Eight hidden airport charges adding up to £592 to your holiday bills – and how to avoid them
AS summer approaches many of us will be jetting off for a much-needed break.
But expensive airport blunders can add hundreds to the cost of your travels.
From booking parking in advance to getting your travel money anywhere but the airport, here are eight tips to keep your holiday within budget.
Don’t get stung by airport prices
We’ve all got to the airport only to remember something we should have packed, but shopping at the gate can be expensive.
This is particularly true for things like clothes, electronics and toiletries, and you might be better waiting till you reach your destination.
For instance, research from shopping comparison website DealNews shows that electronics are on average 34 percent more expensive at the airport than they would be online.
Of course, for some items, duty free can actually net you a bargain.
Which? found that spirits, makeup and perfume are all much cheaper in the airport or even on the plane.
For instance, it found that in 2023, a litre bottle of Jack Daniel’s whiskey was £20 from both easyJet and Jet2 but the average supermarket price was £32.
Meanwhile, Gordon’s Premium Pink Gin was £15 with British Airways and £12.89 at World Duty Free stores but £24 on average at the supermarket.
Avoid the currency trap – save £157
Picking up your currency at the airport is well-known to be one of the least cost-effective ways to get cash.
For example, Eurochange compared the cost of getting £1,000 US dollars at Edinburgh, Birmingham, Luton, Stansted and Heathrow airports compared against its high street branches.
The results showed that on average you’d lose out on £157.
Of course, even on the high street costs vary wildly, so shop around and do your sums before you decide where to buy.
If you’re short on time, you’ll even get a better deal by ordering your money in advance and picking it up at the airport. Equally, you can consider using fee-free specialist cards, and avoid cash altogether.
Avoid expensive drop off fees – save up to £7
UK airports have ramped up the price you pay to get dropped off at the gate.
A Sun investigation found that the costs at some popular airports have surged by 20% since last year.
For instance, Gatwick has increased its prices from £5 for a ten minute drop off to £6. Bristol has introduced the same increase for a 30 minute drop off. While Aberdeen has increased prices by 50p, for an extra five minutes at the gate.
Most expensive is Stanstead, which charges £7 for 15 minutes.
However, most airports allow free drop off at long stay carparks, which are typically a free shuttle from the airport.
So savvy travellers can skip the fees and save some cash by planning ahead.
Watch out for roaming charges – save up to £70
Using your data when on holiday can be costly, particularly if you’re outside the UK.
For instance, Three charges customers £2 a day to roam in Europe and £5 a day for the rest of the world.
That means a two-week holiday in America could cost you a whopping £70.
The first thing to do is switch off roaming in your phone settings, or you could be incurring fees accidentally before you even step off the plane.
Then, check your network’s roaming rules, ideally before you leave. Some carriers will allow you buy packages or bolt-ons that are cheaper overall.
If your phone is unlocked, or you have an old one that is, getting a local sim can be a great way to cut costs.
Alternatively, just make sure you that you download media before you leave the UK and any maps you might need too.
Then, only use the internet when you can connect to free Wi-Fi such in the hotel or at restaurants.
Finally, if you need to call or text, use apps like WhatsApp which allow you to connect loved ones for free.
Choose the right currency when paying on card
When you use a card abroad, you’ll often be asked whether you want to pay in pounds or in local currency.
This often starts on the airplane itself and will also be true in airports abroad.
What lots of people don’t know is that choosing local currency is typically much cheaper.
Choosing to pay in pounds sterling will lead to currency conversion fees set by the ATM operator or vendor and there’s no limit to how much they can charge.
Prepay parking and save up to £283
Airport parking is expensive enough, but if you leave it till the last minute, then you’ll pay lots more than you need to.
Research from Money Saving Expert found that on the day parking at Birmingham cost £127 for a week, but booking in advance would cost just £76, saving you £51.
This was true across all the airports it checked, but the biggest discrepancy was at Manchester where on the day parking costs £350 for a week compared to just £98 when you book head – meaning you’d pay £283 more than you needed to.
Check in at home and print your boarding pass – save £75
If you’re flying budget, make sure you print out your boarding pass. Some airlines, such as Ryanair, will charge you £20 if you need to get a pass at check in.
The airline’s statement of fees also says that checking in at the airport will cost £55 per passenger, although this drops to £30 for passengers travelling from Spain. For a family of four that means £220 just for checking in.
Pre-book your baggage and don’t overpack
It’s usually much cheaper to book baggage up front, than to buy more at the airport. In fact, flight comparison website SkySkanner says that many airlines offer up to 50% off what you would pay at check-in.
Budget carriers will even often allow you to buy more baggage right up to the day of departure, which is much cheaper than paying £11-12 per kilo if your suitcase is too heavy.
Bring food with you
Buying food at the airport, or worse on the plane, is an expensive way to travel.
For instance, research price check research from TravelSupermarket at Luton Airport in May 2024, found that a Boots Meal Deal will set you back £4.99, while a Meal Deal from WHSmith will cost you £5.50.
A WHSmith ‘Simply Ham’ sandwich alone comes in at £3 – far more than you’d expect to pay at your local supermarket. By bringing a packed lunch you can save your cash to spend on your travels.