People who buy duty-free on planes

[MidnightPatrol]

Who are you, and why do you shop when on the plane?

The items all seem quite random and their airports usually have extensive shopping opportunities.

I think on every flight I’ve been on the air hostess push the trolly down the aisle purely because they’re obliged to, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone purchase anything.

Is it just an anachronism the airlines are yet to get rid of as there’s a slight chance of increased revenue?

I’ve not seen duty free on any flight I’ve taken recently
over priced food and drink - yes

😂 I often wonder this too. It’s a thing on Ryanair. I’ve never actually seen anyone buy it, but people must. I can only guess it’s boredom and having had too much to drink.

Boredom potentially. Distraction from the horrific experience on most airlines to cheer themselves up, or happen to see something they particularly like while browsing the catalogue to try to ignore the horrific experience of being on a flight, or they don't liek crowds of people so don't like shopping at the airport, or didn't have time, or have mobility issues and special assistance so couldn't use the airport shops, or it's their first flight and they want a "souvenir" to remember it, or they're going to visit someone and see something that person would like or have forgotten to buy them a gift to thank them for hosting them, or have forgotten it is the birthday of or anniversary with someone they are travelling with while away so panic buy something, or someone in their party hates flying so they want to cheer them up... There seem to be many reasons I can think of off the top of my head so I find it a little strange you are bothered enough by this to want to start a thread on it?

My parents once bought me a model plane from one of those airplane magazines when I was about four.

I've never seen anyone buy anything since

I do pretty often, in some places like the US the airport duty free costs for some things are pretty expensive and on plane is a lot cheaper. But it depends on the starting point and airline of course.

I've seen a few people buy perfume. No idea why when there's so much more choice off the flight.

A woman next to me bought a face serum, when the flight attendant brought it over I thought oooo aren’t you fancy! Not sarcastically, genuinely 😅

The last time I was on a charter was 5-6 years ago and on the way home we bought booze from the trolley mainly because it was in plastic bottles and cheap. I love Gordon's Export gin which I couldn't find in the local supermercado/hypodino.

I have. DH cannot stand any shop that smells of perfume so we whisk quickly through the duty free. I also hate the attendants stalking you in there 😀

So I have a look at the catalogue and if there is a moisturiser brand I like at a good price, I may well buy it.

I don’t need lots of choice, I wouldn’t buy a brand on board (or at duty free) that I didn’t know, so I don’t need a tester or anything.

Because sometimes the price is better, not often, but if they have a special offer.

I have bought perfume and make-up, when I know what I want and what I can get it for at home, I check the airport price and if it isn't good enough I check the on board price. Normally on board is more expensive but sometimes they have a special offer that makes it worthwhile.

I flew Ryanair in the summer and there were people buying scratchcards on the plane. I mean - scratchcards?! Can't you wait until you get home?

Are they charity ones or something?

As far as I know they were just ordinary ones - they weren't being advertised as for a charity or anything.

I went on a business trip to Nigeria and flew into Lagos. On the plane, they made an announcement that said duty free was limited to £500 per passenger and I thought to myself WTF?! Anyway, whilst I was over there, I was told that on the Lagos-London flights, they used to make more money from duty free than on all the ticket sales combined and regularly sell out of literally everything to buy on the plan. People would spend £000s. I'd never seen anything like it before and haven't since!

I think this used to be pretty popular when they accepted cash on flights as people would often want to spend the rest of their euros or whatever. Lots of airlines are card payment only now.

I buy on cruise ships which is an equivalent I think because there are some good deals.

EasyJet have a really good offer on board for Bombay Sapphire gin, cheaper than in the terminal. They have some cosmetics and perfume at good prices as well. I flew with them recently and quite a few people bought something! Crew get commission on it as well

This is a really good point, I remember my parents buying something back in the 90s to use up their pesetas - they had the equivalent of £25 (or whatever £25 would have been back then! £25 in ‘97 was a lot!) and it wasn’t worth the commission cost of getting it changed back.

They are usually for charity, they announce the charity and then come round and sell them.

It's boredom. I buy random stuff for something to do.

My mum is a smoker and says that duty-free cigarettes are cheaper on the Ryanair plane than in the airport. Also Ryanair make you put dutyfree into your bag before boarding so if you buy it on board it doesn’t eat into your baggage allowance.

I bought some cigarettes recently, as a had promised to get some for a friend, but a really tight transfer meant I didn't have enough time at the airport.

That's the only time though .

My dad bought me a troll wearing sunglasses on the way to Spain in the 90’s. Only thing I’ve ever bought but still chuffed with it 🤣

I used to know someone that worked on an airline and her job was to purchase the gift items for them to sell. They wanted high value small item things ie jewellery.
Yes I have bought things (make up, an inexpensive watch and something to put my belongings in a clip around my waist while I was in the sea) probably out of boredom. I hate going in the duty free shops at the airport.

You can order some duty free before you fly for some airlines eg alcohol & tobacco