Duty free section at airports = hell

[Greenleavesandsunshine]

I’m sitting waiting to take off on holiday. I’ve just been through the airport departures which was busy and a bit chaotic but ok. The duty free section was hell on earth. It was bright, it was loud, it smelled of perfume, some of the bright lights flashed. People, music, slippery floors.
Why does anyone actually stay and buy anything rather than running through at top speed. The duty free section is hellish AIBU?
Anyway plane is moving.

Try being on a coach after the channel ferry with 100 teenagers who have sprayed themselves with every single perfume and aftershave in the duty free.

For the tax break. WTAF

Me too 🙌 ,and everyone knows spending money doesn’t count when you’re in duty free

I love the Duty Free shop at Bristol Airport. It's never particularly busy when I'm there. I never really buy anything but will have a free sample of whatever alcohol they're serving 🤣

I hear duty free is on the list for tax hikes! It does seem stupid to let people buy cheap cancer sticks just because they are travelling.

it doesn’t make me excited. It gives me the rage. Why can’t I walk in a straight line from A to B rather than forceably taken on a shopping meander through a too narrow path with too many other people.

I was in duty free today. It’s such a rip off and the usual unpleasant shopping experience

I did waiver and looked at Bombay Sapphire £24. Didn’t buy it. Stopped in Sainsbury’s on way home £19. So I saved £5 and the government got about £11 from that to spend on public services.

Generally speaking I just go straight to the gate so I can read my book.

So I would say don’t buy from duty free. Save money and Pay your taxes too.

Yeah. I hate them now.

Used to love them when you could get through security. Have a breather and then go shopping once you’ve calmed down a bit.

Nothing makes me want to shop less than having just queued for security, unpacked and repacked bags, dragged cases and children through a crowd.

I don’t want to browse while following a stressful one way route. I want to look like it’s a normal shop not some extra shit B&M.

You deserve danger money for that - or a free hazmat suit!

This thread has been massively useful because I didn’t know they were special alternative routes where you can avoid going through the Duty Free - I’ve just checked my closest airport and there’s an non-DF access route. So thank you! I hate going through DF, particularly the perfume section - it makes me feel genuinely quite ill.

After security at Gatwick South, turn left just before the escalators ( Wheelchair/ buggy route). You will miss duty free and be right by the restaurant area.

Sounds like my weekends back in my 20s.

I like DF, always get myself a new pair of sunnies and a perfume! But I know what I want perfume wise (I only wear 3!) so I just go and buy it without spraying anything, I do hate the smell, it’s usually Chanel or something that’s cloying 🥴