Hello all.

I’m a DC9 guy with Ameristar.

Ameristar doesn’t currently have a reciprocal agreement with SWA.

We are however CASS.

So, I’ve just spent the weekend in Dallas with my 3yo son celebrating his birthday, and need to return to Orlando where I temporarily reside.

SWA crew have always been very professional, amicable and accommodating in my prior experiences when I was a B727 guy with K2.

As such I certainly DO NOT want to step on toes or disrespect anyone in asking for a ride, especially if it may not be received well due to SWA pilot union rules or any other reason.

So what say you, my SWA brethren of other “hen”?

Would it be ill-advised to attempt to list at the gate and make a personable in-person request directly with the captain of a particular flight, or is there anything professionally barring the captain from being able to accommodate my request?

Any and all insight is welcomed and much appreciated.

Thanks!

 

Good luck listing at the gate. Although it is theoretically possible, it is going to be very difficult. I don't even know if any gate agents know how to do it. I have had a couple "cabin only" jump seats, but I assume they were on sort of reciprocal deal where they had id90 with us but no CASS. I have never heard of the other way around.

You haven't been able to list at the gate for about 6-7 years on SWA. The old paper forms don't exist any more, sadly. It was nice when they did since you didn't have to depend on the listing website to be working.

All that being said, if you make it past the gate agent hurdle, you are going to have zero problem from the cockpit. Everybody is welcome if they make it on board with the proper credentials.

 

For me, if you're not on the list, it's a no. Sorry. Of course I want to help out brothers and sisters but it's a security thing.
I will take a delay and move weights around to have a jumpseater on my plane, but it would be hard to explain why I let someone on despite that he is not on the list of approved carriers.

 

If they are in CASS, then what is the security concern?

 

You think it’s a security issue if he’s sitting in the back?

 

If SWAPA and Southwest said, "The Captain can let anyone who is in the CASS on the plane at their discretion", then 100% yes.
The list is there for a reason. I just follow it. You do you. I have to provide for my family and I don't want to risk my job. We have too many opportunities to lose our job every day.

Let me ask you. Do we have the authority to let anyone on as a Captain? I have been in aviation for almost 30 yrs, so I know we did it back then, but how about now? Reference?

I am happy to be corrected if I am wrong.

 

If they make it past the ops agent, I don’t care who they work for. I’ll double check all the req’d stuff if they have to sit up front but who gets on isn’t my job. If they’re issued a pass, welcome aboard.

 

Yep. Same here. I don't check anything other than their credentials. I don't have the SWAPA JS list memorized. We have some weird ones too. I once caught a ride home on a Kallitta Lear 35. I was the only passenger. The captain of that one said he catches rides with us often.

 

Thanks for your perspective. If the CSA and ops agent give him a boarding pass and he has a seat in the cabin, then I am OK too. I'm not going to stop him after that.
If they don't give him a boarding pass and they need me to decide, and/or the jumpseater has to occupy a seat in the flight deck, that's when I may not. Can you imagine if an incident happens with a jumpseater, like trying to shut down engines on us, if they find out that he didn't work for one of the approved carriers?

Kalitta is on our list, so that's an easy one.

 

I would hope all agree with this . I could care less if they sit in the back . Upfront is another story .