Just a friendly reminder for those of you who don't commute and for some reason aren't aware:

Take a moment off your life to walk up to the gate and see what's going on with your cockpit nonrevs about ten minutes before close. Lest you leave with two RJ pilots in your cockpit while a United Airlines pilot is left behind because you were too busy or lazy to make a decision or worry about anything other than yourself.

 

Maybe they were worrying about an Mel issue, or a wx issue, or so other issue. How far ahead of the flight did you check in with the gate agent? I am a former commuter and do everything I can to make sure jumpseaters are taken care of including making the walk when there is time and checking employee res. I do know that calling your fellow pilots lazy or self absorbed will most likely not help your cause.

 

If you are a United pilot and you have checked in for the jumpseat, then you should have been given a JS/CASS card. That allows you to go down jetway and talk to the crew.
You are supposed to be given the JS card when it is printed. If you were not given the JS card, then make sure you ask the CS agent for it. If they refuse to give it to you, ask them to call for a supervisor. If they refuse to let you down the jetway, ask them to call for a supervisor.
If you are at a hub, you can contact the CPO and get them to help you.
If all of this fails, be sure to get the name of the CS agent and submit a JSAP.
I'm assuming you did all of this.
Yes, it would be great if everybody had the time and the inclination to make the walk. I'm a commuter too, and I know how important it is. In the meantime, we need to make sure that as individual jumpseaters, we hold the CS agents to their responsibilities as well.

Hog

 

90% + don't follow the procedure and just "do what they have always done."
Every time I talk to a supervisor they promise to make sure they follow policy next time. Nothing changes "next time" and the process repeats itself.

 

I just j/s on you guys from overseas. Can't tell you how great it was.

Met the crew at the gate and the captain tried to get the agent to let me down with them. Didn't work, but very thoughtful. He told me to get out of the uniform and relax.

He came back to the gate during the boarding process to check and see how things were going and promised me a "big" seat. Finally got a seat from the agent in coach. As soon as I got on the jet, one of the FAs grabbed me and took me to the front over the protest of the gate agent.

Captain came down and greeted me again once seated.

 

I understand, and agree (although I'm not seeing it at 90%). I try to make the walk when/if I can, and I advocate the same for everybody I fly with. Having said that, we still need every pilot who is adversely affected to stand up for their contractual/policy rights, and submit JSAPs to document the issues.
If you are an offline jumpseater and you run into an issue, please contact your JS rep, or send an email to our JS rep. They need all of the ammunition they can get in order to get this situation corrected.
If it's not documented, it didn't happen.

Hog

 

Agreed GH.......

 

Nice the "friendly" reminder, I really like the too busy, lazy, and worry only about yourself part. Thanks for that friendly reminder. lol

 

So.. as a guy who doesn't commute and does mostly International flying, got a question-
Do jumpseaters show up on the United App under Standby? I ask this as that is the usual place I look to see if/how many non revs are trying to get onboard.

If not... maybe it's something they can put into the Pilot Mobile App.. to see if you have jumpseaters listed. Would help (in my opinion) when you aren't able/or forget to Make The Walk.

Happy L Day~
Always
Motch

 

I try my best to check employee res on most flights to check if its full and be on the look out for JS. I believe that a JS will show up on the app, but only until the JS card is issued. I think when the agent lists the JS, it shows on the app but then at some point the name will drop off the list on the app. Now if it is a ual pilot or express pilot, you will often see the name twice, and that is a pass listing and a JS listing.

I sure hope that next time I dont get the opportunity to check it I dont get accused of being lazy or self absorbed.