Ticket Agents are employed by transportation agencies such as airlines, bus companies, railroads, and ship lines. They plan routes, compute ticket costs, and provide customer services prior to departure or after arrival of passenger or freight carriers.  

NATURE OF THE OCCUPATION

Ticket Agents may:

Answer questions about schedules and fares  

Plan routes  

Compute ticket and shipping costs  

Collect the amount due  

Make passenger reservations  

Confirm reservations or arrival of shipments  

Check and weigh baggage  

Announce arrivals and departures  

The tools and equipment used may include:

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES

Ticket Agents may specialize in these areas:

238.367-026 TICKET AGENTS are employed by transportation companies. They perform services for the public such as providing scheduling information, selling tickets, and confirming that space is available on planes, buses, trains, or steamships.  

238.367-018 RESERVATIONS AGENTS make and confirm reservations for passengers on scheduled airline flights and inform passengers of any necessary changes in flight plans. They determine the most efficient routes based on flight schedules and available space.  

912.367-014 TRANSPORTATION AGENTS expedite (speed up) the movement of mail, freight, and baggage through airline terminal facilities. They also assist in the movement of passengers by quickly verifying their tickets as they board the plane.  

238.367-010 GATE AGENTS provide assistance to and check the flight tickets of arriving and departing passengers on commercial airline flights. They work at entrance gates or stations in airport terminals.  

248.382-010 TICKETING CLERKS compile and record information to prepare airline tickets for delivery or mailing to passengers. They compile information on flight times and compute fares, using flight schedules, tariff manuals, and rate tables, and record the information on ticket blanks, invoices, and/or customer account cards.  

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may find it helpful to explore the following MOIScripts:  

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Ticket Agents work under the supervision of a senior agent or the chief agent. Those who work in large offices may supervise clerks and telephoners. Agents perform their work indoors. Transportation Agents, however, are required to do some traveling outdoors to make sales calls.  

Excessive noise may be present sometimes during announcements: incoming and outgoing airplanes; buses; trains; heavy passenger traffic, and loading machine operations.  

Agents usually work 40 hours per week. Since many transportation companies operate 24 hours per day, some shift, weekend, or holiday work may be required.  

Many Agents belong to unions. The four which cover most of the organized Agents are The International Airline Employees Association; Transport Workers Union; and The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America. Agents who are union members must pay dues.  

You Should Prefer:

• Activities involving business contact with people  

• Activities of a routine, definite, and organized nature  

• Activities concerned with communication of ideas/information to  

others  

You Should Be Able To:

• Deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions  

• Repeat activities/tasks according to a required procedure or sequence  

• Rate information using standards that can be measured or checked  

• Perform mathematical computations accurately to determine charges  

• See details and recognize errors in numbers/spelling/punctuation  

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

An individual is buying a $200.00 plane ticket with a 20% off coupon. What is the price of the ticket?  

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

Should be able to read and comprehend traveling terms and procedures such as airline codes, automated reservation system, batch mode, conventional travel, red book, and teleticketing.  

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

Prepare a reservation guarantee for a customer.  

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

Should be able to demonstrate analytical, organizational, and detail oriented skills in organizing schedules, reservations, and issuing travel tickets to customers.  

Most employers prefer to hire applicants with some experience involving contact with the public.  

EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES

NOTE: On-The-Job Training provided by the employer or a High School Diploma or Equivalent or a High School Diploma with specific Vocational Education Classes or a Certificate (program of up to one year of study beyond high school) or an Associate Degree (two years of study beyond high school) may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in the MOIScript:  

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0600 BUSINESS , 0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1000 COMPUTERS , 2200 MATH , 2800 PUBLIC SPEAKING

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

054 AIR TRANSPORTATION

Approved vocational education programs in Air Transportation prepare students in activities concerned with in-flight operation of commercial and private airplanes. Instruction may include piloting, navigation, providing passenger services, and/or general ground support.  

Courses in other trade and industrial programs may be required for completion of this program.  

High school students should consult their guidance office for more information about the specific requirements of this program at their school or area vocational education center.  

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

155 SALES TRAINING

Programs in Sales Training provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills useful for employment selling insurance, real estate, or other products and services in a variety of different business settings. Individuals who teach retailing at the secondary school level must have a Michigan Teaching Certificate.  

Courses within this program will vary from school to school but may include:

171 TRAVEL & TOURISM

Programs in Travel and Tourism provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills necessary for employment planning itineraries and arranging accommodations and other services for customers of travel agencies, airlines, shiplines, and other carriers.  

Courses vary from school to school but may include:

                Search for a College and/or Instructional Program

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Apprenticeships related to this MOIScript  

***MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAMS***

Please check the Military web site at http://www.myfuture.com

TRANSPORTATION SPECIALISTS

The military constantly moves passengers and cargo. Personnel often travel to meetings, training sessions, and new assignments. Supplies and equipment to support troops must be shipped regularly. Transportation specialists plan air, sea and land transportation for people and cargo. Some assist passenger travel as gate agents and flight attendants.  

What They Do

Transportation specialists in the military perform some or all of the following duties:  

• Arrange for passenger travel via plane, bus, train, or boat  

• Arrange for shipment and delivery of household goods  

• Fine the least expensive and most direct shipping routes for cargo  

• Prepare transportation requests and shipping documents  

• Check in passengers and baggage before boarding military transport flights  

• Serve as military airplane flight attendants  

• Inspect cargo for proper packing, loading, and marking  

Training Provided

Job training consists of 6 to 9 weeks of classroom instruction, including practice in making transportation arrangements. Course content typically includes:  

• Planning transportation for personnel and cargo  

• Proper cargo handling, shipping, and storing methods  

• Analysis of transportation documents  

Further training occurs on the job and through advanced courses.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful school subjects include mathematics, English, and typing. Helpful attributes include:  

• Interest in arranging travel schedules  

• Interest in using adding machines, computers, and typewriters  

• Interest in serving people  

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian transportation specialists work for airlines, shipping firms, and commercial freight lines. They perform duties similar to military transportation specialists. Civilian transportation specialists may also be called travel clerks, reservation clerks, or transportation agents.  

Work Environment

Transportation specialists usually work in offices. They may work outdoors when escorting passengers or processing shipments. Flight attendants work on land and in airplanes.  

Opportunities

The military has about 13,800 transportation specialists. On average, the services need about 1,600 new specialists each year. After job training, they make travel and shipping arrangements under direct supervision. Some may specialize as flight attendants and gate agents. With experience, they may become supervisors of other transportation specialists. In time, they may manage transportation offices.    

E-Learning Courses and Programs

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY

Experience may be gained through part-time work with transportation companies and travel agencies or in military service. Secondary vocational education programs in air transportation as well as postsecondary programs in travel and tourism and sales training may offer co-op portions through which experience may be gained.  

School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships  

mentorships  

job shadowing experiences  

touring a local Ticket Agent employer  

internships  

volunteer work with a Ticket Agent employer  

community service work with an agency  

The most common way to enter this occupation is through direct application to employers. Assistance in finding a job may be available from local unions, school or college placement offices, or local offices of Michigan Works!. Openings are often listed in newspaper want ads. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:    

Michigan Talent Bank

America's Job Bank  

Classifieds Employment  

Yahoo! Careers

MONSTER.COM  

Michigan Works!

You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.  

EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT

Nationally, in 1998, Transportation, Ticket, and Reservation Agents had a median annual income of $24,076. Most earned between $10,712 and $38,999 per year. Ticket Agents employed in the railroad industry averaged $43,724 annually in 1998. Travel clerks working for a national automobile club in 1998 earned an annual base salary of $19,470 with additional earnings averaging 65% of base derived from commissions on sales.

Earnings of Ticket Agents in Michigan are similar to national earnings.

Ticket Agents receive paid vacations and holidays, life and health insurance, retirement plans, and sick pay. Other benefits may include travel privileges at free or reduced rates for Agents and members of their families and discounts on hotel charges. Some may also get stock purchase/savings plans.

With experience, education, and training, a Ticket Agent might advance to supervisory or managerial positions.

EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK

Nationally, about 166,100 Ticket Agents were employed in 1996. Employment of Ticket Agents is expected to decline through the year 2006. Airline deregulation and the resulting lower fares have caused a considerable increase in the number of airline passengers. However, employment in these occupations is being affected by technology. Automated reservations and electronic ticketing as well as "ticketless" travel reduces the need for some of these positions. Openings will arise as experienced Agents transfer to other jobs, retire, or die. Applicants will find considerable competition for openings because the travel benefits associated with the job attract many people. The industry distribution for Ticket Agents looked like this:  

There are about 2,200 Ticket Agents employed in Michigan. They worked for travel agencies, airlines, and other transportation firms.  

Employment of Ticket Agents in Michigan is expected to decline through the year 2005. An average of 50 openings is expected annually, with all due to replacement of Agents who retire, die, or leave the labor force for other reasons. Additional openings will occur as Ticket Agents change jobs or occupations. Employment of Ticket Agents is sensitive to cyclical swings in the economy. Some Agents may experience layoffs or demotions during recessions, when demand for passenger travel declines and few new Agents are hired.  

MICHIGAN'S EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2005

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Printed Occupational information is available upon written request from the sources below.  

MOISCRIPTS are Copyright 2003, Michigan Department of Career Development