HI,
Not sure if I should spread the word but here we go.
I work for Air Nostrum, we do most of Iberia's regional flights.
Every single spanish airline take pilot as "extra crew" some even take flight attendant (air nostrum,air madrid,spanair,..not sure about the others) even low cost vueling do so. It is in the SOP's.
The requirement are valid flying licence and company employee ID/card.No uniform needed.
It is at captain discretion of course.
The extra crew will travel without any ticket whatsoever,he will sit in any available seat,if the flight is full,he will sit anywhere.
More than once I travelled in an ATR front cargo compartment. In a CRJ we were once 4(including pilots) in the cockpit....I have seen photos of A320 cockpit with at leat 6/7 people...
Unfortunately the procedure varies according to airport.
All of airport staffs in Spain know about "extra crew" and they will pass on the word (it is exceptional they don't) to the coordinator to ask acceptance of an extra crew.
For example madrid with Iberia there is a dedicated extra crew check in counter,they will give you a fake boarding pass to go thru security. Same in french airport where Air Nostrum fly to.
South america, just wait for the crew to come to the airport and ask the captain.
Italy they have no clue so I had to use a zed/staff ticket to have a boarding pass,then once at the door I asked them to ask the captain,I was accepted as extra crew,they cancelled my ticket/boarding pass.
Sometimes it takes quite a lot of asking around,but most of spaniches airline's staff are aware of it.
Of course etiquette is a must,last to board, say hello to all crews onboard. Last to come out of the plane say goodbye and a very big thank you to all the crew. Don't accept any drink/food/newspaper unless it is obvious you can have it.
Unfortunatelly we, in Spain, are the only one applying that system,that is why I was a bit reluctant to spread the word. Please try to have your respective airlines implementing that system.
How does it go in other country/airlines,please try to be specific.
Thanks.