Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Reservation Agent
What reservation agents actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a reservation agent?
Open the ticket counter. From there, the day usually includes book reservations, sell tickets, and check in passengers. Shifts include early mornings, nights, weekends and holidays.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a reservation agent working full time.
- Open the ticket counter.
- Check in early flights.
- Rebook a missed connection.
- Board a flight at the gate.
- Handle a bag issue.
- Answer phones.
- End shift.
Where reservation agents work
Agents work at airports, stations, call centers and from home.
Hours and schedule
Shifts include early mornings, nights, weekends and holidays.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Book reservations
- Sell tickets
- Check in passengers
- Handle bags
- Rebook travelers
- Answer questions
- Process payments
Tools you’ll use every day
- Sabre or Amadeus
- Check-in kiosks
- Bag tag printers
- Headsets
- Payment systems
- Radios
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Travel perks at airlines
- Short training
- Customer contact
- Remote options in call centers
What’s hard
- Upset travelers
- Irregular shifts
- Standing
- Modest pay
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I like helping travelers
- I stay calm with upset people
- I can work odd hours
- I like fast-paced work
- I want travel perks
- I want short training
Not sure? Take the free Reservation Agent fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Follow security rules
- Report suspicious items
- Lift bags safely
- Protect customer data