Curbside check-in tipping

[Nickmom522]

I saw another thread about tipping the Skycaps when doing curbside checking. Is it customary to tip the person that checks you in curbside? I think I remember doing it before but I'm not sure. The Skycaps are the ones stationed at the desk outside that take your luggage and give you the boarding pass right? I am flying Jetblue tomorrow and think I will do online check-in. When I give my bags at the airport, do I tip that person?

 

[CleveRocks]

It is customary to tip the skycap who does curbside check-in for you.

You would NOT tip the airline employee at the ticket counter, if you checked-in there.

 

[kldmom2000]

DH and I joke that it seems that we tip everybody!

Seriously though, when we first used curb-side check in in 12/04, we were kind of suprised when the man who took our bags and stuck tags on them came right out and said that gratuities are customary and appreciated.....

Not wanting to have our bags end up somewhere else, we gave him a $5....

So, we bring about $50 in ones and $5's so that we can tip the curb-side check in person, the bell-hop who takes the bags from the town car (not to mention the driver of the town car), then the other bell-hop that brings the bags to the room and then reverse it on the way home......

 

[musicmama]

I've always tipped curbside in the past - however, since Philly is one of the test cities for $2/bag curbside fee, I probably won't be tipping the curbside guy anymore. (putting flame suit on now) I figure if the airline is going to charge me for using their guy at the curb, it's THEIR responsibility to make sure he gets compensated adequately.

 

[mrmagicmph]

I've always tipped curbside in the past - however, since Philly is one of the test cities for $2/bag curbside fee, I probably won't be tipping the curbside guy anymore.

No flames on this from me, simply a question. Is Philly testing that for ALL airlines, or just specific airlines? I'm not familiar with this and since we're flying from Philly in just over a month, I figure I'd best find out. Thank in advance!

Enjoy the Magic!

 

[shoes99]

We used curb-side check in for Spirit in Orlando in July. The sky-cap said that Spirt kept the mandetory $2 and that I had to give him $2.00 more. I checked one bag with Spirit on-line and paid $5.00, then $4.00 more for curb-side check in. We were in a hurry so we just gave him $4.00 additional. I'll be more careful of add'l fees next time.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I've always tipped curbside in the past - however, since Philly is one of the test cities for $2/bag curbside fee, I probably won't be tipping the curbside guy anymore. (putting flame suit on now) I figure if the airline is going to charge me for using their guy at the curb, it's THEIR responsibility to make sure he gets compensated adequately.

I'm not going to flame you, but the airlines have chosen to add this fee as one more source of revenue for the airlines. The Skycaps do not benefit from it in any way and, in fact, lose out in many cases because passengers either feel the way you do, or think the money goes directly to the Skycaps. It doesn't. It sucks that people in this typically and historically tipped position have to actually solicit tips the way that's been reported here, but they got and continue to get NO benefit from the fee charged by the airlines.

 

[safetymom]

Chicago , Orlando also charge for checking in curbside. I tip the skycap since he is doing the work. In the grand scheme of a trip the tip is a very very small part of my budget and they deserve it.

 

[mgilmer]

In almost all cases, the outside skycaps do NOT work for the airlines. They are independent contractors who earn a living off the tips. Now I am sure that most are honest hard working individuals, but if you want to be sure your luggage gets to where it should go, I would tip them if I were you.

 

[Hopefully]

I always tip the curbside skycaps. Even when paying the mandatory $2 fee. The one time, on a business trip, I was running late and only had a $20 bill. I did not tip and lo and behold the handle on my suitcase arrived broken
I also tip the RAC staff if I check in at the resort. In my mind they are doing the job of the curbside staff.

 

[cepmom]

Chicago , Orlando also charge for checking in curbside. I tip the skycap since he is doing the work. In the grand scheme of a trip the tip is a very very small part of my budget and they deserve it.

is this for every airline?? I just flew home from MCO the other day. I used curbside check in for Southwest and did not see any charges posted for curbside check in . I do not normally use curbside, but I was alone with three kids, had an exhausting week at WDW and the line for check in inside was enormous. The curbside check in area had only two families in line. I tipped the skycap $12 for three bags, not knowing exactly how much to tip, and it was well worth it. We were dropped of by ME, checked in and through security in all of 15 minutes.

 

[goofy4tink]

We don't normally use curbside checkin. But, earlier this month, the three of us had 6 bags to lug, so went with curbside at JetBlue in Tampa. After lugging our bags from the Budget drop off area to the curbside checkin area, we decided it was more than worth it to not lug them any further!!! We usually travel with only 4 bags but for 2 weeks away we needed more stuff. It was really worth the $20 my dh tipped the kid, who seemed very grateful!!!

 

[safetymom]

No not all airlines are charging for curbside check in yet.