palgia841

Do skywest pilots have any sort of agreement or preferential status on United/Delta international flights? Would they be granted the jumpseat or do they have to pay the "full" ZED fare like any other airline employee in the world? Or do they get free passes?
In other words, if trying to fly international (either jumpseat or non-rev) on Delta, would a Skw pilot have any advantage over, say, an XJT pilot?
Does flying for the Delta/United system give SKW any perks on international mainline flights?


What I am tring to figure out if whether United/Delta give SkW pilots similar priviledges as Continental gives to XJT pilots. I have been told by an XJT pilot that they can jumpseat on all international continental flights, as well as receive a certain number of FREE first class vacation passes. In addition, he said their priority lists are merged and equivalent, meaning an XJT FO with 8 months of seniority has priority over a mainline FO with 7 months seniority even on mainline continental flights .


Any SkW/XJT pilots out there care to comment or correct me if I am wrong?

rickair7777

All SKW pilots have non-rev privileges on DL and UA. Hopefully you wouldn't need the jumpseat but if you did, you should also have higher priority than non-affiliated jumpseaters (but lower than mainline of course).

You usually have to pay taxes for all non-rev internation travel, I would assume that would apply to a jumpseater too.

If you go to Canada or Mexico, take a SKW flight, you would have priority over any other company.

palgia841

The reason I asked about int'l jumpseating is to avoid paying for a non-rev ticket. ZED tickets can go for $100+ round trip to Europe and $150/200+ for asia/australia. I know, I know, still hundreds of dollars below full-fare, but still. Not free.

I understand that even jumpseaters must pay the taxes, but taxes are much less than a ZED fare.
Can a SKW pilot jumpseat internationally on united/delta, without paying for a non-rev ticket?

Not trying to bash SKW or anything (its probably the best regional out there) but simply getting "non-rev" passes on United/Delta is not exactly a much of a benefit to speak of. Even a baggage handler working in Johannesburg for South African Airways gets ZED fares on Delta/United... I was hoping that a pilot who flew for their route system would get something better than that

dojetdriver

Yes, you can JS int'l on UAL/DAL for free, excluding departure taxes of course. As long as your airline has a reciprocal JS agreement with UAL/DAL, you are OK.

I don't know about DAL, but UAL STILL restricts it's int'l JS to as many JS's there are on the aircraft. So, if you are coming out of Europe on a 76, there is a releif pilot and another pilot with the same JS priority as you is already there before you trying to JS to the US, you won't get the on using the JS privledge. Even if the plane was empty in the back. Of couse, it's always the CA's discretion. If he lets you on, great, you scored. But currently their int'l JS policy prohibits this. Also, CASS doesn't matter, you can't ride in the front int'l.

Don't forget, although a ZED/ID90 may be pricey, in most cases, they are refundable. Not always at 100%, but you are not out all the money for not using one you bought.

And to answer your question about CAL/XJET. No, an XJET pilot has no priority over a mianline pilot on a mainline flight. I don't know why he told you this. He must not commute on mainline.

rickair7777

Non-rev is not ZED/ID90. SKW pilots can non-rev on DAL and UAL without buying a ZED/ID90 ticket. You do have to pay international taxes, but no fare on DAL (UAL always charges a mileage fee for non-rev, which would be less than than ZED/ID90).

Jumpseating would not save you the taxes, but it would save you the small non-rev fee on UA.

SKW travel benies are better than ZED/ID90 on DL/UA.

ryane946

SFO-SYD on United non-rev is $80. $45 is charged by United and $35 is taxes. I would just fly non-rev and not worry about the international jumpseating game. $45 for an 8,000 mile flight. Pretty good if you ask me.

palgia841

Thanks for the clarification. Makes sense now.

Is there a limit on international non-revs per year on either DAL or UAL, or can skywest pilots get unlimited non-revs?

Also, I've heard on UAL you get first class on international flights (space avilable, of course). So ryane946 can get from SFO-SYD in first class for $80 ? Is this correct?

What about DAL's policy on getting first class internationally, when flying on SKW non-revs? same as UAL? Capt. discretion? pay an overprice for the upgrade? flirt with the hosties? forget about it?


Thanks for your replies!

rickair7777

UAL is unlimited international non-rev.

DAL you get three international "travel days" per year, which basically provides one round-trip with an extra day for contingencies. You can stay as long as you like. Additional international travel requires a fee. Note: DAL includes the carribean, north america, and latin america as domestic so you are not limited to three days for those areas.

Most airlines allow you first class, if it's available. I usually go first class when commuting (most non-revs don't dress for first class). It's harder to get international, but my wife managed to go west coast - europe first in class last year. Note: UAL charges a LOT for first class non-rev.

dojetdriver

I haven't flown on a Delcon pass in over two years so maybe it has changed. But three travel days meant that going east to Europe burned 2 of them becasue the travel takes place on two seperate days. Coming back only burns one.

rickair7777

I think it's a 24 day that starts when your travel starts, but not 100% certain on that.