Originally Posted by
popppa
At the risk of speaking for the OP, do you REALLY think that he woke up intent on “ignoring local customs and practices”?
Yes. He has said so. There are a number of foreign visitors to the U.S. who have posted on FT that they refuse to tip for a variety of reasons. They, too, have announced their intention to ignore local customs and practices just as much as if I, upon visiting France, decided it was unnecesary toadying to say, "bonjour," to the manager of every store that I entered.
He arrived at the world’s busiest airport a mere 90 minutes before his flight.
I think he had other things on his mind than making some kind of one-man tipping protest.
It doesn't matter what you think. He already said that he doesn't tip people for doing their job.
I submit that one should tip as a reward for extraordinary service, not just because someone “showed up for work”. It is a vehicle to reward those who do more that “just enough to get by”
Please don't take this the wrong way, but who cares what you think? The practice of tipping in the U.S. is long-established, well-known and
necessary to the livelihood of most who receive tips. Whether you agree or disagree with the system is irrelevant.
In this instance the Skycap was nothing more than an “Open-Air” Ticket Agent.
1. The Skycap was wearing clothing marked/labelled/embossed with the “Delta” logo
2. The OP carried his own bag to the desk/counter with Delta signage.
3. The OP was already checked-in
4. The Skycap used a Delta computer terminal to access the OP’s reservation
5. The Skycap verified his ID
6. The Skycap attached a luggage tag to his bag & returned his travel documents
How was any of this different from an indoor TA & HOW should anyone not versed with intimate knowledge of airport employment contracts know the difference. e.g. Most people (general flying public) think that the young lady that made their Mocha Frappuccino is ACTUALLY an employee of the Starbucks Coffee Company (& with all of the accompanying benefits)
Irrelevant. The OP
expressly stated that the reason he didn't tip was because he didn't have U.S. currency and because he didn't pay people to do their job.
Sorry to be the one to tell you, but you were in all likelihood seen as the rude & garish foreigner. The practices I mentioned aren’t new.
If that's the case, then you're correct, I would have been seen as rude. As I said, my visit was 7 years ago, so I don't remember what I did. If this practice was mentioned in the guidebooks, which I consult religiously for such practices, I would have done it.
I have maintained a second residence in Germany for the past 10 years. For encounters with native Germans that you didn’t personally know, your little phrase book did not properly prepare you for what is perceived as polite & appropriate. I hope no one gave you an “abgelaufene Mettbrötchen”
I can do no more than what my research tells me what to do. The difference between me and the OP is that I do the research and then do my best to comply with local behavioral norms. The OP decided he was exempt.
Once again the issue is NOT if the OP should have tipped (due to all of the cultural & economic ramifications)…BUT was it appropriate for the Skycap to mishandle his bag because of this.
The issue is whatever we who post to FT feel like discussing. Of course the Skycap was wrong. No one is defending the Skycap. However, the OP was rude and probably would be happier not visiting the U.S.