A gate agent is a person hired by airports and airlines to perform a variety of tasks, including customer service, ticket sales, and baggage management. After gaining previous customer service experience and passing a pre-employment background check, you can typically become a gate agent. The airline that hires gate agents usually provides on-the-job training. A high school diploma is usually required to work as a gate agent.
Gate agents are the people who work behind the counter at the airline departure gate. They’re in charge of making seat assignments and processing last-minute ticket purchases. When a flight begins seating, a gate agent announces the row and ticket type.
The gate agent checks boarding passes and allows passengers to board the plane after the boarding announcement is made. Gate agents are also in charge of the standby list for a flight. They keep track of available seats and work with passengers to find a seat on the departing plane.
Because customer service is such an important part of the gate agent job, airlines prefer to hire employees who have previously spent a significant amount of time directly interacting with customers and providing excellent service. Working in a retail store, serving customers as a waiter, or answering customer questions at a call center are all examples of places where you can gain customer service experience. After you’ve gained enough experience, you can start applying to airlines to work as a gate agent.
Jobs as a gate agent can often be found by visiting the careers section of an airline’s website. When a position becomes available, the airline may choose to post it on their website by location, along with a list of requirements. Classified sites and online job boards are other places where airlines may post gate agent job openings. To work as a gate agent, fill out all application materials thoroughly and tailor your resume to emphasize your customer service experience.
A background check may be required to become a gate agent because these professionals work with sensitive customer data and financial information. These individuals frequently assist passengers in checking luggage that cannot be carried on, so you may need to be able to lift and move items of a certain weight on a regular basis. The airline may train you in all applicable company policies and regional regulations once you’ve been hired.