Air Canada reciprical, what are the rules about who gets on?

[It_doesnt_matter]

Does anyone have any information as to who gets the jumpseat, is it the first person to list or the first person to check in. I got scooped by some slimeball the other day. He obviously put his name on the list after me and knowing there was someone else jumpseating checked in early. By the time I got to the gate I was told that the jumpseat had been given away. The agent told me it is whoever checks in first yet ive been told that it is whoever lists first. I can think of a lot of problems if it is whoever checks in first like the thing that happened to me. Does anyone know what the rule is or is there even a rule.

Oh yeah and for the guy who checked in before me knowing that there was already a rider listed, real greasy move pal.

[Tiny Voices]

Your understanding is the exact opposite of my understanding. Nothing greasy about it, just the way the ball bounces.

[It_doesnt_matter]

So your saying there is nothing wrong with booking a jumpseat after you know someone else has booked it then getting there extra early in order to get first grabs at the seat? You dont find anything greasy about that? Show some integrity, no wonder the industry is the way it is.

I would think there are some rules surrounding this, or is it just a free for all?

[flyinhigh]

Relax, sorry it is first come first serve. Just like Westjet and every other company, other wise if you are going to know when you use it, you'd book it a month in advance.

Sorry but that is the way it is, also the agent has NO idea of when you listed, all they see is that you are listed like everyone else, and goes by the top of the list, aka checked in.

[It_doesnt_matter]

Well I guess I was misinformed, I just didnt see anything wrong with booking ahead when you knew you were going to use it, to me that sounds like first come first serve, not a race to check in once the flight opens.
Im not complaining about the program, I do think its great and do appreciate it before anyone jumps on me, I was just looking for some clarification on wether or not there were rules and what they were, as everyone I talk to gives me a different answer.

[Tiny Voices]

Integrity? I'm just layin out there for you that this is how it works, and has always worked. Listing is just that. The seat is not yours until you check in and your ass is in it. I don't make the rules or write policy. Like you, I just dwell within, so don't go shooting the messenger.

[flyinhigh]

Well I guess I was misinformed, I just didnt see anything wrong with booking ahead when you knew you were going to use it, to me that sounds like first come first serve, not a race to check in once the flight opens.
Im not complaining about the program, I do think its great and do appreciate it before anyone jumps on me, I was just looking for some clarification on wether or not there were rules and what they were, as everyone I talk to gives me a different answer.

Hey no prob, yes it can suck but that is the way it is.

As I was saying even when you go to the airport to check in, the agents have No clue as to when you even listed your self. they just see the PNR and allow you to go through. What the agent at the gate sees is the list that checked in first.

[It_doesnt_matter]

Really, because it was a gate agent that told me that it automatically shows up on there screen of who made the booking first and thats how they determine who gets on. Thats what got me wondering.

[gonnabeapilot]

My understanding is that, all things being equal, the jumpseat should be assigned to whoever listed themselves first. The way it was explained to me is that all jumpseat riders are assigned a D2 priority code when listed on standby which puts them underneath those people travelling on an actual pass. Once people travelling under higher priority codes have been assigned seats, those travelling under the D2 code will be assigned seats. As with everything else that AC does, these seat assignments are based on 'date of hire'. Of course, as a jump seat rider, you don't have an actual AC date of hire. What is listed under 'date of hire' is the date that you listed yourself on the flight and it is put there by the Air Canada booking agent. As a result, if you listed yourself on May 1 and somebody else listed themselves on May 4, your date of hire would show up as earlier than theirs and so you should be assigned the seat first.

Now, all that being said, this is jumpseat travel so it can be treated differently from time to time. I'm guessing it wasn't that the guy checked in first. Perhaps he just happened to be at the gate first and had already identified themselves to the agent when the flight crew showed up. In that case, the agent probably figured you as a 'no show' and asked the Captain for the coupon to accomodate the person who was already there. When you showed, the seat had already been assigned and the agent didn't feel like going through all the motions again so you were denied boarding. But again, with Air Canada, if there are two people standing at the gate at the exact same time and the Captain doesn't care which one of the two takes the seat, it should be assigned based on the date that you listed yourself for the flight and not who checked-in first.

[fingersmac]

Really, because it was a gate agent that told me that it automatically shows up on there screen of who made the booking first and thats how they determine who gets on. Thats what got me wondering.

I had an instance where two of us showed up for the same flight and it was awarded by date of booking. The gate agent could see exactly when the booking was made. I've also had the call centre agents state the same thing.

[Jaques Strappe]

Are you guys talking about jump seats on Air Canada?

The priority for who gets the jumpseat and when is very black and white. It is outlined in our FOM. First off, the Captain has discretion as to whether or not the seat will be occupied in the first place unless it is a Transport Canada Inspector or a Company Check pilot requiring it for performing his/her duties. Then I believe it goes to Flt Dispatchers who are doing their required annual fam flights followed by Flight Ops management pilots if required. Then it goes to Air Canada pilots in order of seniority followed by FA's. Then it goes to Jazz pilots then Jazz FA's.

There is no first come first served or who lists first or any of that. You weren't scooped by a slimeball. A company pilot probably showed up and if he was senior to you he would have gotten it. If you don't work for AC or Jazz, you are not entitled to the seat at all. You need a seat in the cabin.

[It_doesnt_matter]

Are you guys talking about jump seats on Air Canada?

The priority for who gets the jumpseat and when is very black and white. It is outlined in our FOM. First off, the Captain has discretion as to whether or not the seat will be occupied in the first place unless it is a Transport Canada Inspector or a Company Check pilot requiring it for performing his/her duties. Then I believe it goes to Flt Dispatchers who are doing their required annual fam flights followed by Flight Ops management pilots if required. Then it goes to Air Canada pilots in order of seniority followed by FA's. Then it goes to Jazz pilots then Jazz FA's.
There is no first come first served or who lists first or any of that. You weren't scooped by a slimeball. A company pilot probably showed up and if he was senior to you he would have gotten it. If you don't work for AC or Jazz, you are not entitled to the seat at all. You need a seat in the cabin.

I am aware that an employee would get one ahead of me and am fully aware that I am not entitled to anything, my question was regarding to non employees trying to get on a when everything was lined up to allow one of us to get on, who would get it. That is all.

Now, all that being said, this is jumpseat travel so it can be treated differently from time to time. I'm guessing it wasn't that the guy checked in first. Perhaps he just happened to be at the gate first and had already identified themselves to the agent when the flight crew showed up. In that case, the agent probably figured you as a 'no show' and asked the Captain for the coupon to accomodate the person who was already there. When you showed, the seat had already been assigned and the agent didn't feel like going through all the motions again so you were denied boarding. But again, with Air Canada, if there are two people standing at the gate at the exact same time and the Captain doesn't care which one of the two takes the seat, it should be assigned based on the date that you listed yourself for the flight and not who checked-in first.

Yes this is what I think happened also.

[prop2jet]

Jacques, they are talking about the reciprocal jumpseat program (the empty seat in the back deal).

[Jaques Strappe]

Jacques, they are talking about the reciprocal jumpseat program (the empty seat in the back deal).

Roger that thanks! I thought I was missing something.

Yeah, in that case it is first come first served no matter who listed when. That is because there have been many who have listed, requested jumpseat and have not shown up. There is also the issue of someone showing up at the gate, getting the jump and then buggering off to Timmies or the lav when the agent wants to board them. They will not risk a delay, so if your not there when they start boarding, the seat may go to someone who is.

[BlueStar]

Now that Air Canada has started charging for the taxes like Westjet, and we are issued a e ticket, do we still need the captains to fill out the flight deck jump seat pass??

thanks

[Pourdu_fun]

Now that Air Canada has started charging for the taxes like Westjet, and we are issued a e ticket, do we still need the captains to fill out the flight deck jump seat pass??

thanks

No, but all the rest still applies. The asking and Thank you.

Pourdu

[Martin Tamme]

The same thing happened on one of my flights out of YVR last year: Two 'other-airline' pilots came up to the counter at the same time, asking for the reciprocal jumpseat. We didn't want an argument as to who was first, so we just took them both. Dilemma solved.

[mbav8r]

That's how it works at WJ, I could list a month in advance but the priority is whoever checked in first. I don't see the problem with this, how many people list and then don't show? And I am talking about recip pilots, if 3 jazz show up and only 2 seats available, the 3rd jazz to check in is bumped, even if he/she has 10 years senority and booked 3 months prior(not sure if you can).

[ZBBYLW]

Now that we pay our taxes, if their are more then 1 jump seater, will they take all of us?

If we check in online, say 4 hours before the flight, would this count as our "check in time".

[Dave Grohl]

Now that we pay our taxes, if their are more then 1 jump seater, will they take all of us?

If we check in online, say 4 hours before the flight, would this count as our "check in time".

No...AC still only takes as many jumpseaters as there are physical jumpseats. Not sure about the check-in question.

[Floyd]

I am pretty sure that the way it works is the person who listed first gets priority but if you both listed on the same day then it goes to whoever checked in first. I feel for you, I have had people try and scoop me too by trying to talk to the captain first luckily the captain gave me the seat anyway. I am not going to hover at the gate and trample people trying to get the first word in. That's just rude!