We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Roles

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Does a Reservation Agent Do?

Lainie Petersen
By
Updated: Mar 03, 2024

A reservation agent works with customers of hotels and various types of transportation by answering questions, assisting customers in making choices about their travel and then booking reservations for rooms or travel tickets. Depending on the type of business of the reservation agent works for, he may communicate with customers on the phone, online or in person. The reservation agent is typically expected to combine strong customer service skills with sales techniques in order to ensure that customers obtain the services and products that they need while also maximizing his employer's profits.

For many travelers, the reservation agent is a first point of contact when booking transportation and accommodation. While some travelers prefer to work with a travel agent, many like to seek out their own travel options and book directly with vendors. While it is certainly possible to book many different types of travel online, some travelers prefer to book tickets and reservations by talking directly to a company agent. Even online travel booking sites often employ agents who can assist customers in chat or via e-mail when the customer has questions, runs into technical difficulties or there is a problem with the reservation.

Reservation agents typically do not need to have formal education beyond a high school diploma, as they will usually be trained on the job. Individual employers, however, may prefer to hire representatives who have significant experience in customer service or telemarketing. Agents will typically need to have strong language skills and be comfortable working with computers, as they will rely on computers to provide customers with information about their travel options and will enter the customer's information into a computer system when the customer books travel.

In addition to booking travel, a reservation agent may need to perform various types of customer service duties. This can be tricky, as many people, even those who originally booked travel plans online, may contact an agent when their original travel plans fall through or are disrupted. These callers may be in a fair state of distress, requiring the representative to both address the travelers needs while also providing a calming presence. In many cases, a reservation agent may be expected to “upsell” callers to more expensive travel options such as more expensive hotel rooms or airline seats. The reservation agent may also assume responsibility for encouraging customers to sign up for loyalty programs or even co-branded credit card offers.

Practical Adult Insights is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Lainie Petersen
By Lainie Petersen
Lainie Petersen, a talented writer, copywriter, and content creator, brings her diverse skill set to her role as an editor. With a unique educational background, she crafts engaging content and hosts podcasts and radio shows, showcasing her versatility as a media and communication professional. Her ability to understand and connect with audiences makes her a valuable asset to any media organization.
Discussion Comments
By Sara007 — On Sep 27, 2011

@wander - Reservation agents are an amazing way to get discounts and find rooms that may not be available to the general public. The last time I traveled the agent I talked to hooked us up with all sorts of discount cards and even found us a room at hotel we were told was fully booked on their website.

I think that sometimes just going the old-fashioned route of someone who can actually talk to hotels and businesses on your behalf can do wonders for your service. One of the most amazing things I found was that not only did we get that hotel room, but we were allowed to check-in really early, with no extra charges because the hotel desk manager was buddies with our reservation agent.

By wander — On Sep 26, 2011

The reservation agents at airports in the tourist information service area have always been amazingly helpful in my experience. I love that they will really try to stick within the budget you give them. So whether you need a backpacker hostel or a 5-star hotel, they can find something for you on a moment's notice.

I was recently speaking with a reservation agent who managed to stick within my budget even though there was a big event in town. I was worried I wouldn't be able to get a room. She was on the phone for a good 30 minutes looking a place up for me. I was very impressed with the service.

By John57 — On Sep 26, 2011

@julies - I know what you mean about finding special places that many reservation agents would not be aware of.

One year we went on a cruise to Hawaii with several friends. Every island we stopped at, we would all pitch in and rent a van for the day.

We found some amazing places off the beaten path that we would have never known about had we solely relied on a reservation agent.

On one island we found a small fishing village that was the last working fishing village on that island. It was in a remote place and we had the opportunity to visit with the village people who were still there.

We also used a reservation agent during that trip to schedule a luau and a couple other expeditions that we enjoyed. The most memorable events were those that we found on our own though.

By julies — On Sep 25, 2011

I have planned many trips on my own and have also gone a few trips that were handled by a reservation agent.

There are certainly advantages and disadvantages to both. I will usually save quite a bit of money by doing my own research, planning and booking.

This is also quite time consuming though, and if I don't have much time to prepare, don't mind spending some extra money to have this done for me.

There is a freedom in just being able to show up and know all the details have been taken care of for me.

One thing I really enjoy about planning my own trips though is the unique, out of the way places, that I find that many reservation agents have never even heard of.

By EdRick — On Sep 25, 2011

@oasis11 - I think you're right. I've been on flights that were seriously delayed and/or canceled, and I think those must be the days that reservation agents contemplate suicide.

I actually have a friend who used to work in this field. She says that with any kind of customer service, you're going to get a lot of people who are unhappy. To be abe to succeed, you need to be able to detach yourself from the stress.

The problem with that, of course, is that you can start to dehumanize the customers and forget that they are real people with a problem that you might be able to solve, or at least sympathize with. My friend says that biggest challenge with this kind of work is to feel enough that you stay human, but not so much that you have a stroke!

By oasis11 — On Sep 25, 2011

I think that being a reservation agent can be stressful especially when flights are overbooked or people are considering flying on standby on another flight. These people are anxious to get home and might pressure the reservation agent into to finding space for them.

Sometimes the airline directly cancels flights because of weather conditions which add to the stress of the reservation agent. I remember I was supposed to get on a flight from Los Angeles to Miami and everyone was completely on board the plane, but then the pilot made an announcement that the flight had to be canceled because under FAA regulations he was not able to fly the plane because he did not receive enough rest between flights.

Not only was everyone on the flight upset at this short notice, but some passengers took it out on the reservation agent because they were looking for the next available flight. These reservation agents are often on the receiving end of the frustration that many of the passengers feel with the airline travel process in general. I think that this can be a really stressful job.

Lainie Petersen
Lainie Petersen
Lainie Petersen, a talented writer, copywriter, and content creator, brings her diverse skill set to her role as an...
Learn more
Share
https://www.practicaladultinsights.com/what-does-a-reservation-agent-do.htm
Practical Adult Insights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Practical Adult Insights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.