18 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.
You usually start by checking the airline’s reservation system (Amadeus Altea or Galileo) and Microsoft Outlook for messages about schedule changes or group bookings. Mornings often mean processing bookings, printing or delivering tickets, and updating ticket inventory or seat availability in the CRS (computer reservation system).
Afternoons and evenings focus on customer-facing work: answering travel questions, directing passengers to check‑in or gates, handling special‑needs requests, tracing lost baggage with GuestServe or the airline’s baggage system, and promoting upsell options like upgrades or tour packages.
Start with the CRS you’ll use on day one: Amadeus Altea or Galileo 360 fares if the job posting names one. These systems show real-time seat inventory, fares, and let you issue tickets and process bookings.
After that, learn Microsoft Excel and Outlook — Excel for managing simple availability lists or reporting, and Outlook for daily messages from partners. Knowing Word and PowerPoint helps for internal notices or sales presentations.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for 2025, there were 118,710 people employed in this category. The median annual wage was $44,390; the lowest tenth earned $32,140 and the top tenth earned $78,150.
Pay varies by airline, location, and whether you earn commissions or bonuses from upselling tours, upgrades, or ancillaries. BLS is the source for these national figures.
Look for entry roles labeled ‘ticket agent’, ‘sales agent’, or ‘customer service agent.’ Employers expect basic computer skills and customer service sense. Free online tutorials exist for Amadeus and Galileo; some community colleges offer short CRS courses.
On the job you’ll get system training (Amadeus Altea, Galileo) and learn baggage tracing tools like GuestServe, plus payment handling and invoice procedures. Emphasize any past sales or retail work on your resume.
An airline sales agent (in an office, kiosk, or call center) focuses on selling tickets, managing ticket inventory, processing bookings in the CRS, and promoting packages or upgrades. They often use Amadeus Altea or Galileo and handle payments and invoices.
A check‑in agent works at the airport counter or gate checking baggage and scanning boarding passes. A travel agent sells multiple airlines and tour products and may use global CRS too, but often focuses more on trip planning rather than airline ticket inventory and day‑of‑travel operations.
AI can help draft clear customer emails, create sales scripts, summarize policy changes, or generate simple reports from data you paste. Use it for wording and routine text, but always check facts against the airline’s CRS and official policies.
Never paste passenger PII (full names with passport numbers, payment card details, reservation codes combined with personal data) into public AI tools. Keep live system actions (issuing tickets, refunds) inside the airline’s approved systems like Amadeus, Galileo, or GuestServe.
Top agents know the CRS (Amadeus Altea or Galileo) and fare rules fast, so they can find the best price or seat in minutes. They upsell consistently—selling upgrades, extra bags, or tours—without sounding pushy.
They also handle baggage tracing and special‑needs requests calmly, keep Microsoft Excel lists or Outlook follow‑ups organized, and stay current on local events and partner transport options to make better recommendations.