Why is fast food in the airport so damn high?

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Mike R

It is true that airport concessions are expensive because they know that people have no choice but to eat what's available at the airport or nothing at all (especially now that airlines don't feed you and you can't bring as much through security). However, a lot of it is also because of the cost of carrying everything through security. All of the food that's bought at the airport must go through security (actually, more specifically, the cargo trucks supplying the restaurants with food and other supplies must be searched). This, of course, costs money. So it costs more for a company to operate a franchise at the airport than it does in a shopping mall or somewhere else.

blueabe162

Because they can get away with it. You're limited on your choices, and since the airport is probably the owner of the place, or getting a percentage of the profits, they'll jip you any way they can!

Just like amusement parks.

tolitstolites

high rental fees which they have to charge from you and more - you are a captured market they will fleece money from

K C

Because you are basically a captive consumer, not like you can just say screw 'em & go to the next vendor & get it any cheaper.

Also to cover the higher rent the vendors pay for the prime real estate they have.

Dereky

1) Captive audiance
2) Higher rent for airport property
3) Security checks and higher pay for employees. The McDonalds burger flipper in the airport gets paid a little bit more than the same McDonalds burger flipper outside the airport
4) Taxes that do screw over visitors.

Randy

First of course is that the purchasers are captive consumers with zero options. Second is the tax structure that most communities with airports use to rip-off visitors (they don't vote in local elections so who gives a darn if they don't like the prices). Hotels and car rentals are often the same way. Visitors from out of the area are exploited to pay for local projects that otherwise would not be funded. Sporst stadiums are good examples of projects that are funded this way.

slawsayssss

well yes there is an explanation for it, its becasue they want money and know they can rip you off.

With all the limitations of what you can bring on airplanes food and drink is non-existant. And you have to get there hours ahead of time to get through the lines. SO you are sitting around after getting searched for an hour or more with nothing to drink and you are THIRSTY. You know what, they say people will be in that situation and so they will pay more.

Corperations are greedy. I would suggest to find other modes of transportaion when possible other then flying and top speak with your dollars and not buy the corperate greed! Be sure to eat before you leave for the airport and on the airplane take advantage of any water or other things they may provide.

holacarinados

Easy. There's a captive audience. You can't walk to the corner and find an alternative.

Paul McDonald

I don't feel you on that, heck we've never even met!

Seriously, though... it's higher for the following reasons:

1) staff who serve must pass security clearance. It costs more to run the security clearance, and people who qualify demand more money

2) The food and containers that ship the food must go through security, which also costs money

3) Most airport authorities have to charge a much higher rent because of the security concerns, the cost of building, the limited space, etc.

4) Supply and demand, the greatest law of economics: Fewer supply of food providers, more demand by the customers creates a higher price.

IceTrojan

It's called supply and demand.

That said, some airports have imposed a rule that airport vendors can't be more expensive than their menu prices in town. Portland, OR is one of these airports.

Jason Bourne

because we are all stupid enough to buy it.

mooshie

It's expensive because there is nowhere else for you to go to eat. It's not like you can walk to the next block to find cheaper food. So their only competition is with other food places in the airport--but nobody's really hurting for business because there are so few places to eat, and so many people who want to eat all day long. So nobody has to cut prices to gain business, and everybody gets to raise prices because the customer will pay them, because there's no alternative except to not eat.

Johan from Sweden

Two reasons: first you cant go anywhere else and the airplane foods are even higher prised.

Second: The airports are probably taking high rents for the space. High rent= high prise. Johan

soccerknocker199

because they are the only thing around you cant just leave the airport because then you will not be allowed back in so if you really want something then well you are going to have to pay the price.

surffsav

You are a captive audience.

mya

its expensever b/c lots of people need to buy things @ the air port even if its a lil expensive just like @ carnivals

Mr T

hey doc yo p1ssed about it aswell ah, take this one then Luxor airport. tea and falafel is 1.50 le thats like 15 english pence. in the airport its 50le thats 5ВЈ and you think you being ripped off, so what is happenning to fair trade, not just on food when i left the uk to live in egypt I wanted some whisky glen f, in my local morrisons it was 15.99ВЈ the same bottle in the airport 24ВЈ Whats duty free about that.you got me going doc , lay off or I get p!ssed off with all the scams, but w are the fools for putin up with it.

Sxoxo

So they can take advantage of people.thats it.

*Voddy*

It is to make the free food on the plane appealing on some level...

Once you finally get served that ever so tasty pasta dish or perhaps the chewy beef meal... you think ..well hey, it is free at least.

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