How to fly standby › Jumpseat and commuting

Jumpseat and commuting for airline crew

Commuting means flying to your base before a duty when you live somewhere else. Crew commute on standby in a cabin seat or, if their agreement allows, on the jumpseat. Every airline sets its own rules for commuters, separate from leisure travel. New to standby? Start with How to fly standby.

Start with the flight: compare estimated open seats before you list.

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Jumpseat or a cabin seat

A jumpseat is an extra seat for crew: in the flight deck or in the cabin. Who can use it depends on agreements between airlines:

In the US, participating airlines use CASS (Cockpit Access Security System) to confirm a pilot's identity and employment before a flight deck jumpseat ride. Whether you can ride still depends on the agreement between your airline and the operating one.
On Flair Airlines, CASS-eligible pilots use the single flight deck jumpseat or a free cabin seat, depending on availability and CASS verification.
On Breeze Airways, commuter agreements for pilots, dispatchers and flight attendants are separate from leisure ones; without one, you buy a ZED or commercial ticket. Only Breeze's own flight attendants sit in its cabin jumpseats.
On Contour Airlines, commercial pilots, flight attendants and dispatchers with valid credentials can jumpseat: fill in a form at the ticket counter and show it to the captain when you board.

Where the flight deck is closed to you

Some airlines don't take other airlines' staff in the flight deck:

British Airways: under UK law, only a BA employee can be accepted in the flight deck of a BA aircraft. On Shenzhen Airlines, only its own employees.
On Qatar Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Oman Air, Air India and Air India Express, the flight deck is closed to staff travellers.
On IndiGo and SalamAir, ZED travellers aren't accepted on the jumpseat. On GOL, myIDTravel tickets can't be used on jumpseats, even by pilots and flight attendants.

There, commuting means a normal standby seat in the cabin.

How to list as a commuter

In myIDTravel, in advance. On Breeze, every commuting pilot, dispatcher and flight attendant lists in myIDTravel within 14 days of departure (Pilot or Flight Attendant Commuting Listing), even if you don't want the jumpseat. Walk-up listings aren't allowed.
By phone, if there's an agreement. On Southern Airways Express, pilots whose airline has a reciprocal commuting or jumpseat agreement list through reservations.
Not through ops or support. Contour asks you not to contact Flight Ops or Dispatch to list for jumpseats; Flair asks you not to call customer support or come to the airport to list, unless you're a jumpseating pilot.
Check in early. On Alaska Airlines, jumpseating pilots check in with the gate agents 1 hour before departure.

Where commuters are on the standby list

On some airlines, commuting crew from other airlines come last:

Southwest and Advanced Air: the airline's own staff, then other airlines' staff on ZED passes, then commuting pilots and flight attendants.
Breeze: commuting crew are in the last category, after ZED travellers, and go in order of check-in.
Southern Airways Express: jumpseat listings are cleared last.
JSX: other airlines' commuting crew are the last category, E3.

So a flight that looks fine for leisure staff can be tight for you. More on how the queue works: How the standby list works.

What to wear and bring

Badge: carry your employee badge, but on Flair, Breeze and JSX wear it only in uniform or in the jumpseat.
Clothes: on JSX, the jumpseat needs at least relaxed business casual with closed-toe shoes; on Southern Airways Express, jumpseat pilots wear full uniform or dress trousers with a collared shirt and introduce themselves to the crew.
Uniform: on Norse Atlantic Airways, you can fly in uniform only when commuting straight to or from a flight you operate.
Alcohol: on Flair, Breeze and JSX, no alcohol before the flight if you're travelling as a jumpseater, will be on duty within 8 hours of arrival or are in uniform.

Plan the commute

Your duty doesn't wait for the next flight, so plan the commute like a standby trip with no room for error: compare the loads on the flights before your report time, keep a backup, and check again the day before and on the day. Remember that you may board after other standby travellers. More on reading loads: How to check flight loads.

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Questions, answered

What is commuting for airline crew?

Flying to your base before a duty when you live in another city. Crew commute on standby in a cabin seat or, where agreements allow, on the jumpseat.

Can flight attendants ride the jumpseat?

On some airlines: Contour accepts commercial pilots, flight attendants and dispatchers with valid credentials. Some limit the flight deck jumpseat to pilots and dispatchers, as Breeze does; on Breeze, only its own flight attendants sit in the cabin jumpseats.

Do I need to list as a commuting pilot?

On some airlines, yes. On Breeze, every commuting pilot, dispatcher and flight attendant lists in myIDTravel within 14 days of departure; walk-up listings aren't allowed.

Where are commuting crew on the standby list?

On some airlines, last: on Southwest and Advanced Air, commuting pilots and flight attendants from other airlines board after the airline's own staff and after other airlines' staff on ZED passes.

Rules change often and this guide may be out of date. Check with your airline's staff travel department before you travel. Staff Airlines isn't responsible for denied boarding, missed flights or other losses. Found a mistake? Let us know.

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