What skills do you need to be a luggage porter?

To become a Porter, you'll need to be:
  • Responsible, reliable and trustworthy.
  • Conscientious, especially in your attitude to security and safety.
  • Practical, with the ability to use your hands well to operate tools and equipment.
  • Fit and active, as lifting and carrying is involved.
  • Prepared to spend a long time on your feet.




A successful luggage porter, or "bellhop," needs a unique blend of physical stamina and high-level soft skills. On the physical side, the job is demanding; you must be able to lift and carry heavy bags (often 50 lbs or more) and stay on your feet for an entire eight-hour shift. However, the most critical "hidden" skill is hospitality and local knowledge. A porter is often the first person a guest interacts with, so you must have a friendly, professional demeanor and the ability to anticipate guest needs. You should be a "local expert," capable of providing immediate recommendations for the best nearby coffee shops, pharmacies, or tourist attractions. Attention to detail is also vital; porters must track luggage tags accurately to ensure bags reach the correct room in a timely manner. Finally, basic problem-solving skills and multilingualism (even just basic phrases in several languages) are highly valued in international hotel settings to help guests feel welcomed and understood from the moment they step out of their taxi.

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Hold luggage banned items
  • Flammable liquids and solids.
  • Oxidisers such as bleaching powders.
  • Organic peroxides.
  • Tear gas devices or any gas cylinders.
  • Infectious substances such as live virus materials.
  • Wet-cell car batteries.
  • Magnetrons. Instruments containing mercury.
  • Instruments containing magnets.


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Alcoholic drinks above 70% ABV. All firearms need to be declared and packed separately. Loose bateteries/larger lithium-ion batteries: Laptops with batteries tend to be fine, but loose spare batteries aren't allowed and larger lithium-ion batteries are generally prohibited. Chemicals like spray paints or turpentine.

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Shifts can last up to 12 hours and include evenings, weekends and public holidays. The work may be seasonal.

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Once inside, staff who range from baggage handlers to mechanics to cleaning crews are subject to either no security screening at all or to random spot checks at best. Only passengers, pilots and flight attendants are required by federal law to pass through airport metal detectors.

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Most common benefits for Baggage Handlers
  • 401(k)
  • 401(k) matching.
  • Dental insurance.
  • Employee assistance program.
  • Employee discount.
  • Flexible schedule.
  • Flexible spending account.
  • Health insurance.


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