How Much Do You Tip the Outside Baggage Handler at the Airport?

Airport arrival can be stressful and chaotic, no matter how prepared you are. The outside baggage handlers, also called skycaps or porters, provide a valuable service by meeting you outside the airport, at your airline. They take your bags from you and ensure that your luggage is checked through to your final destination. Most people who use their services appreciate the work they do, but how much are you supposed to tip them?

Maybe a friend dropped you off at the airport, or perhaps you parked and took a shuttle or relied on public transportation. Whatever your airport arrival method, you are probably tired of pushing, pulling and dragging all of your luggage. Instead of hauling it into the airport, where you will wait in line at the ticketing desk to check your bags, you can leave it with an outdoor baggage handler. The handler will ask you for your ticket or boarding pass as well as your identification. The handler will print and affix your baggage tickets to your luggage and hand you your claim ticket. Then, you will be able to walk into the airport and get your bearings hands-free, except for whatever you are carrying on.

You should tip the outside baggage handler according to the number of bags you have. "Consumer Reports," Trip Advisor and "U.S. News and World Report" all agree that the standard tipping amount is between $1.00 and $2.00 per bag. Use your best judgment. If it's raining, snowing or over 90 degrees and you get good service, tip towards the $2.00 per bag side of the scale. Remember to bring dollar bills with you to the airport. If your baggage handler takes two or three bags from you and all you have is a five dollar bill, do not ask for change back.

Tip more than the standard $1.00 or $2.00 per bag if you get extra help or receive particularly good service. When you have a lot of luggage to be handled, or it is extremely heavy or awkward in size (think surfboards or instruments), tip more generously. When the baggage handler provides you with directions or helps answer a question you have about your upcoming flight, you might want to tip a little extra as well.

Cash tips are always the best way to express appreciation. However, in addition to handing over a few dollars, you might want to do more for the handler who helped you with your luggage and made your airport arrival smoother than it normally is. Ask for the person's name and send a quick email to the airline or airport to report the excellent service you received. You can also make a phone call to a supervisor or make a point of saying an extra personal "thank you."