Wallet getting lighter before you even board your flight? You are not alone; lots of travelers face the same issue: they enter the airport, and their money takes off before they do. Here’s a closer look at the hidden airport costs and how to dodge them.
Typical costs at an airport
If you’re an air traveler, you must be surprised to know that flight tickets aren’t the only thing you’re charged for at the airport. So, what are these extra costs? To put it briefly, everything from bottled water to parking is going to cost you much more than you anticipated. After a casual walk around the airport, chances are that your pre-flight strolling might have already cost you up to $100. With additional expenses creeping in, your airport bill might be a shocker by the time you take off.
Why have airport costs skyrocketed?
The reason is not just one, but multiple. Starting from high rent and commission to COVID-19, everything has had an effect on the increase in airport costs.
- COVID-19: According to the ACI-NA[1] (Airports Council International – North America), U.S. airports have lost more than $20 billion from 2020 to 2022. This decline due to lower passenger traffic and a shortage of staff resulted in an increase in overall costs for everything inside the airport.
- High rent and Commission: Since Airport spaces are limited and the competition is on the higher side, naturally, the rent and commission increase. With this, there is also a gradual increase in the items being sold.
- Labor Cost and Inflation: According to ARRA[2] (Airport Restaurant and Retail Association), the hourly wages and manager salaries rose more than their sales. To match it with the revenue, they’ve increased the price of their products.
- Logistics and Supply Cost: Delivery charges to these places are on the higher side since these vehicles have to surpass security and multiple levels of clearance to enter.
- Captive Customers: The customer, once inside, cannot easily go outside to find a cheaper food spot or services. Vendors know this well, which leads them to increase the price.
Breaking down the hidden expenses
From coffee to check-in, find out all the spots where you’re emptying your pockets. Even a short trip through the terminals can make your money slip away. Here are some hidden extra charges you might encounter at the airport.
Expensive Food and Drinks
This is one popular area where you tend to overspend a lot. Keep in mind that due to rising operational charges and other reasons, food and beverages are quite expensive inside the airport. Coffee[3] costs 10 to 15% more at the airport, around $4 to $7, whereas sandwiches are said to be around $12.
Speedy Screening Costs
Travelers who hate waiting might prefer enrolling in TSA PreCheck, CLEAR, or Global Entry to skip the long, tiring queue. However, the minimum fee for a five-year membership to TSA PreCheck[4] enrollment is $76.75, while the Global Entry[5] charges $120 for five years. On the other hand, for CLEAR[6], it is $209 per year. Remember that the fee changes according to the enrollment provider, so make sure to choose the right one for you.
Parking
Airports charge high parking fees to cover their operational and maintenance costs. Airports like Baltimore/Washington International (BWI), Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA), and Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) have increased their parking charges, making it more expensive for travelers with vehicles to commute.
- SEA[7]: General daily parking has increased from $34 to $37, and terminal direct daily parking has increased from $42 to $47.
- PHX[8]: Daily parking has increased from $30 to $33.
- BWI[9]: Increased their daily parking rates from $12 to $16.
Baggage and Additional Cost
Airlines are now charging extra charges for ancillary services such as carry-on bags, checked baggage, and seat selections. A recent study revealed that airlines earned $33 billion[10] from baggage fees alone, while another report showed that major airlines collected $12.4 billion[11] for seat selection from 2018 to 2023. Bear in mind that these charges differ according to the region and airline.
Real price comparisons (airport vs city)
Which airports are doing it right?
Some airports are fair and wouldn’t cost you a fortune after a quick stroll. Portland International Airport (PDX)[13] is one of them. Over here, the travelers are at ease and are not concerned about overpriced items. This is due to the ‘street pricing policy’ adopted/incorporated by the airport authority. The policy ensures that items and services cost the same as they do outside the airport. The policy has been active for a long time, and since then, PDX has been a leader in fair airport pricing.
Next on the list is Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)[14], where the ‘street pricing policy’ comes to the rescue. The policy was brought here after understanding that it worked at PDX. If a vendor here wants to increase the price, they must notify the airport authorities and provide them with proper proof that the street prices were also increased.
The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey started implementing new pricing policies after the widespread public outrage over inflated prices. All NYC Airports[15], LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark, now have a limit set/ set limit on concession prices. The vendors are only allowed to price up to 10% above the city street prices. In addition, they are also asked to offer affordable options on their menus, which are monitored and audited to ensure fair pricing and maintain transparency.
Smart travel hacks: Cut your airport costs
Now that we’ve spilled all the airport secrets, wondering how not to repeat the same mistakes again? Here are a few hacks to help steer clear of sneaky airport costs and to travel worry-free.
- One of the most important hacks is to keep an empty water bottle and bring your own food. This would help you save money on food, and instead of buying bottled water, make use of the water filter system at the airport.
- Last-minute purchases are a big no-no. Have everything you need with you even before you start your ride to the airport.
- Skip seat selection if you are comfortable with any seats, since these can cost you an additional $20.
- Prepay for all your bags online. This is a helpful hack, as some airlines charge you extra if you decide to pay at the airport.
- Off-site parking lots offer better parking options at a cheaper rate. Reserve your spot early to keep your wallet happy.
- Avoid buying a lounge day pass, unless you have a long layover and really need some rest. If not, paying an extra $50 for a short while is barely worth it.
- Switch to mobile boarding passes and avoid printing them at the airport. Some airlines, like Frontier, might charge you an additional $25 fee for a printed pass.
- Instead of breaking the bank on expensive lounges, make use of free airport amenities.
Sources
1Airports Council International. (2021, January 14). COVID pandemic expected to cost U.S. airports an additional $17 billion: Steep drop in passenger traffic threatens future investments – Airports Council International – North America. Airports Council International – North America. https://airportscouncil.org/press_release/covid-pandemic-expected-to-cost-u-s-airports-an-additional-17-billion/
2A bridge too far. (n.d.). AIRPORT RESTAURANT AND RETAIL ASSOCIATION. https://www.arra-airports.com/advocacy/a-bridge-too-far
3Price of a cup of Joe at home vs. the world. (n.d.). Wild Octane. https://wildoctane.com/blogs/coffee/price-of-a-cup-of-joe-at-home-vs-the-world
4Apply for TSA PreCheck® | Enrollments & Renewals | IDEMIA. (n.d.). https://tsaenrollmentbyidemia.tsa.dhs.gov/programs/precheck
5Global Entry. (n.d.). U.S. Customs And Border Protection. https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry
6CLEAR+ — Airport Fast Pass & Airport Quick Pass | CLEAR. (n.d.). https://www.clearme.com/clear-plus#Price-Cards
7SEA airport parking rates increase June 1 to fund capital investments and operating costs. (n.d.). Port of Seattle. https://www.portseattle.org/news/sea-airport-parking-rates-increase-june-1-fund-capital-investments-and-operating-costs
8Phoenix Sky Harbor parking rates to increase | Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. (n.d.). Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. https://www.skyharbor.com/about-phx/news-media/phx-check-in/2024/august-2024/phoenix-sky-harbor-parking-rates-to-increase
9BWI Airport. (2025, July 25). May 1, 2024 – New parking rates at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, effective July 1, 2024; First rate increase since 2009 | BWI Airport. https://bwiairport.com/flying-with-us/about-bwi/press-media/may-1-2024-new-parking-rates-at-bwi-thurgood-marshall-airport-effective-july-1-2024-first-rate-increase-since-2009/
10Garcia, M. (2024, February 20). Airlines make whopping $33 billion on bags, see where they fly free. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisagarcia/2024/02/20/airlines-make-whopping-33-billion-on-bags-see-where-they-fly-free/
11Gannon, P. (2024, November 26). Five airlines made $12.4 billion on seat fees over the last six years. Axios. https://www.axios.com/2024/11/26/seat-fees-biden-american-airlines-spirit
12 Site1. world-prices.com & world-prices.com. (2025, September 18). Restaurant prices in United States. https://world-prices.com/en/united-states/prices-restaurants
12 Site2. Official LAX parking. (n.d.). https://parking.flylax.com/lax-home.html
13Port of Portland – Business opportunities at PDX. (n.d.). https://www.portofportland.com/Business/PDX
14The new SLC fact sheet | Salt Lake City International Airport. (n.d.). https://slcairport.com/thenewslc/the-new-slc-fact-sheet//
15 $27 for Beer? Port Authority Cracking Down on Prices at NYC-Area Airports. (2022, May 13). NBC New York. https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/27-for-beer-port-authority-cracking-down-on-prices-at-nyc-area-airports/3686070/
Madeline Vale is a writer with three years of experience covering car, travel, lifestyle and culture. A curious traveler and avid reader, with a love for storytelling. Through her work, Madeline aims to inform, inspire, and spark a sense of adventure in her readers.
