When you’re at an airport, you’re kind of a captive audience. That’s all well and good, but unfortunately, the airport knows that just as much as you do. Now granted, there are some things you really can’t help but buy at the airport, especially if you’re stuck there for a long time (BTW, if you ever are, remember there are lots of free and cheap things you may be able to do while you’re waiting). But if you’re going to be at the airport for a so-called normal amount of time, and can plan ahead, DO IT. It’ll save you a bunch of money.
“STUFF”
Over the years, larger airports have almost turned into old-fashioned indoor malls. They’re even designed in certain ways to entice you to buy more stuff. You’ve got stores selling clothing, electronics, jewelry, sunglasses, watches, artwork, perfume/cologne, books, magazines, candy and, of course, travel equipment galore (OMG do I adore browsing through Brookstone!). Store owners are hoping you’ll buy something because you just realized you left your “NAME OF ITEM” at home, or because that cute l’il stuffed alligator is just too cute to pass up.
DON’T FALL FOR IT!
Almost all the stuff you see in airport stores are more expensive than if you bought it somewhere else (although if you buy stuff from these kiosks, you should be able to get a refund for any overpayment). If you keep a list and plan ahead before you pack, I bet you can avoid having to buy another pair of sunglasses, or a second (or third!) neck pillow.
You can also consider grabbing a snapshot or two of that cute l’il stuffed alligator and see if you can buy it anywhere else (Amazon? eBay? Other places the manufacturer sells stuff?) and plan to buy it after you’re back home from your trip.
Sure, there are some things, especially in terms of art or even hand made jewelry, that you may not see anywhere else; you might have no choice but to buy it at the airport and if that’s the case, so be it. But for a whole lot of other stuff, planning ahead of time and comparison shopping are the keys.
FOOD
Food goes right up there with “stuff” – that Outback Steakhouse, Famous Famiglia Pizza or Wendy’s is going to cost more at the airport than it will outside. Again, if you’re going to be at the airport for hours on end, you may have little choice. But if you’re only going to be there for 2 hours before your plane leaves, plan ahead, eat before you leave, or bring snacks in your carry on to tide you over (but have them very accessible in case TSA asks you to remove them from your bag).
Again, there are exceptions to the rule. Besides the run-of-the-mill McDonald’s and California Pizza Kitchens that you’ll see in airports across the U.S., there are some airport restaurants that are unique, one-of-a-kind, sometimes award-winning places, such as One Flew South in ATL and Cask and Larder at MCO. Even if their prices are a little on the higher side, they are TOTALLY worth having a meal there.
CURRENCY EXCHANGE
Chances are excellent that the currency exchange desks in airports are going to hit you with humongous transaction fees. You can avoid this in a few ways:
- Take some money out at an ATM (chances are you’ll get a decent interbank rate, which will be better than the rates they offer at exchange counters at the airport)
- Are you a member of AAA? They have over 90 types of foreign currency available for purchase before you travel and their rates should be better than what you can find abroad.
- Do you *HAVE* to have cash for your travels overseas? Or can you manage with just credit cards? It’s possible to avoid extra credit card fees during international travel if you have the right credit cards.
PARKING
This last one should actually be first, since it’s the first thing you’ll encounter on your trip. But if you plan to drive to the airport and leave your car there while you’re gone, the closer you park to the airport terminal, the more you’re going to pay to park there every day. Plan your parking ahead of time and see if there is off-site parking available, so you can decide which is more important, speed or cost. Also see if this option is available and makes sense for your travels, so you can park for free.
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
9 comments
The Chipotle right next to that Cask & Larder at MCO, has the same prices as a normal CMG outside the airport…
Didn’t know that. Good for them! Thanks for the info.
And there I was thinking you were going to say drugs, timeshares, unlicensed taxi cabs, and methanol.
SO close…;-)
water!!
Of course those are five things that help keep the cost of your flights and other charges at at the airport down. The extra cost that is mentioned primarily goes to the airport to fund the operation and pay for the infrastructure and facilities that you use there. Guess you could pull up to a tent and board the airplane on a ladder. Then hope and pray that their is nothing on the runway that will abort your flight. There are a lot of things happening that you may not be aware of to make your transition from ground to air and air to ground at the airport as safe and uneventful as possible.
But I like to support my airport!
Some airports (not Charlotte by the way) have agreements to provide “street” pricing inside the airport.
Had to get new headphones on a long layover in Miami once. Paid about 40% more than necessary, earbuds were cheaper, but I hate those things. Still have the headphones, and I didn’t have to sit at the airport without music. To compensate, I went as cheap as possible on my food there, still came out behind, but sometimes there’s not much choice.