Reservation and Ticket Agent/Travel Clerk  What They Do

Just the Facts


Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks Career Video



Makes and confirms reservations for transportation or lodging, or sells transportation tickets. May check baggage and direct passengers to designated concourse, pier, or track; deliver tickets, contact individuals and groups to inform them of package tours; or provide tourists with travel or transportation information.

This career is part of the Hospitality and Tourism cluster Travel and Tourism pathway.


A person in this career:

  • Examines passenger documentation to determine destinations and to assign boarding passes.
  • Traces lost, delayed, or misdirected baggage for customers.
  • Checks baggage and cargo and directs passengers to designated locations for loading.
  • Provides boarding or disembarking assistance to passengers needing special assistance.
  • Confers with customers to determine their service requirements and travel preferences.
  • Announces arrival and departure information, using public address systems.
  • Determines whether space is available on travel dates requested by customers, assigning requested spaces when available.
  • Assembles and issues required documentation, such as tickets, travel insurance policies, and itineraries.
  • Maintains computerized inventories of available passenger space and provides information on space reserved or available.
  • Informs clients of essential travel information, such as travel times, transportation connections, and medical and visa requirements.

Insider Info

Dig into the details and check out what people in this job have to say about their work.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

  • You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
  • Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
  • Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
  • Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
  • Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
  • Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
  • Work in this occupation involves sitting more than one-third of the time
  • Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

  • Seeing clearly up close
  • Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
  • Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

  • Rotating shift work
  • Weekend work

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • Airline Ticket Agent --
  • Airport Sales Agent --
  • Customer Service Agent --
  • Reservation Agent --
  • Reservationist --
  • Reservations Agent --
  • Reservations and Ticketing Agent --
  • Station Agent -- Duties include promoting and selling air travel, loading and unloading of cargo on and off aircraft, transporting cargo between terminals and aircraft, physical handling of freight and company material, cleaning and servicing cabin interiors.
  • Ticket Agent -- Sells tickets for transportation agencies, such as airlines, bus companies (other than city buses), railroads (other than street railways), and steamship lines.
  • Tour Sales Representative --