In This E-Line Jumpseat Procedure Jumpseat Procedure Q&A

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The procedure for awarding the cabin jumpseat(s) was implemented April 15, 2002 in accordance with the May 2000 Flight Attendant Agreement (see Side Letter 22, page L22-1).  Your MEC, which consists of all Local Council Presidents, voted to implement the new language at a Special MEC Meeting in February 2002. 

The new procedure is intended to allow more non-reving Flight Attendants to get on a full aircraft. 

For example, assume a senior Flight Attendant is awarded the jumpseat. One passenger seat remains for non-revs with a junior Flight Attendant and a ramp agent with greater Company seniority standing by.  Under current procedures, the more senior ramp agent would get the passenger seat and the more junior Flight Attendant would be left behind. 

With the new procedure, the senior Flight Attendant would get the passenger seat (if they re senior to the ramp agent) and the junior Flight Attendant would be awarded the jumpseat.  Therefore, more of our Flight Attendants will benefit. 

Other things to know once this policy has been implemented: 

• Upon checking in with the gate agent you will fill out the jumpseat authorization form. 
• The agent will list each Flight Attendant requesting jumpseat authorization, reason for travel, (business or personal) and seniority date from your SID card. 
• The jumpseat(s) will be awarded in seniority order after all passenger seats have been assigned. 
• You can ride the jumpseat without your SID card but you will be slotted in as the most junior Flight Attendant.  Remember to pick up your SID card and wear it behind your company ID. 
• The 30-minute rule will no longer apply. 

Q: How is the new procedure beneficial?
A: The intent is to allow more flight attendants on a full aircraft. For example, if a more senior flight attendant was awarded the jumpseat and there was one passenger seat remaining when clearing the non-revs but there was a senior ramp agent and a junior flight attendant standing by, the more senior ramp agent would get the passenger seat and the more junior flight attendant would be left behind. With the new procedure, the senior flight attendant will get the passenger seat (if they’re senior to the ramp agent) and the junior flight attendant will be awarded the jumpseat. Therefore, more of our flight attendants will benefit.

Q: What about the 30-minute rule?
A: The 30-minute rule will no longer apply once this policy has been implemented. The jumpseat will be awarded when the agent clears all non-revenue passengers.

Q: Can I ride the jumpseat without my company ID?
A: No. The current procedure in place states you must wear your company ID above the waist to ride the jumpseat. Please refer to Section 30, G 2 a of our agreement. 

Q: Can I ride the jumpseat without my SID card?
A: Yes. However, you will be slotted in as if you were the most junior flight attendant. Remember the SID card is designed to fit behind our company ID.

Q: Can a supervisor bump me off the jumpseat?
A: No. The only exception would be if the supervisor was on a co-fly trip. Please refer to Section 30, G 1 of our current working agreement.

Q: Have the agents been informed of this new procedure?
A: The process of educating the agents has begun and should be completed by now.

Q: What do I need to do to ride the jumpseat?
A: You should have your SID card. Upon checking in with the gate agent you will fill out the jumpseat authorization form. The agent will list each flight attendant requesting jumpseat authorization, reason for travel, (business or personal) and seniority date from your SID card. The jumpseat will be awarded in seniority order to all those having both their company ID and their SID card after all passenger seats have been occupied. 

If you have any questions or comments, please contact your Local Council President. Contact information can be found on the AFA US Airways website at http://www.afausairways.org/contact.html.

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