Indeed. I was not aware of these changes. I did say 'in my time' and clearly things have changed in Trade Group 9. I've been retired from flying for 16 years now and quite frankly, now I don't give a rats arse.
ps. Changes in TG9? It needed a lot of changes.
pps. It was always a request from fleet management , always short haul, and I was never asked anyway. On reflection, I think I would have always denied a 'famil' jump seat. In 35 minutes going to CDG ( or BRU or MAN for example) there was very little time to talk to anyone else (on the flight deck) except the F/O.