You've Been Warned: This Common Airport Mistake Will Cost You
Picture this: After months of working hard at your job with no days off, you're finally at the airport, ready to embark on a weeklong, relaxing vacation. You've checked your bag, quickly passed through security and located your gate. There's a bit of time before your flight departs, though, (check out the best time to book tickets if you want a deal), so you head to the nearby bar for a cold beer and bite to eat. However, upon receiving the bill, which prices the drink alone at a whopping $27, your serene mood is drastically dampened by your all-too-common airport mistake.
Similar to attendees at concert venues and sports stadiums, travelers at airports are met with jacked-up prices for food and beverages, whether they're getting a full meal or a quick cup of coffee from a Starbucks kiosk. In fact, McKinsey & Company reports that for U.S. hub airports, such as Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, over 40% of their revenue depends on passenger activities while at the airport, including buying concessions. This said, while it may seem as though there's no other option but to unwittingly splurge when hungry or thirsty at the airport, it is possible to curb those cravings, avoid this mistake, and not spend a dime prior to takeoff.
Travelers should plan ahead
At some airports, including LaGuardia, JFK and Newark, measures are being taken to ensure concession prices don't get too out of hand. After X user @cooperlund posted an airport menu that featured a Sam Adams Summer Ale Draught for $27.85 (here's how much the average American spends on alcohol each year), The Port Authority mandated that travelers cannot be charged more than 10 percent above "street prices."
Even with this mandate, airport-goers are still plunking out more cash than normal on sustenance, making it easy to spend over $40 alone on a basic breakfast for two. For those looking to save, they should either eat at home or, if that's not an option, bring homemade meals/snacks with them. According to the TSA website, quite a variety of food items are allowed to be brought through security, including sandwiches, pizza, snacks and even cakes. As for water, in order to avoid spending several dollars on it at the airport, TSA allows travelers to have an empty bottle, which they can fill up at a station or fountain once they're past security. For those with limited carry on space, they can even opt for a collapsible water bottle.
Of course, if you're still craving that Sam Adams, there's no savings hack. However, a pricey beer might seem like less of a hit to the wallet if money is being saved elsewhere (especially if you avoid these sneaky ways airlines trick you into spending).
Why is airport pricing so expensive?
Travelers have come to expect pricey concessions at airports, but why is this the norm? There are a few reasons. A major one is that operating a business inside of an airport is more costly than a regular brick-and-mortar location on the street. In addition to a minimum annual guarantee the vendor has to pay the airport, regular costs of operation are higher due to security. They must find employees who can pass the background clearances needed to work in an airport and deal with higher delivery fees. As Blaise Waguespack, a professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, explained to Vox, "If I run a restaurant out on the street, out in the community, that [delivery] truck doesn't have to clear security."
Additionally, concession owners are fully aware that not every traveler is going to pack sustenance before leaving the house. If thirsty, they have no choice but to shell out money for a bottle of water, which a decade ago famously cost $5, or five times what it would at a convenience store. Therefore, even if prices are high, many will pay (for their mistake). While frustrating, it's easier than leaving and going through security a second time.