’m a very frequent traveller and I’m also a total scrooge who hates getting ripped off at the airport. By the time I’ve caught a cab to my terminal, grabbed a bottle of water and a magazine and shouted myself a cheeky wine on the plane, I can easily rack up an extra $100 on my travel budget without even trying. As a veteran traveller I’ve developed a few tips to help you avoid getting ripped off at the airport…
Pack an empty water bottle and snacks
Most airports don’t allow liquids through the check in station so pack an empty bottle and fill it at a water fountain on the other side of security. You can also take through some pre-packaged snacks like muesli bars or protein balls bought from a supermarket to avoid the airport mark up. You can pack fruit but if you don’t eat it, you’ll most likely have to throw it away at your destination.
Consider parking your car at the airport
There’s this weird myth that parking your car at the airport is crazy expensive and it is – if you park for 3 hours. If you park for 3 days it’s a different story. If I catch a cab to the airport in Melbourne it’s $120 for both trips. If I pre-pay for parking it’s about $70 for a few days. This is a massive saving as it’s difficult to avoid paying for airport transfers at my destination so I always make the saving in my hometown.
Sleep on the flight
I’ve written a few times about how I always sleep on planes, even if it’s a one hour domestic flight. Not only do I grab a few moments of shut-eye but I also save myself money by not buying $15 worth of drinks and snacks on the plane.
Take a book or magazine with you
I love reading on the plane (if I can’t sleep!) but books are so expensive at the airport. Always make sure you’ve bought enough entertainment for the flight so you don’t end up dropping $30 on a book you could have picked up at Big W for half the price.
Be on time
My partner loves to race the clock and try to get to the airport at the perfect time so he doesn’t have to wait to board his flight but quite frankly this behaviour is maddening to me. If you don’t want to be slugged with transfer fees because you missed your flight, make sure you arrive in plenty of time.
Buy luggage scales
I’ve had to pay excess baggage a few times and it’s super frustrating but it was entirely my fault. It’s never a mystery how much baggage you’re allowed to take on a flight or carry on so get yourself some scales and avoid the excess baggage fees at the gate.
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Do you travel often? What are your tips for avoiding airport expenses?
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P.S Did you know there’s a Smaggle newsletter? And Smags on Facebook? There’s lots of awesome life tips and Beyonce in both of those places.
P.P.S This post was written for this rad competition because why the hell not?
25 Comments
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Racing the clock makes me anxious! I love getting there early and people watching! Airports are great for that! Great tips… I’ve been meaning to buy luggage scales, thanks for the reminder! Xx
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Oh my god me too! Can’t handle it!
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Don’t forget the liquids restrictions only apply to international flights. And then sometimes they will confiscate a bottle over 100ml capacity even if it is empty.
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Wow they confiscate empty bottles – really?? We travel a bit between here and NZ and I’d be super pissed off if they ever confiscated my water bottle! I have an aluminium Kathmandu one that I love – but maybe I’d better take plastic next time…
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In Melbourne they sometimes put you on an ‘international’ flight between Melbourne in Sydney – it’s often a bit cheaper. You don’t need your passport but they still confiscate liquids. I had to store a $100 bottle Moet in a locker the last time I went to Sydney because they wouldn’t let me take it on the flight. I take a plastic foldable camping water bottle and it’s been fine because it doesn’t look like a bottle. I have definitely had bottles taken off me for domestic flights before too and also a Swiss card that I carried around through airports all over the word for ten years and they just randomly took it one day in Melbourne for no reason because it has a tiny pair of scissors in it. Never got even registered before that.
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Luggage scales is a good idea, I love airports, and wished I travelled more. But then again that probably because I love escaping my house!
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I used to like travelling a lot more when I didn’t have to do it so often! I’m getting pretty good at it these days though!
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Fantastic tips! I wholeheartedly agree with all of them 🙂
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It’s ALL about the $$$ saving in Smaggle land.
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Luggage scales were essential for us on our recent Europe trip – budget airlines will slug you quick smart – so we weighed our cases and re-distributed while still at our accommodation.
I’m also a big one for having snacks – nuts/protein balls with me at all times. And we did the water bottle thing while travelling OS too.
Love your work Smags!
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Thanks love! Yes it’s essential for OS travel. I also get a bit shirty when people get cranky about going over the luggage limit. I’m a real rule follower and I’m always like ‘It says it on your ticket! Don’t yell at the poor service person!!!!’
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The other day I spent 10 hours in transit in HK airport and am proud to say I only spent $6, which I bought a coffee with. No, I didn’t pack myself snacks or anything clever like that – I am just SO cheap that on principle I refused to buy anything to eat because it wasn’t possible to buy a real meal for under $20. I just couldn’t spend that much money on a small shitty bowl of noodles. Yes, it was unpleasant but I’d have felt worse if I let myself get scammed. Normally I’m okay to buy airport food when travelling, but the Australian dollar is so disgustingly low now that I just can’t do it. Definitely packing nuts and crackers next time!
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Well done! I wouldn’t have been able to be that disciplined! I’m devo about the Australian dollar. I’ve just booked a trip to the US next year and I’m terrified. I’m thinking about getting some currency now before it drops even further.
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I bought a Kindle…it was the best thing I ever did after travelling so much domestically last year and kept ruining books in my hand luggage…I like to go into the bookshops and browse the new releases- If anything appeals, I take a pic on my phone of the cover and then buy it on Amazon…
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I freaking LOVE my Kindle. It’s the best. I do the same thing taking the photo and then buying it on Amazon!
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I love these tips Carly! I got slugged with an excess baggage charge on the way back from New Zealand…. wasn’t pretty! I now own a set of luggage scales as you suggest. I’m also a fan of being early – I can’t deal with the stress of running for my flight or potentially missing it….. I’d much rather be early and read a great book while I’m waiting! x
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I have to be early. It’s not worth my stress levels to mess around with that. 🙂
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I am the WORST for buying books at the airport! It’s like a tradition for me, I’m going to try the Oyster app for my iPad next time so I don’t fall into the book trap and then have a carry on bag stuffed full of books.
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I usually use my Kindle but sometimes I can be persuaded by a best seller on a sales table!
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Such top tips! I’m a big fan of taking my own water bottle, snacks and luggage scales are a great investment. They save so much stress at the check in desk, especially if you’re a serial over packer like me!
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I’ve become a serial unpacker recently! Because I travel so much I tend to just pack all the same things all the time!
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These are great tips – airport food/books/drinks/anything is so expensive and usually pretty low quality so I always take my own.
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They ARE low quality! I recently had to buy an eye mask at the airport (can’t sleep without them) and it was gross. I’ll never forget my proper one again!
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I’ve only ever been slugged at the airport once – and that was in Melbourne when they decided to rip up all the roads and do works between the Friday I arrived and the Monday when I was trying to get back in to the airport! I missed check in by TWO MINUTES and it cost me $50, I was so cranky! (But not at the girl at the desk because it wasn’t her fault!)
Pingbacks
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[…] read some amazing posts with tips on how to travel with parents, how to avoid getting ripped off at the airport and the ten commandments for air travel (aka how not to be a d*ck on a plane). But no one has […]
[…] read some amazing posts with tips on how to travel with parents, how to avoid getting ripped off at the airport and the ten commandments for air travel (aka how not to be a d*ck on a plane). But no one has […]
