Monday, August 24, 2015

Even the most cost-conscious coupon-savers among us tend to let down our guard at the airport, where we know that food and sundries before and between flights are always outrageously priced.

“Worse,” says consumer blogger Mel Bondar, “when we’re on vacation or on a business trip, we tend to accept inflated prices as unavoidable.”

But, Bondar reported to U.S. News and World Report, a little pre-planning can help keep you solvent when you need to fly the friendly skies:

Pack food and an empty water bottle – You can’t take a bottle of water through security, but you can take the empty bottle. Pick up food or snacks before you head for the airport – or pack a sandwich and snacks at home – and take along that empty water bottle. You can fill it from a fountain once you’ve passed through security and save yourself some serious bucks.

Check your credit cards for perks – If you’re a frequent flier, and/or have a credit card tied to airline miles, check the card for other advantages – such as entry into the airline’s airport loyalty club, where free snacks and drinks are available.

Remember your coupons – Many airport eateries are part of a chain, so the burger chain or restaurant coupons you have at home should be accepted at their airport locations.

Bring reading material – Most airlines provide on-board magazines with crossword puzzles and other entertainments. But airport stores and kiosks never offer discounts, so if you want more reading material or puzzles, bring a book or magazine from home.

Try mystery shopping – Here’s a way you can actually earn a few bucks while waiting for your next flight. Legitimate mystery shopping companies (like Sinclair Customer Metrics) often have mystery shopping opportunities in airports and have trouble getting them filled. Spend a couple of hours of ‘dead time’ by mystery shopping at a major airport. You may even score some free food.

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