Recipical Jumpseat/Standby travel not working!!!!

[CCR]

Hey guys, I'm not a commuter but I see value in the Pilot Reciprocal Program. I'm sure we have all helped each other to get to work or more importantly get home. I would prefer that we didn't charge the other teams a fee. I know it's not equal in that respect. To be blunt the agreements on both sides are not equal. We do not put a cap on the number of recip pilots that we take. AC and Jazz do. Is that fair? Is that equal? Which would the Jazz/AC pilots prefer? No fee and only two seats available? What if there were two WJ'ers in the physical seats? Should there be any virtual jumpseats available then? I remember my days at Air Nova when you would see a QK Captain refuse a AC'er and vice versa. It was like watching 5 year olds in a playground. Story's like above remind me of those times.

So what should we do here? Cancel the program? Should a WJ Captain call up a Jazz pilot to the gate and rip a strip? Hmmmm....how about we find the value in what each side has to offer. I don' receive a charge on the red team but have access to only the equivelant number of jumpseats. We charge a fee but offer no restrictions to seat numbers. When we first started this program, I would apologize to every AC/JZZ'er I saw coming on. That was until I met an AC F/O commuting on us to Comox. I remember he said " Don't apologize at all. I'm getting home tonight and not staying in a hotel. That's worth more than what I'm paying Westjet."

Isn't that the intent and spirit of our agreements?

[jjj]

When I see a jumper in the lounge I always say hi and welcome them aboard.
Also, it sure is nice when jumpers come up to the flight deck and say hi.

[bcflyer]

Any word on if things are back to normal yet? I'm thinking of using WJ tomorrow to get to work am hoping things are up and running smoothly..... Anyone?

[fundi]

Mannn, I wouldn't count on it tomorrow. I work for wj and its been tough. Even for us trying to get listed for a commute, or even worse for pleasure. We've been asked to cut back any unecessary casual/fun travel until we all can get back to normal. The call center is still swamped with volume and backlog from last weekend. I've heard it can take up to an hour to get thru on the phone....maybe thats worst case, but if you've got a better, easier option....I'd be using that. I went over to the competition last week once because it was getting too crazy and getting appropriate info was tres difficult. Good luck.

I haven't used the recip much, but we all have to agree the HUGE value in keeping it going. Like one of the recent posters here, yes, its not the same on both sides. But when I'm using ac, I always bring along a few starbucks gift cards....hopefully a mocha or latte makes you feel better on the other side.

We are all just in the same industry, different colors and ties, trying to portray professionalism to the public, while driving the tube in the right direction and keeping it upright and intact. If we can make it a better day for anyone of us...is that not worth it. Don't fuss over the small things, life is too short!!

[green bastard]

Flight levels does not speak for the commuters of wj, but have patience this will be resolved soon.

[Rotten Apple #1]

To our Reciprocal Jumpseat program colleagues, there is a new number to book for standby travel on WJ:

1 888 217 1303

Hope that helps. I'm sure official documentation will arrive at respective companies soon.

[Jastapilot]

To our Reciprocal Jumpseat program colleagues, there is a new number to book for standby travel on WJ:

1 888 217 1303

Hope that helps. I'm sure official documentation will arrive at respective companies soon.

They're saying it's a temporary number so don't commit it to memory.

[mbav8r]

Jazz commuter here, there is no doubt that it's a valuable resource having two airline schedules to choose from
even though it's not equal it still helps a bunch. However I have had some guys say to me recently that they try to use AC/Jazz exclusively to save money in commuting expenses, that stung abit to hear. Someone said there is a limit on us and it's true but, I've been working where there was 2 wj and 1 cdn north and the capt let all 3 on.
The main problem is that because there is a service charge we have to pay all the AIF, security and taxes. What we need to work on, is the airport authority's for charging employees these ridiculous fees. Toronto does NOT charge these fees to employees for travel so why are the other international airports, for that matter any of them???

There is a huge percentage of commuters between the airlines and I think if we were to form a group to lobby against
this, our voice would be loud enough to be heard. The airports would probably prefer our support of these fees rather than hear how we as people who work at these airports feel that they're ripping off the public using the fees to make airports into shopping destinations instead of actually improving the design and usefulness of the airport itself, aswell as lining the pockets of the ceo's. Just take a look a the corperation that is the Vancouver airport authority.

Any way I am interested in forming a united group of commuters to get rid of these fees, anyone else interested? pm me.

[rampking]

Hey all,

I am still having great difficulty using the recip pilot pass with west jet.....How long does it take to transfer over a system.....Jesus H Christ!!!!!!!!!!!! Is anyone else having trouble???

King

[WJ200]

My request for ALL Jazz and Air Canada Jumpseaters....come up and introduce yourself if you are travelling on my airplane. I would say that it's about 10%..only 1 in 10 that pays the courtesy of a cockpit visit. You don't have to beg, grovel or steal to get the jumpseat. All you have to do is pay the fee. I am only asking that you be a professional and come up and say hi.....if you want to be a fare paying employee....maybe you could help groom before you leave.

[Flightlevels]

Had 4 AC mainline guys on the other day from YVR to YYC..all came and thanked me

[tailgunner]

WJ200,
What the h#ll are you talking about. " all you have to do is pay the fee"...Do you realize that ACJ and AC pilots are charged more for their seat on your ac than you are on theirs? Oh, I forgot, you WJ pilots are working REALLY hard to get that changed....BS. You guys pay the same fee that any AC/ACJ pays to ride on their own equipment. So who's the jerk now. Show some professional courtesy yourself and get the surcharge eliminated.

[Squid]

i vote to just end it

[balfour]

i vote to just end it

+1

[WJ200]

OK.....I will fight the battle to get free rides for the Jumpseat when it becomes truly reciprocal and the courtesy is paid by the people travelling on us. In my personal experience, only one in ten has come up and introduced themselves prior to departure or on arrival. This is a simple professional courtesy.

I fully support the jumpseat system and will always allow any pilot looking for the jumpseat a ride onboard. All I want to say is that we can't be selective about which portion of the agreement is "reciprocal". The pay portion is not equal. Just don't overlook the portions of the agreement that are different between each airline.

Also keep in mind that if we give you the jumpseat for free then we will also have to restrict the number of jumpseaters to two. Be careful what you wish for.

[mattedfred]

Also keep in mind that if we give you the jumpseat for free then we will also have to restrict the number of jumpseaters to two. Be careful what you wish for.

why would you do that?

most airlines in the world offer unlimited seats for free

surely you realize that both systems are archaic

[CanadaEH]

This entire topic stinks of entitlement.

You should either a) be happy that there is an agreement in place, regardless of the stipulations or b) shut the hell up.

[Go Guns]

This entire topic stinks of entitlement.

+1

If you want changes there are people within your organization who volunteer to work these agreements out for your benefit. These are the people to talk to. You're not doing anybody any good by ripping into a commuter at the gate or pissing and moaning on Avcanada.

[Brick Head]

Wow,

Actually there probably is some seance of entitlement. The expectation is "Reciprocal" access.

I think WJ is going through a tuff time and the resent issues should just be shrugged off. They will be a distant memory soon.

I am more concerned about WJ's decision to ban the Reciprocal agreement in or out of YVR during the Olympics.

So should WJ ers be aloud the reciprocal agreement on AC during the Olympics? I like the option while commuting. I don't want to loose it. Fix this, cause sooner or later our side will get fed up and the agreement will end...............again.

[Four1oh]

I am more concerned about WJ's decision to ban the Reciprocal agreement in or out of YVR during the Olympics.

Brick, where did you get this info? I agree, this doesn't make much sense since if there's space available, why would anyone be denied?

[Brick Head]

I am more concerned about WJ's decision to ban the Reciprocal agreement in or out of YVR during the Olympics.

Brick, where did you get this info? I agree, this doesn't make much sense since if there's space available, why would anyone be denied?

In the latest bulletin from ACPA they state they have been advised by WJ that they intend to put a jumpseat embargo on everything to and from YVR for the Olympic period. We know nothing else. We don't know if it is connected in some way to the present difficulties or not. We also don't know exactly what "period" means as YVR will be busy well in advance and following the Olympics.

[KAG]

First I've heard of this. A few letters to our WJPA will get this sorted out.

[bcflyer]

First I've heard of this. A few letters to our WJPA will get this sorted out.

Is it sorted out yet?

[Clint23]

First I've heard of this. A few letters to our WJPA will get this sorted out.

Is it sorted out yet?

Yes it is sorted...no embargo. Period. Jumpseat as normal.
See email below from our WJPA guy.

Cheers

Alright. This rumour seems to have grown into quite the snowball effect. Guys are phoning and emailing me wondering what the scoop is. Apparently our friends at AC have also heard this and are also wondering what is going on.

I spoke with XXX X yesterday and he had also heard this rumour. He did some checking with his bosses and confirmed that nothing has changed with the jumpseat and nothing will change with the jumpseat during the Olympics. Everything is status quo.

So we have contacted our ACPA partners and let them know this. Perhaps if you are speaking with any AC guys or even our own and they have heard this story perhaps you could put this rumour to bed.

XXXX X and I are both curious how this one started but from stories I've heard it may have been on an airline forum such as this one. I don't monitor any of those sites, just this one, so feel free to stop the rumours there also.

I've "stuck" this post to ensure maximum exposure to our pilots. I would hate to have guys denying jumpseaters because of this silly rumour.

Alright/. It's time to go and try to win some money back that I lost last night at roulette.

[mattedfred]

i successfully listed myself on a WJ flight for the first time last week

i had a little difficulty as i wasn't prepared and didn't initially have the correct number but i was able to list myself in time for the flight

the 888 number wouldn't allow me to connect to a WJ agent. the standby number listed on the ALPA website initially had a recording saying they weren't taking any calls then later had a recording with a new number. i was able to get through using the new number after a few tries

fortunately i was able to get on an AC flight and was able to cancel my listing. it wasn't looking good for the WJ flight anyway

i wish it was as easy for WJ and AC pilots alike as it was for me to get on a Shuttle America flight last month. i just walked up to the gate and asked and they gave me a seat in J class.