As a recreational private pilot, and frequent representative of the SLF population, I have to add that my pursuit of aviation for the sheer joy of it, and dare I say my airmanship and safety consiciousness, was fundamentally and positively affected by frequent whole-flight (often including a meal!?) jumpseat rides in the front from YSSY to YMEL & back in the pre-lockdown days. I miss those times intensely, some of my fondest aviation memories.
It's great to see posts by the lads and ladies up front saying they also miss visits by the public, attractive or otherwise, and hopefully more junior pilots as well!
Also a thrill to learn that outside the US and UK, the ultimate permission is up to the person in the left seat, as I was taught, and as it should be. So the good ol' days are not necessarily gone forever.
Looking forward to my next opportunity to politely ask the head attendant and show my license and ASIC, after the long hiatus. Even a polite "No, I'm sorry" is better than not even feeling comfortable enough to ask without causing trouble.
sleat