Guppydriver95

It’s not issuing the Jumpseat to everyone. (IE- “awarding” it). It’s issuing the “access” card to all who ask. They are 2 totally different things. It allows pilots to solve the Jumpseat issue themselves. Gate agents are simply there as paperwork clerks.

C11DCA

As a Bus F/O, and now as a Bus Captain, I always tell the gate agents we can take two jumpseaters in the cockpit. Just in case they think we are a Guppy. 🤔

oldmako

Absolutely wrong. The CS issues the card. The card allows you to speak with the Captain. The Captain decides who gets to ride.

I cannot tell you the number of times that I have had agents tell me that they have already awarded the JS, (or refuse to give me a JS card until the last second). I eventually wander down there and there's a brand X pilot in the cockpit.

Brand U is awarded the JS before brand X. In this situation, the Captain only knows about the brand U guy when he is allowed to go down the jetway and speak with the Captain. Sorry to be a dick and bump a guy, but that's airline pilot life. In my younger days, I was bumped often. Let's keep the rules the rules. We all knew them as new hires.

The JS has been a problem on and off for as long as I have been here. The JS committee has worked hard to get some decent procedures codified. Let's honor their hard work by enforcing the procedures and not let the gate agent run the (JS) show.

rightside02

Been doing this for years . Agents are surprised and happy to hear this every-time I tel them the above .

Rahlifer

I was under the impression that the JS “request” card was the one that let you talk to the CA and the jumpseat “award” was the one that assigned the jumpseat. I’m always the low man on the list so I don’t pay much attention beyond noticing if there’s another warm body there ahead of me.

Guppydriver95

I think we’re saying the same thing. There are 2 types of Jumpseat cards. The “access” card, which is to be given to every requester of the Jumpseat. The “awarded” card is given to the person/persons who ultimately end up on the Jumpseat(s). The issue comes in when you request the Jumpseat, and the agent replies with something along the lines of “I’ll let you know”. WRONG. They should issue you, and anyone else who asks for a Jumpseat, the “access” card. If the potential Jumpseaters can’t figure it out, any of them can go down the jetway to see the Captain to have him/her decide. (Hence the term “access”). Hope that clears it up👍

Rahlifer

Cool. I think I’ve just been boned a few times by clueless gate agents that have given out the “awarded” card to more jumpseaters than there are jumpseats. 😎

Floyd

Love that deer in the headlights look when I tell the agent to send all potential jumpseats down. On one occasion after the agent nodded yes, I've discovered another pilot with a higher priority in the gate area during my pre departure walk.

While it's a pilot's prerogative to relinquish authority, keep in mind that it creates problems for the rest of us.

O2pilot

Or the gate agent who looks at your pass travel date, and states that you are “junior” to the other pilots he’s already sent down so you aren’t getting on. When that pass travel date can be COEX or not accurate because of the SLI. I had this happen just a few weeks ago and the other pilot said “I saw you listed and told the agent you might be senior to me despite my pass travel date”.

Turns out I was senior, but they had a couple extra seats in the back anyway so it was moot.

cadetdrivr

Yup.

This is one of the reasons that mainline seniority numbers are printed on the JS cards and the agent is NOT the one who decides.