Andrew Jumpseat Dilema

We in the United States know that every carrier operates under the same guidelines concerning flight deck jump seat usage. Don’t make the assumption that it’s that way around the rest of the world. And whatever is different in the rest of the world I’m coming to find out is extra different in Africa.

Take for example flight 2333, service from Inhanbane to Johannesburg, South Africa. The gate agents came to the airplane and explained that we had 73 people that wanted to get on the flight (we only have a 72 seat configuration), would I consider taking somebody in the jump seat. I asked the obvious questions. Do we have a pilot from our airline? How about another carrier? OK, how about any airline employee from any airline anywhere in the world? Nope.

So put this all together here. They want to know if I will take a revenue passenger in my jump seat on an international flight. I said no, go figure. I could see the disappointment in their eyes.

Any place else and that would be the end of the story, but not here. The gate agent came back out to the airplane about 10 minutes later and informed me that there was somebody that really needed to speak to the Captain. I was curious about what, and of course I’m the kind of guy that wants to help. I would be happy to speak to him.

I almost laughed when I realized what had happened. The gate agents brought me a gentleman to personally ask/beg/plead/pester me to change my mind on the jump seat! I got the long sad sob story about the skinny 17 year old kid that would be left behind if I did not relent. Oh so sad. He’s skinny I’m told, can’t you squeeze him in with another passenger? Now you must realize, if I said sure, they would have done it! If I said he could ride in the lav, I believe he would have been riding the blue juice express all the way to Joburg!

I nicely but firmly explained that I simply could not authorize a passenger to ride with out a seat and seat belt. It was unsafe, I was prohibited by CAA regulation (I would hope), and the South African government would have a problem with it.

I never cease to be amazed at how different things are around here. In large as well as small ways.

Andrew