The very long line inside. And you are quite right about the service being exactly that--service. But then when you pulled into a gas station in the past, your car was filled, windshield cleaned, and oil checked. Frankly I think pumping your own gas was the end of civilization.

I have yet to find a rude skycap. I over tip (and watch my husband cringe) but too bad - it is worth not waiting inside and I am always glad when my bags arrive at my destination.

When we use them, it's cause we really need them: and tip appropriately.

They have: gotten us on the next flight out of a log-jammed airport while 5000 other people stood in lines crying and clueless, stranded -$20 tip; and hailed us the next cab with no waiting while 250 people stood in line - $10 tip.

In both instances, the service provided was available to anyone for the asking, with tipping optional; but evidently nobody else wanted to part with the bucks, or knew what a skycap can do.

You can say that again. In the "real" world (obviously skycap excluded), its service first, and if it is satisfactory, an appropriate level of tipping may result (this is totally at the discretion of the service receiver and the prevailing custom).

Yes, I just gave notice to my boss. I figure I can work one week a year and then sail a boat around the world the rest of the time. Don't let the cat out of the bag!

Years ago I worked at the ticket counter for a major carrier in El Paso. Everyone's favorite skycap was an older gentleman named "Julius." He was the kindest and sweetest man, worked very hard every day, always had a smile, and when angry pax would yell at me he would walk by and mutter, "Don't let those folks get you down now." Julius was my favorite co-worker ever, in any job.

I guess there really is something to the phrase "Good old days." Too bad surly slackers are taking over. Going to the airport nowadays is like running the gauntlet. If the skycaps don't get ya' --- TSA will. Then you get on board and the fruits and nuts... Ah, well.

This new "skycap charge" is ridiculous---the airline collects extra revenue for checking luggage. If you're anything other than a frequent flyer, the airport is practically a minefield. Lines everywhere, kiosks and trying to figure them out, more lines at security and people barking at the masses, ziploc bags for liquids, booties for bare feet, and if you don't know every little rule you get your toiletries confiscated. It's enough to make ya' wanta' stay home...

A couple of years ago I was waiting at luggage claim late at night, and happened to be standing next to two skycaps who were sitting and chatting while they, too were waiting for the conveyor to start moving. One was telling the other about this great restaurant that had almost mythical status to him as an excellent but shockingly expensive, extremely rare treat. It boggled his mind how expensive the place was, and they were both chuckling about the concept of spending that much money for an extravagant dinner out. What restaurant was it? The friggin' Olive Garden. I don't know many people making $100k that have that impression of the Olive Garden.

I've only had one crappy skycap in my life, and only because he reminded me when he first greeted me that he worked for tips, which I consider to be extremely obnoxious. Every other skycap has done back breaking work, has usually streamlined the check-in process in a major way, has often gotten excess and overweight bags through with less hassle and expense, and has done all this pleasantly.

Oh, I just remembered another bad skycap I had once, but it was in Miami, so I'm not sure that counts. And he wasn't rude, just somewhat incompetent.

David

Wow, I'm just so surprised by all the complaints that everyone apparently has only has nasty sky caps that beg for tips. Frankly, I only use a sky cap about 50% of my travel time. I find that if I am checking bags and its a busy travel day, the curb side is much easier. Quite honestly, I fly out of NY airports and do not remember one single incident of a serly sky cap. They have always been polite and helpful. Some may be nicer or more friendly that the other, but NEVER have I be asked outright for a tip. That being said, I'd never consider not tipping them. To me lugging my suitcase inside only to stand on long lines just to check my bag is worth the few bucks I may give to the sky cap. In the grand scheme of things, that couple of bucks is a drop in the bucket.

And for those trying to justify their income, it is what it is. I don't really care if they make $20,000 or $70,000. No one is questioning whether you are getting paid too much or too little for your job, so who are we to justify what they should be making. Do we have to stand out there in every type of weather and deal with 50+lbs of luggage and nasty, demaning travelers? I don't disagree that they should not be trying to "extort" money, but its attitudes similar to what is exhibited here that it is obvious they too have become jaded by the changes in the industry. It just may have become a matter of survival.

am i the only one missing something here? what is the $1-2 fee going towards? why would you tip if you are already paying for that specific service? sounds like protection money for the mafia if you ask me.

I totally agree that the SkyCaps, at least in NYC are surprisingly friendly and very appreciative of a tip. I have never been required to tip although I usually like to have my luggage show up on the other end.

Back breaking work? How would you compare their job to say, luggage guys? I'd say that the average ramp luggage guy hand 2-5x more bags than a skycap. How much you tip him?

There are many physical jobs out there. I know a guy in Costa Rica who carried the bananas from the trees over to the pulleys they use to transport them back to the cleaning warehouse. 12 hours a day, carrying 50-70 pounds of bananas at a time for about $1 an hour. Now, that is a hard job.

Again, the implied threat that if you don't pay the protection money, you're going to have a horse head in your bag. What's wrong with this picture?

Agree totally except that it would have to be quite a big bag or a rather small horse !

The only time I've ever used one is if the airline's check in line is very long and the skycap's is much shorter.

If the idea is for the airlines to collectively add baggage check capacity at peak times, why not just have some fully paid airport employees do this work, and build the cost into the ticket? The answer is obviously that the airlines would rather pass this cost on to the flying public.

Imagine if Costco let its checkout lines become unacceptably long, and then opened up a few new "skycap" checkouts. The latter perform the same service as the former, but with shorter lines. You are expected to tip, though.

I guess there are no labor laws in Costa Rica. Maybe the guy who hauls banana's all day should be able to earn a living wage. God forbid we would have to pay ten cents more per pound! What I gather from this is that some people who fly a gazillion miles and have all sorts of memberships and privileges do not want to kick in a buck or two to the people who provide a service. A tip is a way to reward someone who works hard (regardless of your definition)-it is not required. Heck, horrible CEO's get bonuses that exceed all the skycaps salaries combined. Be kind and generous- especially those that can afford $5000 luggage.

Oh and by the way $50,000 in NYC for a family is not even middle class.