How to Become a Airline Ticketing Agent

About Airline Ticketing Agent

An Airline Ticketing Agent is an individual who is responsible for booking flight tickets and handle reservations for customers. Airline Ticketing Agents directly interact with customers, answer customer questions about flight timings, seat availability, fares, reservations etc. They also handle key operations such as data collection, data entry, payment collection and verification etc. for airlines. Airline Ticketing Agents work as ground staff on airports and should be open for working long hours in shifts while standing on their feet.

Airline Ticketing Agents are the face of the airline industry and the first point of contact for any customer while boarding a flight. They can also be stationed at boarding gates and take care of the boarding and de-boarding of passengers in an aircraft. The job profile of an Airline Ticketing Agent includes problem-solving on a daily basis and mitigating first-hand any issues a customer may face related to their tickets and reservation. Thus, having good people skills goes a long way on the job of an Airline Ticketing Agent.

It is very important for an Airline Ticketing Agent to be courteous and attentive to a customer. They are also required to be professionally-dressed and they must have good communication skills. Airline Ticketing Agents are also required to have basic computer skills and have the necessary mathematical ability to collect and verify payments. They are also required to follow strict protocols set by the Airline as well as by the flight regulations followed by the country where they are working. Therefore, an Airline Ticketing Agent should also have good knowledge of the rules and regulations followed inside an Airport.

Roles and Responsibility of Airline Ticketing Agent

 Even though it appears that the job of a ticketing agent is very simple, they actually have to go through lots of responsibilities that they have to ensure in order to maintain the happiness of the clients. Some of the common responsibilities of Airline Ticketing Agent include:

• Ticketing agents have to process electronic ticketing requests made by the customers or agents. They have to sincerely check mails and listen to the customer requests over the phone
• Airline Ticketing agents also have to explain airport rules and guidelines to passengers prior to boarding flights
• They also have to look after processing of airline ticket refunds and also has to manage for lost or damaged tickets or any kind of reservation errors
• They must explain applicable fees and taxes for each ticket to the passengers to rule out any problems that may occur in future. 
• One of the most important responsibilities is to process boarding passes and checking identification of passengers before allowing them to enter the airport terminal and carry out the process of check-in.
• They must check the identity of every passenger and must cross check to the best of knowledge for authenticity. 
• They are also responsible for scheduling flights based on customer needs and available flights. They also book air tickets by checking weather conditions and making necessary changes as per the situations. 
• They should maintain their soft skills with the customers and must answer questions about tickets, pricing, or flight schedules
• As Airline ticketing agent, they also collect payment from customers for airline tickets in any form such as cash, credit card transactions, debit card transactions or UPI. 
• They also keep record of their customer information into a computer system to issue tickets, update records and for any future requirements. 

Eligibility to become Airline Ticketing Agent

Airline Ticketing Agen is an entry-level job that is usually available for candidates after completing High School (or Class 10th). Candidates can apply with the High School certificates for the jo. Diploma courses are also available catering to a student who wishes to take up a career as an Airline Ticketing Agent. Some of the requirements posed by airlines for Airline Ticket Agent jobs include:

• Candidate must have completed Class 10th

• Candidate must have completed at least 18 years of age (varies by the recruiting company)

• Candidates are required to demonstrate a basic knowledge of computers and good typing skills

• Apart from these, good communication skills and basic mathematical skills are required for the job.

Candidates interested in joining an airline as an Airline Ticketing Agent can also pursue the following courses.

• Diploma in Airline Ticketing

• Diploma in Travel and Tourism Management

• Diploma in International Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Management etc.

Candidates must note that these courses are usually available at the 10 +2 / Class 12th level.

How to Become an Airline Ticketing Agent?

Airline ticketing agent is one of the most flourishing career options in the current scenario with the growth of the airline industry. Also, the traveling history because of job and journey has witnessed a spiking hike in the last one decade. The candidates who wish to explore their career as Airline Ticketing agent must have good marketing and communication skills. The students can check the level-wise preparations that a candidate must go through before becoming an Airline Ticketing agent. As mentioned below for their reference. 

School Level Preparation

Listed below are the school level criteria to become an Airline Ticketing Agent.

• The candidates must have passed class 10+2 or equivalent examination from a recognized board (ICSE/CBSE/State Board) preferably from Computer Science background and Commerce Stream.
• The students must obtain a minimum of 50% marks from a recognized board to take admission in accounting and finance streams that will help them in doing Airline Ticketing Agent jobs. 

How to Become an Airline Ticketing Agent after 12th?

There are no fixed criteria to be part of an Airline Ticketing Agent. The candidates should complete their high school education to understand the nuances of Airline Ticketing. The candidates can do relevant undergraduate and postgraduate courses that will help in lifting their career as Airline Ticketing Agent. They can also do diploma courses and be an expert as an Airline Ticketing Agent with passage of time. Some of the common steps that the candidates can follow to upgrade their educational qualification to be part of Airline Ticketing Agent are mentioned below for your reference.

UG Preparation

Listed below are the UG level criteria to become an Airline Ticketing Agent.

• Candidates who are willing to explore their career as Airline Ticketing Agent must choose their course wisely. They should graduate from courses such as a Bachelor in Business Administration in Travel Management, B.Com in Accountancy, etc. 
• The candidates can also appear for different entrance-based examinations for Bachelor's Degrees such as CET, CAT, MAH CET, etc.
• Candidates must score a minimum of 50% marks in their class XII. 
• The candidates who will be serious will also get to work in leading private and government organizations that deal with Airline Ticketing. 

PG Preparation

Listed below are the PG level criteria to become an Airline Ticketing Agent.

• The candidates who earn a postgraduate degree or postgraduate diploma can also apply for tenure track teaching positions at colleges and universities. They can also apply for respectful and senior positions with the Airport Authority of India.
• The eligibility criteria for PGDM are 50% minimum aggregate in any stream such as BBA/BCom/BSc from a recognized college by University Grants Commission (UGC)
• Candidates who wish to explore their career in teaching and are inclined academically must prepare for the National Eligibility Test for higher education and research.

Types of Job Roles Airline Ticketing Agent

The job profile of an Airline Ticketing Agent is quite simple but it requires professionals to undertake and deliver on a variety of tasks. An Airline Ticketing Agent is a customer service representative at the ticketing booth of an airport or at a city office of an airline or travel agency.

Hence, it is vital for any Airline Ticketing Agent to have good conversation skills as well as good knowledge of the travel and tourism industry. Ticketing Agents must also have good sales and marketing skills and may have to assume these responsibilities as well especially in private airlines and travel agencies.

In airports, an Airline Ticketing Agent is included in the Ground Staff and may be entrusted with duties related to ensuring orderly boarding of a customer as well as handling customer queries and disputes. They may also be put in charge of handling the luggage and baggage check-ins of customers.

Skills Required for Becoming a Airline Ticketing Agent

To become an Airline Ticketing Agent, one must have interest in this field. Though there are many skills that are required to become an airline ticketing agent, it would be better if the candidates meet the following mentioned skills:

Employment Sector/Industry for Airline Ticketing Agent

Airline Ticketing Agent is a job requirement at all Airlines and Airports across the world. Candidates who have had experience as a Ticketing Agent or have completed such programmes can also find jobs in the Operations department of Travel Agencies and Tour & Travel Management firms. The job profile of an Airline Ticketing Agent is related to the Hospitality sector and experienced professionals can also find jobs in Hospitality establishments such as Hotels, Tourist Resorts etc.

To rise higher in the field, candidates can go for bachelors courses in the field of Travel and Tourism and be hired for the roles of Travel Agent. Some of the top recruiters of Airline Ticketing Agents include:

• Airline Operators

• Airports

• Airport Management

• Travel & Tourism Companies

• Travel Consultancies

• Tour Management Companies etc.

Top Recruiting Companies of Airline Ticketing Agents

The top recruiting companies of Airline Ticketing Agents include:

• Indira Gandhi International Airport

• Emirates

• Indigo Airlines

• Air India

• Airport Authority of India etc.

Pay Scale/Salary of Airline Ticketing Agent

Airline Ticketing Agents usually start at executive-level posts and they may be promoted to higher positions per the job roles defined by their recruiter. The salary details of an Airline Ticketing Agent are as follows:

• Fresher candidates for Airline Ticketing Agents can earn from Rs. 2 - Rs. 2.5 LPA.

• The average salary of an Airline Ticketing Agent is around Rs. 18,000 per month.

• With experience in the field, the salary of Airline Ticketing Agents usually maxes out at around Rs. 4 - Rs. 5 LPA.

Advance Scope of Airline Ticketing Agent

The candidates who are working as airline ticketing agents can also advance their career opportunities and become customer service managers. They will have to oversee a team of ticketing agents and handle different types of customer complaints. They can also think of becoming reservation agents who are responsible for booking airline tickets as and when needed for passengers including emergency bookings. If they have earned experience as ticketing agents, they may also become travel agents who can plan an entire trip for their passengers and can also work with leading travel organizers. 

Books & Study Material to Become Airline Ticketing Agent

Given below are some of the best books to help you prepare for a career in the Airline Ticketing sector.

Pros of becoming a Airline Ticketing Agent

• It is an entry-level job and does not require candidates to pursue any expensive undergraduate course. Candidates with a basic education can also pursue this career.

• Provides a good experience of customer-handline and airport management. Experience can be used by candidates to go for higher education and better career opportunities.

Cons of becoming a Airline Ticketing Agent

• Hectic and shift-based job, which does not have a well-defined job description.

• Low pay scale means that professionals must keep looking for better career opportunities.