Originally Posted by at6d

If you are a jumpseater (cockpit or cabin jumpseat) you are obligated to check in. That is all. Let’s keep it simple.

Originally Posted by rickair7777

There are one or two airlines where the gate will tell you their policy is to not check in for a cabin seat. In that case I do as I'm told.

Originally Posted by Hedley

I've had Southwest gate agents tell me that but I still check in with the captain. It's still the captain's plane, I'm there as the captain's guest, and seeking permission is a must. Perhaps I'm just showing my age.

Originally Posted by Hedley

I've had Southwest gate agents tell me that but I still check in with the captain. It's still the captain's plane, I'm there as the captain's guest, and seeking permission is a must. Perhaps I'm just showing my age.

Originally Posted by airchina981

I recently had a sour experience deadheading on a revenue ticket. CA happy assumed I was jumpseating because I was in uniform so decided to pull me into the galley while deplaing and asked me why I did not check in. My response was just as I stated, I was a Revenue customer on a paid deadhead. His claim was that we should still check in with them as fellow crew members. I bit my tongue and just walked out.

Now this was an anomaly I understand, but it got me thinking. What the hell is the point even if I am an actual jumpseater, with an assigned seat in the back, of "Checking in." Seems like an old time tradition bought from older generation Captains that has just continued on. I've had multiple pilots come "Check in" with me in the past on a single flight who have an assigned seat in the back. I’m friendly and appreciate the gesture but to me it’s just ridiculous. In no situation unless you are belligerently drunk or not wearing clothes am I going to say “nah you can’t sit in the back”.

Furthermore it interrupts crew and (although I was taught not to do this) people will still “Check in” with you in the middle of a checklist. It also backs up and slows boarding. Personally if you have a seat in the back I don’t give a damn. Sit down and shut up. We don’t require pax to come check in with the captain for approval to sit in a seat in the back, why are we making vetted airline crew do it.

Originally Posted by airchina981

I don't think it will change but to me this whole process is very egotistical. "My Plane" "My Permission" "My My My"

At the end of the day we are glorified slaves working for someone else , flying someone else's equipment, to make someone else more money than us.

Rant over (Don't worry, I will still check in with our servant leaders to avoid capital punishment).

Originally Posted by Hedley

Jumpseating is not a right, it is a privilege. Along with that privilege comes professional courtesy. If you do not have non-rev benefits on the flight and are not on a paid ticket, you don't have a right to just go sit in the back for free. You are still technically a jumpseater and the captain determines who rides and who does not. Check in wearing appropriate attire, present your ID and any credentials that they are required to check, and politely ask permission to ride. Show some professional courtesy and you'll be fine. Fail to do so and you'll most likely be invited to brush up on jumpseat etiquette while you wait for the next flight.

Originally Posted by Cleared4appch

…The vibe seemed and still seems to be “oh you’re a non-rev??? Ok cool. Well why are you up here? Go sit down dude. we’re trying to get things wrapped up so we can get out of here on time.”

Originally Posted by Cleared4appch

We get it. Guys like you say that, but in reality few people seem to care honestly. In the beginning of my career I had an AA captain tell me politely that it’s really not necessary to stop by the flight deck to ‘check in,’ even if assigned a seat in the back by the agent. He said if they’ve assigned you a seat in the back, just go ahead and get on and take your seat. There’s no need to come up front unless you need the JS. Before I met this captain, I had another say the same thing to me on a regional flight. A couple of other captains seemed agitated that I checked in, even after I waited patiently to say “hey guys….” while they finished their briefing or checklist so as not to interrupt. Seemed like it just wasn’t necessary.

Im still pretty young (35). Maybe this profession was different ‘back in the day’ 20-30-40 years ago, I don’t know. But it seems like even the older captains don’t care for guys to come ‘check in’ up front when given a seat in back. The vibe seemed and still seems to be “oh you’re a non-rev??? Ok cool. Well why are you up here? Go sit down dude. we’re trying to get things wrapped up so we can get out of here on time.”

Originally Posted by FangsF15

Except as a JSer, you are not a non-rev. You are officially a member of the crew, even if in back.

Maybe it’s different at different carriers, but at mine all JS are generally expected to check in.

Another pet peeve of mine is attire. My last line check, I had a FA show up out of compliance with company policy for attire. Put me in a super awkward position with the LCA because I didn’t notice the leggings, he did. Gee, thanks… Fortunately, she had proper clothes to change into quickly, and had a good attitude, so it was nbd. If you are going to exercise the privilege of using the JS, know and follow the rules for the company from which you are asking for a free ride. Both of these faux pas will almost certainly not get you kicked off my flight, but again, treat the privilege with the respect and courtesy it deserves.