Ridiculous airport prices compared to what things should really cost

IT’S no secret that the prices get bumped up a bit when you are at the airport. But how much extra are you really paying?

WHETHER you are looking for a bite to eat or to buy a replacement toothbrush because you left yours at home, it’s hard not to notice that everything at the airport is a bit more pricey.

Generally the price changes are subtle enough that people accept they are going to pay a few dollars extra for their morning croissant or a schooner of beer.

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But every now and then you find a price tag that really shocks, like the $9.17 bottle of water spotted by Tom Joyner at Sydney Airport.

Behold a $9.17 (!) bottle of water at Sydney airport pic.twitter.com/38wTrO9Zz1

— Tom Joyner (@tomrjoyner) May 6, 2018

But water isn’t the only thing travellers are spending more to buy when they fly. Here’s a list of how much you will spend on different items at the airport.

FOOD

Remember that classic ham and cheese croissant? Well at the airport, the cheapest you are going to find one for is about $8.90, with some places even charging $11.90 - along with the expensive sounding French name Croque Monsieur Croissant. Outside of the airport you can usually buy one for about $5 or $6.

They do look pretty tasty, but are they worth $11.90?

Or how about a small slice of banana bread? Probably should have made your own because at Sydney Airport this will set you back around $8 while a little treat to take on the plane such as a bag of M&Ms will cost $6.99. The same product at Woolworths costs $4.25.

A pre-packaged chicken and salad sandwich from the fridge is going to cost you about $9.95, but if you need gluten-free bread, expect to pay $10.50 for a sandwich half the size.

For something a bit more filling, like a nice roast beef sandwich, expect to pay a toe-curling $17.

Even the guy on the bag is shocked at the price.

DRINKS

Although you won’t have to fork out $9 for a bottle of water at every shop in the airport, be prepared to pay at least $4 for a bottle of Mt Franklin. You can get the same bottle from a supermarket for $2.15.

If you are a fan of energy drinks, a can of Red Bull is going to cost roughly $4.50, which is around 80 cent more expensive than Woolworths.

In Sydney’s CBD the average price of a schooner of beer is around $8, but in Sydney Airport a beer costs anywhere from $9.50 to 12.50.

A glass of wine will cost you between $11 and $14.

Knocking back a cold one just isn’t as satisfying when you have to pay $12 for it.

TRAVEL ITEMS

It’s not uncommon to get to the airport and realise you have forgotten to pack something that you can’t do without on your trip, like your ear plugs or toothpaste. Luckily, you can easily pick these things up — if you are prepared to pay the price.

From your average chemist, a pack of four pairs of Protech ear plugs cost $8.99, but at the airport you can expect to pay $10.95.

What’s worse, listening to someone snore for your whole flight or handing over $10.95 for ear plugs?

You can pick a travel pillow up for around $7 at Kmart, but if you choose to buy at the airport you are going to fork out anywhere between $19.95 and a whopping $55.95.

If you forget your toothbrush, a new Colgate brush is going to cost about $7.95, roughly $3 more than normal.

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Prone to dry lips on those long flights? Then you are going to need to stock up on some lip balm. A 75g tub of Paw Paw cream would usually cost you around $12, but at the airport that price is bumped up to $20.49.

I’ll take the dry lips thanks.