How to become an Airline Passenger Officer

Airline Passenger Officer

Airline passenger officers work at the airport providing customer-related services such as check-in and boarding procedures, providing information and directions, locating lost luggage and assisting passengers who require special attention.

Personal requirements for an Airline Passenger Officer

  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Alertness and common sense
  • Enjoy working with people
  • Neat personal appearance
  • Pleasant personality
  • Comfortable using computers
  • Able to deal with difficult situations
  • Able to work under pressure in peak periods

Education & Training for an Airline Passenger Officer

You can work as an airline passenger officer without formal qualifications. Employers generally require you to gain your Senior Secondary Certificate of Education with good results in English and mathematics, and/or have relevant clerical and customer service experience. The selection process involves aptitude testing and an assessment of educational qualifications and previous workplace experience. Following selection and appointment, airline passenger officers undergo initial in-house training, which covers service standards and protocols, computer reservations, check-in systems and security training. You can also become an airline passenger officer through a traineeship. Entry requirements may vary, but employers generally require Year 10.


Additional information

Experience in a service industry, such as hospitality or retail, may be highly regarded. All persons working in the airline industry must satisfy security clearance requirements.

Duties & Tasks of an Airline Passenger Officer

Airline passenger officers:

  • Issue and check tickets and travel documents, check in passengers for their flight and allocate seats on the aircraft
  • Check baggage size and weight
  • Direct passengers to immigration and/or departure gates, and provide information about customs and immigration procedures
  • Assist with passenger enquiries and complaints
  • Attend to travelling airline staff and crew
  • Provide information about flight arrival and departure times and use the public address (PA) system to make announcements to arriving and departing passengers
  • Direct passengers to luggage areas and assist passengers with lost luggage
  • Help passengers requiring special assistance, such as VIPs, disabled and elderly passengers, parents with infants and unaccompanied minors
  • Ensure security measures are adhered to at all times.

Tasks

  • Receives customers' requests, accepts payments, collects money, and issues tickets, receipts and change.
  • Contacts customers to cancel or confirm reservations.
  • Answers inquiries about charges, routes, schedules, reservations, coming attractions and fares.

Working conditions for an Airline Passenger Officer

Airline passenger officers are required to work shifts, which may include weekends, public holidays and nights.


Employment Opportunities for an Airline Passenger Officer

Most airline passenger officers are employed by the major airlines operating in Australia such as Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia. Many are employed on a permanent part-time basis. Competition for positions is strong. With experience, and sometimes further training, airline passenger officers may progress to supervisory or managerial positions.


Specializations

Airline Passenger Officer

Airline passenger officers work at the airport providing customer-related services such as check-in and boarding procedures, providing information and directions, locating lost luggage and assisting passengers who require special attention.

  • Average age
    Average age
    36
  • Future Growth
    Future Growth
    N/A
  • Gender Share
    Gender Share
    67% female
  • Average full-time
    Average full-time
    41 hours
  • Weekly Pay
    Weekly Pay
    N/A
  • Skill level rating
    Skill level rating
    Entry level
  • Unemployment
    Unemployment
    Lower unemployment
  • Full-Time Share
    Full-Time Share
    40%
  • Employment Size
    Employment Size
    12,100
  • Employment Size
    Employment by state
    ACT: 1.6%
    NSW: 34.8%
    NT: 1.1%
    QLD: 21.6%
    SA: 4.5%
    TAS: 1.9%
    VIC: 25.2%
    WA: 9.3%
  • Employment Size
    Age brackets
    15-19: 16.2%
    20-24: 15.7%
    25-34: 21.4%
    35-44: 16.8%
    45-54: 16.5%
    55-59: 6.8%
    60-64: 4.1%
    65 and Over: 2.5%
  • Employment Size
    Education level
    Advanced Diploma/Diploma: 13.7%
    Bachelor degree: 15%
    Certificate III/IV: 13.1%
    Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate: 3.5%
    Year 10 and below: 13%
    Year 11: 7.4%
    Year 12: 34.4%
Is the information on this page correct? Request update

Become a member

Already a member? LoginForgot password?

Join the conversation