Penny pinching at Heathrow

[SLeanne]

We are due to go away soon from Heathrow T4. OH and I like a couple of drinks before the flight (at 9pm). However, I was shocked last time that a glass of wine is over £10 a glass. If we are discreet, could we get away with buying a bottle in Duty Free and drinking it before the flight (and disposing of the empty bottle before boarding). I know it's not allowed but has anyone done it before and got away with it? Quite frankly I'm getting sick of having to spend C 100 quid for something to eat and a couple of drinks each (family of 4) and am looking at ways of cheating the system 🤔

Well done. You sound savvy - shaving off bits here and there makes a huge difference so you can have more holidays!

I would just do what you want and of course it would be easy to open the bottle you bought from Duty free!

This. It's awful and really tacky!

I would take a stainless steel water bottle and pour it in there in the loos 🤣

If I wanted a drink I would buy it. Or not have one in your case if you feel aggrieved at paying the price for the product.

Airports, service stations, theme parks etc are all heavy on the price of food and drink. But you don’t have to buy. But I do think it’s all a bit tacky to try and get glasses from an establishment and then fill them with your own duty free. If you can afford to fly either budget for airport drinks if you feel you need/want them or do without.

No I'm not the same person. Nor did I ever mention drinking / decanting wine in the toilets. Other ppl have added this as the responses got more and more nasty.

It's not 5 times the price though is it? Many pubs take 8 pounds for a large glass of wine. 🙄

Am I the only one who totally confused why OP just doesnt pack a little picnic for her and DH and the kids , including wine , and pull over wherever is close and vaguely nice and just have it there. Throw out the rubbish, leave the picnic glasses and whatnot in the boot ( maybe take water for a rinse) and then carry on to wherever you are parking. Go through security and feed the kid choc bars you've stashed in your pocket and then go look at the planes landing. Airports are fabulous fun for people ( and plane ) watching. Have a nice holiday.

Oh and no judgment from me,about the alcohol. Last time I caught a flight it was 10am and adult son who was with me said "time for a brew" . I said sure why the heck not! The bar was packed! A lot of people are nervous flyers is also part of it, plus often completely out of kilter time wise due to crossing time zones.

Oh my goodness! From a genuine post about saving a few quid, I have been labelled a 'skank', an alcoholic, and likened to a tramp on a park bench drinking booze from a brown paper bag, amongst other things. It's a good job I am thick skinned and too long in the tooth to let it bother me. Shame on some people. I get now what 'online bullying' is all about and I feel sad for our vulnerable young people. Enjoy your game of Chinese Whispers. I won't be commenting further.

You are so right. The nasty “mean girl” vibe of this thread has been absolutely disgusting.
shame on them

You said that a few posts back...

The list of achievements is long, apparently...

🤣🤣
I am applying for a Master of Crisps qualification.
However, I won't be paying top-notch prices for a 'hand-cooked' crisp, no matter how crunchy it is, and I shall be looking at ways to avoid paying £1.30 for a bag of Walkers at Euston. Probably sneak a pack from into my bag and find somewhere to furtively eat them in the station

Yea I'd say that was standard. Paid £22 for two large glasses of passable white in the summer,village pub Cornwall

😆

Oh OP

You’re going on a long haul flight OP (if food and drink is included on the flight).

And you’re considering tucking away a bottle of wine, asking a bar for an empty glass (or worse still getting your child to ask for one) and then trying to hide pouring. Presumably whilst your children watch their parents and think… oh this is what adults do before a holiday when they’re desperate for some wine!

Either pass on the wine
or just get one glass each from one of the bars, and sit at a table with a glass and a your children and enjoy

I totally agree. OP's suggestion reduces the experience to simply swallowing alcohol for the sake of (probably why pp have queried 'want' versus 'need') and, for me, makes it rather joyless.

You've come on here boasting about how much money you've got. Your mortgage is paid off, you've paid your cars off.

That you only go into pubs 3 times a year. But won't put your hand in your pocket like normal people and just get a drink in the pub at the airport. It must be exhausting to be around you, constantly trying to shave pennies at every occasion. Will you be taking doggy bags to your AI buffet too?

It's got nothing to do with being autistic. You're just being tight. Why should the pub staff have to wash up your glass when you can't even be bothered to buy a drink? If you can't afford it, don't have it. But you obviously can.. all the people in the pub can obviously afford it. That's why they're there. Stop being a tight arse.

And this.

If you're really a 'master of wine' you wouldn't be drinking any wine out of a half pint glass. If you would, that shows how tight and desperate you are. Wine glasses are used so you hold the stem, not to alter or warm the taste of the wine. Theyre not going to give your son a wine glass for his 'iced water.'

Come on now. You know this. As you're the master after all.

I have been though duty frees where your purchases are kept and handed back to you as you board the plane.
Have also been checked at customs for the amount of alcohol being purchased being within an allowance- it does happen…

the idea the OP throws in that she has a master of wine qualification at the very end really made me chuckle.

OP… not one single poster believes this 😆

FYI suspect I have ASD (undiagnosed, my DS is diagnosed) as I spend lots of time researching our holidays and getting the best deals I can to the point of obsession in my spare time. I

All i can think to respond to this is

🤫

to think the OP posted this on a different thread

Because wandering round the shops with no money or purpose is a chav pastime.

😆

That doesn’t happen as you exit the uk.

2chocolateoranges
I’d rather not have a drink than be miserable about spending money on holiday! Holidays are for treating yourself, spending our hard earned cash and having fun.

*Holidays are for lining the pockets of the airport bars because it's 'skanky' to buy and drink the exact same drink from a different place in the same building for a cheaper price. The corporations have you all right where they want you.

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Absolutely. Sneak to a dirty toilet so you can decant that slightly cheaper (but still over priced so you're still lining the pockets of those corporate wankers ) wine into your cup.

Airport anarchy socking it to the Man at its best.