Pilots deadheading, with or without uniform?
 

Ok, so I'm starting a new job with an ACMI operation and we are home based. When we go out to fly, we're "airlined" on various airlines such as British Airways, Luftansa, KLM, and some US Flag operations...

my question is, as a deadheading pilot, does it do me any good to travel in uniform in terms of security screening, complimentary first class (business class) upgrades, etc.. or should I just keep the monkey suit in the suitcase and wear the comfortable jeans?

Hoping there are seasoned and experienced dead-heads that can weigh in.

Definitely Non uniform
Don't get the stares and dumb questions 'aren't you supposed to be in the cockpit Capt.?'
Able to have a drink or two without braking your company's drink/uniform SOPs
In any case if you are in uniform as pax you are still, from the security point of view, a passenger

I sort of figured that, but I had hopped that with having to travel a lot (especially international) the procedures overseas were a bit more "crew friendly" and that the on-board staff would bump you up to business class/first as a gesture of sympathy.. so much for my naive take on how things work.. :8

You obviously don't work in the UK, where EVERYONE tries to make your life more difficult:ugh: :(

my companys SOPs states that any dead head crew must remove any uniform items that indicate their rank while sitting in the pax cabin, the reason being not to confuse the passengers especially during emergency situations. now I've always found this to be a bit strange and was wondering if any other companies have the same rule ?

No, I'm US Based.. but thanks for importing your limitations on liquids anyway! :D
I suppose the good old days of complimentary upgrades and better seats are gone.. oh well. The good news is I only have to do it twice a month.. once out and once back.


btw.. all you European operations; how full are the flights these days going US to EU? And how does the seat pitch in economy rank these days? I'm just not looking forward to sitting between two fat dudes in the middle seat on a heavy for 10 hours!

Thanks, lots of good advise...
On the frequent flyer thing.. do you just target a small core group of airlines and then use their codeshare miles to accrue status faster? or do you get a frequent flyer card for every single airline you fly?