Biggest Airport Rip-Offs?

[Mal]

Having seen some huge mark-ups/costs at airports for various services, I'm curious what you think are the biggest rip-offs you've seen? (I do realise that rip-off is a very subjective term)

A couple of examples:
- Heathrow Express. (£16.50 one way).
- Baggage Trolleys, Arrivals JFK ($US5).

I'm sure there are many more "examples". Things like taxi access fees, hire car airport surcharges, inter-terminal transfer costs, parking fees, coke machines that cost a fortune, weird hotel surcharges etc etc.

So name and shame away!

 

[NM]

Fast Food chains that charge more at airport locations than regular suburban stores in the same city.

 

[ejb]

Hire car companies that charge a "location surcharge".

Airport taxi fees, parking charges (looking at you SYD).

ejb

 

[Saab34]

Sydney Airport..Ripoff.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Singapore - changi i have NEVER been ripped off, stay away from the rest especiallyTRAVELLEX AT SYDNEY AIPORT.

 

[kpc]

Sydney Airport..Ripoff.

Ditto....everything assoc. with this airport is a rip off:evil::evil:

 

[harvyk]

Ditto....everything assoc. with this airport is a rip off:evil::evil:

Not quite, when you have a staff id it bring the prices down to "regular" pricing rather than "airport" pricing...

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Fast Food chains that charge more at airport locations than regular suburban stores in the same city.

Agreed, however I would stake money on the fact that those particular fast food outlets would make less profit than their suburban counterparts due to the massive cost of rent at the airport.

What annoys me is the privatisation of airports which are essential services and infrastructure so should be controlled by the Government not greedy corporations that can charge what they want because they've got you over a barrel. :evil: :evil:

Cheers

Oz

 

[coyote25]

Sydney Airport..Ripoff.

100% agree no competition at all equals monopoly they can't really lose unless they are incompetent


Sent from my iPod touch using AustFreqFly

 

[yohy?!]

$4.40 to print 1 A4 page at Syd Int Departures

 

[kpc]

$4.40 to print 1 A4 page at Syd Int Departures

Ouch...having access to a lounge at Syd helps avoid a lot of these rip offs...having said that, we're off to Bkk in 12 days, and as we are in SQ Y, will not have any lounge access at Syd....first time in a long time:shock:

 

[anat0l]

Transport to the airport, of which usually an airport transport surcharge of sorts is added on. Probably not the airport's fault, though.

 

[nlagalle]

Transport to the airport, of which usually an airport transport surcharge of sorts is added on. Probably not the airport's fault, though.

Usually is the airport adding the charge - like the charge you get catching a taxi from the airport.

 

[james4321]

Agreed, however I would stake money on the fact that those particular fast food outlets would make less profit than their suburban counterparts due to the massive cost of rent at the airport.

What annoys me is the privatisation of airports which are essential services and infrastructure so should be controlled by the Government not greedy corporations that can charge what they want because they've got you over a barrel. :evil: :evil:

Oz

Couldn't agree more - its not the retailers its the greedy airport corporations that screw them and therefore the passenger for the exorbitant rent and fees that they charge - why? because they can !!!

 

[kpc]

Syd Airport Train (one way):
Int terminal to City:
$15 (if you walk to Wolli Creek station, and catch train from there: $4.00)

Dom terminal to City:
$15 (if you walk to Mascot station, and catch train from there: $5.80)

Pick up passengers from Syd Int airport: mininum fee: $7 (Unless your arriving guests walk some distance away from the airport ,and meet you in a "secret" designated spot:evil

 

[DrAndyC]

Sydney domestic short term parking. $7 for up to 30 minutes. I paid less in Oslo, Norway for 30 minutes just several weeks ago and Norway is HIDEOUSLY expensive. Oh Macquarie!

 

[DrAndyC]

What annoys me is the privatisation of airports which are essential services and infrastructure so should be controlled by the Government not greedy corporations that can charge what they want because they've got you over a barrel. :evil: :evil:

Cheers

Oz

I agree....since when is privatising a monopoly business (in this case Sydney "International" Airport) going to be a positive thing for the community. Profit motif in the private sector will always come into play if there is no competition. Yeah...it might be more efficient a business...but we still pay through the teeth. Ridiculous!

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

While I think most of the charges around Syd Airport are higher than a 747 crusing altitude, in many ways the only reason they are that high is most people still pay them.

I tend to catch a taxi as it's usually < $25 compared to the $18 for the train.

As for food prices, i usually take some sandwiches with me and an empty bottle so i can fill up at a bubbler once i get thru security.

If people just stopped eating in the food courts and maybe stopped parking at the airport then the owners would either have to take the revenue hit, or drop their prices to meet the market.

Profit seeking companies will gouge u for as much as they can/ It's the way the free (and monopoly) markets operate.

The sale of the airports was 1 of the ways the previous Government paid off the public debt as fast as they did. Just shifted the costs onto the private citizens.

I wonder if they could get a high speed rail line between Syd and Newcastle whether the increased competition would help. Just have to look at the lower costs in Melbourne and BNE to see what a nearby airport does to prices.

Bottom line is, if you think the price is too high, don't pay.

 

[Groundfeeder]

ONE lane exit for cabs at BNE Dom, with a pile of broken wooden barrier arms lying next to the coin chute as testimony to cabbie frustration.:evil::evil:

 

[DrAndyC]

Profit seeking companies will gouge u for as much as they can/ It's the way the free (and monopoly) markets operate.

Bottom line is, if you think the price is too high, don't pay.

No problem here with market forces determining price.....the exception however being private monopolies. Access to this essential infrastructure can be expensive...and these days with budget flights and delays.... and with no "Qantas food voucher" equivalents for those other carriers, you are nothing but taken advantage of and price gouged. Bottom line as far as I am concerned (at the risk of sounding left wing) is that private monopolies are a problem. That's why govts didn't allow AirNZ, qantas mergers years ago.

I do agree we should vote with our feet and not pay....doesnt make it easier for those being stuck with a delayed flight for 5 hours...especially at some airports where the only choice is warm tap water in the bathrooms