At best, tipping is optional in an airport lounge, but it's usually appreciated nonetheless. In the United States, for example, tipping most members of a wait staff and professionals who provide a service is customary. Despite this convention, tipping in a U.S. airport lounge is not required.

Tipping at the airport is generally expected for "service-intensive" roles but not for standard airline or security staff. The most common people to tip are skycaps (curbside check-in agents) and baggage handlers; a standard tip is $2 to $5 per bag. If you use a wheelchair assistance service, it is customary to tip the attendant $5 to $10, especially if they help you through security and to your specific gate. For airport lounge staff, tipping is appreciated if there is a staffed bar or sit-down dining service, similar to a restaurant (15-20%). In-airport shuttle drivers or parking lot bus drivers should be tipped $1 to $2 if they handle your luggage. However, you should never tip TSA officers, customs agents, or airline gate agents, as they are government or corporate employees for whom accepting gratuities is often a violation of their employment contract and could even be perceived as an attempt at bribery. For "grab-and-go" kiosks or self-service shops, a tip is not required, even if the tablet prompts you for one at checkout.