Originally Posted by will2288

Yes, tipping the outside skycaps is standard in the US. The system leads to outdoor check-in agents making several times what their indoor counterparts make, but it is what it is.

Personally, I really don't like people asking for tips, or evening mentioning them, so I would be turned off by this guy's approach. But, and while I doubt he would actually damage/delay the bags, it's probably not worth the risk of getting into a discussion about it. Which is just one reason why I always check-in inside.