US Skycap airport porters: a good deal for heavy or bulky luggage

Flying through a US airport with lots of hold luggage? Tip the Skycap airport porter to carry your checked bags instead of spending the same amount of money on a pay-per-use luggage trolley.

At most US airports -- especially the ones Australian business travellers are likely to find themselves passing through -- baggage carts are only available for a fee, with Smarte Carte the most frequently seen system. You don't get the money back when you return the trolley, either.

Since the trolleys are made for a couple of holiday suitcases, they're not the easiest of things to steer, either, especially if you're travelling with samples, event materials or anything else big & bulky.

Instead, find a uniformed Skycap porter, who will pop your luggage on his (or, infrequently, her) larger cart, and often speed you to the front of the check-in queue as a side benefit.

The cost? Usually $2 per bag, more if your luggage is bulky, and a bit extra for getting you to the front of the queue.

In Canada, there's usually a set charge of $10 for three bags, plus $2 per extra bag.

Well worth it to saves time, hassle and manoeuvring a trolley through the tensa-barrier pens for check-in.

John Walton

Aviation journalist and travel columnist John took his first long-haul flight when he was eight weeks old and hasn't looked back since. Well, except when facing rearwards in business class.