fact per your info the "scheduled" deadhead was not even on the same day as you traveled...Not sure what your friend thinks was illegal or illicit? Even if you traveled on the same day and same flight as your pairing was scheduled, once you deviate and do not hold a ticket on that flight, do as you wish to get home.

I am with Gunter.
So if you deviate on same day, next flight or one earlier and pocket the money in your travel bank, no ethics problems? OK, Define how long a time from original paid ticket deviation before it is an issue for same trip/purpose. Just curious? Am sure Jet Blue pilots would be curious to an answer since there company originally was supposed to make coin on moving you from A-B, which because you deviated for same purpose, they now did it for no coin.
Just asking.

I used almost all the bank. I just didn't have enough for both flights. If it's wrong then I want to see it. I was not trying to save bank money. By the way I told the Jet Blue exactly what I was doing and why. I wasn't trying to get away with anything. I just didn't want cough up $240 bucks out of my pocket and they were fine with it.

UAL is very specific!

OMC travel is restricted to personal use. No company business use of any kind, including crew movement is permitted. Failure to comply with these restrictions could result in United Airlines denying the cockpit jumpseat privileges to eligibles in your employ.

so i guess if you don't have enough money it becomes a personal trip? thanks for risking our jumpseat with jetblue!!!!....

Contrary to the foolish comments by the Memphis types who haven't deviated in the last 5 yrs, and haven't kept up with the changes, I frankly don't see a problem here.

a. Nobody "keeps" any monies. This is not a cash transaction.
b. Our company pays us X dollars to purchase tickets in certain instances. We can choose who we fly on, based on where we go, and the service/prices offered.
c. Tickets are usually purchased through our company travel agency.
d. We fly on virtually every airline. Often on 1st, or Business, or last minute full-fare tickets. Discounts are not great. Just like any major corporation, we bring a fair amount of revenue to every carrier out there. Thousands of tickets every month at least.
d. NOBODY ever--repeat ever--jumpseats on a flight that they held a ticket for, at any time. Huge no-no.

So why guys get on here and try to find some excuse to crap on each other slays me. Take a break, will ya...

Hey, he's back!

i needed a break!...this jumpseat thing is interesting though as i am commuting now....i would like to hear other opinions on this!

Half the reason I started this thread was that I knew MiddleAgedBoyCaptain couldn't resist. Yep our little "boy" is 40.

100% of guys that jumpseat do so to save their personal money. Doesn't matter if you are going to visit your old girlfriend or going on vacation. The only reason I didn't buy a ticket was to keep from taking my Personal cashola out of my pocket.

I told the Jet Blue guys what I was doing and they understood completely. When I am going to use my personal money it's not business travel anymore. So I don't see any ethical or moral problem with using one of the many great benefits we have as pilots.

The old "boy" was telling me it was written somewhere and I just wanted to see if it was.