ImSoSuss

oh no, Halon has discovered AI. God help us!

Mainline Mulier

Have you worked at an airline the past 3 years? Gate agents are entirely incompetent now. If a jumpseater waits until all pax are boarded it's 50/50 the agent slams the door in your face and says tough luck. OR they can't figure out how to check you in last minute and say tough luck.

95% of domestic CA's don't make the walk anymore, so this is what you get. As a CA it's your fault.

Beech Dude

Yes, the agents are sub-par unfortunately. However, check in, make yourself known prior to boarding, then just hang back and roll in at the end of the last group; be the last one to step on and all is well.

As an FO, I make it a point to back up the CA if we have JSers and point it out at D-15 if I see they still don't have a seat. Comms are key. I've made the walk to help out when the CA was swamped with FA issues or mx.

Good luck yall.

joepilot50

I prefer jumpseaters board first and check in. I'm a lot less busy and time crunched at D-35 than D-10.

Certainly hang out in the bridge after until boarding is complete once bag is stowed, but don't wait until we are close to departure time to check in.

e6bpilot

Totally agree. I want the JSer to check in asap, stow their bag, and in the case of SWA, get a good seat up close in case they have to come up.

Anyone who has commuted for any period of time has at least one version of the following stories:

1. Gate agent waited too long to clear JS, got in a rush, and closed the door, leaving you behind.

2. Captain acted put out and out of sorts that the JSer is alive and sharing the same space as them.

Guessing the OP is often the antagonist in version 2.

Commuting is awful enough without treating each other with respect and kindness. Nobody wants to sit on the flight deck jumpseat. Also, a lot of captains aren't interested in seeing docs if the badge matches the paperwork, so if I am not handing you a pile of licenses, that's why. It's no problem for me to fish them out.

Someone said it above, but these posts make it obvious if someone commutes or not.

rickair7777

While I absolutely respect the CA's right to see them, but I don't have my docs in hand when I board.

I found out many years ago in ORD that a dropped medical cert fits very nicely through the gap between the plane and the jetbridge.

Me, the CA and the FO ended up scouring the ramp for the damn thing. They don't call it the Windy City for nothing.

I keep my licesense and medical in a slot in my badge holder, that way they're readily accessible.

tzskipper1

Reading this is painful...

Managing the pre-departure routine is not quite as complex as launching a space shuttle, although by reading this thread it would seem that it is for some. Personally, if a jumperseater comes down early, late or in between, I have no problem taking a moment from whatever I am dealing with to say hello and make sure they are taken care of. As a 30+ year commuter, I feel their pain and treat them as I appreciate being treated.

Take care of each other out there. Don't make an easy job harder than it needs to be.

S

HowDoIStall

I think you might have this backwards? At my airline I’ve had multiple times where the a pax forgets something in the terminal during boarding and the FA says they can go get it, just take their boarding pass with and tell the agent. However what they all, without fail, refuse to do is let a pax back on when deplaning. It’s fine (obviously not ideal) when boarding but after the plane has blocked in, it’s a definite no-no.

Even if I’m wrong, the ALPA guidelines for jumpseat etiquette have said for many years to “leave your bags on the jetbridge” when checking in with the CA. Which would require leaving the plane to retrieve them once you’re checked in. Probably at the very least your jumpseat status as a crew member would negate any rules about leaving the aircraft when boarded.

DogPit

Which is why I go down early, ask for a ride, show my docs and then disappear until it's time to close the door.

Cyio

As a former commuter, I am thankful not to do that again; it comes down to several things.

1. I want to get my bag stowed somewhere on the plane besides getting checked, especially on the 737. It is a PITA to have to check it.
2. Sometimes, it has happened; the gate agent forgets about me and closes the flight while I am standing there off to the side. I would always try to get a JS pass and get down there before anything wonky would happen.
3. I always check in with the captain when it's less busy, stow my bags, head to the jet bridge, and wait there. I never once had anyone tell me I couldn't do that.
4. If you are a regular WN commuter, you may just be used to getting down there early as that's how we do it.
5. Lastly, its not that big of a deal to have a commuter interrupt or stand there, its not like we are performing open heart surgery where every second counts. 99% of the time we are all just staring at our phones or shooting the **** once the brief and setup is done.

It's nothing personal. I don't want to be over your shoulder or bug you, let alone sit in the JS anymore more than you do. However, know that you can and always are welcome on mine and I will try to stay out of your way as best as possible. Commuting is stressful.