What It’s Like to Fly the Most Uncomfortable Seat in the Sky

The internet is full of first, business, and economy class reviews giving insight into food, entertainment, seat pitch, and service. These are extremely useful for customers looking to buy or upgrade their seat on an unfamiliar airline; however, an unexpected experience on a recent KLM flight got me thinking about privileges specific to non-rev passengers – riding in the cabin jumpseat.

What is Non-Revving?

For those unfamiliar, non-revving is a privilege given to airline employees and their beneficiaries, such as a spouse, child, or friend. These individuals can fly standby (meaning they can fly if there is a seat available) on their own airline for free or on other airlines for a significant discount. Non-rev policy varies airline to airline, but standby passengers can expect to sit in economy class on most flights; however, some carriers give employees first or business class pending seat availability. However, in some cases where the aircraft is 100% full, non-rev employees can find themselves sitting in the cabin jumpseat.

Related: Non-Revving for Beginners: Never Check a Bag and Other Important Advice

How I Got the Jumpseat

First and foremost, I want to be clear that I was flying on a ZED fare ticket on KLM (I work for a US-based airline). ZED is the type of ticket airline employees book to ride on other carriers. The flight I listed on was Amsterdam to Las Vegas on a busy Sunday afternoon. The night prior, I checked the flight loads on StaffTraveler and saw there were about 20 seats open, so I thought I was in the clear for a nice ride home after a busy weekend exploring Amsterdam. When I showed up at the gate and asked the agent about the standby status, I was told the flight was overbooked due to a canceled Delta flight. I was looking into other flight options when the gate agent handed me a boarding pass and told me to take the jumpseat. Confused about the legal aspect, I was assured that KLM policy allows this. I had work the next day, so I hesitantly agreed and soon found myself sitting in the forward jumpseat of a 787 Dreamliner.

Pros of the Jumpseat

Everyone knows what an aircraft jumpseat is: that small, no-recline seat perched up against the cabin wall where flight attendants sit during takeoff, landing, and turbulence. The one I was seated in was no different, so I harnessed myself in and prepared for a long, uncomfortable journey. To my luck, I only ended up being stuck in the forward jumpseat for takeoff and landing. Once airborne, the lead flight attendant led me to the aft galley where, to my surprise, they had a fully reclined jumpseat for me. Not only was it reclined, but also had armrests and a curtain between it and the galley, so essentially, I had my own little nook next to the right aft door.

They gave me a pillow, a blanket, and a business class amenity kit as well. I also had my own window, which allowed for some phenomenal viewing of Greenland as we passed over.

Not only did the flight attendants seem to go above and beyond to accommodate me on this long-haul journey across the pond, but they also showed me where all the drinks and food were and allowed me to help myself to coffee, tea, pretzels, and other snacks. During the meal service, I was given more bread and pasta than I asked for, and I was even offered some business class dessert.

Although the flight attendants were some of the friendliest cabin crew I’ve ever met and the seat ended up being comfortable for sleeping, I lacked some essential amenities that make long-haul flying bearable.

Cons of the Jumpseat

I was less than prepared for this flight when I got to the airport. My phone was at 40% when I boarded (I assumed I would be able to charge it at my seat), my portable charger was dead, and I had zero movies, podcasts, or TV shows downloaded to my phone. Because I was in the jumpseat, I did not have inflight entertainment, and I found myself twiddling my thumbs, listening to music, and forcing myself to sleep for a majority of the flight. Fortunately, the crew did have a way to charge my phone, but it was slow, and I could not use it while it was charging.

I know this experience sounds like a first-world problem, and believe me, I was grateful to just be on the flight, but I was extremely bored. Sitting in my own little corner of the aircraft was cool for the first couple of hours, but I was desperate for some entertainment after a while.

Tips for Flying in the Jumpseat

To be honest, the flight as a whole was not that bad in the long run. I got a cheap ride from Amsterdam to Las Vegas, got to meet the Captain, had some good conversation with the flight attendants, and was given an unlimited supply of food and beverages. If you unexpectedly end up getting stuck in the cabin jumpseat, I’ve outlined a few tips that can help make the journey manageable.

1. Make friends with the flight attendants. At first, I was not happy to be flying the jumpseat, but I masked my emotions when I boarded and tried to be as friendly to the cabin crew as possible. I made small talk, and they quickly took a liking to me, which may explain why they were willing to let me have a lot of food and drinks.
2. Charge your electronics. When flying non-rev, you may not always have inflight entertainment or a charging port on long-haul flights. Make sure your electronics are fully charged and you have entertainment downloaded to your devices. This will save you hours of staring out the window fighting boredom.
3. Ask about the aft galley jumpseat. I’m not sure if all Dreamliners have the reclined jumpseat, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. Having a little bit of privacy made the flight a lot more comfortable, and I was actually able to get a few hours of sleep.

Has anyone else experienced the cabin jumpseat on long-haul flights? I was lucky on KLM, but I know some crewmembers tough it out in the cockpit jumpseat for hours on end. Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments!