Aviation Hitch Hiking

[InsyleM]

Has anyone ever hitchhiked on an airplane or other aircraft?
If so from where to where and what was going on?

KORD->KSTL

With me, I was working for Trans States, and I had been sent to Chicago for some job. Once I was done I called up the control center, and they told me about an Airline Reposition flight back to St Louis. So when the time came I made my way to the "gate" and talked to the pilots hitchhicking my way on the plane back to St Louis.

[fxsttcb]

Many moons ago, airlines offered "Military Standby". It amounted to filling empty seats with free flights for active duty Military.
The biggie was getting back! I used MS going, but, bought either Military Reserve or a full ticket coming back.
AWOL was not an option!...Don

[ps76]

Hi!

That is a very cool story. I'd be happy just to get a ride in a simulator!

Many thanks,

Pierre

[scott967]

In the US Military, we have something called "Space-A" (available). Basic idea is you show up at the airport and wait to see if anything is going in your direction. For the most part it is Air Force transport aircraft (AMC). Since 911 getting prior sked info is kind of tough. For AMC, you have to show up 3 hours before the flight for "roll call". If any seats are released there is a priority order in which you get selected based on your category and sign-up date. Flexibility is key. Here in Hawaii, there is high demand for PHIK-KSUU (Travis) because many mainland types start out at KSUU so that's where they are trying to get back to. Once there was just one other guy and me who were waiting for a KC-10 that was heading back home PHIK-KWRI (MDL McGuire) with 60 seats. So just slept across one of the center row of seats.

Another time caught a KC-135R from KSUU to KMCF (McDill). They were heading home as well and I'm not sure how fast they were going but it was the fastest cross-country I ever had. They let my wife sit in the jump seat for landing.

Yet another time thanks to a kindly USAF 3-star, he let us get in his G-IV KADW-KBLV (Andrews - Scott) even though his aide had to sit in the jump seat to make room.

scott s.
.

[ReggieF5421]

The company I used to work for had a policy that if you had a business need, and one of the four executive jets was flying that way - you could ride on the jet.

I've flown from Dallas to Louisville and/ or reverse several times on the jet rather than commercial. It was nice because I got to ride jump seat in the Challenger or Gulfstream most times. Though a couple times a planned 1800 departure turned into a 2200 departure - because the plane went when the division president or CEO was ready. Not the 'as available' passengers.

I've been able to leave home about an hour early, get to KADS, get on the jet, get to the office of the rest of my team about 9 am - do a full day productive work with my team, go back to KSDF and fly back to KADS - and be home about an hour later than normal. Did that several times.

During my 20 years in the US Navy I flew Space A several times, but more often got to fly with a squadron or sister squadron aircraft which didn't meet MAC requirements - like a C-2 or a P-3. Got a lot of flights on P-3s, even a few on jets like A-3 or S-3.