Henry Watts, a skycap at Los Angeles International Airport for 20 years, accepts payment and a tip from Phil Kyko of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., after checking in the family’s bags. The fortunes of skycaps at LAX and elsewhere are fading rapidly due to an unprecedented economic downturn in the airline industry that has cut their earnings and reduced the hours of some workers. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Watts, 58, checks in bags at the Northwest Airlines terminal. Many skycaps have been forced to take second jobs because of the cutbacks. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Watts greets recording artist Patti LaBelle outside the terminal. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Watts waits for passengers to arrive. Skycaps used to receive ample tips, but now, many travelers mistakenly believe a $2 per-bag fee for curbside check-in goes to the workers. In fact, it goes to the airlines. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
