Career as an Airline Ticketing Agent

By Richha Bhatnagar

 

The Indian travel and tourism industry has made an exponential growth in the last five years. It is a promising sector in generating number of jobs every year. The travel and tourism industry is a mix of hospitality, civil aviation, and transportation.

As per a recent research, the tourist traffic to India has grown by 16%. With the unbelievable growth, the industry also requires skilled professionals in all areas of travel and tourism such as airline catering & laundry services, guides, interpreters, tourism promotion, sales, and so on.

Ticketing and reservations is an important component of the aviation industry. A ticketing agent is a person who works as a ground staff on airports. He/she are probably the first employee the passenger meets before boarding the flight and who interacts with the passenger. As they are the first visible employee at the airport, they should pay extra attention to dress up in a professional way.

The job profile of a ticketing agent is to sell tickets and provide relevant information to passengers for a trip which includes availability of seats and seating arrangement, tagging luggage and baggage check in, answers queries about flight schedules and fares, verifies reservations by phone, figures fares and handles payments.

They can also be stationed at boarding gates at the airport where they are responsible for processing and boarding passengers. This process includes handling of seats, or schedule conflicts, making boarding announcements, checking and collecting tickets at the boarding gate, and assisting handicapped passengers as they board or depart the aircraft.

To meet the job profile, students are being trained to work round the clock. A ticketing agent should have the ability to work in varied shifts and schedules including evenings, weekends, holidays and some overtime.

Ways to get in to ticketing department:

• Should have completed 10th
• Must possess excellent written and oral communication skills
• Should have a basic computer knowledge plus good typing speed
• Ability to perform basic mathematics
• Depending upon the airline requirements, the minimum age requirement varies from 18 to 20 years.

Where to pursue Airline ticketing program?

Across the country, there are various institutes that offer airline ticketing program for those who dream of a bright career in the aviation industry. You could choose from a degree, diploma, or a certificate program which ranges from 2 to 6 months to 1 year. Such ticketing programs equip students with the basic knowledge of booking and reserving tickets for scheduled flights through the modules. Know more aviation institutes

Skill sets required to become a ticketing agent:

• Must possesses excellent communication skills and a clear voice
• Pleasant personality
• Proficiency in using computers
• Patient and positive approach
• Courteous mannerism is a must have skill
• Enthusiastic
• Friendly approach
• Must be able to handle stressful situations

Career prospects and pay packet:

On the successful completion of the program, you can work with airlines, travel agencies, Cruise ships, Hotels and Motels, and Resorts. After gaining relevant experience in the industry, you could go up to the level of a tour manager.

A fresher can start with Rs 7000 to Rs 9000 per month. After gaining relevant experience in the field, one can earn up to Rs. 15000 to Rs. 18000 per month.

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