# I pit airport duty free **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 19, 2023, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-airport-duty-free/994838 "2023-12-19T20:58:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-airport-duty-free/994838/21 "2023-12-20T00:33:40Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > I’m dehydrated and I need to pee! Hmm, seems like these problems are each other’s solution… _eww_ What I don’t understand is that people will spend more after they’ve taken care of basic needs like refreshments and using the restroom. Who likes to spend money when they’re cranky? On the other hand, when the kids were younger, more than once we’d just sit on the floor. At least we weren’t peeing on it. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-airport-duty-free/994838/22 "2023-12-20T00:34:56Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > It’s Seattle, there’s a novelty for some people to buy such things from the “Home of Grunge” or whatever. I get that. What I don’t get is why you’d want to buy vinyl right before getting on a plane - it seems like a good way to end up with broken vinyl. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-airport-duty-free/994838/23 "2023-12-20T00:40:58Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I don’t get why ANYONE buys shit before they get on a plane. Is it that good of a deal? Water and a snack we get of course. Once I bought a bottle of Scotch before getting on the plane. I slept like a baby on that flight, and so did the person seated next to me. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-airport-duty-free/994838/24 "2023-12-20T00:41:42Z")
I bought a $70 export-only Scotch at Heathrow a number of years ago. It’s now worth almost $500. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-airport-duty-free/994838/25 "2023-12-20T00:44:56Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I get that. What I don’t get is why you’d want to buy vinyl right before getting on a plane - it seems like a good way to end up with broken vinyl. I guess if you had a carry-on with something soft in it, you could cushion it enough that it would be safe. But I agree, something large and thin and brittle sounds like something you don’t want to take on a flight. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-airport-duty-free/994838/26 "2023-12-20T00:48:59Z")
Vinyl is also heavy though that’s a bigger deal if you buy a bunch. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-airport-duty-free/994838/27 "2023-12-20T00:53:56Z")
I bought chocolate at a Duty-Free store at Malpensa to use up euros. So did dad, I think. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-airport-duty-free/994838/28 "2023-12-20T01:03:57Z")
The sequence is Ex Officio before flying out of Seattle, then Sub-Pop after flying in to Seattle. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-airport-duty-free/994838/29 "2023-12-20T01:23:32Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > Maybe you should consider arranging for airport transport the next time you go to that airport - not a wheelchair, but those golf cart type things I see trundling around - and tell them why. It can’t cost them much to at least add some benches to those corridors for people like you that just need a place to stop and rest their feet for a bit. I’ve considered that, but each airport has it’s own setup/issues with that sort of thing. And while it hurts to walk, I _prefer_ to walk – walking is actually good for my issue – as long as I’ve got a bench or something every so often, which is not a lot to \*fucking ask for in an airport or train station. \* it’s the pit, must use up my cussing quota. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-airport-duty-free/994838/30 "2023-12-20T01:30:11Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I think it was probably one of the ubiquitous [Hudson News](https://www.hudsongroup.com/about-us/our-locations) stores But Hudsons are just filled with useful things. Medicine. Tissue. Juice and soda. Nuts. Candy. Stuff to read. Headsets. Batteries. Adapter cables. _WATER_. I’ve no objection to this store. Duty free has nothing like that (or if it does good luck finding any of it. Would you like 2 liters of Glenfiddich?). ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-airport-duty-free/994838/31 "2023-12-20T01:31:44Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > I’ve considered that, but each airport has it’s own setup/issues with that sort of thing. The last couple times I booked a flight, they specifically asked if we needed any assistance to get to the next gate - maybe you could do that? But, yeah, tell 'em why and what could be done to fix your issue! If no one bitches about it, nothing will change. I’m sure there’s no end of travel forums that can offer advice for that specific airport too. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-airport-duty-free/994838/32 "2023-12-20T01:32:52Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > I’m sure there’s no end of travel forums that can offer advice for that specific airport too It just offends me no end I’d have to research how to _get to a gate in an airport on foot_. Benches, bitches. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-airport-duty-free/994838/33 "2023-12-20T01:32:58Z")
IMO, this is an excellent way to burn off excess Euros (if not calories). I’ve done that too. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-airport-duty-free/994838/34 "2023-12-20T01:36:30Z")
With how miserable air travel already is, might as well spread it to the terminals, I guess. $$$ first. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-airport-duty-free/994838/35 "2023-12-20T01:52:01Z")
Sounds like a lot of folks don’t fly international a lot. Back in the day 40-50 years ago, duty free was great. Leaving e.g. London or Paris to fly to the USA you could buy top-of-the-line British or French booze or perfume or smokes that simply were unavailable in the USA at any price. And you’d not pay any taxes on them in Europe, and no import taxes on them in the USA. Back when tariffs were 50-100% on luxury good that meant buying Paris’s finest for less than you’d pay for their 3rd-rate crap at the local upscale department store in Chicago where you lived. And if you lived in Des Moines, actual French made-in-France perfume was simply unavailable at any price. And certainly not their top-of-the-line. Fast forward to now. Tariffs have been gutted. Costco has that perfume in stock for less. If they don’t, your local mall’s national chain upscale department store does. So does Amazon. For people who do not live in the USA or EU, their reality today is about like my old days story above. The folks from e.g. Costa Rica or Zimbabwe or India or Qatar who are flying internationally are not poor. They’re uber-fatcats by local standards and upper-middle class to seriously rich by US/EU standards. They are happy to buy fancy $250/bottle Scotch in an airport and bring it home. The same stuff you or I could get from Total Wine for $240 they’d pay $1000 for at home. Also, duty free purchases are not cash & carry into the terminal. They are delivered onto the airplane by the store staff. Only after the airplane has taken off and the goods are “exported” can the FAs pass the purchases out to the passengers. Which they aren’t supposed to start drinking right then, but it has been known to happen. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-airport-duty-free/994838/36 "2023-12-20T01:57:54Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Sounds like a lot of folks don’t fly international a lot I’ve flown international 6 times in the last 15 months. I just don’t buy luxury goods for the most part. Don’t make me part of that nonsense. Let me use the airport as an _airport_. And, yeah, I’d be considered wealthy most places. But there’s a _reason_ I am: I don’t take part in luxury consumption. Sir, your 80 liter barrel of Glenfiddich has arrived. Shall I park it next to the Rolls? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-airport-duty-free/994838/37 "2023-12-20T02:18:08Z")
Sorry you took offense. My post wasn’t aimed at you. I apologize for causing confusion. There were several people upthread who confused / conflated ordinary “convenience store” retail in airports with duty free sales. Both of which are different from souvenir stores. As an experienced international traveler I’m sure you’ll agree they are different stores with a different purpose and a different audience. I was trying to explain to them that difference. I enjoy a bit of luxury now and again. But not from airport duty free. Like you I find it a physical hassle and not a compelling financial deal. Shopping aside, big international-scale airports are a marathon standing and walking effort for anyone in less than good physical condition. They are big places with lots of queueing and walking with few or no opportunities to sit. Many savvy passengers who do not need assistive devices to get through a normal week at home use the airport wheelchair service precisely because standing an hour in a serpentine queue is beyond, or almost beyond, their personal stamina. As is walking a half-mile from parking to that queue, and then another half-mile on the far side to their gate. All in a hurry. Any one of those is doable, but for many people dealing with all 3 in direct succession is simply somewhere between self-abusive and flat impossible. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-airport-duty-free/994838/38 "2023-12-20T02:49:14Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Sorry you took offense. Oh, no, not at all! Sorry I misunderstood your intent, sir. \< bows sincerely \> > [@LSLGuy](#): > > Many savvy passengers who do not need assistive devices to get through a normal week at home use the airport wheelchair service precisely because standing an hour in a serpentine queue is beyond, or almost beyond, their personal stamina. As is walking a half-mile from parking to that queue, and then another half-mile on the far side to their gate. All in a hurry. Any one of those is doable, but for many people dealing with all 3 in direct succession is simply somewhere between self-abusive and flat impossible. Yeah, I may be getting to that point at certain airports. I’d rather use an group electric cart and wish they were more available where conveyor belts aren’t (I’m giving duty-free mega corridors the stinkeye here). I wish there were just a phone app to summon cart help, but then the tech bros would just ruin it for everyone.\* A wheelchair at BKK or HND or similar may be in my future. \* I’d love a QR code I could just scan at a pickup point (with BENCH) after security, takes me to a page, “a cart/chair will be there in n minutes”, though I imagine registration at bag drop would be a good idea so lazy techbros don’t ruin everything. Or could we just have an international treaty to _require_ conveyor belts every n feet in airports? Pleeease? F DF! ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-airport-duty-free/994838/39 "2023-12-20T03:03:58Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > noticed that; that the stuff in the duty free shop could generally be purchased at a fat discount in a retail store like Costco. Perhaps the high taxes on cigarettes might make them worth buying duty free My post above about buying huge Toblerones was only partly facetious; when I’m in Europe, I like to stock up on chocolate candies that are either unavailable or hard to find in Atlanta. I can now buy them in my local Kroger, but back when I visited Germany in 2010 I discovered and subsequently stocked up on Ritter Sport chocolate bars. You’re correct that there’s no point blowing a wad on Chanel No. 5 or Glenfiddich at the duty free; but it’s still an easy way to get things you just can’t, at home. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-airport-duty-free/994838/40 "2023-12-20T05:27:08Z")
Mr. Legend doesn’t use a wheelchair at home, but he has some conditions that make it painful for him to stand for long or walk more than a short distance. We get wheelchairs for him when we fly, but the first time there wasn’t an attendant to meet us at the gate and we had to get to our connecting flight in another concourse, he walked it. He spent the first three days of our trip recovering from that adventure. Nowadays, if they don’t have someone with a wheelchair for us, I’ve learned to just find one and grab it myself. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-airport-duty-free/994838.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-airport-duty-free/994838.md?page=3)