Travel Clerks
Overview
Travel clerks assist with the administrative side of trip planning by preparing tickets, confirming reservations, and processing travel documents. They often work in offices for airlines, hotels, or travel agencies, ensuring that customer bookings are accurate and complete. These clerks maintain records of itineraries, handle payment information, and help resolve scheduling issues. Attention to detail, organization, and computer proficiency are key skills, and most positions require a high school diploma along with on-the-job training in travel systems and customer service procedures.
Did you know?
Travel planning specialists must compete with online booking platforms and leverage technology tools to provide added value beyond what automated systems offer.
At a Glance
Median Wage
$40,559.18 Avg/yr
Growth
Stable
Top Skill
Management of Personnel Resources
Key Responsibilities
- Plan routes, itineraries, and accommodation details, and compute fares and fees, using schedules, rate books, and computers.
- Prepare customer invoices and accept payment.
- Open or close information facilities.
- Confer with customers to determine their service requirements and travel preferences.
- Contact customers or travel agents to advise them of travel conveyance changes or to confirm reservations.
- Make and confirm reservations for transportation and accommodations, using telephones, faxes, mail, and computers.
- Assemble and issue required documentation, such as tickets, travel insurance policies, or itineraries.
- Promote particular destinations, tour packages, and other travel services.
- Announce arrival and departure information, using public address systems.
- Contact motel, hotel, resort, and travel operators to obtain current advertising literature.
- Trace lost, delayed, or misdirected baggage for customers.
- Provide customers with travel suggestions and information sources, such as guides, directories, brochures, or maps.
- Maintain computerized inventories of available passenger space and provide information on space reserved or available.
- Check baggage and cargo and direct passengers to designated locations for loading.
- Examine passenger documentation to determine destinations and to assign boarding passes.
- Provide boarding or disembarking assistance to passengers needing special assistance.
- Determine whether space is available on travel dates requested by customers, assigning requested spaces when available.
- Answer inquiries regarding information, such as schedules, accommodations, procedures, or policies.
- Keep information facilities clean during operation.
- Inform clients of essential travel information, such as travel times, transportation connections, or medical and visa requirements.
- Provide clients with assistance in preparing required travel documents and forms.
Career Considerations
Technology Adaptation
Travel planning specialists must compete with online booking platforms and leverage technology tools to provide added value beyond what automated systems offer.
Professional Certification Requirements
Many employers and clients prefer specialists with industry certifications such as those from the Travel Institute or Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) to ensure credibility and expertise.
Economic Sensitivity
The travel industry is highly susceptible to economic downturns, natural disasters, and global events, requiring specialists to develop diverse income streams and adaptable business models.