Baggage handler job

Brent · April 28th, 2004, 18:25

I am interested in possibly working part-time for airline as a baggage handling while I work on getting my ratings. Does anyone know if it is difficult to obtain a job as a baggage handling? Does anyone believe that starting work as a baggage handler for airline could better my chances for being hired as an airline pilot when the time comes? Thank you very much appreciate any responses.

"Win or lose drink some booze"

Brent

MissedApproach · April 28th, 2004, 18:41

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone know if it is difficult to obtain a job as a baggage handling? Does anyone believe that starting work as a baggage handler for airline could better my chances for being hired as an airline pilot when the time comes?

[/ QUOTE ] In PHX it really doesn't seem like that hard of a gig to get (at least during summer). Don't know if it'll make a difference with that particular airline but there will probably be opportunity to network. Starting pay here at Mesa and America Worst is $7/hr.

kellwolf · April 28th, 2004, 18:41

Working as a baggage handler may not get you in good with the company, but it certainly doesn't hurt. It gives you the opportunity to network, and you should take advantage of it. As far as how hard is it to get the job, it depends on where you live. SWA is hiring like mad in BWI for rampers, and last I checked even PHL was understaffed. Here in Florida, it's a no-go. SWA is overstaffed (so they say, if we're overstaffed how come there are about 5 or 6 OT shifts a day?), but JetBlue occasionally purges their dead weight and hires new people. AirTran does the same. Getting on with Delta, United, Northwest or US Air is pretty much a gamble, but if you can get it, take it.

kellwolf · April 28th, 2004, 18:43

[ QUOTE ]
Starting pay here at Mesa and America Worst is $7/hr.

[/ QUOTE ]

SWA isn't that much more at $8.15/hr. You jump up a LOT your second year though, to $10.18/hr.

JohnnyD · April 28th, 2004, 20:34

I got hired real quick with United doing ramp at PHL last year, but unfortunatley I had to turn it down because the week of training interfered with my finals schedule at school. Can't say I was real happy about that one.

Starting pay for United at PHL was just under $10/hr. I heard Southwest is still hiring there.

Brent · April 28th, 2004, 21:45

Thank you everyone for responding to my question. Does anyone know what kind of "flight privileges" an employee receives while working for a an airline as a baggage handling??? Thanks again everyone
Brent

kellwolf · April 28th, 2004, 23:36

At SWA, it's unlimited non-rev, space available on the airline for you, your dependents (i.e. wife and depedent children) and your parents. Starts the day you get your ID. You can also get incentive passes from perfect attendance each quarter to give to friends or other relatives.

Silverhawk · April 29th, 2004, 10:36

Not to take over the post...but I was wondering the same.. I did a lot of searching thru differant airlines that fly in and out of Pittsburgh but didn't really have much luck finding any ramp openings...

Are these openings always listed if there is an opening or is it more of a send your resume and network type of approach ??

I'm meeting with a gentleman from Wings for Children here next tuesday which I think could be a wonderful opportunity but wouldn't mind working a ramp job if I could swing it hour wise.

kellwolf · April 29th, 2004, 11:12

It's hit or miss. Sometimes they have so many resumes/applications that the job never even gets to the posting stage. I'd go ahead and apply if they're accepting apps. That way if something does open, you're ahead of the game. I flat out got lucky. My best friend's girlfriend is a CSA sup with SWA. She let me know when there was a job fair and wrote me an internal recommendation.

aviator · April 29th, 2004, 16:25

When I worked for United Express in Denver they allways were interviewing and hiring but never ran an ad or anything. They seemed to get enough apps thru other employees refering them.

April 28th, 2004, 18:25	#1
Brent Newbie Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 2	Baggage handler job I am interested in possibly working part-time for airline as a baggage handling while I work on getting my ratings. Does anyone know if it is difficult to obtain a job as a baggage handling? Does anyone believe that starting work as a baggage handler for airline could better my chances for being hired as an airline pilot when the time comes? Thank you very much appreciate any responses. "Win or lose drink some booze" Brent

April 28th, 2004, 18:41	#2
MissedApproach Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 540	Re: Baggage handler job [ QUOTE ] Does anyone know if it is difficult to obtain a job as a baggage handling? Does anyone believe that starting work as a baggage handler for airline could better my chances for being hired as an airline pilot when the time comes? [/ QUOTE ] In PHX it really doesn't seem like that hard of a gig to get (at least during summer). Don't know if it'll make a difference with that particular airline but there will probably be opportunity to network. Starting pay here at Mesa and America Worst is $7/hr.

April 28th, 2004, 18:41	#3
kellwolf Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 13,863	Re: Baggage handler job Working as a baggage handler may not get you in good with the company, but it certainly doesn't hurt. It gives you the opportunity to network, and you should take advantage of it. As far as how hard is it to get the job, it depends on where you live. SWA is hiring like mad in BWI for rampers, and last I checked even PHL was understaffed. Here in Florida, it's a no-go. SWA is overstaffed (so they say, if we're overstaffed how come there are about 5 or 6 OT shifts a day?), but JetBlue occasionally purges their dead weight and hires new people. AirTran does the same. Getting on with Delta, United, Northwest or US Air is pretty much a gamble, but if you can get it, take it.

April 28th, 2004, 18:43	#4
kellwolf Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 13,863	Re: Baggage handler job [ QUOTE ] Starting pay here at Mesa and America Worst is $7/hr. [/ QUOTE ] SWA isn't that much more at $8.15/hr. You jump up a LOT your second year though, to $10.18/hr.

April 28th, 2004, 20:34	#5
JohnnyD Newbie Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: PHL Posts: 13	Re: Baggage handler job I got hired real quick with United doing ramp at PHL last year, but unfortunatley I had to turn it down because the week of training interfered with my finals schedule at school. Can't say I was real happy about that one. Starting pay for United at PHL was just under $10/hr. I heard Southwest is still hiring there.

April 28th, 2004, 21:45	#6
Brent Newbie Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 2	Re: Baggage handler job Thank you everyone for responding to my question. Does anyone know what kind of "flight privileges" an employee receives while working for a an airline as a baggage handling??? Thanks again everyone Brent

April 28th, 2004, 23:36	#7
kellwolf Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 13,863	Re: Baggage handler job At SWA, it's unlimited non-rev, space available on the airline for you, your dependents (i.e. wife and depedent children) and your parents. Starts the day you get your ID. You can also get incentive passes from perfect attendance each quarter to give to friends or other relatives.

April 29th, 2004, 10:36	#8
Silverhawk Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 362	Re: Baggage handler job Not to take over the post...but I was wondering the same.. I did a lot of searching thru differant airlines that fly in and out of Pittsburgh but didn't really have much luck finding any ramp openings... Are these openings always listed if there is an opening or is it more of a send your resume and network type of approach ?? I'm meeting with a gentleman from Wings for Children here next tuesday which I think could be a wonderful opportunity but wouldn't mind working a ramp job if I could swing it hour wise.

April 29th, 2004, 11:12	#9
kellwolf Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 13,863	Re: Baggage handler job It's hit or miss. Sometimes they have so many resumes/applications that the job never even gets to the posting stage. I'd go ahead and apply if they're accepting apps. That way if something does open, you're ahead of the game. I flat out got lucky. My best friend's girlfriend is a CSA sup with SWA. She let me know when there was a job fair and wrote me an internal recommendation.

April 29th, 2004, 16:25	#10
aviator Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 385	Re: Baggage handler job When I worked for United Express in Denver they allways were interviewing and hiring but never ran an ad or anything. They seemed to get enough apps thru other employees refering them.

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