Pre-9/11 ride in Qantas 747 flight deck
 

I'd heard for years that Qantas would let passengers visit the cockpit during the flight, and finally achieved my dream on a Qantas flight to Australia in 2000. ( I want to sit up there on every flight so I can keep an eye on the gauges and generally tell them how to fly the thing--I'm not a control freak!)
The flight attendant escorted me up to the flight deck of the 747 and seated me in a jumpseat (covered with sheepskin) behind the captain and the first officer. The first thing they pointed out to me was the con trail we were flying over. Then they made some comment about the number of con trails polluting the air. I didn't know how to answer that one, given that we were all contributing to that pollution even as we spoke. But it was great to finally see out of the front windows of the 747 and see all the gauges and so on. The relief crew were sleeping elsewhere behind a curtain--the captain told me that since this was a 14-hour flight, they had two flight crews. When I told them my American husband would never believe that Qantas let passengers up in the cockpit, the captain said, "We like to make people feel comfortable about flying." I've always felt comfortable about flying with Qantas--they've been flying since 1928 and never had a fatality--maybe never even an accident.
Alas, since 9/11 they don't let passengers into the cockpit anymore--one more thing we have to thank the terrorists for! Glad I did it while I could, though.

Pears43, we to were lucky to have visited the cockpit during overseas flights, both times on Qantas. Of course, it was before 11th September. I have a friend who a first flight officer with Qantas, and some time ago, he gave me his card, and wrote on the back, asking if we could be shown the cockpit. The pilot on our Fijian trip, kindly allowed us into the cockpit, which we thoroughly enjoyed (just so quite up there, and so interesting when the captain explains the various instruments). The captain knew our pilot friend, and told us that he was a bit of party animal (which we knew)

Allowing passengers into the cockpit was quite usual for Australia's airlines pre-9/11 and in fact it was quite usual to see a Hostess with several children in tow taking them up into the cockpit to see how the plane flew, which was a terrific buzz for the kids.
I have been in one many times, first for curiosity and fun and then after that as part of my "learning not to be a flight phobic".
Actually when I was younger and lived in a country town the only planes that flew out of there were quite small ones and the cockpit door was always open so that anyone could look into it and out into that big blue sky.
The more we progress the more controlled we become.

It still happens on some of the regional domestic flights in New South Wales anyway - I know of some children who regularly fly from the north of the state to Sydney and they get to visit the cockpit- much to their delight.

We recently flew on an American Airlines flight from Ft. Lauderdale to Los Angeles. As we boarding the plane, the captain asked my 16 yr old daughter if she'd like to see the cockpit. I was about to belt him for perving on my kid when he invited my wife and I to come along. He let my daughter sit at the controls while my wife took video of the whole thing. I thought it was a bit strange due to the tight security (we witnessed the air marshall check in) but it was a fun experience!

About 10 years ago I was asked out of the blue would I like to visit the flight deck on a BA flight to St. Petersburg. I was really enjoying it but must say I felt a touch nervous when I realised my invitation included staying in the jump seat during the landing. I suddenly felt rather vulnerable being right at the front of the plan watching the ground come up towards me (or at least me going down to it). The funniest part was once we had actually touched down. I have always thought that sometimes the taxiing (I think that is spelt wrong)to the gate seemed to take ages and now I know the truth as to why. Neither of the two pilots had flows into St. P's for several years and once we were down we drove around in circles for a few minutes whilst they looked for the indicators on the ground as to where to go. They sounded just like me any my husband "I think its that way" "No, further to the left" "No, that no right go back the other way" "Oh look, theres the number we want" etc. All in all a very memorable experience.

I've been lucky to be in the cockpit countless times- on 747's overseas and domestic flights within Australia- pre 9/11.
I have "a close friend" who is a pilot. I socialise with members of flight crews and generally, my travel plans are known beforehand. Being in the cockpit for me is generally just time for "catching up with friends".
On one particular flight(Brisbane to Melbourne at night), I was in the cockpit and the captain was playing the role of tour director. Not only did I have all the major towns and cities pointed out to me, but also as the landing gear was lowered near Tullamarine- I was alerted to the fact that "Bernie"(someone I knew)-flying the 10:20 to Adelaide had been sighted. And (hilariously)I was asked, "Do you reckon we should we flash our lights at him so he knows it's us?"
Sadly, that informality would never happen nowadays.
Possum