Seriously Hacked Off!
I flew back from a European city to LHR last night on a flag carrier. The Capt was doing a "meet & greet" at the door as we boarded. I introduced myself and asked if I could take the jump seat and being an obliging sort the Capt agreed and said if I dumped my things in the locker and spoke to one of the cabin crew he would let me up before t/o. The FA nearest me told me to sit down, when I explained what had just happened she said she would speak to the capt later on and to take my seat for the time being. I spoke to her again as the doors were being closed and again she said she would speak to the capt. I then saw her wander down to the galley and talk to her colleagues before starting the safety demo. 10 mins later we were on the threashold and no jump seat. I spoke to her again during the flight, and again before landing and got the same response each time. When we disembarked the capt saw me and asked why I hadn't come up to the flight deck. I told him that I had asked repeatedly which surprised him as none of the FAs had asked him if they could bring me up. I pointed out the FA I had spoken to and he called her over and gave her a serious dressing down for this.
My point in relating this little episode to you is not to shame and embarrass any one individual or airline but to point out that as a professional courtesy when a flight deck visit and ride in the jump seat is requested and granted it should not be for the FA to decide who does and does not gain access to the flight deck. That is for the capt of the aircraft and the capt alone to decide as was pointed out to this (experienced) FA. The apology I recieved from both the capt and FA will lay this matter to rest. I would ask any FA reading this to please consider that it is difficult for a captain to decide who does and does not gain access to the flight deck if the FA's on his aircraft don't pass these requests on, and frustrating for the rest of us when FA intransigence denies other pilots fdv's.
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Remember: all landings are controlled crashes!
[This message has been edited by kbf1 (edited 31 July 2000).]