Career Occupational Profile for :
Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks

Make and confirm reservations and sell tickets to passengers and for large hotel or motel chains. May check baggage and direct passengers to designated concourse, pier, or track; make reservations, deliver tickets, arrange for visas, contact individuals and groups to inform them of package tours, or provide tourists with travel information, such as points of interest, restaurants, rates, and emergency service.

Signficant Points

• Most jobs are found in large metropolitan airports, reservation call centers, and train or bus stations.
• A high school diploma or its equivalent is the most common educational requirement.
• Employment is expected to show little or no growth because of the significant impact of technology on worker productivity.

Overview

Sample Job Titles

Training

• These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include sheet metal workers, forest fire fighters, customer service representatives, pharmacy technicians, salespersons (retail), and tellers.
• These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed.
• Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed. For example, a teller might benefit from experience working directly with the public, but an inexperienced person could still learn to be a teller with little difficulty.
• Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees.

Most reservation and transportation ticket agents spend several weeks in company-sponsored training programs learning the reservation system and other travel-related information. Good customer service skills and the ability to work quickly are important.

Education and training. A high school diploma or its equivalent is the most common educational requirement for reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks. Most airline reservation and ticket agents learn their skills through formal company training programs that can last several weeks. They learn company and industry policies as well as ticketing procedures. Trainees also learn to use the airline’s computer system to obtain information on schedules, fares, and the availability of seats; to make reservations for passengers; and to prepare passenger itineraries. In addition, they must become familiar with train, airport, and airline code designations, security regulations, and safety procedures. After completing classroom instruction, new agents work under the direct guidance of a supervisor or experienced agent. During this time the supervisors may monitor telephone conversations to improve the quality of customer service so that agents learn to provide customer service in a courteous manner, while limiting the time spent on each call.

In contrast to those who work for airlines, reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks who work for bus lines and railroads are trained on the job through short in-house classes that last several days.

Other qualifications. Applicants usually must be 18 years of age and older and a valid driver’s license may be required. Also, experience with computers and good typing skills usually are required. Agents who handle passenger luggage must be able to lift heavy objects.

Many reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks deal directly with the public, so a professional appearance and a pleasant personality are important. A clear speaking voice and fluency in English also are essential, because these employees frequently use the telephone or public-address systems. In addition, fluency in a foreign language is becoming increasingly helpful for those who deal with the public, because of the growing number of international and non-English speaking travelers.

Advancement. Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks may advance by being transferred to a position with more responsibilities or by being promoted to a supervisory position. Many travel companies fill supervisory and managerial positions by promoting individuals within their organization, so those who acquire additional skills, experience, and training improve their opportunities for advancement. Some companies require that candidates for supervisory positions have an associate degree in a business-related field, such as management, business administration, or marketing. Within the airline industry, a ticket agent may advance to lead worker on the shift.

Nature of Work

Each year, millions of people travel by plane, train, ship, bus, and automobile. Many of these travelers rely on the services of reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks. Agents and clerks perform functions as varied as selling tickets, confirming reservations, checking baggage, and providing useful travel information.

Most reservation agents work for airlines or large hotel chains, helping people plan trips and make reservations. They usually work in reservation call centers, answering telephone or e-mail inquiries and offering travel arrangement suggestions and information such as routes, schedules, fares, and types of accommodations. They also change or confirm transportation and lodging reservations. Most agents use their own company’s reservation system to obtain information needed to make, change, or cancel traveler reservations.

Transportation ticket agents are sometimes known as passenger service agents, passenger booking clerks, reservation clerks, airport service agents, ticket clerks, or ticket sellers. They work in airports, train stations, and bus stations, selling tickets, assigning seats to passengers, and checking baggage. In addition, they may answer inquiries and give directions, examine passports and visas, or check in pets. They may be required to assist customers who have trouble operating self-service ticketing machines or kiosks. Other ticket agents, more commonly known as gate or station agents, work in airport terminals, assisting passengers boarding airplanes. These workers direct passengers to the correct boarding area, check tickets and seat assignments, make boarding announcements, and provide special assistance to young, elderly, or disabled passengers.

Travel clerks provide travelers information on points of interest, restaurants, overnight accommodations, and availability of emergency services. In some cases, they make rental car, hotel, and restaurant reservations. Clerks also may provide assistance in filling out travel documents and answer other travel-related questions.

Work environment. Most reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks work in airports, call centers, and train and bus terminals that generally are clean and safe. Reservation and ticket agents who work in large, centralized reservation centers spend much of their day talking with customers on the telephone and using a computer to plan itineraries and to make reservations. The call center environment is often hectic and noisy. Ticket agents, who work at transportation sites may stand on their feet for long periods of time, and may have to lift heavy baggage.

Although most reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks work a standard 40-hour week, about 14 percent work part time. Some agents work evenings, late nights, weekends, and holidays. In general, employees with the most seniority tend to be assigned the more desirable shifts.

The work performed by reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks may be repetitive and stressful. They often work under stringent time constraints. Agents and clerks must work quickly and accurately to avoid mistakes and angering customers. Difficult or angry customers also can create stressful situations as agents usually bear the brunt of customers’ dissatisfaction. In addition, prolonged computer use, which is common in this occupation, may lead to eyestrain.

Related Occupations

• Flight Attendants
• Counter and Rental Clerks
• Travel Agents
• Customer Service Representatives
• Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks
• Dispatchers

Related Academic Programs

• Selling Skills and Sales Operations.
• Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations.
• Tourism Promotion Operations.