Jumpseating in the US

[Vanbraekel Dorothée]

Fellow crew memebers,
I am First Officer on the A300 flying for DHL (homebase Brussels). I intend to visit relatives in the States. I can jumpseat with DHL to JFK then I need to fly to RDU.
When you wear your uniform + company ID card, is it possible to jumpseat within the States as a Belgian citizen? Many thanks, Dorothée

[GrantT]

Because your an employee of a different airline i would see your chances as being highly unlikely.

[M.85]

It all depends on reciprocal agreements between airlines..
You should know which airlines DHL allows to jumpseat with them.and you should be able to do the same on those airlines.
Best way is to call CVG ops and ask for crewing office theyll tell you if they can get you a possible itinary all the way to your final destination..UPS does that and take great care of their jumseaters.
Im sure PAX airlines will let you on board with a valid ID.Just go to the gate and ask for a jumpseat.Youll get to vhat with the Capt.and then here you go..FIRST calss;-)


From my experience nicest people/airlines to jump with:Continental,Northwest,Frontier and Vanguard.
Enjoy,

M.85

[judge11]

So M.85, are you saying that you lot in the good old USA, which is supposedly calling the security shots for the entire globe, are carrying on with 'life as normal' as far as jumpseating is concerned - while we in most of Europe, and particularly the anally retentive British, have made jumpseat access virtually impossible to all but a. the cretins who made the regulations and b. the cretins who implement the regulations.

If what you have described is true, then BALPA needs to do some talking to Darling.

[TR4A]

So M.85, are you saying that you lot in the good old USA, which is supposedly calling the security shots for the entire globe, are carrying on with 'life as normal' as far as jumpseating is concerned - while we in most of Europe, and particularly the anally retentive British, have made jumpseat access virtually impossible

We are not back to "normal". If you work for another airline there has to be a seat in the cabin. You are still not allowed to sit in the jumpseat unless you work for that particular airline. Unless your airline has a code-sharing agreement.

[alexb757]

Yes, No, Maybe

You may be lucky and you should do a little research through your own airline.

NO, you definitely won't get an actual jumpseat in the cockpit, not anymore. You will be asked to wait until almost closing time and if a seat is available in the cabin, you will be given that. The airline you intend traveling with has to have your company on
their "approved" list. You will definitely need your ID as well as all your licenses. The Captain also has the final word. Not sure about foreign nationals. In my experience, only US airline (Part 121/135) pilots were allowed. I know for sure that if you are an American flying for either Cathay or JAL, it is almost impossible to jumpsaet on a US domestic line. I believe it is an individula airline deal and may have changed as a result of 9/11. However, since you work for DHL, this might not be a problem for you. I would strongly suggest you check this out before making any plans.

Back in 2002, I jumpsat twice with United (successfully) LAX/LHR/LAX and it went smooth both times. The only hitch was at LHR the check-in staff did not know or were not sure what a jumpseater was and I got bounced around from desk to desk. Finally, I ended up paying for the taxes and PFC ( the British have to have their money, not so in the US - it's all free) but that was OK, only GBP40 for a Business Class seat worth approx $7000!!!
Second time I knew which desk to go to, what to say and had my credit card waiting. It's amazing what you can do if you know the answers and look the part!!!

[TR4A]

I checked our jumpseat list. DHL still has JS with SWA. Don't fly out JFK.