Jump seat europe

[flyer63]

Hi
Is the process to jumpseat to Europe the same?
Do you need to pay the taxe?

Not planning on sitting there but would like it as a back up

Also on the Athens Philly is that weight restricted and what typically is the max pax load?

Thanks

 

[ContUNITEus]

If you are a F/A, just bring your jumpseat paperwork with you that states that a F/A cannot be denied the JS. Also try to somehow get your presence be known to the crew and captain prior to them entering the aircraft. It can all go very fast and you could miss them.

European station supervisory staff can be extremely rude and try to prevent you from getting on.

Had huge problems in both FRA and BCN at different times. In FRA when the pilots got wind of how badly the gate supervisor treated me, the captain literally ripped a new """hole into him right at the front of the cabin, telling him not to ever dare to try again to prevent a F/A to try to get the JS.

 

[Pi brat]

If you are a F/A, just bring your jumpseat paperwork with you that states that a F/A cannot be denied the JS. Also try to somehow get your presence be known to the crew and captain prior to them entering the aircraft. It can all go very fast and you could miss them.

European station supervisory staff can be extremely rude and try to prevent you from getting on.

Had huge problems in both FRA and BCN at different times. In FRA when the pilots got wind of how badly the gate supervisor treated me, the captain literally ripped a new """hole into him right at the front of the cabin, telling him not to ever dare to try again to prevent a F/A to try to get the JS.

That is for company jumpseat riders, not OAL. Not sure if the poster is company or not.

 

[gabby]

Rude? Ever been to Philly?

 

[flyer63]

Should of been more specific

Mainline pilot

 

[ContUNITEus]

I am a bit baffled that you would wonder about weight restrictions being a mainline pilot for (I assume) US Airways. I would have guessed that you knew that Jumpseaters are excluded from weight restrictions whether f/d or cabin.

I have never heard of an airline trying to impose weight limits inside the flight deck, but I could be wrong.

As for US Airways...
I know that it was an issue in the past for the F/As due to (here I go again) America West's sh!tty way of treating employees; but over and over (even recently) US Airways managers have reissued the letter that states that Jumpseaters cannot be denied anymore. http://www.afausairw...ted_flights.htm

http://www.afausairw...ne/aug18_08.htm

http://www.afa66.org...orcoalition.htm


-------
I stand corrected after reading the last link, I suppose America West really was that egregious to even get away with restricting weight in the flight deck... What gives?...

 

[flyer63]

Mr cont unit. Why are you such a pot stirrer. Easy question...
Maineline usairways pilot

1. Do we have to pay tax or just show up and go?

2, is Athens weight restricted and thus Paz capped?

Person traveling with me

 

[Pi brat]

Mr cont unit. Why are you such a pot stirrer. Easy question...
Maineline usairways pilot

1. Do we have to pay tax or just show up and go?

2, is Athens weight restricted and thus Paz capped?

Person traveling with me

You cant just show up, but probably not a good idea to lay out the procedures here. They are in the FOM or give your CP a call.

 

[mrbreeze]

Mr cont unit. Why are you such a pot stirrer. Easy question...
Maineline usairways pilot

1. Do we have to pay tax or just show up and go?

2, is Athens weight restricted and thus Paz capped?

Person traveling with me

I have flown Athens a few times and was not weight restricted coming home, but it can happen, depending on the loads, temperature, etc. The 767 does a pretty good job, tho.

As far as tax.....email the pass department with that question.

If you do ride JS, and if there happen to be FAMs onboard, make sure the Cpt lets them know that there is an extra person in the cockpit. Rarely do we get JSers and it's easy to overlook this point.

A good back door in getting home is to buy a ZED fare from ATH to FRA. At this time, I believe we have 2 flights each day FRA/PHL and 2 each day FRA/CLT, so it's a good way to get back across the big pond.

breeze

 

[ggiby]

I am a f/a I rode the jump seat to London I had to pay the tax.... it was very high.... I went just for an overnight with another f/a working the flight. Not only did I have to pay the tax.... which was about $100 us dollars, I could not ride to the hotel with the crew... even though I was on the jump seat... I had to take the train to the hotel.... then when I got to the hotel, I could not stay in the room with the f/a working the flight...I had to get another room....I just went to see If I might want to transfer to PHL to work International... guess what....???? I did not do it... LOL

 

[mrbreeze]

I am a f/a I rode the jump seat to London I had to pay the tax.... it was very high.... I went just for an overnight with another f/a working the flight. Not only did I have to pay the tax.... which was about $100 us dollars, I could not ride to the hotel with the crew... even though I was on the jump seat... I had to take the train to the hotel.... then when I got to the hotel, I could not stay in the room with the f/a working the flight...I had to get another room....I just went to see If I might want to transfer to PHL to work International... guess what....???? I did not do it... LOL

Sorry you had a tough time in London......they are probably the strictest place to go, as far as riding with crew, hotel rooms, and taxes. It seems to vary with each destination....most places are easier, tho.

breeze

 

[ContUNITEus]

Mr cont unit. Why are you such a pot stirrer. Easy question...
Maineline usairways pilot

1. Do we have to pay tax or just show up and go?

2, is Athens weight restricted and thus Paz capped?

Person traveling with me

Yes, you have to pay the taxes. All you do is get a non-rev ticket for yourself on wings.
There used to be a time back in the 90s where it was possible to list yourself on the GenDec as a way to circumvent paying that tax. But someone had a problem with that and thus this system of putting yourself on the General Declaration went away. Remember though that this tax is not revenue that goes to the airline (supposedly). This tax is only the international/US - departure/arrival -airport fees/destination taxes amount. (And yes, the UK is one of the most expensive TAX place, when it comes to travel.) Even if you buy a regular fare ticket, that same tax is still slapped on it. So, by buying yourself the ticket and showing the receipt at the gate, you are covered.

As for the just showing up, please remember this. Many US Airlines use an array of separate handling companies from the security all the way to operations. Usually there are some direct employees but the majority of the people that you will encounter are outsourced.

Some of the supervising agents have no clue of how stuff works in the USA, especially with regards to jump-seating. If you go in Uniform and manage to get through the security check-point all the way to the gate, you may find yourself in front of an angry gate supervisor for not checking in. I don't recommend doing that as you may have to really put your ego aside in order to take the abuse that comes with getting on the aircraft. (Been there done that - took the abuse - and got on the plane.)

Check in at the counter, and let them know that you will want to have the option as a jump-seater. Make sure you stay on the stand-by list as they will also attempt to tell you that you can either jump-seat or non-rev, but not do both. You see, depending on where you are, you may find yourself in front of someone who is a bit out of date on the policy, and if you try to clarify, they will tell you that America doesn't know what they are doing. (...yep happened to me one time too...)

So to recap...

1) Buy your round-trip Non-rev ticket on your airline (wings, jetnet, deltanet or whatever your respective airline is) (You have to obviously list yourself on any flight of your intended pairing to get your ticket.) You should not be able to use a ticket paring of BCN-PHX when standing at the counter in LHR, as Spain has one of the cheapest entry/exit fees, but mistakes can happen and I have seen them happening even in the traveling party's favor. Still, don't try to use a ticket from one country when at the airport of another one.

2) Re-list yourself for your flight if you change dates. (In the US, at least in the case of AWE, I believe that there is a special number you have to call to get listed for international flights)

3) check - in at the counter (when at the out-station) and specify that you want to non-rev and also list yourself for the JS. They may involve two different lengthy processes.

4) Go to the gate and make sure that the gate supervisor does not leave you behind. Try to intercept the operating crew to let them know that you are there. They may in the end be help to you getting on if the gate agent is acting strangely.

IF YOU SKIP STEP 3 and just show up at the counter make sure you have your receipt, and try to get the gate supervisor to use your PNR to list you on the flight..... (THIS IS WHERE YOU MAY OR MAY NOT GET ON DEPENDING ON HOW PISSED THE SUP IS FOR YOU SHOWING UP AT THE GATE UNANNOUNCED)

THIS IS ALSO WHERE DOCUMENTATION RELATED TO THE NO-JUMPSEAT DENIAL LETTER MAY COME IN HANDY...

---------THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT JUMPSEATING OUT OF EUROPE MAY BE A LITTLE BIT OF AN EXCITING ADVENTURE-----

Regardless of whether you try to use it as a last resort to secure your return to the US after going the normal nonrev route or whether you show up unannounced, it may result in an interesting story to tell someone down the line.

Good luck


WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS CAN ALWAYS HAPPEN...

 

[galley princess]

Mr cont unit. Why are you such a pot stirrer. Easy question...
Maineline usairways pilot

1. Do we have to pay tax or just show up and go?

2, is Athens weight restricted and thus Paz capped?

Person traveling with me

Continunite is not stirring the pot, she is giving you good information. Non revving out of Europe can be bewildering. Remember, you're not in the states and the rules are different. And yes, you have to follow their rules, odd as they may seem. Usually there are two stops upon getting to the airport. The ticket counter (USairways staff) and then the checkin / security check, which is the question/ answer part and where you would check your bags if applicable.

THEN, there's security. Make sure you have a paper ticket from checkin, you'll need it to get through security. Be advised that the liquid rules are applicable to you even if you're in uniform. Only working crew can go through employee security and thus be exempt from the liquid rules.

Once you get to the gate, you can reiterate that you want the jumpseat if necessary. You might want a copy of the email that states a jumpseater retains their seniorityfor their family. Not sure about buddy passes. Your "other person" will need this. It's possible you might take the jumpseat and someone else will get the "one seat" if they are senior.

(Side note: folks, if a crewmember does this for your family member, train them to say thank you? I did this on a 9 hour international and the lady didn't even look at me. Jeesh.)

Absolutely you should try to let the crew know that you're standing by. Some captains are really good about asking the agent about this and taking a stand. Others, not so much. If the station thinks that they might take a delay they will leave you at the gate, but the working crew generally won't.

Consider buying a low fare carrier ticket to Frankfurt where you have more options, non revving out of Athens can be dicey and Ryanair or another low fare ticket is often cheaper than hotels rooms. If it's just you, buy a ZED for backup.

 

[nycbusdriver]

I am a f/a I rode the jump seat to London I had to pay the tax.... it was very high.... I went just for an overnight with another f/a working the flight. Not only did I have to pay the tax.... which was about $100 us dollars, I could not ride to the hotel with the crew... even though I was on the jump seat... I had to take the train to the hotel.... then when I got to the hotel, I could not stay in the room with the f/a working the flight...I had to get another room....I just went to see If I might want to transfer to PHL to work International... guess what....???? I did not do it... LOL

Yes, all JS riders have to pay the taxes, as do pass riders. In London (LHR), Manchester (MAN), Paris (CDG), Brussels (BRU), and maybe more, the crews are met at the jetway by the bus for the trip to the hotel. Plan on NEVER riding with the crew from those airports, and don't expect the bus to circle around to the terminal to pick you up. In some cities the bus for the crews (especially A330 crews) is barely able to sit the working crew members. You will not ingratiate yourself if you ask to crowd yourself in to get to the hotel, or return.

At the LHR hotel, it's not surprising that you had to get another room. The rooms they give the crews are barely larger than most walk-in closets. (You can almost flush the toilet from the bed with your foot!) Sharing the LHR room might work for a spouse or concubine, but not for most "friends."