Expert: D. Norkus - 4/22/2006

Question
Hi Dottie,
My name is Kim and I am 28 I want to join Air line but I don't know where I can start?
I want some degree or certification from airline school but what certification will good for me? Give me some suggestions and tell me some jobs.
In addition I want job on airport not in airplane.
Please help me
I'll appreciate that
Thanks
Kim


Answer
Kim

From the English and grammar of your post, I am not sure if you are in the United States or not. If you are an American, I can provide some insight into airline careers.

You do not need any "certification" or aviation degree to work for an airline. Every airline trains you after being hired. There are many schools that advertise a 'training' program or 'travel school' to get an airline job but they are not necessry to get hired.

The main jobs at the airport are:
Ticket agent, gate agent, customer service agent. (At many airlines, they are all one and the same.) These people deal with the passengers when they check in at either the ticket counter or gate.

Ramp agent: these people work outside loading and unloading cargo and service the aircraft.

Skycap: these people check in bags for customers at the curbside

Other may include load planners, manifesters, operations agents or freight agents depending on the airine.

Since I have no idea what you are interested in, go to this page about ticket agent careers for more info- http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos135.htm

This page generally described air transportation careers- http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs016.htm

Additionally, the Southwest Airlines careers page have some great descriptions of airline ground based careers. Go to http://www.southwest.com/careers

Hope this gives you a start to figure out what kinds of jobs are available and what interests you.

Once you have an idea of what you might like, go to the website of an airline you are interested in and see if they are hiring. (Not all may be recruiting.)  Every airline has recruiting and hiring info on their websites. In addition to the major carriers, you should also check into the smaller regional airlines as well. (United Express, Northwest Airlink, Delta Connection ect are not the same as the maors they fly for and are separate airlines.) Often times they will be hiring even when their affiliated majors are not. Airlines such as:

Mesa Airlines
Skywest Airlines
American Eagle Airlines
Horizon Airlines
Trans States Airlines
Chautauqua Airlines
Mesaba Airlines
Pinnacle Airlines
Express Jet Airlines

Good Luck

Dottie