I have had to great fortune of jumpseating all over the world on United over the last 9 years and have always been treated wonderfully. I've been given a seat in first or business class, if available, every single time. United WAS the only airline left that would actually issue you a business class seat at the gate before even boarding. My last couple commutes on United haven't been so pleasant domestically so I'm afraid to even try International. Are my fears justified? I've heard that the policy is no longer to automatically put jumpseaters in business for international flights. The last two times I rode on CAL metal from Europe back to the states the Captain tried to move me up, but the lead FA put him in his place and told him she would not allow me to sit up front. I think they fought across the pond and walking off the plane in Newark when we arrived. Why are things changing for the worst? I understand the integration has its downsides, but why are fellow crewmembers taking it out on their peers? I would think the unions, and their respective jumpseat committees, would be 100% dedicated to keep any positive language regarding jumpseat procedures. Thoughts?

 

I am a legacy UAL pilot and in my experience the CAL gate agents NEVER make any effort to give fellow employees decent seats. I have been seated in the very last row of a half full plane, I've even been denied a simple request to sit towards the front of coach to try to make a tight connection, etc, etc. Not sure why but UAL agents always treat me and my family better.

 

I've been told that the wonderful SHARES system won't allow agents to choose seats for non-revs or Jumpseaters. As they call non-revs in seniority order, they are forced to fill from the back of the plane ?! I'm sure this could be easily fixed if there were ANY sort of concern for us peons at the higher levels.....
Another Jeff-ed up thing to add to the list.

 

Yeah, I remember once my wife paid to non-rev on CAL and got business and I jumpseated thinking I could save some money. Big Mistake! I was in the last row and my wife was in business with the seat open next to her! The FA's said the lead would not allow jumpseaters in business. To top it all off, she was a commuter, damn!

 

I don't if it's still there, but for the longest time, CAL had it in their FOM not to allow jumpseaters in First/BF. It was a written rule and some FAs were turning CAs in that were breaking said rule.

 

In all seriousness, shouldn't the union be fully involved in this whole "shares" thing. I've already been left at the gate in ORD as have several of my peers due to that crappy system. The gate agent even told me I couldn't talk to the Captain and she was in control of ALL decisions regarding the flight. So many of us commute. Why would leadership (management or the union) be okay with fellow commuters being treated like crap every week? I know we (VX) treat commuters with the utmost respect (gate agents included) and want to make your commute as easy and even enjoyable as possible. Can't we all do the same and reciprocate?

 

Continental is the WORST to jumpseat on. The captains usually don't give a crap about jumpseaters, and many FA's are openly hostile. Completely the opposite of United crew who go out of their way to help out crew. Sadly, it seems like the CO culture has superseded.

 

The manuals were changed a few months back and now gives the captain discretion for putting jumpseaters in first. Many at CAL have not read this, but that is how it is now. I try to enlighten as many as I can.

 

A jumpseater is a first line of defence for the cockpit. Therefore any jumpseater on my UAL flight WILL sit as far forward as possible. Since when has a f/a been in charge of the airplane? If this is true at CAL....well shame on YOU! Grow a pair.

J

 

!!!!!!!!!!! The jumpseat is MINE!!!! The airplane is MINE!!! Any questions? I go out of my way to help F/A's and Pilots........especially pilots.

J