CL65 PAX PERMITTED TO RIDE IN JUMP SEAT SINCE THERE WERE 1 TOO MANY PAX BOARDING FLT FOR THE AMOUNT OF PAX SEATS.

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I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO DESCRIBE THE CHAIN OF EVENTS ON FEB/FRI/01 ON FLT FROM BFL TO PHX. I WAS THE FO (CL65). WE HAD A DEP TIME OF XA00 WITH A WHEELS UP TIME OF XA05-XA07 AFTER THE XA00 HR. THE FLT BOARDED NORMALLY. THE CAPT WAS OUTSIDE LOADING BAGS; I WAS INSIDE PREPARING FOR AN ON-TIME DEP. 3 MINS BEFORE DEP; THE CAPT NOW STANDING IN GALLEY WITH FLT ATTENDANT. WHILE I WAS COMPLETING THE MANIFEST; I HEARD THERE WERE 51 PAX ON BOARD A 50 PAX JET. I WAITED FOR THE CAPT TO RETURN TO THE FLT DECK. AT THAT MOMENT I WAS THINKING THE GATE AGENT WAS TAKING CARE OF THE 51ST PAX. THE NEXT THING I KNOW; THE CAPT WAS ASKING ME IF IT WOULD BOTHER ME TO HAVE A JUMP SEATER. I REPLIED 'NO.' NEVER THOUGHT TO ASK THE CAPT WHAT THEIR QUALIFICATIONS MIGHT BE. I MADE THE MISTAKE OF TRUSTING THE CAPT/PIC IN DISCRIMINATING WHO WOULD OCCUPY THE JUMP SEAT. IT TURNED OUT THE JUMP SEATER WAS NOT QUALIFIED TO RIDE AND ON A FULL FARE TICKET. I ASSURE YOU THAT IF I WAS PIC/CAPT OF THE FLT; I WOULD HAVE HANDLED THIS SIT DIFFERENTLY AND LET THE AGENT TAKE CARE OF THE PROB; OR MAKE SURE HE WAS QUALIFIED AS PER FAR PART 121.547. I WAS UNAWARE OF HOW TO CORRECT THE SIT AFTER THE DAMAGE HAD BEEN DONE; TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS. I HAVE LEARNED FROM IT AND CONTINUE TO HAVE A STRONG COMMITMENT TOWARDS AVIATION.