Free Flyer

Well, every station for you guys is different. No preboarding in STL, however MCO and MDW will allow it. Just seems it's different at certain stations.

ftrplt18e

Free Flyer, that is incorrect. At EVERY station, if you get a JUMPSEAT authorization vice a boarding pass, the OPS agent will let you preboard. I've had hundreds of preboarders out of STL. If the agent is benig a jerk just tell him you want to introduce yourself to the captain before boarding. If he still doesn't allow you down. Wait until he does and inform the Captain. He will talk to the agent and make sure it doesn't happen again. Once again, you have to have a cockpit jumpseat pass, not a boarding pass.

OrionTanker

ftrplt18e is right. If the ops agent does not let you preboard, tell the captain when you see him or her. He/she will fix the local issue. It will not help you at the moment, but it will help the next guy.

1Bigrodeo

Actually, if there are 2 jumpseaters prior to you, you will be issued a boarding pass and must board in the group you are assigned. Only exceptions are for FFDO. Zed's don't get that either. I'd rather know who my "friendlies" are.

Sorry for your experience. I always try to roll out the carpet for other crew, furloughed or not. Old School.

grumman

Not exactly true. I JS often on Delta and "it depends". If flight oversold and DL pilot listed for js but hasn't shown up yet, yes they make you wait till 15 prior before giving you the js. Otherwise, varies by the agent. Lately, they have been pretty good about sending me down early to see capt. and find overhead space since it normally always fills up now since bag check $$ started. So there is no "not allowed" or "definitely not" policy. Last week agent sent me down after the wheel chairs before 1st class. Just depends on whos working gate ...and what city

grumman

Sorry for the additional thread creep, but here is what the SWA FOM says about jumpseat pre-boarding (pg. 7.2.26):

-----
• Jumpseat riders who will occupy the flight deck jumpseat may preboard after
Customers with disabilities.
- Other riders who will occupy a cabin seat will board in their boarding
group sequence as specified on their boarding card (EXCEPTION:
FFDOs may preboard to comply with FFDO SOP).
-----
For starters it does not say "must" it says "may" preboard. In practice, like a couple have posted, if you say "I am going to jumpseat" they should give you the 3 jumpseat cards, and you pre-board, and ask ops agt. boarding the flt. if they will need you in cockpit. Then check in w/ capt. and most of the time he/she will say go grab a seat and we will call you if we need you in cockpit.

Now the catch is, if there are plenty of seats in the back and the CSA agt. just prints out a regular boarding pass for the OAL jseater what should they do? Technically, the book says only pre-boarding if js pilot will "occupy the jumpseat". Most agents seem pretty good about just giving jumpseaters the js cards and letting you pre-board, but if a csa wants to be a tool, looks like they can just quote our FOM and tell guys to board with their group?

Sorry to say, my guess is there are a few csa's out there who do as some oal guys here have said. Just give them boarding cards if there are seats.

cencal83406

I trust your anecdotes... but to say there is "no policy" seems a bit off. Check out your jumpseat card next time you get it. It's printed on there... I guess I'll have to double-check my jumpseat manual too...

as an aside - one is not allowed to list for a jumpseat for a flight from a gate other than the one the flight is leaving from - so then why is it okay to go to the ticket counter?

Flyboyrw

I have been nearly booted off a swa flight because of NOT boarding in my "boarding group." I got Jumpseat cards, and had no idea I had a boarding number and the agent got angry, went down and got the capt., and we had a discussion in the bridge about me wanting to get on without waiting in my group. The capt who was awesome, told the agent that she thought jumpseaters didn't get a boarding group, and the agent said they did. They let me on the flight, but the agent said, I am not afraid to leave you behind. He wasn't very nice.

So now, if the agent lets me go down I go, but if they don't say anything I wait. I don't want to get booted from a flight because an agent is having a bad day.

Chente

Agreed. Not only that but I thought it was jumpseat etiquette to board last when jumpseating on another airline? I always do and if there is no room for my bags and they have to go below....then so be it. I should not be taking up overhead space from PAYING passengers. I don't like it but that's ow the ball bounces sometimes.

HercAC

Taking a minute or two to introduce yourself to the flight attendent at the boarding door on your way to the flight deck can often score an unsolicated place for your bag in their forward closet. I found DAL FAs have been very accomodating in this regard.