Many travelers and even airline employees are not aware that skycaps, the people who check in your luggage curbside and carry your bags inside the terminal, and to and from the curb, are not airline employees. These uniformed workers don't get any benefits such as overtime, paid vacations, health insurance, and so on.
Skycaps are underpaid, overworked, and definitely under-appreciated.
I was reminded of this while on a trip to the Caribbean. A skycap sent me an email about the valuable services they provide air travelers. The average tip for skycaps is about a buck a bag. That's the same amount I used to get when I carried luggage for travelers as a teenager 30 years ago at La Guardia Airport in New York City. Maybe I'm feeling guilty about how I cut into skycaps' business as an impoverished teen or maybe I've learned to appreciate just how valuable a service they provide.