I tell ya, that sh** needs to stop. ORD is hands down the worst. I had the head FA tell me to go back upstairs and get my bag because nearly half the bins were empty. Got chewed out by the agent in front of everyone up there. I appreciate the ride, but the way we are treated on them vs. the way other airlines treat their pilots is not fair. Speaking of which, we always give offline jumps premium seating if available. Why is it AA agents can't be bothered to put us in something other than a middle in the back when the front is wide open?

Yup. AA is the worst to commute on because of the agents. My experience as well. Always my very last choice even if their flight happens to be most convenient.

For whatever it's worth, I've had just about the exact opposite experience jumpseating on AA. The flight crews have always treated me like one of their own and bend over backwards to make me feel welcome. The only time I've had a extreme coach seat was when there was nothing else left. I've had a few gate agents who turned me away when the jet bridge was still attached, but each time that was clearly because they were working as a single and were under pressure to get the flight out on time. A Captain who "did the walk" would've fixed that, but not everybody does that, sadly.

Jumpseating on AA is at least as nice as doing it on our own metal, and sometimes better. I appreciate all of their consideration.

I think this poster was referring to the gate agents, not the flight crews. In my experience the flight crews have always been terrific. Even riding up front on AA has been a good time with the crew. However I have had more than one "less than pleasant" experience with the agents and the overall listing process. I know that my carrier doesn't make it nearly as difficult.

I agree that the gate agents are the weak link, and that's probably what the poster I quoted was talking about. I just don't think that the AA gate agents are appreciably worse than anybody else's. If anything, they seem to have to put up with more electronic obstacles than other carriers. You would think that after all of the hoops that myidtravel makes you jump through, the actions of the gate agent would be previously completed and all they would have to do is verify the listing and check our IDs. Instead it's like that scene from Meet The Parents.

There is absolutely NO WAY that I could ever be a gate agent. Especially for what they get paid. Life is too short, and I sympathize with their plight.

My point was it doesn't matter how many open bins there are. You will be checking your bag on AA. They WILL also leave you behind when you've been at the gate for an hour and a half. This after the last agent for the flight before turned you away for running up 10 prior but the line is still halfway up the jetway.

Btw I'm always listed ahead of time.

Pilots are always great. Agents for AA hate junpseaters.

Well, for what it's worth, I jumpseat on AA frequently (I live in DFW) and have never been forced to check my bag. I've had the crew store it in the cockpit and even had the FO on a MD88 walk it down to their secret crew storage area AND BACK after the flight to avoid checking it once. I'm definitely with you on the overworked and understaffed gate agents being the weak link here, but I haven't seen anything nearly as bad as what you describe.

Where do you normally ride them? I've used them mainly from IAH/EWR to/from DFW and haven't had much pushback on anything. I've also used them from ORD, IAD, LGA, PHX, CLT, MIA and LAX all with minimal friction.

Is there any recourse for the non-revenue folks for being treated poorly?

Unfortunately, no. The gate agents are well aware that someone traveling as a non-rev has to be on their absolute best behavior at all times or risk termination of benefits or employment. I can't speak for a mainline passrider, but as a regional punk, I have to put up with a lot of downright rude behavior from gate agents. I just have to grit my teeth and smile if I want to go home.

Document everything and pass it along to your Jumpseat Committee head to pass along to the other Jumpseat Committee head.

If it's a problem child agent or station, it should be eventually be addressed.