Pre-order duty free: how it works, what's worth it and what to skip

Let's face it: navigating an airport with kids doesn’t exactly conjure images of leisurely browsing at World Duty Free. Where you might once have spent a pleasant half hour trying perfume samples or checking out the gin offers, family airport shopping is more likely to be a chaotic grab-and-go: keeping everyone together, moving towards the gate and getting past the chocolate aisle before anyone spots it. 

But imagine you can have all the benefits of World Duty Free goodies without the hassle of trying to find it in the shop with your family in tow. Thanks to the Reserve & Collect service, you can. With Reserve & Collect, you can browse and reserve items online up to 30 days before you travel and so long as you pre-order at least 24 hours before your flight, you can then simply collect it and pay for it at the instore collection point. 

What’s more, orders made through worlddutyfree.com and collected within 30 days of the order date receive 10% off*, though exclusions apply and the full T&Cs are on site.

For parents, the appeal is fairly obvious: pre-order what you need, cut out the hassle of hunting for it with children in tow and spend more airport time on toilets, snacks, seats and getting everyone to the gate.

I order anything I want in advance and get the extra discount - just pick up as I go through. There is something "holiday" about it though and that's even after 30 years as an ex-pat.

-Sophiecunninghamsfinger  

How World Duty Free Reserve & Collect works

Reserve & Collect is designed to make airport shopping more predictable. You select your airport and travel date, browse online, reserve the items you want and collect them from the collection point after security in the World Duty Free store on the day you fly.

You can reserve from 24 hours up to 30 days before travelling. The order is held for you, and you pay when you collect it at the airport, no prepayment needed and no obligation to collect your order if you find you're not able to collect it.

Reserving items further ahead can also open up a wider online range, including travel exclusives and brands that may not be stocked in your departure store, giving you access to brands like Creed, Penhaligon's and Charlotte Tilbury. In other words, it's worth looking a few weeks before your trip if there is something specific you have in mind.

World Duty Free operates across major UK airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted, Edinburgh and Glasgow, so it is likely to be familiar to plenty of family travellers heading abroad.

You can also browse online all the airport duty free at whatever airport you are flying from, and order what you want online and pick up/pay in the airport to speed things up. I've used it and it's brilliant.

 -piddleypower  

Why using Reserve & Collect is ideal for parents

The best thing about pre-ordering is that it moves the decision-making out of the airport. You can compare prices from the sofa, check what you already have at home and avoid buying something purely because you have 12 minutes before boarding and a child asking whether every perfume bottle is a potion.

It can also help you keep your airport plan simple. If you know your fragrance, skincare set or gift is waiting for you, you can head straight to the collection point instead of hoping the right product is on the shelf.

What’s worth reserving from World Duty Free?

Beauty and fragrance

Fragrance, skincare and make-up are the obvious starting points. These are the products where families often have a specific brand, shade or scent in mind, and where buying in a hurry can go wrong.

Pre-ordering is especially useful if you are buying a present, replacing a regular product or looking for a travel exclusive. World Duty Free also offer a price promise, if you find it cheaper on the high street they will refund double the difference.

When you need some beauty stuff, always worth checking the price in the Duty Free when you walk pass. Always found my perfume or face products a lot cheaper.

-ZanyPoet   

Spirits and alcohol gifts

If you are picking up a bottle for a holiday, host gift or family occasion, reserving ahead can save you carrying the mental load of choosing at the airport. It is also a good category for checking prices and bottle sizes in advance, saving up to 50% vs the average high street price. It's also important to note that most spirits sold at World Duty Free are one litre rather than the standard 70cl found at most supermarkets.

Do remember that destination rules and allowances matter, especially if you are travelling outside the UK or onward after your first flight. Check the relevant allowance before you buy, particularly if your journey involves a connecting flight.

-Theimpossiblegirl  

Gifts and treats

Airport shopping can be handy for birthday presents, thank-you gifts and small treats to take away. The advantage of pre-ordering online is that you can make a more deliberate choice and avoid the last-minute panic purchase.

I use La Prairie cleansing balm. My skin is so much more even toned and healthier looking since using it. It's expensive but I pre-order from duty free to get about a third off and it's a huge tub which lasts 9 months.

-Lemonraider

What should you skip?

Anything you've not price-checked

The 10% Reserve & Collect saving* is useful, but it is still worth comparing against the high street and online retailers, especially on products that are frequently discounted elsewhere.

A good rule of thumb: if you would not buy it at home without checking the price, don’t assume airport equals bargain. Use Reserve & Collect as a planning tool as much as a shopping tool.

Products you’re unsure about

The airport is not the best place for a risky beauty experiment, particularly if you are buying quickly or travelling with children. If you have not tested the shade, scent or formula, think carefully before you reserve.

Pre-ordering works best when you already know what you want, or when the item is clearly a gift and you have checked the details.

Bulky items if hand luggage is tight

Airport shopping is useful, but it still has to come with you. If your family is already travelling with backpacks, coats, snacks, tablets and a carefully negotiated soft toy, be realistic about how much extra you want to carry.

It’s always worth checking your airline's rules on airport shopping bags too, as policies can vary. It's also worth checking instore as some airports offer a collect on return service, so you can leave your products and pick them up when you back from your holiday**.

Should you join Club Avolta?

Club Avolta is World Duty Free's loyalty scheme. Members collect points as they shop, with access to member offers, discounts and prizes.

If you travel regularly, or often shop at the airport for fragrance, beauty, spirits or gifts, it may be worth joining before you reserve. If you only fly once every few years, the 10% Reserve & Collect saving may be the main benefit to focus on.

A quick pre-order checklist

• Choose your departure airport and terminal before browsing

• Check your travel date and reserve between 24 hours and 30 days before flying

• Compare prices with your usual retailers

• Check luggage space and airline rules before reserving bulky gifts

• Read the exclusions and T&Cs before relying on the 10% saving*

• Check destination allowances for alcohol or other restricted items

• Join Club Avolta if the points and offers are useful for how often you travel

Is pre-ordering at World Duty Free worth it?

For family travellers, the biggest benefit may not be the discount, although 10% off* eligible products is a helpful start. The real value is being able to plan before you reach the terminal.

If you know what you want, have checked the price and would rather spend airport time on snacks, seats and getting everyone to the gate calmly, Reserve & Collect can make sense.

If you’re just looking to browse in the hopes of spotting a spontaneous bargain, it’s still worth going in with a list and a price check. Airport shopping can be good value, but it's not automatically the cheapest option every time.

For most parents, the sweet spot is simple: reserve the products you already want, skip the impulse buys and give yourself one less thing to worry about at the airport.

About World Duty Free

World Duty Free is the UK's leading airport travel retailer, operating across major UK airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted, Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as onboard P&O Ferries, Le Shuttle and at the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras. Its Reserve & Collect service lets travellers reserve online before departure and collect at the airport on the day they fly.

*10% Reserve & Collect discount is available on orders placed for collection at all UK World Duty Free stores except Leeds Bradford Airport and Le Shuttle Folkstone. Terms & Conditions and exclusions apply please see the World Duty Free website for full details. Some products and brands available in store may not be available for Reserve & Collect.

** A Collect on Return service is available at Heathrow, Stansted, Manchester, Glasgow, Liverpool, Aberdeen and Belfast City airports. Ask instore for more details.

About the author

Jenny Wonnacott is a Content Editor at Mumsnet, where she writes, edits and optimises family-focused content designed to make everyday parenting that bit easier.

As a mum of three, Jenny brings first-hand parenting experience to everything she writes, with plenty of trial-and-error along the way. Her family travels have ranged from UK camping trips to more adventurous long-haul breaks, giving her a clear understanding of what really matters when travelling with children - from location and layout to those small but crucial details that can turn an average family trip into the best holiday ever.

She regularly researches and reviews family travel options, combining expert insight with real parent feedback from the Mumsnet community to help other families plan holidays with confidence.