sandstorm

I was just wondering if offline jumpseaters are required to list ahead of time to ride as an OMC with a seat in the back on United on international flights. If so, who do I call?

I've done it a hand full of times it the past with no issue without listing. Ive always been told offline pilots cant list for the jumpseat. However, a couple days ago I travelled from ORD to HKG and had some issues. I checked in at the gate about 90 minutes prior as soon as an agent showed up. They took my info and I
thought all was good. However, when I went to check 15 minutes prior to departure if they assigned me a seat the two agents told me that they can't just give me a seat for an intl flight and that they needed my passport info 24 hours prior. It took a little polite pleading to convince them that I can't list ahead of time and that it's never been an issue in the past before they gave me a seat.

With that being said, once I got on the CA and his crew were absolutely awesome. The CA came downstairs personally to introduce me to the lead FA whom I had already met and to check if there were any better seats available. By some miracle there were two Business Class seats available and the CA made sure I was sitting in one. The lead FA and the crew were great the entire flight. It made a 16 hour flight much more pleasurable. Huge thanks to that crew.

So back to the original question. I want to ride back from HKG to ORD as an OMC. Do I need to list ahead of time?

Thanks for the info.

SUX4U

You got that kinda of grief in ORD? Man that new software system really is messing things up bad for the UAL agents. Hong Kong you will just list on at the ticket counter and they should give you a card to go through. Plan accordingly on that return flight. I have never had much luck on it. I always route via NRT now. DL and UA both do HKG-NRT around 9AM if I remember correctly. I just jumped DL out of HKG a few months back and it was a very smooth process as well for what its worth.

sandstorm

Thanks for the update. I appreciate it.

Sluggo_63

Let me know if it worked for you. I had an issue last April trying to get back from LHR to EWR on United (Continental). They wanted me to have a listing in the computer, and apparently they were unable to do it there due to the "new" computer system. I ended up buying a ticket home. Hopefully all the kinks are worked out.

I'd like to try it again, but a little gun shy after my last experience.

cesnacaptn

I tried to jumpseat MUC-IAD last Oktober. I had no prior listing in either direction and had no problems. If it wasn't for a full boat, that would've been my ride home. I just paid my taxes and went to the gate. I ended up using a zed on LH (always have zeds for back up).

On a side note, I went to a UA ticket counter during some airport appreciation. It took them a minute to figure out, but they set me all up to get my taxes refunded in a few days.

supernaut

Does anyone know what UAL (or DAL) policy is on seat assignments out of Asia? Form example, if coach is full, will the gate agents leave you at the gate because they won't/can't put you in biz or first?

I've had instances where the comments by the gate agents left me feeling like they will only put you in coach as a matter of policy. I don't recall ever getting biz at the gate coming from Asia. So I'm not sure if they have a policy of coach only for jumpseaters or if they just give you coach before anything if its available.

Any insight?

saxman66

I just simply called the United reservation number and asked them to list me as a jumpseater. She did so and I had my listing. Didn't end up taking the flight though. But I would just call. It's easy enough.

sandstorm

Update. Showed up at the counter 2 hours prior without listing and really nice agent had me listed in 3 minutes without any issues. Whether I get on the flight is another story.

Supernaut its been a couple years, but my wife and I were upgraded to Business on UA from NRT to ICN when coach was full. The foreign carriers on the other hand will not upgrade you based on my past experience.

cesnacaptn

I think the old UA would list OMCs (jumpseaters) in international business. The new UA (CAL system) will list you in economy.

serhito

Just came back from Europe on United (Continental crew). This is not a complain, I am grateful to get a free ride. I hear all the time people getting upgrades to business. I had it a couple of times when it was a United crew, but never with a Continental crew (although the crew members were very nice). Is there a different policy for crews to grant you a business seat ?
I do play the game of introducing myself to all crew member on board, but can't seem to end up in business. Once again NOT a complain just curious.

BTW, no listing ahead, although I was asked if I had listed before on the outbound flight.