Southwest Airlines Restricts Jumpseat Access to Pilots and Flight Attendants

Southwest Airlines is updating its employee travel policy to restrict the use of cabin jumpseats. Previously, non-revenue employees such as reservations and gate agents could fly in jumpseats when passenger seats were full. Under the new rules, only pilots and flight attendants are eligible for jumpseat travel. The change was advocated for by TWU Local 556, the flight attendant union, citing safety and operational efficiency. They argued that non-crew members are not fully trained in evacuation protocols and that restricting access ensures only qualified personnel occupy the seats, which also helps flight attendants who commute. The impact is primarily on Southwest employees. For non-crew staff, this reduces their standby options during busy periods, as they can no longer utilize jumpseats if passenger seats are taken by other employees or passengers. Flight attendants benefit from increased odds of securing a seat and less disruption in the galley area