Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agent Travel Clerk
If you’ve ever put together a large trip on your own, you know how complex travel planning can be. This task can be a job all its own. Reservation and transportation ticket agents play a key role in many travelers’ planning processes. If you enjoy the thrill of setting itineraries, managing schedules, and organizing events, you may find that you’re an ideal fit for this type of role. You can help vacationers make the most of their trips by assisting them with critical travel arrangements for anything from the flight and hotel to shows and tours.
What is a Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agent?
Reservation and transportation ticket agents assist travelers with their vacation planning. These travel agents may help travelers with hotel reservations, excursion bookings, special events tickets, flight arrangements, and more. This is a very diverse job that can take many forms.
A reservation and transportation ticket agent might focus primarily on one aspect of travel planning, such as reserving tickets for various activities. In another employment setting, this same type of agent might handle multiple overnight accommodations, along an itinerary.
These agents may focus on one aspect of travel or assist travelers with many different types of planning. A reservation and transportation ticket agent that offers a full suite of travel planning services may survey each customer about their travel goals, then handle all the individual’s necessary arrangements including their transportation, hotel, dining reservations, and tickets for entertainment.
Job Responsibilities:
- Answer customers’ travel inquiries
- Gather information on the client’s travel needs and wants
- Assist clients in gathering proper documentation for travel
- Monitor availability for local attractions, hotel rooms, or flight seats
- Provide important travel information to clients
- Set and confirm travel reservations
- Assemble travel itineraries
- Sell travel products, such as insurance
- Suggest additional products, services, or activities for travelers
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What is the Job Outlook for Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t maintain information on the employment outlook for reservation and transportation ticket agents. However, it does gather statistics on travel agents. Employment for travel agents is expected to decline by about 12 percent between 2016 and 2026. This is due in large part to the abundance of travel planning resources that are available on the internet. As more customers can make online reservations, fewer will need live assistance from a reservations agent.
However, the job outlook is much better for sales representatives. If you’re engaged in selling related products, alongside travel reservations and tickets, you may find more career opportunities. You can also improve your job search by looking for positions in the right industries. Scheduled air transportation is the largest employer of reservation and transportation ticket agents, making up nearly 19 percent of the total industry.
There are particularly high employment levels for this occupation in areas that see a lot of travel and tourism. In these locations, you may find work on-site at popular travel destinations, assisting customers with tickets and other arrangements. The metropolitan areas with the highest employment levels for reservation and transportation ticket agents are New York, Los Angeles, Orlando, Chicago, and Fort Worth. Targeting locations like these may help you improve your employment prospects in this field.
Where Do Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents Work?
Reservation and transportation ticket agents can work in many different employment settings. Some work in call centers, assisting travelers by phone with arranging cruise tickets, airline tickets, or hotel reservations. Some of these professionals may work for travel agencies where they can assist customers with many types of planning, for a variety of destinations.
Transportation and reservation ticket agents may also work at the destination itself, selling tickets at an airline counter or making reservations at a hotel’s front desk. A few professionals in this field might work for themselves, providing travel agent services from home, and assisting clients with all aspects of their travel planning for a hassle-free trip.
What Education Do I Need to Become a Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agent?
Reservation and transportation ticket agents can typically find employment with as little as a high school diploma. However, as the number of job opportunities decreases, competition may become stiffer for these roles. You can fill out your resume and better prepare yourself for employment in this field with a hospitality assistant diploma from Bryant & Stratton College. The program includes courses in marketing principles, business principles, hospitality management, technology, and more.
Gaining a solid background in hospitality and customer service is the best way to improve your employment opportunities in this field. Any relevant work experience will serve you well, whether in a hotel, airport, tour agency, or other similar area.
What Can I Do with a Hospitality Assistant Diploma?
A hospitality assistant diploma can help prepare you for a variety of positions in the travel and tourism industry. Reservation and transportation ticket agents can go by many names. As you’re conducting your job search, keep an eye out for similar job titles that may yield outstanding opportunities for you. Look for positions such as:
- Airline ticket agent
- Tour sales representative
- Reservation agent
- Ticketing agent
- Station agent
- Travel agent
- Tour organizer
- Travel consultant
- Travel guide
- Visitor information specialist
- Booking agent
Readers should note that information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is not intended as a guarantee of employment opportunities or job offers. This statistical data is provided for a general outlook only.
For more information on the job opportunities available with an associate degree or diploma from Bryant and Stratton College, check out the career services section of our blog. There, you’ll find informative details to help you better plan for a successful career.