9 Things You Should Never Buy at the Airport

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Fair pricing is a rare thing in airports. A captive audience of consumers coupled with high operating costs at stores’ airport locations make for manifold markups, from expensive cuisine to pricey parking.

Things You Should Never Buy at the Airport

To save money, do some research ahead of time and compare costs—especially when you’re in the market for one of these nine items.

Duty-Free Merchandise

It may be possible to snag a duty-free deal once in a while, depending on your airport. But it’s important to know that duty-free in no way ensures a good buy. “Duty-free is almost never a deal for the casual shopper out to get a bargain,” said Jason Clampet in a report from USA Today. “You can save significant amounts if you’re a smoker who lives in a state with high taxes, but you’ll find that electronic goods, beauty products and luxury items such as designer purses usually cost less at home or online,” advised Clampet.

Consumer advocate Ed Perkins agrees. Perkins saw significant markups on items such as iPads and liquor, compared to retail prices (with local shopping taxes included) available elsewhere. The solution? When making duty-free purchases, do a little homework. Go online ahead of time and do some cost comparisons beforehand.

Foreign Currency

Since currency exchange desks in airports often hit travelers with sky-high transaction fees, the airport is probably not the best place to exchange your money. It sure is convenient, so if you’re willing to pay the price for that, so be it. A good strategy is to get foreign currency by taking out money at an ATM in your destination; this way, you’ll likely get the best interbank exchange rate, which is usually much better than rates offered at airport exchange counters. Contact your bank before your trip for more information on any possible foreign transaction fees.

Bottled Water

The Vapur Flexible Water Bottle is our favorite solution to expensive airport water bottles. Stop buying water bottles in your terminal at three bucks a piece and invest in one of these foldable, reusable containers. Fill it up at a water fountain after you’ve gone through airport security. It’ll pay for itself after just a few uses.

Souvenirs

Plan ahead and be sure to buy your souvenirs before you’re at the airport, waiting for your flight home. Airport souvenir stores usually hawk severely marked-up merchandise that can be found elsewhere for a lot less. Plus, the wares tend to be quite unoriginal: trite Statue of Liberty T-shirts, cityscape mugs, key chains in the shape of Dutch canal houses.

There are exceptions to this rule, as some airports offer unique finds, like gifts crafted by local artisans. (Portland International Airport has some great Made in Oregon stores.) Our advice, as always, is to do your research before you get to the terminal so that you can compare prices. You could even take a quick look at what’s on offer when you land, and then buy whatever you need when you return to the airport upon departure.

Neck Pillows

Trapped in their terminals, travelers are at the mercy of anti-consumer pricing schemes, especially when it comes to necessary travel products like neck pillows. Order your neck pillow online ahead of time, and keep an eye out for special offers and sales. At the time of publication, we spotted the MemorySoft memory-foam travel pillow selling on Amazon for $14. We also recommend the Travelrest pillow, which sells for $25 online.

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Restaurant Meals

You may have noticed that restaurants commonly charge higher prices for menu items in airport locations than they do elsewhere. There’s reason for this: Restaurants’ operating expenses are generally higher at airports than at street locations. But food costs can vary even by the terminal, heightening the confusion for travelers who want to compare prices.

To sidestep the gouge, bring your own lunch from home. Or avoid sit-down restaurants and seek out more affordable snacks.

Wi-Fi

Although many airports offer free Wi-Fi, some hubs are still firmly entrenched in the dark ages, charging flyers to search the Web while waiting to depart. Before you enter your credit card number, though, see if you can get connectivity for free. Some ways to do this: Sit near the entrance of an elite flyer’s lounge or in an airport hotel lobby, both of which might offer free Wi-Fi that’s not password protected.

Or try your terminal’s Starbucks. Although all Starbucks stores offer free Internet, airport locations are sometimes the exception. Some offer free connectivity; some don’t. Check the Starbucks store locator online before you get to your hub to find out.

Magazines (While Abroad)

You’re not normally taking a big hit to your budget when you grab the latest copy of National Geographic at the terminal newsstand. But when overseas, watch out. Imported U.S. magazines cost a lot more than those sold at home and can sell for well over the recommended list price at overseas airports, even if they’re old (mostly due to taxes and shipping costs). I was almost charged more than $10 for a months-old issue of Martha Stewart Living at Guayaquil Airport in Ecuador. Sorry, Martha, but I returned it to its shelf. Instead, subscribe to your favorite magazine before heading out for your trip.

A Parking Spot

You’ll frequently find a better price at off-site parking lots, rather than at airport lots. Do your research. (Have we said this enough?) Look for off-airport parking through services like AirportParking.com.

Which items do you avoid buying at the airport? Share your tips in the comments.

What to Wear at the Airport

More from SmarterTravel:

• 8 Ways Basic Economy Fares Can Ruin Your Trip
• 10 Things Not to Do at Airport Security
• Heading to the Airport? Use This Pre-Flight Checklist

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2012. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.

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