tamstransat

[tamstransat]

Can’t believe I’m saying this ... but its unbelievable to think that today is my last day. Since it was my last day, I decided to get a card for everyone. I would’ve brought cupcakes or some type of dessert but I didn’t know what everyone liked but it’s the memories that counts.

When I came into work today, it was super busy. We had KLM Air France stationed beside us, with the same flight time as Air Transat. It came to a point when we finished checking in everyone to whom was going to Varadero, Cuba, the kiosk area was getting filled with passengers who was flying with El Al. It’s a company that flys out of Toronto to Israel. It was so hard to find a spot to stand as more came along or even help notice passengers that were flying with Air Transat, and it find that out was to ask around, look and observe.

Few hours later, there was no outbound flights going out after 2:00pm until 5:00pm LGW ( London, Gatwick). In the time being , walked around and observed my surroundings, as well as other airlines. There’s nothing much I can do that’s not in my job title. If I had the chance to check on passengers especially, i will never get bored of it but one day along my career path.

As the evening went on, I became to say my last goodbyes and love to everyone to whom help and supported me throughout my placement. I started crying inside, thinking that I won’t be coming here every weekends seeing planes , constantly learning new things and intersecting with everyone. But it’s my time to start my career and grateful that I had the experience to learn how the airline industry works.

Until next time ......

[tamstransat]

I can’t believe it’s second last day ! Time flys so fast !

When I began my shift I started off standing at the entrance for the SelfServe Baggage Drop Off, Kammy the agent wanted to go on her lunch and it was. It a hard job to do so I didn’t mind helping her out until she got back. As I am standing at the pole my job is to make sure passengers have their luggage lags before dropping off their luggage(s). As one of my skills are multitasking, when I was not busy I would help passengers who really need help at the kiosk, I would go through the steps with them and assist with their luggage tags. So, juggling both was not an issue for me I pretty much enjoyed it. Then, I came across a passenger that did not have a gate number on their boarding pass. In that case, I had told them they would have to look on the monitor screen first look for the flight number and the gate number should appear. Sometimes, the gate is not ready yet or change of gate.

As I was walking to talk to Destiny, a passenger came up to me panicking about reserving ticket and trying to get on the next Montreal flight. She mentioned to m that she has been on the phone with them for 10 mins and asked me if she could purchase a ticket at the counters but I explained to her that Air Transat does not purchase here at the airport etc. She did not like what I was saying to her, requested to talk to the supervisor in charge. When I come across anyone with any situation, I just remain calm and try to do the best you can.

As the day went on, I can’t help but notice the beautiful decorations Air Transat has put up for the Christmas holidays. My friend Nikki brought some balloons as well to our part of the decorations already up. Rahiem, the agent wanted to take a picture with everybody since it was most of our last day at placement. My day was really productive, love making memories.

I am sad that it is coming to an end. I hope I get to come back , maybe for a job. I really love the environment around me, always helping, constantly keeping busy and I love being a fast paced work place.

[tamstransat]

Almost Done My Placement Hours ! 11.09.19

It’s a Saturday afternoon at the airport. As I started my shift, I greeted my coworkers and colleagues. I decided to start my shift off at baggage drop off with my friend Nikki. As I was helping out I came across a passenger who was going to Cancun, Mexico and one of their baggage was a backpack. I placed her bsackpack onto the luggage belt, not thinking of anything.m but then an agent named Nathalia came over and addressed that you have to put any backpacks in a bin, which I never knew before. So,that was new to me. Few moments later, one of the agents came over to Nikki and I about to make sure when weighing luggages it’s measured in kilograms and not pounds because he had to deal with a small issue regarding wrong baggage calculations.

As I’m working I got an email from Ravi, our ___ advised that 4 students should go down in connections to help bring passengers to their connection gate. Nikki, Sheila, Chelsea and I were the first 4 students to assist. We all had assigned spots to stand . It was Sheilas first time doing connections, so I was by her side to Help her if she needs help. After connections, we all went back to the check- in area where I met Priscilla. She’s been working at the airport for 1 year and with speaking to her for little time, it was nice.

As time went by it became less busy. I get the time to get to know everyone I haven’t met yet and of course take pictures with my colleagues. I helped organized baggage tags. I’m looking forward to learning something new every shift.

[tamstransat]

As I start my 12:00 shift, I was the only student when I got here and the supervisor Destiny. Destiny was adjusting the stanchion according to the set up. While I was helping organize .

What I did to help set up for the day was , individually ripped some blue cabin baggage and place them in a containers On Sunday’s Cathay Pacific counters are right across from Air Transat so it’s a busy morning for them. The ground agents didn’t start work until 12:30pm. Till then I observed the terminal. Main flights that were flying out at the time were Montreal, and Cuba.

Afterwards , I was doing connections and tagging bags and ensuring that all passengers that are connecting to Montreal receive their bags safely. About Sunday’s is that outbound flights are all in the evening. So otherwise I have no passengers to worry about to check in.

[tamstransat]

Saturday Shift 10.19.19

Every weekend I’m at the airport. When I came in today I got briefed by Sean who is the supervisor on duty. He explained that there were a lot of flights today. Sean specifically said about Holgin, Cuba that for each passenger are required 1 bag each and to keep a look out. So, based on today’s brief sheet schedule it is going to be busy. I always try to be prepared when needed by the kiosk and self serve baggage. After, my briefing I went over to who I find my favourite ground agent is Sarah. I also went to say hi to my colleagues Nikki, and Jenny. As passengers are checking in I’m assisting Sarah with putting blue tags on the carryon and yellow tags for the backpacks, and overwatch her check in them as well

Usually, when I feel like I need to need a little break I take at least 10 mins just to relive myself. When I went on my break I met up with my friend Lorencia. She works in operations and she came down to visit me and when she did there were a group of WestJet co-op students by the window. In the mean time we took a group photo, It was fun.

Its 7:00 pm, the only flights going out for the night we’re London, Gatwick and Rome. As it was time to check in , I came across 25 students going to London, Gatwick. They were on a school trip. I helped my coworker Seth who was also assisting a group of students as well. K tagged their luggage’s, printed their boarding pass, all by myself. And that’s how my night ended. I loved evey minute of it.

[tamstransat]

Usually, Sunday’s are the days where it’s slow and steady. On Sunday’s, we have 3 airlines that are around our section. We have Cathy Pacific, Sunwing, and Air France. At a certain time which I believe is 4:00pm when Cathay Pacific is closed up for part of the day and that is when Air Transat ground staff takes more counter space. When I started my shift l, I got to work with amazing colleagues! Joseph, Nikki, Kyara and staff agent Kammy..Today, was also Cathay Pacific’s 25 years in Toronto. Joseph and I took a picture underneath a beautiful arch balloon stand, looked so good.

There was a moment of time when we didn’t have much flights scheduled. So, at a time like this I observed another airline that was right beside us which is Air France. Watch how they dress, interact with each other. I would say Sunday would be the least fun day for me, only because all the busy flights were scheduled in the morning. With that being said, I ended my night with such fantastic coworkers and colleagues and of course passengers travelling.

[tamstransat]

Today, When I arrived at work I noticed I was the only co-op student scheduled for the 12 o’clock Shift. So, me being the only person there I thought it’d be interesting to shadow one of the agents. I shadowed an agent named Keenisha and other agents. So far, I’ve got to watch Keenisha and some agents check in a passenger. She showed me step by step on what she does to check in a passenger

As people came and checked in, i started to watch over Sara now so I continued to watch the process. For about 2 hrs it was quiet, not many flights going out at the moment so I’m the meantime I introduced myself to people I haven’t got the chance to meet yet.

As hours went by it started to get busy around 5:00pm / 6:00pm. I love when it gets busy, I love the feeling of helping people who don’t know how to work the kiosk and that’s why I’m there to help them through the steps. And after awhile of knowing how to put the luggage tags on the suitcase good, I do it fast passengers compliment that which gives me warm happy feeling. Since, I was the only one who started earlier than everybody else it was my time to go home. I had such a good day learning things everyday.

[tamstransat]

It’s October 25, it has been a week since I worked at the Kiosk. Today,my shift is really short, it’s 1:00pm to 6:00pm. When I started my shift I had asked Destiny if I could work downstairs at the connection counter. She told me I had to wait patiently for more gate agents to arrive for their shift. When the agents arrived, she pared me with Liaba. As we got to the connection counters, Liaba taught me how to fix the display screen from the screen saying nothing and make it say “REMOVE PINK TAGS ONLY”. I thought it was pretty cool. I met other agents Tamika, Mahnoor and Omar( her preferred name )

Since , there was 5 agents including me Krishna, the terminal manager assigned us in different areas. He wanted someone holding a connections paddle in an area before the arrival exit, so it’s easier to direct passengers to the correct gate.

As I was standing there, I noticed how easy it was for passengers to have someone directing me to where I need to go. Because in any airport, it’s frustrating getting around. As I was waiting for passengers to come off the aircraft, I worked there with my coworker Tamika. I’m happy I have someone else who knows more to be there for support and company of course. I seen crew members, captains and first officers from Delta, WestJet, China Eastern, and Sunwing so far. Tamika, Omar and I would take turns going back and forth helping at the counters and directing passengers with connection flights. With only an hour of my shift left... there weren’t many flights coming in at that time so I got to know more of my coworkers and that’s how I ended my day !

[tamstransat]

10.20.19. Week 3! Almost A Month ..

As of yesterday, Ravi (The Flight Director) had mentioned to Catherine and I that he wanted both us to come back to the connection counters the following day to help out the agents again. So, today started my shift at 12:00pm and I finished at 8:00pm. When I had started my shift, Catherine and I headed downstairs towards the connection area.

As we got to the counters, we met Kammy and S.T. I’ve already met Kammy, but I didn’t get the chance to work with her or around her. Anyway, S.T’s real name is 16 letters long, if I could remember it I would mention it. So now we’re gonna call him S.T. They both taught us what to do with passengers connecting to either YUL (Montreal), YVR (Vancouver) and YYC (Calgary).

1. Confirm DESTINATION

2. Confirm LAST and FIRST name

3. Tell passenger GATE NUMBER

Throughout the afternoon, it became very steady. We only had to deal with passengers who were making a connection flight. As soon as passengers arrive, I was ready to assist them with providing their gate number , destination and passenger first and last name.

So.. it’s been 5 hours into my shift, it’s 5:00pm. I decided to go on my one hour lunch break together with Catherine. After our lunch break, we came back and performed our duties as needed. S.T taught Catherine and I how to print boarding passes and luggage tags. I was happy that I constantly learning something new. It may come in handy in the near future...

As our shift was coming to an end .. we had a delay with passengers coming from London, Gatwick. The plane was suppose to land at 5:20pm but instead the flight was scheduled to fly in at 7:22pm. So... we waited as passengers were offloading from the flight to assist them to their connecting flights back home or vacation perhaps. Now, it’s 7:55pm as I’m done my shift at 8:00pm. We started to clean up the counters and around our sitting area for the night.

That’s it ! My day was so simple, easy, fun. Learned a lot in just so little time.

[tamstransat]

09.04.19 Orientation Day ! Yay

Today i officially became apart of Air Transat!

I was so thrilled to get to the airport. When I arrived at the airport, I got together with the rest of my colleagues. We talked and got to know each other while we waited briefly for Ravi, which is the Flight Director of Air Transat. Orientation is scheduled 12:30pm - 05:30pm.

When Ravi arrived he had gave us our own lanyard . On the lanyard it had our first and last name, our job position, and contact information which is confidential therefore it could not be passed on to any passengers. Ravi introduced two ground service agents to show us the expectations of the job. Afterwards, we huddled in a circle to conduct a small breifing, which is done at every shift before work.

They gave us guidelines or our placement, kiosk information ( who to contact, and when passengers can check-in for their flight), what to do at the beginning of every shift, and when you proceed at the counters, the supervisor on duty will assign you either KIOSK, SSBD, Passenger courtesy.

After briefing, we proceeded to the check in counters to go over the list of flights that are coming inbound and going outbound. Thereupon, we went over to the Kiosk machine to go over on how to use it but unfortunately none of us were actually travelling to a destination so we couldn’t go further more into the process. Eventually, we had a passenger that was travelling to Londown, Gatewick so had a perfect example. My colleges and I helped her placed her tags onto her suitcase and attached proper baggage tags depending on what they have on themselves. For example if they had backpacks, purses, and carry-on suitcases, it’s required to put one on.

Later on that day, it was about 2:30 pm and that’s when we started to wrap things up for the orientation. Orientation was suppose to finish at 5:30 but either way I was happy I got the chance to go home early and get ready for my first day.

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