Non-rev....pre-board or not?
 

I was non-reving home yesterday from LAX along with two DAL guys, and the gate agents had us board in the order on our tickets along with the PAX. I'm used to boarding with the preboards, which is normally awesome for obvious reasons but I'm wondering if either of these is official policy and/or if it's recently changed? The gate folks were having none of our attempts to board early.

I'm cool either way, was just wondering.

The way I understand it...

If you are given a boarding pass for the jumpseat, even with open seats in the back, you can pre-board. If you don't, then expect to board in your boarding pass position. It seems the gate agents don't typically give out JS access unless you specifically ask.

You want to sign up for a jumpseat even if there are seats in the back. Then you can preboard.

I always list for the jumpseat even when non-reving (even if there are plenty of seats in the back) just so I can preboard without selling my soul to the Ops agent. Whenever a CSA pushes back and doesn't want to list me (cause there are plenty of open seats and our new reservation system makes it painful for them to list the jumpseat) I always push back and say that the plane is one cancellation/unscheduled reroute away from being completely full. You think you hate listing me for the jumpseat now, just wait till there are 30 angry external costumers waiting in your line that also need to be put on this airplane in addition to me. I'm always polite and courteous though... just trying to get them to see it my way without any drama. That said, I always yield the jumpseat to someone trying to commute.

When I have no choice but to list for a cabin seat, I always walk up to the Ops agent, show my ID and offer to help with wheelchairs. That has allowed me to preboard every time I think... even if they didn't need help. If I am traveling with my family the Ops agent has also allowed them to board with the families after I have helped (or not helped if there were no wheelchairs). YMMV, but good luck.

It totally depends on who the ops agent is. Most will let airline peeps down first if in uniform. Some will not.
If you have the cockpit junpseat, you can preboard behind the medical preboards. That's the rule in the book. For that reason, I always ask for the cockpit jumpseat. It takes 30 extra seconds to get it.