Volunteer/Summer Internship as a Gate Agent/CSR in the US?
Mar 10, 2014, 4:51 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 309
Volunteer/Summer Internship as a Gate Agent/CSR in the US?
Hi All,
This will be a weird topic but please bear with me:
One of my children is graduating high school this year, and LOVES airplanes/airlines, etc, just like me!
He wants to work for an airline this summer in an airport setting, just for fun, here at IAH.
Do you think it would be possible for him to be a gate agent or a check in agent for 3-4 months during the summer either as a job or EVEN AS A VOLUNTEER?
Who would I contact?
He really just wants to have the experience and just for fun. - He is 18, so age shouldn't be a problem
Thanks!
This will be a weird topic but please bear with me:
One of my children is graduating high school this year, and LOVES airplanes/airlines, etc, just like me!
He wants to work for an airline this summer in an airport setting, just for fun, here at IAH.
Do you think it would be possible for him to be a gate agent or a check in agent for 3-4 months during the summer either as a job or EVEN AS A VOLUNTEER?
Who would I contact?
He really just wants to have the experience and just for fun. - He is 18, so age shouldn't be a problem
Thanks!
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Mar 10, 2014 at 6:53 pm Reason: http://www.flyertalk.com/help/rules.php#q62 AND http://www.flyertalk.com/help/rules.php#q65
Mar 10, 2014, 5:25 pm
#2
Moderator: United Airlines
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Don't know if the union would allow this for those roles, there was a great thread a few years back http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...er-intern.html
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 10, 2014 at 5:55 pm Reason: link
Mar 10, 2014, 5:35 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: What I write is my opinion alone..don't read into it anything not written.
Posts: 9,687
"The ramp" (i.e. baggage handlers) often hire seasonal work. They'd be stuck in the pit of an aircraft, a less than pleasant summer job, regardless of how much one thinks he will like it. I was a summer time temp back in the 80's. I'd never do that again!
CS, not so much...on heavy volume periods, they just speed up the clock speed on ez-chickin. (one doesn't learn the reservation system overnight, temp help is not training cost-efficient.)
Summer is where CS earns the money to buy bread for October-December. Without summer OT, I'd not be getting my car breaks fixed this year!
CS, not so much...on heavy volume periods, they just speed up the clock speed on ez-chickin. (one doesn't learn the reservation system overnight, temp help is not training cost-efficient.)
Summer is where CS earns the money to buy bread for October-December. Without summer OT, I'd not be getting my car breaks fixed this year!
Mar 10, 2014, 5:51 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: What I write is my opinion alone..don't read into it anything not written.
Posts: 9,687
They used to hire relatives short term summer to run UMs between the gates, but now, that too was outsourced to a low cost vender.
Mar 10, 2014, 6:05 pm
#6
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Mar 10, 2014, 6:07 pm
#7
Join Date: Feb 2014
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And that is before getting in to union rules.
Mar 10, 2014, 6:25 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2013
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Not sure if this suits his needs, but the FAA has a student volunteer program. Might be worth looking into.
http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/...nteer_service/
http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/...nteer_service/
Mar 10, 2014, 6:45 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,185
Every airline hires seasonal help for the summer. He would get paid, trained, flight benefits, etc. Not only would he be around the airport but he would have an income he could save for beer money for college ( 
) Check every airline career site and see which ones are still accepting applications for summer help. Might be too late for a lot of them but you never know.
Also, being in Texas, Southwest hires an incredible amount of interns every summer. It would be in DAL, and not IAH, but just another thought to throw out there.
) Check every airline career site and see which ones are still accepting applications for summer help. Might be too late for a lot of them but you never know. Also, being in Texas, Southwest hires an incredible amount of interns every summer. It would be in DAL, and not IAH, but just another thought to throw out there.
Mar 10, 2014, 6:55 pm
#10
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Moving this to the TravelBuzz! Forum (with a more descriptive thread title).
FlyinHawaiian, Co-Moderator
United MileagePlus Forum
FlyinHawaiian, Co-Moderator
United MileagePlus Forum
Mar 10, 2014, 7:15 pm
#11
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,421
Unpaid internships are dying out in all industries. I believe DoL rules prevent companies from having unpaid interns unless the job purpose was primarily training rather than work. And it is hard to justify a summer of CS work as training.
And that is before getting in to union rules.
And that is before getting in to union rules.
Mar 10, 2014, 10:05 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2009
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It looks like the Red Cross/Travelers Aid has a station at IAH. I presume both would offer volunteer positions based on their setup at other airports.
The number is 713-526-8300.
The number is 713-526-8300.
Mar 10, 2014, 10:24 pm
#13
Moderator: Manufactured Spending
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,585
Another option would be a city ambassador (or whatever it may be called locally). These people just sit at the desk or roam around and help people with booking hotels, figuring out public transportation, etc. They are usually volunteers.
Mar 10, 2014, 10:57 pm
#14
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Also check with whatever local government entity owns or controls the airport authority. They might have some internship options even if it's not quite so front line passenger-wise. But you would get to see the back of the house when a tornado warning and such causes a four hour ground stop and the logistics of getting everything moving again.
Mar 11, 2014, 7:02 am
#15
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I'm suprised no one has suggested that the young person join the Civil Air Patrol, Air National Guard or the military.
http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/
http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/