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Airline Ticket Agent Job Description, Career as an Airline Ticket Agent, Salary, Employment - Definition and Nature of the Work, Education and Training Requirements, Getting the Job

agents passengers airlines flight

Education and Training High school

Salary Median—$28,420 per year

Employment Outlook Poor

Definition and Nature of the Work

Airline ticket agents sell tickets at airports or downtown ticket offices. They also assign seats for passengers and rebook passengers who miss their flights. They often answer questions about airline schedules, fares, hotels, and taxis.

Agents also handle passengers' luggage. First they weigh it to make sure it falls within airline guidelines and then attach tags that indicate where the bags should be taken off the plane.

At airport gates they announce flight departures and board passengers. It is their job to ensure that flight attendants have the equipment they need.

Education and Training Requirements

Ticket agents generally must be high school graduates. Some college education is preferred. Previous experience dealing with the public is useful.

Most airlines provide some form of training program; in many cases it consists of a week of classroom instruction followed by a week of on-the-job training with an experienced ticket agent. Beginners usually start by tagging the luggage of ticketed passengers. They then gain experience reserving seats on flights, filling out ticket forms, and handling assignments at the gate.

Getting the Job

Job seekers can apply directly, in person or by mail, to the personnel office at any airline. The Air Transport Association of America provides a list of the addresses of major airlines on request. School placement offices, newspaper classified ads, and Internet job sites may provide employment leads.

Airline ticket agents work with customers all day. They sell airplane tickets, check luggage, and rebook passengers who have missed their flights. (© Reuters/Corbis.)

Advancement Possibilities and Employment Outlook

With experience ticket agents may become supervisors. Some ticket agents advance into jobs as traffic or sales representatives for the airline. Others become flight attendants.

The employment of airline ticket agents is expected to increase more slowly than the average for all occupations through 2014. Despite anticipated growth in the number of airline passengers, automated ticketing and check-in procedures may reduce the demand for ticket agents. The airline industry is sensitive to fluctuations in the economy, so agents frequently are laid off during recessions.

Working Conditions

Ticket agents are in constant contact with people and often have to solve their travel problems quickly, which may result in stressful situations. Because they act as representatives of the airlines, they are required to be well groomed, friendly, and patient. Ticket agents work forty-hour weeks, usually in shifts that include nights, weekends, and holidays.

Earnings and Benefits

In 2004 the median salary of airline ticket agents was $28,420 per year.

Where to Go for More Information

Air Transport Association of America
1301 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Ste. 1100
Washington, DC 20004-1704
(202) 626-4000
http://www.air-transport.org

Benefits include vacation, sick leave, health insurance, paid holidays, and retirement plans. Some airlines offer reduced air fares for agents and their families.

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4 months ago

DEARSIR MY NAME IS USMAN ALI AND I AM LIVING IN SWAT PAKISTAN.I DID FSC,AND I GOT A CERTIFICATE OF AIR TICKETING FROM PESHAWAR IN WORLD SPAN BASIC.I AM WORK AS A TRAVEL CONSULTANT IN A TRAVEL AGENCY,THUS I CONTINUING MY EXPERIECE. THANKS.

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10 months ago

RESPECTED SIR,I AM IATA QUALIFIED IN GDS AND WORKING AS A RESERVATION OFFICER IN TRAVEL AGENCY I NEED A JOB IN AIRLINE.IN PAKISTAN THERE IS NO HIRING SO I AM SEEKING JOB IN A GULF SIDE. PLEASE CONSIDER ME FOR A JOB.

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10 months ago

HELLO SIR,

I NEED THE APPLICATION FOR FOR TICKET AGENT

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11 months ago

Dear all,



Greetings!



Thank you for the informaiton.



I live in Ethiopia. I have a 4 years experience as a ticket agent.



currently, I am working in American Embassy ticket office.



I need some advise from your side.



1st. Please give me an insight about my profeession. As a ticket agent can you give me a list to trainings to uprgade my profession.



2nd. Can I have an opportunity to get a better job and experience if I apply in your country?



With best regards,

Merikokeb

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11 months ago

am a beginner and am told the chances of getting a job is protocol, please advice me.

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12 months ago

How do i get enrolled in a school and with which qualification.Thank you very

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about 1 year ago

hight 5.6 and age 18

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about 1 year ago

hello am kaye and am interesting in this field

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about 1 year ago

my hight 5.6. my waist 32 and my age 18 year.

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about 1 year ago

Dear sir. i want job in any airline . i have aitline tickets making exp. plz

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about 1 year ago

I WE LIKE TO BE WORK WITH THIS AGENT

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over 1 year ago

hello this is kelly, i am a student studying travel and tourism. im reqiring on some information on your check-in agents for my project units.

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13 days ago

Dear Sir / Madaam,

I am very interested for Any available position in your company. I am Rowena Valiente currently working at Abu Dhabi Mina Shopping Center as Cashier cum Receptionist in Costless Electronics. I have a Bachelors degree in Secondary Education major in Library Science. I am computer literate and proficient in communication and interpersonal skills. If you will give me chance I will assure you that I can handle my job well.

I am happy for an interview. I can be reach through my mobile# 055-8490889.

Attached herewith is my CV for your additional reference.


Thank you very much,

Rowena Valiente

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about 1 month ago

If you're in the corner and have no money to get out from that point, you would have to receive the business loans. Just because it would aid you unquestionably. I take collateral loan every single year and feel myself OK just because of this.

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about 1 month ago

Please Sir i need the application for the ticket agent.i want to learn the job and be an Agent also.thank you.

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about 1 month ago

i want to be an airline ticket agent, but i don't know wich school i got to go to.

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3 months ago

HELLO SIR/MA

I NEED THE APPLICATION FOR FOR TICKET AGENT

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3 months ago

Ineed the application for air ticket ajent

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4 months ago

Dear et all

I have a lot of customer service and communication
skills . Love working with people and making them laugh
currently work at the library where like a ticket agent works with passengers all day i do the same for patrons.

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5 months ago

hi,this is sayeedabanu,i completed my betech in aeronautical with 65%,my height is 5.7".and iam intrested to do job in airticketing.if iam eligible for dis job pls send an mail to my email.thanking u sir.

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5 months ago

i am studing hospitality catering management . i have done industrial training in park panchavati, ct in vedic village , affraresturant , swiss hotel. i want to become a recepionst .

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5 months ago

i am studing hospitality catering management . i have done industrial training in park panchavati, ct in vedic village , affraresturant , swiss hotel. i want to become a recepionst .

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5 months ago

i am studing hospitality catering management . i have done industrial training in park panchavati, ct in vedic village , affraresturant , swiss hotel. i want to become a recepionst .

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5 months ago

Hi i got to know with my friends that air line ticketing has the nice growth. I wish to learn the course can you please provide me with good institution in hyderabad.

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6 months ago

dear offıcer

I got IATA&UFTAA diploma and I want to know where I should apply for the ticketing related jobs. Especially I want to know the exact airways addresses to apply. or ıs there any other recomendatıon?

thank you for your help

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9 months ago

I am trying to work in aireaine.but I have not any idea.