I dearly remember my many jumpseat visits pre 9/11 too. Highlights were a decent into Adelaide and then the takeoff seat being offered to me too - the decent into Singapore at night, with parallel runways operating, thunderstorms off to the left and another heavy landing slightly ahead of us on the other runway to the right.
Thanks to all the crews who humoured a 30+ wannabe, it did prompt me to get PPL lessons but, unfortunately I had to abandon those.
The many Bae-146 landings into Paraburdoo, Karratha and returns to Perth made the long days at work very worthwhile too. Thanks guys!
(PS: Friends were always amazed how I 'managed' it. The secret, I told them, was "I just asked politely"). It's such a shame it doesn't happen now.
Simon....