Originally Posted by dhuey
The Skycaps outside of terminal 2 in Oakland (Southwest gates) must have a gold mine. There is usually a line to use them -- sometimes it's about as long as the one inside for Southwest baggage check in.
I'd guess about 40 bags per hour, with an average tip of $1.25 per bag. I'm also guessing that not every one of those greenbacks is declared on their 1040s. They might take home more pay than some of the pilots.
Aren't most of those people doing curbside checkin and carrying on their bags? So no bag, no tip probably.
Also, in California Skycaps and waitstaff are paid FULL minimum wage, as it is illegal to pay less. (Some other states have voted to cut the minimum wage for service jobs where tips are expected in order to get more people employed.) Not that they'll get rich at $6 an hour, but they could get a job waving one of those arrow signs on a streetcorner for $8 and no tips.