Curious on Airport jobs.

[cTnT1786]

I am thinking about getting an airport job either as a baggage handeler or working on the ramp. Really anything in the airport would work out. How would I go about puttin in a resume? Do I go to the actual airport and speak with the HR dept? Or can I go on the airliner website and apply there?

I am looking either at O'hare (KORD) or Midway (KMDW). Any help would be appreciated. Also anyone know the pay?

[Diego Dangers.]

Go to the specific companies website that you want to work for and check their employment and career sections. sometimes its under contact us, and sometimes you have to go to the sitemap.

don't rule out the FBOs. I did originally, and now I am at an FBO and I must say its the best place to make connections. Meet ALOT of people in the industry.

[av8sean]

Best way to get a ramper job is to goto one of the info sessions/group interviews. Often the airlines will have the dates on their website, or sometimes a newspaper etc.

[N519AT]

I agree about the FBO bit. You make a ton of connections, plus I think it's a better place to work because you don't have to deal with the rude public (most of the people that fly in/out are extremely nice) and you get tips

Who knows, maybe if you get to know the base tenants well enough, you can ride along sometime? The possibilities are there...

[NW004]

If your goal is to get to the airlines one day! Work for an airline you would like to work for! You learn so much about the industry, and you make connections and network every single day. Remember you often find your self hanging out with the pilots, which are in the shoes you want to be in. They have lots of advise and tips.

Plus most airlines will let you non-rev for free anywhere they fly. So the perks are really good, way better then working for an FBO. But I will advice you to become a ramper, you are much closer to the planes, and do not have to deal with bichy people all day long.

Take it from a fellow ramper!

Good luck!

[launchpad]

There are always openings for ramp jobs. If you can't find the right information on the internet, just go to the airport and ask someone at the ticket counter or customer service desk how you should go about applying. Between ORD and MDW, I'd say you have a lot of options. Pay usually starts around 8 or 9 an hour for most companies, some larger airlines may pay more. You do get tips and connections at FBO's, so don't rule them out either.

I'd say go apply at the airlines. The job is pretty intense (meaning you won't be sitting around doing nothing), and you get the flight benefits. There is also a better chance of getting schedule flexibility if you need it. Some FBO's don't have too many people, and might not let you take a day off or work flexible shifts.........good luck

[TravDK]

I took a job working for an airline out of KBUF hoping to get my "foot in the door." I loved the job, loved being around the aircraft, but dispite all my attempts (an outgoing guy) to get some connections lined up, I was a small number in a large company and barely had the chance to talk with the flight crew. Grate exprerience, but the pay sucks and the "foot in the door" expectations fell well short.

Paying cash for training as of now.... took a job in insurance that pays double what a ramper gets until the day far a way, when I'll make half what I do now, flying something for someone

-my 2 cents

[Alchemy]

I worked at an FBO for about two years and really didn't gain many connections out of it. Most corporate/frac drivers will look at you as "just another line boy" and will blow you off if you express any kind of interest in their aircraft, a few are friendly though. The regular customers couldn't give a care either, they just want you to fill up their plane without scratching the paint and be-gone.

Now that I'm on the other side I can kind of understand where they're coming from though...if I had a dime for every ramper/flight attendant that told me they wanted to be a pilot....

It makes you wonder how serious people that express those interests really are, but I find it's best to go ahead and encourage people rather than be a sour-puss.

Pay is going to suck. I doubt you will find much more than 15 dollars an hour tops. The most common way to apply to an airline is through the web, go to the airline's site and look for career opportunities.