Meet Amarelis, one of our dedicated ramp leads at Sun Country Airlines. With a year and a half of experience under her belt, AJ began her journey with us as a ramp agent.
Curious what a ramp agent does? They’re the folks you see working on the tarmac when you’re waiting for your flight to depart. They guide planes in and out of the gates (commonly known as ‘wing-walking’), load and unload bags, and make sure the planes are ready for takeoff. Come rain or shine, they’re a dedicated group of people who help to make sure our flights run smoothly and on time.
As a ramp agent, Amarelis’s days were busy and dynamic. She usually worked in the afternoons, when many of our flights return to MSP, handling multiple flights in a single shift. "A typical day involved wing-walking the plane in, taking the bags off, dropping them on the carousel, loading new bags on for the next flight, and sending the next flight out within the span of about an hour," she says. The role requires physical stamina and quick thinking to ensure everything runs smoothly. Each shift could include handling two to five departures and/or arrivals, keeping Amarelis and her team constantly on their toes.
"I was drawn to the fast-paced environment and the various tasks involved in being a ramp agent,” Amarelis said. “Every day brought new challenges and opportunities to learn."
As Amarelis became a ramp lead, she embraced new responsibilities with enthusiasm and is excited to strengthen her leadership skills by supporting and motivating her team in her new role.
"I'm in charge of making sure all the planes at my assigned gates go out on time, ensuring safety protocols are followed, and maintaining a positive attitude, which affects how my team performs. Acknowledging their hard work and effort is very important.”
What Amarelis enjoys most about working at Sun Country Airlines is the people. "I've had the pleasure to meet so many cool agents, leads, managers, pilots, and more," she notes. Her other favorite part of the job? Pushing back planes—it's always such a thrill!
"Knowing that my performance directly affects passengers and other people drives me to do my best every day," said Amarelis who is motivated by the impact of her work.
There are ongoing opportunities for our Terminal 2 workers to take on more responsibility.
“For those starting as ramp agents and aspiring to move into leadership, put in 100% effort at all times and be vocal about what you want with leadership. Talk to other leads, managers, and express your desire to move up. Especially as a woman in a male-dominated job, you have to be firm and never let anybody question your capability," Amarelis recommends to her team.
When asked to sum up her experience, Amarelis said, "my journey here has been really cool. The buzz of the airport, the people, the energy—it's all very exciting. I'm pleasantly surprised and eager to continue exploring the opportunities at Sun Country."
If you're interested in learning more about careers with us, head over to our careers website to discover how you can join our team.