Flightmech

Not so long ago that comment would have got flamed

FDXLAG

You misunderstand the E Mail thing. It started out as a way for the Captain to control his cockpit jumpseats. Granted it has morphed a lot with the 77 and 76 only having cockpit jumpseats and the company making a power play for those same jumpseats.

Adlerdriver

As an outsider, it would be difficult to understand the FedEx jumpseat procedures and I'll be the first to admit it's all a bit weird when compared to the pax world.

However, the email thing isn't quite as strange as it might sound. We can reserve an aircraft seat 3 weeks in advance via an online system on the company website or calling the jumpseat department (yes, they have an entire department devoted to jumpseats, with reservation agents). Those are the seats outside the cockpit. If the only seats left on the aircraft are cockpit jumpseats or that's the only type available on the aircraft (i.e. 777 with no cockpit door) then the Captain's permission is required to reserve a seat in his cockpit. Since most everyone wants the warm-fuzzy that they have a guaranteed seat, they email the Captain, get his approval and forward the email to jumpseats so they get a confirmed reservation.