A ticket checker is a person who examines tickets before allowing people to enter areas only accessible to valid ticket-holders. Ticket checkers can work in a number of different industries, ranging from entertainment to transportation. There are no special requirements to do this job and it is most commonly a summer, temporary, or casual job, although there are sometimes possibilities for advancement for people in ticket checker positions.
In transportation, ticket checkers are part of the enforcement team confirming that everyone seated on buses, trains, ferries, and other modes of transport has a valid ticket. For some types of transportation jobs, the ticket checker may also act as a gate agent, providing assistance to people who need help and ensuring that luggage and belongings are loaded safely. In airports, ticket checkers may be affiliated with security, in which case training as a security agent is required for the position.
Entertainment venues commonly use tickets to control access, and ticket checkers are responsible for checking the tickets of people attempting to enter the venue. They confirm that tickets are valid for the event, and may tear, punch, or mark the tickets so they cannot be reused. If assigned seating is being used, ticket checkers can also provide people with directions to help them find their seating. They may work with ushers in cases where people have difficulty finding seating or need accommodations for wheelchairs and other mobility devices.
People need to be able to stand on their feet for long hours and interact comfortably with members of the public to work in these types of positions. While some venues provide their ticket checkers with seating, it is more common to stand, as it may be necessary to get up to show people seating and provide other forms of assistance. People also need to be observant, looking out for people attempting to enter without tickets. A ticket checker may also be instructed to look out for scalpers, people who purchase tickets and attempt to resell them at a higher price.
For certain types of ticket checker positions, special training may be needed. This is most common in transport, where there are law enforcement concerns in addition to worries about people entering a venue without paying. Some transport agencies prefer to use their own trained security or police to check tickets, while others may simply instruct ticket checkers to call for help from security if there is a problem.