Free Travel at a Great Cost - Working for the Not-so-Glamourous Airline Industry

If you've got a thick skin, a sharp mind and are a travel addict, working for the airline industry may be the career path for you. Otherwise, whip out the wallet and pay off your once-a-year family vacation for the next twelve months. The choice is not an easy one, but to some, it's worth it.

The Hours

Most airline employees set their alarms for the middle of the night to wake up for the beginning of their shift. Some fall into a bed at dark hundreds of miles from the comfort of their own, only to rise again and serve the general public with a smile after four hours of sleep.

Before complaining about getting up for an early flight, consider the hours of airline employees. Whether they are pilots, attendants or ramp agents on the tarmac, airline personnel must be at the airport before the first passenger. Similarly, the ground crew stays about an hour after your seat backs are in their upright positions for take-off.

The Work

(The following are generalizations and may not apply to all airlines.)

Pilots generally get paid while in flight. Of course airlines vary, but many pilots don't get paid unless they're off the ground. Seven hour delay? That's time unpaid. Same goes for the flight attendants; and both are paid hourly. Station agents, such as ramp workers, reservationists, and gate agents are also paid hourly, but they get paid for every hour at their stations, which is usually a pretty low wage.

Airline employees seldom celebrate high holidays with family, because the rest of the world is doing just that and the airports are jammed with angry and frustrated travelers. Ramp agents work in sub-zero temperatures, rain, snow, and blistering heat, but they forget all that when they're on Waikiki for the third time in two years.

Travel

Travel industry employees are flexible people. Unless they are paying for their ticket, they make no plans set in stone. Smart ones know off-peak travel times and take advantage of them, but they always fly standby. No matter how soon in advance the reservation is made, if a paying passenger needs that seat, the airline employee is bumped off and must wait for the next available seat - which may be days away. The up side is that they may walk over to the next ticket counter at almost any airline to see what's available there.

The Perks

With offbeat hours, irregular schedules, time away from home and low pay, most airline employees stay within the industry. Why? Because the ability to take an adventure trip (even if they seldom do) is at their fingertips. Their spouse also travels for free. Additionally, parents of employees, no matter how old, fly free, as do children up to the age of thirty or so. Another perk is the buddy pass for the friends and ineligible family members.

Because airlines are governed by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), the background check for employees is a rigorous one. Once the employee has earned an airline badge, they may be granted quick passage through shorter security lines. Keep in mind, they must still be screened the same way.

Another nice perk is receiving discounts on hotels, rental cars, package getaways and cruises. Also, any purchases made at an airport offer an employee discount, which may not be a ton of money at the time, but over time it adds up.

The travel industry is huge and there are many lucrative positions in corporate positions other than being a reservationist or a ramp agent. However, a certain excitement is always present at every airport hub, no matter how large or small. The airport is a place of high emotion, whether it's the excitement of an upcoming trip, the meeting of family members after a long separation or saying goodbye to a soldier.

That emotional connection may be what keeps airline personnel doing their jobs, or it may be the flexibility of destinations. But, one thing is certain. No matter how stressful or demanding the work becomes, it's worth every minute to the thick-skinned travel addict.