We all know that airport prices can be outrageous, but some items are surprisingly cheaper if you buy them at Duty Free shops or onboard the plane.
Think alcohol and cosmetics, for example. Our research shows that these items can be significantly cheaper than buying them at the supermarket or drugstore.
We’ve compared prices on British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, and Ryanair flights and World Duty Free airport stores to the prices at supermarkets and Boots.
Let’s break down the findings:
Don’t Be Afraid to Sip and Save on Spirits
Did you know that identical bottles of liquor can be significantly cheaper when bought onboard your flight or at World Duty Free?
Post-Brexit, the government announced that thanks to new Duty Free rules, travelers could save around £2.23 on a bottle of wine, £2.86 on a bottle of champagne or prosecco, £11.50 on a litre of spirits, and 38p on a can of beer.
While those savings weren’t quite as high when we first looked in early 2022, our research in 2023 showed that a bottle of Jack Daniel’s whiskey was around £12 cheaper with some airlines, and a bottle of pink gin was over £11 cheaper at World Duty Free stores.
For instance, a litre bottle of Jack Daniel’s whiskey cost £20 from both easyJet and Jet2, compared to the average supermarket price of £32 in August 2023.
And 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.
These savings are due to Duty Free rules that apply to alcohol and tobacco, but not other products.
Beauty Bargains Await at the Airport
It’s not just alcohol where you can find great deals at the airport.
We’ve also found that perfume and cosmetics are often significantly cheaper on flights and at World Duty Free stores.
We looked at popular fragrances and makeup products sold on flights and discovered huge savings compared to buying them at Boots.
One example is Carolina Herrera’s Good Girl fragrance, which was 42% cheaper on an easyJet or Jet2 flight than the price on the Boots website, a saving of £36. Prices vary between airlines, with the same bottle of perfume being more expensive on British Airways than other airlines, but still £17 cheaper than Boots.
World Duty Free stores at the airport are often significantly cheaper than the High Street. A bottle of Clarins Double Serum skin cream cost 16% less in a World Duty Free store than Boots, a saving of £14.
But remember to do your research before you buy! Airlines publish their inflight shopping brochures online, so you can check prices before you travel.
UK Airports Can Beat the Competition
Here’s a surprising fact: UK airports can be cheaper than their overseas counterparts for certain products.
In 2022, we found significant savings for make-up and alcohol at World Duty Free stores, found in many airports around the world. While the price differences were less when we checked again in 2023, the UK still came out ahead for fragrance and make-up.
Clarins Double Serum skin cream was around £11 cheaper in London than in New York, although it was even cheaper in Australia.
The Lowdown on Duty-Free Shopping
Brexit has changed the rules on Duty Free shopping, both at the airport and when bringing goods home from abroad.
You can no longer fill the boot of your car with bottles on a ferry from France, but there are still fairly generous allowances for bringing alcohol into the UK from abroad.
You can also bring gifts or products for personal use with a value of up to £390 without paying tax. See the government rules on allowances for bringing goods into the UK.
Brexit also made it possible for British holidaymakers to save money on purchases in the EU through tax refunds.
Don’t forget to check our latest research for the most up-to-date prices and information on Duty Free shopping.
