[ She then asked me if I tipped the guy. I told her I had not. First I had arrived in the US without any locals currency and second I generally do not tip people for doing their job.

I wonder how many lengthy threads there are on all kinds o forums that discuss the issue of tipping in the US. I swear to avoid reading them because the same arguments are repeated over and over.

I do think that this thread is a bit off topic. The OP said he did not have any US currency and he generally did not tip people for doing their job. We cannot accuse him of being ignorant of US customs. He knew tipping was appropriate. He did not have US currency, and apparently did not wish to conform to tipping traditions in the US.

I do not like to pay people for doing their jobs either. I pay them for doing things I do not want to do.....like carrying my luggage, help me avoid standing in long check-in lines, or bringing my food to the table. When I watch those dirty dishes whisk away from my table I ask myself what it was worth to me to not have to clear the table and wash those dishes myself. I pay the restaurant for the food and the waiter for the service.

I do not believe that the OP's luggage should have been sent to Australia because he did not tip, but I also clearly understand the consequences of asking people to do things for free. I understand that many foreign visitors are contemptuous of tipping customs in the US, and I understand there complaints. Visitors, however, regardless of how scrupulous they may be in avoiding tipping on all occasions, are not going to change this custom.

There is no reason to debate if this man should have been aware of the tipping custom. I am sure he was aware of the custom and elected to ignore it.

And, for what it is worth, of course he should be familiar with tipping in the US. The OP is a widely traveled, sophisticated businessman. He did not want to tip, and the consequences may have been severe. I, however, tip very well and I have also had my luggage go somewhere other than my destination, and we really have no proof whatsoever that the OPs luggage went missing because he did not tip.

What a huge amount of discussion on an issue that is really nothing more than idle speculation.

So, unless we really have evidence that there is a giant conspiracy among skycaps to send our luggage all over the world for inadequate tipping, this entire thread is based on nothing more than idle speculation from a Delta employee who worked in baggage claims.