What's it like to be a travel agent?

Travel agent or cabin crew? whats better?

• I am 18 in November and have just started an apprenticeship in a travel agents and it is pretty rubbish.Its not what i expected to be as you have to do so many things like printing things,invoices,sorting things out,phoning people,putting away brochures,doing loads of paper work etc and to me things seems like it is going to be quite a stressful and hard job.Im guessing being cabin crew will be hard as well and pretty tiring but it seems more exciting and enjoyable. I am really keen on working within the travel industry but i know to become cabin crew i need customer service experience and most airlines you need to be 18 and some 21. So i think i'll have to stick with it for about a year but i'm not sure what to do after that, if i should continue with it for another year or apply for some small airlines but my hope is to be working for one of the big companies like emirates by the time i'm in mid 20's. has anyone worked as being cabin crew or a travel agent? what was it like for you? Any help and advice would be appreciated. thank you

• Answer:

  Judging by what you say, I would choose cabin crew. More interesting - get to see and stay in different places. If you have to wait till 21 to do it why not so something else in the meantime such as become a tour rep for a holiday company such as Thomsons or Thomas Cook. You don't have to work in a travel agency if you don't like it. As a tour rep (which you can be from 18), you will get those valuable skills you need to be a air hostess, aswell as living in a hot country and being able to go to the beach on your day off!