{"id":165895,"date":"2025-09-22T04:44:20","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T04:44:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/blog\/?p=165895"},"modified":"2026-03-16T10:25:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T10:25:25","slug":"hidden-airport-costs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/journal\/hidden-airport-costs\/","title":{"rendered":"Hidden Airport Costs Sneaking Up on Every Traveler"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">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\u2019s a closer\u00a0look at the hidden airport costs and how to dodge\u00a0them.<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Typical costs at an airport<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If you\u2019re an air traveler, you must be surprised to know that flight tickets aren\u2019t the only thing you\u2019re 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.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Why have airport costs skyrocketed?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">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. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">COVID-19:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> According to the <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ACI-NA<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/airportscouncil.org\/press_release\/covid-pandemic-expected-to-cost-u-s-airports-an-additional-17-billion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[1]<\/a><\/sup><\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0(Airports Council International \u2013 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. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">High rent and Commission<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">: 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.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Labor Cost and Inflation<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">: According to <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ARRA<\/span><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/www.arra-airports.com\/advocacy\/a-bridge-too-far\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[2]<\/a><\/sup><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0(Airport Restaurant and Retail Association), the hourly wages and manager salaries rose more than their sales. To match it with the revenue, they\u2019ve increased the price of their products.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Logistics and Supply Cost<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">: Delivery charges to these places are on the higher side since these vehicles have to surpass security and multiple levels of clearance to enter.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Captive Customers<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">: 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.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Breaking down the hidden expenses<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">From coffee to check-in, find out all the spots where you\u2019re emptying your pockets. Even a short trip through the terminals can make your money slip away. Here are some\u00a0hidden extra charges you might encounter at the airport.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Expensive Food and Drinks<\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">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. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"><span class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW214969871 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214969871 BCX0\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">Coffee<\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/wildoctane.com\/blogs\/coffee\/price-of-a-cup-of-joe-at-home-vs-the-world\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><sup>[3]<\/sup><\/a><span class=\"TextRun SCXW214969871 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214969871 BCX0\"> costs <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214969871 BCX0\">10 to 15% more at the airport, <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214969871 BCX0\">around $4 to $<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214969871 BCX0\">7<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214969871 BCX0\">,<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214969871 BCX0\">wherea<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214969871 BCX0\">s<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214969871 BCX0\"> sandwiches\u00a0are said to<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214969871 BCX0\"> be<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214969871 BCX0\"> around $12. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Speedy Screening Costs<\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">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\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">TSA PreCheck<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/tsaenrollmentbyidemia.tsa.dhs.gov\/programs\/precheck\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><sup>[4]<\/sup><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> enrollment is $76.75, while the <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Global Entry<\/span><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbp.gov\/travel\/trusted-traveler-programs\/global-entry\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[5]<\/a><\/sup><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> charges $120 for five years. On the other hand, for <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">CLEAR<a href=\"https:\/\/www.clearme.com\/clear-plus#Price-Cards\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><sup>[6]<\/sup><\/a>,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0it is $209 per year. Remember that the fee changes according to the enrollment provider, so make sure to choose the right one for you.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Parking<\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">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. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"none\">SEA<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/www.portseattle.org\/news\/sea-airport-parking-rates-increase-june-1-fund-capital-investments-and-operating-costs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[7]<\/a><\/sup><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">: General daily parking has\u00a0increased from $34 to $37, and terminal direct daily parking has\u00a0increased from $42 to $47.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"none\">PHX<a href=\"https:\/\/www.skyharbor.com\/about-phx\/news-media\/phx-check-in\/2024\/august-2024\/phoenix-sky-harbor-parking-rates-to-increase\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><sup>[8]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">: Daily parking has increased from $30 to $33. \u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"none\">BWI<sup><a href=\"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\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[9]<\/a><\/sup><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">: Increased their daily parking rates from $12 to $16.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Baggage and Additional Cost<\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">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 <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">$33 billion<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/marisagarcia\/2024\/02\/20\/airlines-make-whopping-33-billion-on-bags-see-where-they-fly-free\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><sup>[10]<\/sup><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> from baggage fees alone, while\u00a0another report showed that major airlines collected <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">$12.4 billion<a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2024\/11\/26\/seat-fees-biden-american-airlines-spirit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><sup>[11]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0for seat selection from 2018 to 2023. Bear in mind that these charges differ according to the region and airline.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Real price comparisons (airport vs city)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_165897\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-165897\" style=\"width: 1750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-165897 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.way.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Airport-costs-Inside-vs-Outside-2.png\" alt=\"Airport costs Inside vs Outside \" width=\"1750\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.way.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Airport-costs-Inside-vs-Outside-2.png 1750w, https:\/\/blog.way.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Airport-costs-Inside-vs-Outside-2-300x171.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.way.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Airport-costs-Inside-vs-Outside-2-1024x585.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.way.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Airport-costs-Inside-vs-Outside-2-768x439.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.way.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Airport-costs-Inside-vs-Outside-2-1536x878.png 1536w, https:\/\/blog.way.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Airport-costs-Inside-vs-Outside-2-1568x896.png 1568w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1750px) 100vw, 1750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-165897\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><sup>[12]<\/sup><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Which airports are doing it right?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Some airports are fair and wouldn\u2019t cost you a fortune after a quick stroll. <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Portland International Airport <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">(PDX)<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.portofportland.com\/Business\/PDX\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><sup>[13]<\/sup><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> is one of them. Over here, the travelers are at ease and are not concerned about overpriced items. This is due to the \u2018street pricing policy\u2019 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. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Next on the list is <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Salt Lake City International Airport<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">(SLC)<a href=\"https:\/\/slcairport.com\/thenewslc\/the-new-slc-fact-sheet\/\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><sup>[14]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, where the \u2018street pricing policy\u2019 comes to the rescue. The policy was brought here after understanding that it worked at PDX. If a vendor here wants to increase\u00a0the price, they must notify the airport authorities and provide them with proper proof that the street prices were also increased. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Port Authority of New York &amp; New Jersey<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> started implementing new pricing policies after the widespread public outrage over inflated prices. All <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">NYC Airports<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnewyork.com\/news\/local\/27-for-beer-port-authority-cracking-down-on-prices-at-nyc-area-airports\/3686070\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><sup>[<\/sup><sup>15]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark, now have a\u00a0limit 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.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Smart travel hacks: Cut your airport costs<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Now that we\u2019ve spilled all the airport secrets,\u00a0wondering 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.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">One of the most important hacks is to keep\u00a0an 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.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Last-minute purchases are a big no-no. Have everything you need with you even before you start your ride to the airport.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Skip seat selection if you are comfortable with any seats, since these can cost you an additional $20.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">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. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/go.onelink.me\/ciSe\/textapp\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Off-site parking<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> lots offer better parking options at a cheaper rate. Reserve your spot early to keep your wallet happy.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">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.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Switch to mobile boarding passes and avoid printing them\u00a0at the airport. Some airlines, like Frontier, might charge you an additional $25 fee for a printed pass. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Instead of breaking the bank on expensive\u00a0lounges, make use of free airport amenities.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<hr \/>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Sources<\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"EOP SCXW242161325 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><sup>1<\/sup><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW221629264 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221629264 BCX0\">Airports Council International. (2021, January 14). <\/span><\/span><em><span class=\"TextRun SCXW221629264 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221629264 BCX0\">COVID pandemic expected to cost U.S. airports an <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221629264 BCX0\">additional<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221629264 BCX0\">$17 billion<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221629264 BCX0\">: Steep drop in passenger traffic threatens future investments &#8211; Airports Council International &#8211; North America<\/span><\/span><\/em><span class=\"TextRun SCXW221629264 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221629264 BCX0\">. Airports Council International &#8211; North America. <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW221629264 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW221629264 BCX0\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">https:\/\/airportscouncil.org\/press_release\/covid-pandemic-expected-to-cost-u-s-airports-an-additional-17-billion\/<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><sup>2<\/sup><em>A bridge too far.<\/em> (n.d.). AIRPORT RESTAURANT AND RETAIL ASSOCIATION. https:\/\/www.arra-airports.com\/advocacy\/a-bridge-too-far\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><sup>3<\/sup><\/span><i style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Price of a cup of Joe at home vs. the world<\/i><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">. (n.d.). Wild Octane. <\/span><span class=\"url\" style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">https:\/\/wildoctane.com\/blogs\/coffee\/price-of-a-cup-of-joe-at-home-vs-the-world<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><sup>4<\/sup><em>Apply<\/em><i> for TSA PreCheck\u00ae | Enrollments &amp; Renewals | IDEMIA<\/i>. (n.d.). https:\/\/tsaenrollmentbyidemia.tsa.dhs.gov\/programs\/precheck\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><sup>5<\/sup><em>Global<\/em><i> Entry<\/i>. (n.d.). U.S. Customs And Border Protection. https:\/\/www.cbp.gov\/travel\/trusted-traveler-programs\/global-entry\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><sup>6<\/sup>CLEAR+<i> \u2014 Airport Fast Pass &amp; Airport Quick Pass | CLEAR<\/i>. (n.d.). https:\/\/www.clearme.com\/clear-plus#Price-Cards\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><sup>7<\/sup><em>SEA<\/em><i> airport parking rates increase June 1 to fund capital investments and operating costs<\/i>. (n.d.). Port of Seattle. https:\/\/www.portseattle.org\/news\/sea-airport-parking-rates-increase-june-1-fund-capital-investments-and-operating-costs\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><sup>8<\/sup><em>Phoenix<\/em><i> Sky Harbor parking rates to increase | Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport<\/i>. (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\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><sup>9<\/sup>BWI Airport. (2025, July 25). <i>May 1, 2024 &#8211; New parking rates at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, effective July 1, 2024; First rate increase since 2009 | BWI Airport<\/i>. 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\/\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><sup>10<\/sup><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Garcia,<\/span><\/span> M. (2024, February 20). <i>Airlines make whopping $33 billion on bags, see where they fly free<\/i>. Forbes. https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/marisagarcia\/2024\/02\/20\/airlines-make-whopping-33-billion-on-bags-see-where-they-fly-free\/\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><sup>11<\/sup><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Gannon,<\/span><\/span> P. (2024, November 26). <i>Five airlines made $12.4 billion on seat fees over the last six years<\/i>. Axios. https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2024\/11\/26\/seat-fees-biden-american-airlines-spirit\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><sup>12 <\/sup><\/span>Site1. world-prices.com &amp; world-prices.com. (2025, September 18). <i>Restaurant prices in United States<\/i>. <span class=\"url\">https:\/\/world-prices.com\/en\/united-states\/prices-restaurants<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><sup>12 <\/sup><\/span>Site2. <i>Official LAX parking<\/i>. (n.d.). <span class=\"url\">https:\/\/parking.flylax.com\/lax-home.html<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><sup>13<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/span><em><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Port<\/span><\/span><\/em><i><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><em> of Portlan<\/em>d<\/span> &#8211; Business opportunities at PDX<\/i>. (n.d.). https:\/\/www.portofportland.com\/Business\/PDX\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><sup>14<\/sup><\/span><em>The new SLC fact sheet<\/em> | <em>Salt Lake City International Airport.<\/em> (n.d.). https:\/\/slcairport.com\/thenewslc\/the-new-slc-fact-sheet\/\/ \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><sup>15 <\/sup><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">$27<\/span><\/span> for Beer? Port Authority Cracking Down on Prices at NYC-Area Airports. (2022, May 13). <i>NBC New York<\/i>. https:\/\/www.nbcnewyork.com\/news\/local\/27-for-beer-port-authority-cracking-down-on-prices-at-nyc-area-airports\/3686070\/\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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\u2019s a closer\u00a0look at the hidden airport costs and how to dodge\u00a0them.\u00a0 Typical costs at an airport\u00a0 If you\u2019re an air traveler, you&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/journal\/hidden-airport-costs\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Hidden Airport Costs Sneaking Up on Every Traveler<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":83,"featured_media":165906,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[344],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-165895","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-things-to-know","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v20.3 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Hidden Airport Costs Sneaking Up on Every Traveler<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Wondering where your money disappeared at the airport? Uncover the hidden airport costs and how to avoid them.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/journal\/hidden-airport-costs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Hidden Airport Costs Sneaking Up on Every Traveler\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Wondering where your money disappeared at the airport? Uncover the hidden airport costs and how to avoid them.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/journal\/hidden-airport-costs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Way Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-09-22T04:44:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-16T10:25:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/blog.way.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Queue-at-Airport.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"533\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Madeline Vale\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Madeline Vale\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/journal\/hidden-airport-costs\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/journal\/hidden-airport-costs\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Madeline Vale\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/journal\/#\/schema\/person\/c14639762c8a600c41507627037585f7\"},\"headline\":\"Hidden Airport Costs Sneaking Up on Every Traveler\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-22T04:44:20+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-16T10:25:25+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/journal\/hidden-airport-costs\/\"},\"wordCount\":1495,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/journal\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/journal\/hidden-airport-costs\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/blog.way.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Queue-at-Airport.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Things To Know\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/journal\/hidden-airport-costs\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/journal\/hidden-airport-costs\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/journal\/hidden-airport-costs\/\",\"name\":\"Hidden Airport Costs Sneaking Up on Every Traveler\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/journal\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/journal\/hidden-airport-costs\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/journal\/hidden-airport-costs\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/blog.way.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Queue-at-Airport.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-22T04:44:20+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-16T10:25:25+00:00\",\"description\":\"Wondering where your money disappeared at the airport? 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