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davidmash · #4 06-04-2023, 09:00 AM

When I worked for AA and before 9/11, we were allowed to take a jump seat ride. I flew up to ORD from DFW on a 777 and then jump seated back. It was an afternoon dept and a night landing in DFW. The capabilities of tat plane are absolutely incredible. Crew was really cool and they answered all my questions. Its a hell of a view from the front on the bus.

The other time was coming back from Europe. I was in Germany flying out of Berlin. I went to see some relatives and to see the reunification of East and west Berlin. We had non-rev agreements with other airlines and I was taking a PanAm flight from Berlin to London then AA back home. The PA flight went Berlin to Hamburg then to London. The first leg no problem...got a coach seat and settled back. Hamburg was a different story....kept moving back an back in the plane as it filled up. At the end, one of the flight attendants motioned me forward. I would have bet I was going to be bumped and have to wait in Hamburg for another flight which means I would miss my AA flight...big PIA. When I got up front on the 727, she said the captain wanted to talk to me....WTF? What did I do? He said hi, checked my ID and said to have a seat. This was in 1991 so I guess things were quite lax back then. There were 4 seats and 4 pilots...Capt, FO, FE and another jump seat pilot who was dead heading....and me. If you do the math thats 5 people. I'm looking around like an idiot trying to figure out where the 5th seat is...he pointed to the floor and the cargo net where they put their luggage. I wanted to go go, what are the odds of a seat belt actually saving my life...sure...why not. So from Hamburg to London I sat on the floor of a 727 and enjoyed the ride. Cabin crew brought me some food and it was kind of cool. Now I have a neat story to tell.