Airport visitors paying too much: survey

Travellers at Australia’s major airports are forking out unnecessary cash for simple items, according to a recent survey by Travelzoo Australia.

Travelzoo examined what you can expect to spend at Aussie airports before a holiday, including parking, water, coffee, snacks, nappies and sunscreen.

The snapshot survey found that if you bought those everyday essentials at Sydney Airport, you’d be charged $261 – double what you would pay in a supermarket and CBD car park.

Bottled water was, in some cases, more than 300% more expensive than in the supermarket, costing as much as $4 for 600 millilitres at Perth Airport.

Nappies were marked up by 50% at Melbourne Airport, while sunscreen was $20 at Brisbane Airport compared to $11.50 in the supermarket. Coffee even saw a price hike, with a regular flat white at Adelaide Airport costing $4.60, nearly 20% more.

“It’s completely unacceptable holidaymakers have to fork out such huge sums before they even get to the departure gate,” managing director at Travelzoo Australia Brad Gurrie.said.

“Airport visitors are particularly vulnerable because they have nowhere else to go.”

The study also revealed that travellers start paying more before they even get to the airport, with public transport prices often increasing if your final destination is the airport.

Gurrie claims that investigation, and even regulation, are essential to ensure travellers aren’t paying excessive amounts before they fly.

“These money-making tactics at our airports are enough to take the shine off any holiday.”