Travel Agents

What the job really is

Plan and sell transportation and accommodations for customers. Determine destination, modes of transportation, travel dates, costs, and accommodations required. May also describe, plan, and arrange itineraries and sell tour packages. May assist in resolving clients' travel problems.

At a glance

• Sector: Sales
• O*NET-SOC code: 41-3041
• O*NET job zone: 3 — medium preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 8
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Collect payment for transportation and accommodations from customer.
• Plan, describe, arrange, and sell itinerary tour packages and promotional travel incentives offered by various travel carriers.
• Converse with customer to determine destination, mode of transportation, travel dates, financial considerations, and accommodations required.
• Compute cost of travel and accommodations, using calculator, computer, carrier tariff books, and hotel rate books, or quote package tour's costs.
• Record and maintain information on clients, vendors, and travel packages.
• Book transportation and hotel reservations, using computer or telephone.
• Print or request transportation carrier tickets, using computer printer system or system link to travel carrier.
• Provide customer with brochures and publications containing travel information, such as local customs, points of interest, or foreign country regulations.

Tools and technology

Amadeus CRS, Intuit QuickBooks, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, SAP Concur, Sabre Central Command, Zoom, Apollo Reservation System

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks
• Travel Guides
• Counter and Rental Clerks
• Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel
• Customer Service Representatives
• Telemarketers
• Concierges
• Tour Guides and Escorts

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 3 (medium preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Travel Agents — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.