Authority Of Captain Over Releasing Of Jump Seats

[jetsreams]

I'm a pilot with a major Asian Carrier and traditionally the Captain of the aircraft has had the authority to release un utilzed cabin jump seats to non rev passengers. However , the new rumour is that the commercial dept wants to take this power away from the captain and instead vest such powers to the commercial ( traffic) staff instead.

What is the global practice regarding jump seat allocation and what is the history or back ground of these policies. As we see it here , this is a deliberate attempt to undermine a captain's authority and to humiliate our position.

Please send me ideas and suggestions on how this can be prevented and please send me info on similar practices world wide. Personal messages will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers !:confused:

[ETOPS]

In BA the Captain still has this authority. As a courtesy the cabin crew are consulted, however they usually agree as they often have relatives travelling and these seats can be used.

I would resist this change at all costs.......

[Charly]

Same with Lufthansa here in Germany.

Rgds

[411A]

In one company where I worked, was surprised to find not one but two folks walk onto the flight deck in FCO one day, with boarding pass in hand, marked 'obs cockpit seat'.

When I asked just why, they both replied...'well, there wern't any cabin seats left, and the very nice station supervisor guy said it would be alright'....whereupon they plopped their backsides down and tried to buckle their seat belts..without much success.

Borrowed the loadsheet guys celphone and called the station manager, and he mentioned...a new directive from CMB.
Asked the station manager (quite a nice guy actually) to book me a ticket to PHX via LHR if this nonsense was to continue...and oh yes, I want to leave 'today'.

After a very long pause, said station manager mentioned...'ah Captain, this directive from CMB has now been permanently recinded'.

We left with the two on the obs seats, because he said... 'please, i'm in a bind here, bigtime'.

An absolutely true story.

[icemanalgeria]

I work for an aircraft leasing company and so I get to see the attitudes of different airlines.

Most airlines these days are trying to reduce the commanders rights.

I am currently working on contract to excel in London, And I can not believe how they treat there crews, They want good will from the crew but are not willing to show good will back.

I was told if I bought a crew ticket for my girl friend to travel on a flight with me and economy was full even with seats available in Business they would have to leave here behind.

Also there is strickly no upgrades for staff.

For me this is the biggest kick in the balls from the company and shows disrespect.

The airlines from Spain and South American could not be better, these managers are intelligent, they know it costs nothing to give the Captain the authority to upgrade into any class, and in return lots of good will from their staff, And this good will, will save thousands of $$$$.

[foxmoth]

I thought non company on Jumpseats was a problem post 9/11 (or post 11/9 by my dating methods). Not so?

[tropical wave]

Our policy in the Caribbean is the same as British Airways.Except maybe for Air Jamaica

[Commander]

As a station manager for an airline utilizing a UK wet-lease airline if we get a cabin-crew seat (no cockpit seats) request, it's all up to the skipper himself. If he declines, that's the final say.

[PPRuNe Radar]

foxmoth

The post referred specifically to cabin jumpseats. :ok: