Narrative:

A few minutes before we closed the door; the gate agent asked me if mr. X could ride the jumpseat. He was riding 'sa' with a seat in back until a full fare passenger showed last minute. I checked his credentials. He had his company identification; an FAA license; a medical and a jaa license. Believing that these were sufficient credentials; I authorized his observer member of the crew (omc). First the agent closed the door and we finished the checklist and pushed back. We started both engines. As we taxied out; we got 2 sets of final weights. The second set had the omc listed. As we taxied farther; ATC informed us to call tampa operations before takeoff. Tampa told us there might be a problem with the omc and at the same time; dispatch called us on comrdo. We delayed the takeoff until dispatch verified omc eligibility. I entered the omc data via ACARS including additional information; pilot license number; and company identification number. After a few minutes; dispatch told us the omc could not ride in the cockpit. We taxied back to the gate and unloaded the omc. We sent a message to dispatch. They verified everything was ok and sent release 2 with new fuel and new weights. We departed tpa without any further problems. I believed that the omc was authorized; given the credentials he possessed; but I was mistaken. The omc also seemed unaware that he was prohibited from cockpit access. At no point was the actual safety or security of the flight compromised in any way.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: After previously agreed to by the A320 Captain; access to the cockpit jump seat is denied to a Captain from another airline.

Narrative: A few minutes before we closed the door; the Gate Agent asked me if Mr. X could ride the jumpseat. He was riding 'SA' with a seat in back until a full fare passenger showed last minute. I checked his credentials. He had his company ID; an FAA license; a medical and a JAA license. Believing that these were sufficient credentials; I authorized his Observer Member of the Crew (OMC). First the Agent closed the door and we finished the checklist and pushed back. We started both engines. As we taxied out; we got 2 sets of final weights. The second set had the OMC listed. As we taxied farther; ATC informed us to call Tampa Operations before takeoff. Tampa told us there might be a problem with the OMC and at the same time; dispatch called us on COMRDO. We delayed the takeoff until dispatch verified OMC eligibility. I entered the OMC data via ACARS including additional information; pilot license number; and company ID number. After a few minutes; dispatch told us the OMC could not ride in the cockpit. We taxied back to the gate and unloaded the OMC. We sent a message to dispatch. They verified everything was OK and sent release 2 with new fuel and new weights. We departed TPA without any further problems. I believed that the OMC was authorized; given the credentials he possessed; but I was mistaken. The OMC also seemed unaware that he was prohibited from cockpit access. At no point was the actual safety or security of the flight compromised in any way.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.