Avoid These Airport Rip-Offs!

If you're flying off on holiday this summer -- don't get caught out at the airport! Serena Cowdy highlights the scams and swindles you need to avoid.

I can't wait to zoom off on my summer holiday this year -- but I'll admit that I'm not the world's greatest air traveller.

I worry about missing my plane, flights being cancelled, and (let's be honest) the plane falling out of the sky with me in it.

With all that to think about, the last thing I need are any hassles at the airport itself.

Unfortunately, there are a host of airport rip-offs to avoid. Here, I've highlighted some of the worst - so you can jet off on holiday with your finances intact.

Food and drink

You've got hours to wait, and you're faced with a poor selection of ridiculously over-priced food and drink. Sound familiar? Go into that well-known snacks/newspapers chain and you'll find you're paying far more than you would for the same product, from the same retailer, on the high street. Grrr!

And of course there's the bottled water dilemma. If you turn up at security control with a bottle of water, it'll be confiscated. You'll then have to buy an identical bottle of water all over again on the other side - at an extortionate price.

Solution: Bring plenty of food from home to keep you going. Even if you have a good meal before you leave the house, bring some extra snacks -- boredom breeds attacks of the munchies!

And it's worth bearing in mind that you can take an empty water bottle through security no matter what size it is.

The only problem is there's rarely somewhere to fill it up in the departure lounge. It seems the time is ripe for `free water dispenser' Facebook campaign...

Duty Free

The implication at Duty Free is that you can get stuff cheaper there than elsewhere. But actually, that's very often not the case. You may well find that `great value' item for less if you shop around online, or take advantage of high street special offers.

Duty Free shops cash in on the fact that people are unable to hunt down cheaper alternatives.

Solution: Doing a bit of research before you leave the house could save you a lot of cash.

If it's electronics you're after, you can look up prices at Dixons Tax Free and see if the products on offer are, in fact, the cheapest around.

Or for a full range of Duty Free products, have a look at the World Duty Free website.

Cash and foreign currency

Foreign currency exchange bureaux in airports generally charge high rates of commission (also known as `service fees') and you're also likely to get a rubbish exchange rate.

And beware of airport ATMs. Many still charge fees for withdrawing money -- and it's not always obvious which do and which don't.

Solution: Make sure you withdraw all the sterling you need for airport spending before you get there.

And for tips on finding the best value foreign currency around, read The Cheapest Place To Get Your Holiday Cash by my Foolish friend Jane Baker.

Travel to the airport

Trains specifically advertised as `airport services' can cost you an arm and a leg. I was once horrified to discover that the train taking me from central London to Gatwick actually cost me more than the flight itself!

Solution: Before you shell out for the most-advertised `express' or `shuttle' service, see if there are cheaper alternatives that will do the job just as well.

For example: You could pay almost £18 for a standard single on the Gatwick Express from London Victoria to Gatwick Airport (taking around 30 minutes).

However, you can also get from Victoria to Gatwick for around £9 using First Capital Connect trains. Just bear in mind this is a stopping service, so the journey could take up to 25 minutes longer.

And if you're really skint, you could book in advance with easyBus - and get from Victoria to Gatwick for as little as £2 (in around 80 minutes).

Parking

Park your car at the airport while you're on a week's break, and you could find that you're forking out more than you paid for the holiday itself.

At the UK's biggest airports, you could easily find yourself paying £140 for a week's parking -- and that's if you book ahead. Just turn up on the day, and it's possible to pay £200 per week or even more.

And if you collect your car even a few minutes late at the end of your holiday -- the penalty charges can be astronomical.

Solution: See if you can find alternative, private parking facilities near the airport -- these can vary from huge car parks to savvy house owners with unused private parking facilities. Recommendations from friends and family are a good place to start.

Alternatively, sites like Purple Parking should help you root out some of the more affordable options.

Excess baggage and check-in charges

This is an absolute minefield. These days, you have to be on your guard from the moment you start booking your flights.

If you don't tick (or un-tick) the right boxes online, you could end up facing a host of extra charges when you arrive at the airport.

Ryanair is one budget airline frequently accused of ripping off customers in this way (have a look at its daunting table of fees) -- but it's certainly not alone.

Solution: Forewarned is forearmed. My Foolish friend Szu Ping Chan recently put together this useful article, which should help you avoid paying more than you have to.

Internet access

This is another area in which airport operators prey on people's boredom and take advantage of the lack of competition.

A friend told me: "I had to wait at Heathrow for four hours once because of a flight delay and it cost £10 to go online using my laptop's wireless connection." And that was him using his own computer. Ridiculous!

Solution: Unless it's absolutely necessary to use the internet at the airport -- don't do it! Make sure you write down/print off all your holiday details and booking reference numbers before you leave the house -- and take a good book to read in case you're delayed.

Clear plastic bags

Finally, could this stingy tactic be a widespread rip-off of the future?

A colleague explained: "On the way back from Munich recently, my wife needed a clear plastic bag for the liquids in her handbag and the security person directed us towards a machine where we had to pay $1 Euro for a box with two little bags in it.

"While you can still get them for free in English airports, it's safe to say I think they will be introducing that everywhere soon."

Solution: Most of us have clear plastic sandwich/freezer bags in our kitchen cupboards which will do exactly the same job. Remember to grab a couple before you leave the house (just don't pack them in your suitcase!)

Preparation can be boring -- particularly when you're excited about your big trip. But it seems that when it comes to airport arrangements, forward planning could save you hundreds of pounds.

And at least that means more holiday money for you to spend on something fun...

Happy flying!

More: Pay Nothing For Your Holiday! | The Cheapest Holiday Hotspots Uncovered