DEPARTURE DIARIES : A journey on ground with Air Transat

 Friday, February 21, 2025  My shift started with the usual buzz. Counters opened at 15:45, and although the airport was busy, our shift was surprisingly calm. With only two flights that evening, to Portugal and London Gatwick, it was a refreshing change of peace.  I kicked off my shift by assisting passengers at the kiosk with check-in and bag tagging. When things slowed down, we indulged in a bit of plane-watching, a small perk of the job that never gets old. 😏 Then it was off to gate C32, my favorite spot for its ambiance (definitely not for the walking!).  While at gate C32, I measured and tagged some carry-on bags for check-in and watch the arriving airplane pull up to the jet bridge. It was fascinating to see how the jet bridge was aligned to the arriving aircraft. I watched my supervisor open the jet bridge door, knocked on the cabin door to indicate it was safe to open and voila it was open by a cabin member. I observed passengers and crew deplane, and got t...

 Saturday, February 8, 2025 My sixth shift started off as a busy one-well, the airport is always busy, so that's no surprise! We began with a quick briefing as we had four flights schedule that day. Yep, it was a very busy day. The counters were open for passengers travelling to Varadero, Cuba, and we were instructed to remind passengers with international passports to show their e-visa. If they didn't have it, they could scan a QR code to provide the necessary information.  I started my shift at the Kiosk, assisting passengers, it's always a fun moment at the kiosk. I had a passenger who was very upset 😠because he had to pay $130 for an extra checked bag when it was listed at $60 on the website. I redirected him to the counter for clarification, but he declined and paid anyway . I also had other passengers asking for directions to other airlines such as Ice land Air and Catha Pacific. I informed them that those counters weren't open yet and advise them to come back wi...

 Friday, February 7, 2025 My shift began with a briefing on the number of flights we had and the times the counters were open for check-in. We only had two flights that day- one to London Gatwick and one to Porto. I started my day at the Kiosk, assisting passengers with check-in, tagging their bags, and directing them to the bad drop areas. 😇 Throughout the day, I encountered some interesting passengers who were very grateful for my help and expressed their appreciation every time. It was rewarding to know that I could make their travel experience smoother. However, there were also many passengers asking for help with Air France and KLM, but I had to redirect them to KLM agents, explaining that I couldn't assist them I spent the rest of my shift at gate B41, which has quickly become my favourite gate (it's the closest one!). During the shift, I learned something new-placing stickers on the seats for option plus members. This helps the cabin crew identify them and provide the s...

 Saturday February 1, 2025 My fourth shift at the airport started off relatively easy, despite the bustling environment. With only one flight scheduled that day to Manchester, the counters didn't open until 5pm. This gave me the opportunity to shadow my colleagues behind the counter and observe the entire check-in process. 👥 From checking in passengers to processing payments, tagging bags, weighing them and placing them on the check-in conveyer scales which takes them to the air craft, I got to see it all. It was fascinating to witness the detailed steps involved in ensuring everything runs smoothly. Afterwards, we had a short break, and I received my temporary pass. While it wasn't as thrilling as getting the RAIC, it did grant me access to the gate-with an escort, of course. We went through security and headed to gate B41 to prepare for boarding. This part of the experience was truly eye-opening. 😃 As we boarded the aircraft, I had the chance to tag a few carry-on items tha...

 Friday, January 30, 2025  my third shift at the airport was an eventful one, marked by a bustling terminal and numerous passengers in need of assistance. From the moment I arrived, it was clear that this day was going to be busy.  I spent a significant portion of my shift at the check-in kiosk, assisting countless passengers navigate the check-in process. A memorable moment came when a passenger praised me for how quickly and efficiently I applied the bag tags, something I struggled with on my first day. It felt amazing to hear that complement, I'm now officially the " Bag Tag Master"! 😁 However, not everything went smoothly . Some of the kiosks malfunctioned during my shift, which required me to redirect passengers to the check-in counters or ask them to wait until other kiosks were available. Understandably, some passengers were frustrated, but I did my best to reassure them that I could assist them as soon as possible. Most were relived to avoid the long check-in lin...

 Sunday  January 25, 2025  My second shift at the airport was an interesting experience, filled with moments of helping passengers and navigating the hustle and bustle of the terminal. My day wasn't too busy since there was only one flight departing for London Gatwick, but it still kept me on my toes🚶 I spent most of my time at the check-in kiosk, assisting passengers with their check-in process and directing them to the bag drop. One of the challenges I faced was the number of travellers with Air France and KLM who approached me for assistance. As much as I wanted to help, I had to politely inform them "Unfortunately, I cannot help you. I can only assist passengers traveling with Air Transat." However I didn't want to leave them stranded. I directed these passengers to the Air France and KLM check-in counters, and I let them know that if they continued further down the kiosk area, they would find agents from those airlines who could assist them. It was gratifying to...