Short answer
AI will reshape this job more than most, but BLS does not forecast it disappearing. The exposure is among the highest BLS measured, yet it still projects employment to grow.
AI and jobs
Will AI Replace Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks? (2026)
The Bureau of Labor Statistics places reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks in its very high AI exposure category, among the occupations most exposed to current AI. BLS projects employment to change by +2.5% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 11,800 openings a year.
- BLS AI exposure
- Very highBLS EP supplemental table
- AI-resilience score
- 36/100Higher than 32% of jobs · NueCareer
- Projected change
- +2.5%BLS EP 2025–2035; all jobs 3.5%
- Openings a year
- 11,800BLS EP 2025–2035
The federal measure
How exposed reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks are to AI
The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes a relative AI exposure category for each occupation it projects, built from five public measures of where AI could be, or already is, used to assist with or complete the work. Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks land in the very high category: among the occupations most exposed to current AI.
Where this job sits on the BLS scale
786 occupations in the NueCareer bank, in BLS's four relative categories; width shows how many fall in each
- Low203 occupations · 26%
- Moderate194 occupations · 25%
- High190 occupations · 24%
- Very high · this job199 occupations · 25%
Source: BLS Employment Projections, AI exposure categories supplemental table.
- Exposure is relative. The categories rank occupations against each other; they are not a probability that a job is automated.
- BLS says exposure does not imply job loss, productivity gains, automation probability or wage effects. A highly exposed job can still grow if AI makes the people in it more productive.
- The classification reflects AI capabilities as the underlying studies measured them. Read the BLS method and limitations.
Inside the work
What AI can and cannot do in this job
O*NET rates how important each work activity is to an occupation and how often each working condition comes up. The ratings below are the ones that move the job's NueCareer AI-resilience score the most: the ones that pull it up, and the ones that pull it down. Only ratings clearly above the midpoint count.
What holds up
Physical, hands-on and person-to-person work
- Performing for or working directly with the public4.3/5O*NET work activity, importance
- Face-to-face discussions4.6/5O*NET work context, frequency or level
- Dealing with the public4.6/5O*NET work context, frequency or level
- Establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships3.7/5O*NET work activity, importance
What AI reaches first
Routine, repeatable and screen-based work
- Repeating the same tasks4.9/5O*NET work context, frequency or level
- Documenting/recording information4.1/5O*NET work activity, importance
- Working with computers4.2/5O*NET work activity, importance
- Performing administrative activities3.6/5O*NET work activity, importance
The tasks O*NET lists for reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks
- Confer with customers to determine their service requirements and travel preferences.
- Determine whether space is available on travel dates requested by customers, assigning requested spaces when available.
- Answer inquiries regarding information, such as schedules, accommodations, procedures, or policies.
- Make and confirm reservations for transportation and accommodations, using telephones, faxes, mail, and computers.
- Prepare customer invoices and accept payment.
- Contact customers or travel agents to advise them of travel conveyance changes or to confirm reservations.
O*NET 31.0 Database task statements, most important first.
The jobs
Will there still be jobs?
Exposure says where AI meets the work. The BLS projection says what the labor market is expected to do over 2025–2035. BLS projects +2.5% change in employment over the decade, against 3.5% across all occupations, and about 11,800 openings a year once retirements and career changes are counted. About 118,710 people work in the job today, at a median of $44,390 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Options
Related careers less exposed to AI than reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks
Careers O*NET lists as related to the work, or in the same field at similar pay, that BLS places in a lower exposure category.
Baggage Porter and Bellhop
Personal Care and Service
- Median pay
- $37,080median a year
- Growth
- −3.0%
- Openings / yr
- 3,800
- Education
- High school
- Moderate
- BLS AI exposure
- 71/100
- resilience
Handle baggage for travelers at transportation terminals or for guests at hotels or similar establishments.
Bus Driver, Transit and Intercity
Transportation and Material Moving
- Median pay
- $59,050median a year
- Growth
- +4.1%
- Openings / yr
- 21,100
- Education
- High school
- Moderate
- BLS AI exposure
- 54/100
- resilience
Drive bus or motor coach, including regular route operations, charters, and private carriage.
Passenger Attendant
Transportation and Material Moving
- Median pay
- $37,720median a year
- Growth
- +6.0%
- Openings / yr
- 4,300
- Education
- High school
- High
- BLS AI exposure
- 64/100
- resilience
Provide services to ensure the safety of passengers aboard ships, buses, trains, or within the station or terminal.
Travel Guide
Personal Care and Service
- Median pay
- $38,120median a year
- Growth
- +6.3%
- Openings / yr
- 11,900
- Education
- High school
- High
- BLS AI exposure
- 57/100
- resilience
Plan, organize, and conduct long-distance travel, tours, and expeditions for individuals and groups.
Flight Attendant
Transportation and Material Moving
- Median pay
- $63,580median a year
- Growth
- +8.8%
- Openings / yr
- 18,500
- Education
- High school
- High
- BLS AI exposure
- 54/100
- resilience
Monitor safety of the aircraft cabin.
Questions
Will AI Replace Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks? FAQ
Will AI replace reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks?
AI will reshape this job more than most, but BLS does not forecast it disappearing. The exposure is among the highest BLS measured, yet it still projects employment to grow. BLS defines exposure as AI being able to assist with or complete some of the work, and says it does not imply job loss, productivity gains or wage effects. BLS projects employment to change by +2.5% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 11,800 openings a year.
How exposed are reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks to AI?
BLS sorts 786 occupations into four relative categories: low, moderate, high and very high. Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks are in the very high category, alongside 198 other occupations. The categories combine five public measures of where AI could be or already is used, and they compare occupations with each other rather than giving an absolute risk.
What parts of a reservation and transportation ticket agent and travel clerk's job can AI do?
In O*NET's description of the work, the parts that overlap most with what AI handles well are repeating the same tasks, documenting/recording information and working with computers. The parts that hold up best are performing for or working directly with the public, face-to-face discussions and dealing with the public. These come from O*NET ratings of how important each activity is to the job, read through NueCareer's AI-resilience method.
Is being a reservation and transportation ticket agent and travel clerk a safe career from AI?
On NueCareer's AI-resilience score, built from O*NET work activities, reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks score 36 out of 100, higher than 32% of the occupations we score. The job pays a median of $44,390 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). No job is fully safe from technological change, but the federal exposure category and the projected openings are the two numbers worth weighing.
What careers similar to reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks are less exposed to AI?
Baggage Porter and Bellhop (moderate exposure, $37,080 median), Bus Driver, Transit and Intercity (moderate exposure, $59,050 median), Passenger Attendant (high exposure, $37,720 median), Travel Guide (high exposure, $38,120 median). Each is in a lower BLS exposure category than reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks, and most are listed by O*NET as related to the work.
The AI exposure category is the Bureau of Labor Statistics'. The AI-resilience score and the activity breakdown are NueCareer's analysis of O*NET 31.0 Database data (method), not a federal figure. More: jobs most exposed to AI, jobs least exposed to AI, or check any job.