Originally Posted by
graraps
I've found agents at STA and (even more so) Trailfinders to be up to speed and understand complex requests much better...Budget or not, some of the tickets they sell are quite complicated ...I'd probably enjoy some part-time work at an agency or a proper corporate position with an airline, but anything in between doesn't sound too attractive to me.
That's pretty much my thoughts too. I've always had great service from STA and they seem really clued up. I'm hoping the complicated ticket requests you mentioned will help me get a real understanding of how the basic airline industry works. And yeah, it was either agency or corporate with an airline or nothing at all for me. I got to second interview with Air New Zealand for a corporate affairs position, but then lost out due to my complete lack of experience / business qualification. Don't know how I got past the first interview to start with, but it was a motivating sign!
Like I said, the whole travel agent thing is temporary for a few years for 'industry experience' until I go back to uni, study business and then score a job with EK and move to Dubai.
I give myself two years max as an agent plus one to two years in possibly marketing/public relations with the company, then back to uni.
Yikes, I real am planning this whole career thing...