Ramper Job

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but I'm sure loading planes is loading planes, any airline will do.

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Whoa there....That is not the case. I won't name names, but research the airline very carefully! Ok, one big name: Delta Global Services. Don't do it. They were the most miserable people on the ramp.
 
I know this thread is dead, but I'm going to bring it back to life since I don't want to start a whole new one for just one question. I need a job that I will enjoy and will also keep my flight time funded, and being a ramp agent sounds like something I would really like to do, not to mention I'm just a quick drive away from OAK. However, I'm in college right now but I still have a lot of free time on my hands. Question is, are some airlines willing to work with you on your availability around school if it was part time, or do they prefer not to hire students so they don't have to deal with that?
 
Hey Derek...Im a cross-utilized agent with Skywest and also going to college at the same time. When I was hired I told my manager (interviewer at the time) that I wanted the pt position because I was flying and going to school, also I mentioned that I was probably going to head off to ERAU next year. This was in December of 04. Now its getting close for me to leave. My manager is really excited for me and is not too disappointed that im going. When I leave SKW I hope to have put in about 7 months with them.

My position with SKW, is very interesting. Basically, I do everything from ticketing, gate operations, ramp, baggage, and so on. Its really challenging at times especially when you have flow into LAX, WX delays, and angry pax screaming at you because they are going to miss their connections. These positions are mainly at small airports like mine. If you were to apply over at SFO you could apply for certain departments ie customer service, ramp, gate, etc.

I suggest if you are looking for a ramp position try SKW first. They are such a great company. I've had the pleasure to meet really cool pilots (including JC's own Omar), F/A's, other SKW agents, and just a few days ago the CEO of SKW Jerry Atkin!

All in all, my time working with SKW has been great. My manager has taken in to account my school schedule, and the school schedules of other agents I work with. Good luck and the experience is valuable even if for a short duration.
 
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I suggest you try to find an FBO job at local airports if you cant get the ramper job. I have a lot of friends that do it and its a lot of fun as well
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I am trying to get a job at a local FBO, a kid in my homerooms Dad owns it. I sent him an email, saying that I'd like a job if there is one avalible for doing odd jobs. ie washing planes, cleaning them, etc. I hope for the best.
 
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Well its about summer and Im looking at getting a job down at Montgomery Regional airport as a ramper for ASA/Delta Connection or USAirwaysExpress. I was wondering if anyone here has worked the ramp and what you thought? I know it is a hot, labor filled job but I figured with part time shifts of only 4 hours, I will be outside, able to interact with pilots, work around planes which i love, and most importantly FREE TRAVEL BENEFITS which as a 22 year old with a free summer..this should rock visiting various places for fun. They are offering 9 bucks an hour starting too which beats the hell out of any job I can get at Auburn part time. Anyhow any insight appreciated!
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Most airlines don't give full travel bene's unless you are employed full time for a certain amount of time. At least that is how delta is. I applied over a month ago for a customer service/ramp job in TLH (with delta) a month ago figuring I'd be more than qualified, and have yet to recieve a call.
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Luckily, the flight school I'm training at has a customer service position open I've applied for. *fingers crossed* --> discounted training
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I am trying to get a job at a local FBO, a kid in my homerooms Dad owns it. I sent him an email, saying that I'd like a job if there is one avalible for doing odd jobs. ie washing planes, cleaning them, etc. I hope for the best.

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I'd suggest you do more than just send an email. Call him for an appointment, and go meet him to introduce yourself. Your chances of being hired go way, way up when the guy has actually met you and gets a feel for what kind of a person you are.

Perfect example of what Doug preaches: network, network, network.
 
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However, I'm in college right now but I still have a lot of free time on my hands. Question is, are some airlines willing to work with you on your availability around school if it was part time, or do they prefer not to hire students so they don't have to deal with that?

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Depends on the airline. Southwest only hires full-time, but you can either bid a shift that works with your school schedule or shift trade with someone to work it out. SkyWest (already mentioned above) and XJT both have part time slots, and I think most other carriers do as well. However, be prepared to be gone to another city for at LEAST a week for training and possible another week in station with full availability. A lot of people had to turn down the XJT job in MEM since they had to go to IAH for four weeks.
 
The problem with trying to get a ramp job with DL in TLH is ramp there is contract. Delta only has gate agents/ticket counter folks there. That is probably why you havent heard anything. Delta still hires "summer help" for up to 90 days. Most of them are college students. If you dont mind getting sweaty and stinky and working in the rain then its to bad. Kell can vouch that its not a cake walk by no means but at least you dont have to carry it home with you every night like a salesman.
 
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I suggest you try to find an FBO job at local airports if you cant get the ramper job. I have a lot of friends that do it and its a lot of fun as well
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Very good advice. I know a couple of airline captains, one very intimately, who got their start working the ramps at FBOs. It is a much richer networking environment than an airline ramp.
 
I thought it was really hard to get a job with Southwest, or am I imagining that?

I almost had a ramper job at KSTL for Trans States or Eagle but it fell through when I realized it was for the morning shift and I was in school.

Not to sound like a company •, but if working around airplanes isn't your primary motivation, UPS prolly has slightly better benefits for the same type of physical work in their processing hubs. They'll even pay you to go to flight school, plus they offer school loans that they'll pay off for you if you work for them long enough.

Sorry for the long winded post.

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I was a ramp "rat" with Signature Flight support @ IAD,DCA,BWI and I was a ramp Supervisor with ACA @IAD. I would try to get a job at a Signature If I were you if there is a location near. I got to meet alot of celeb's and mad MONSTER tips. I just got out of school and just got a phone call B6 on a ramp opening. O well once you throw bags your hooked...I guess
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They don't pay the best, but America West is always in search of Ramp Agents. Plus you get flight benefits on you 15th day of employment.
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Not to sound like a company •, but if working around airplanes isn't your primary motivation, UPS prolly has slightly better benefits for the same type of physical work in their processing hubs. They'll even pay you to go to flight school, plus they offer school loans that they'll pay off for you if you work for them long enough.
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I second UPS. I worked there over my last summer before college and even as a "kid" just out of high school they treated me well. I was extremely lucky to land a job at the airport loading the aircraft and didn't have to be inside for the sort very often - maybe once every month or so. They respected my wishes of working outside and stuck to it.

Also, the benefits for those not under their parents/spouse umbrella are excellent.

A funny tidbit - one day the pilots refused to leave because they didn't have a bag of ice on board. The station manager drove to the nearest 7-11 and got a bag
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.

~wheelsup
 
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I thought it was really hard to get a job with Southwest, or am I imagining that?

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Depends on a lot of factors. Which station are you trying to get hired at? How understaffed are they? How many transfers want to go there? What kind of growth are they looking at in the future? That's the internal stuff. External includes what kind of person you appear to be in the ground and one-on-one interviews, how flexible is your schedule, and are you going to stick around for a while. SWA can be VERY choosy when it comes to any position. When everyone wants to work for you, you have that luxury. When I got hired, I had someone walk in my resume, kicked butt in the group interviews, knocked 'em dead in the one-on-ones, had open availability 24/7/365 and didn't mind spending a week in Dallas for training. The station was massively understaffed (mandatory OT daily), and they kept getting new flights every month.
 
Being understaffed on the ramp Is prolly the worst thing in the world to go through. I remember when I worked at ACA i worked gates 5&7 we had 6 flights 4 J-41'a and 2 CRJ's all full with 4 rampers including the ramp sup when the bank would come in. The only thing worst than that is de-icing short handed which if anyone has gone through is pretty bad. 12pm to 4am shifts were typical and you had to wear that gumbie suit...
 
WUSS!
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That's normal staffing for SWA in MCO. Two gates as a zone, two people on each gate with one person scheduled to help in between. Oh, and those are 737s, not CRJs and J-41s. Plus, in MCO you're looking at 5-7 flights per gate in an eight hour shift if you count terminating flights. We had one gate that actually had a flight every hour. Needless to say, that went to the low guy in seniority. It wasn't uncommon in the middle of the afternoon to push one 737 out and have another waiting to come in. Gate 125 was notorious for this. BNA at 3 PM, followed by MDW at 3:30, then STL right on the tail of that one, breathe for about 45 minutes, then you have BWI, PHL and STL again. Then, you get to start handling the RONs.....
 
Sorry to bring up an old post, but I was recently called by SWA for a group interview for next week. I know this may be a rather dumb question depending on alot of factors, but what are my chances of actually landing a job if I attend this interview? Travelling to the interview is going to be somewhat of a burden and I'm wondering if it will even be worth my time to go.

Thanks for any help available.
 
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Travelling to the interview is going to be somewhat of a burden and I'm wondering if it will even be worth my time to go.



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With an attitude like that?
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Why did you
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even apply if interviewing was going to be a "burden"?
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Depends on how you perform in the group interviews. I posted not too long ago what they look for and how to ace 'em. If you want the job (and if you go in thinking of getting the interview as a "burden" you probably don't), be outgoing, make a lot of eye contact with not only the interviewers but the other interviewees, listen when other people are talking (you'd be amazed how many people just don't pay attention or talk when someone else is answering a question), and be honest.

Things that'll get you knocked out REAL fast:if asked the "Tell me about a day when you worked really hard" question, don't say "I work hard everyday." Also, be specific in your answers. These guys are looking for people that generalize b/c they either don't have the experience or don't know how to answer the question. Oh, and listen when other people are talking. It's worth mentioning again since I know they look almost as much at the people NOT talking, and a lot of people have been eliminated b/c they were drawing or doing something else instead of paying attention to the speaker.

If they're having group interviews, odds are they're looking for a good chunk of people. Which station is it? If it's MDW, they're probably looking for a LOT of rampers.
 
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