• Items in duty free are 17% more expensive on average than when sold on online retailers
• Chocolate and sweets were over two thirds (67%) more expensive in the airport compared to when bought from normal retailers
• However, popular makeup brands are 16% cheaper on average at the airport compared to local shops

02 July 2019, LONDON –

As the summer holidays approach, Brits who shop at duty free could be spending up to 150% more than if they were to spend with online retailers, according to new research from personal finance comparison site Finder.

On average, duty free products were found to be 17% more expensive than those from online retailers, indicating that airports aren’t a good place to find bargains for certain products.

Chocolate and sweets are the most overpriced category with goods being more than two thirds (67%) more expensive than if they had been purchased from typical shopping outlets. A bag of peanut M&M’s will normally set you back £2.00 however at an airport it will cost you £3.75.

The product with the largest difference in price is a 300g bar of Cadbury Oreo chocolate. This would typically cost £2.00, but you would have to fork out 150% more at the airport (£5.00).

Suncare was the second most expensive type of goods at duty free with products setting you back 37% more on average. A bottle of Ultrasun Aftersun will cost you £6.31 more at duty free outlets than at other retailers – 63% above the online price

Luxury goods such as sunglasses and watches are also not a good product to purchase at the airport if you’re concerned about the cost. On average, they are 29% more at duty free – the classic Rayban 3025 Aviators in Gold with a brown gradient lens are £113.30 in airport duty free stores compared to £81 at an online retailer.

When it comes to alcohol, what type of drink you buy will determine whether you will get a bargain or be ripped off. On average wine and whiskey are 8% and 9% more expensive at duty free, respectively, whilst all other spirits are 5% cheaper in the airport compared to online prices.
However, it’s not all bad news for holidaymakers who plan to shop at the airport this summer. Some good deals are possible, with the best duty free deal being found in the makeup aisles – products here are 16% cheaper on average than online shops. For example, the Benefit Roller Eye Liner in black is £18.50 at typical retailers but £16.25 at duty free.

To see the further duty free rip offs and bargains visit: https://www.finder.com/uk/sky-high-prices-at-duty-free

Commenting on the findings, CEO of Finder UK Jon Ostler said, “Our research found that the average price for an item bought in duty-free was 17% more than the cheapest available figures online, which included at least three products that were more than double that of the online price. Certain categories were worse than others, with every item we checked in the “Food, Sweets & Toys” section costing more at the airport.

“However, it is worth noting that duty-free can offer exclusives and products that aren’t readily available elsewhere, so the best thing to do is to research before you buy. Smartphones have made this easier than ever and a quick check before you hand over the cash could stop you overspending by as much as £32 for bigger ticket items like Ray-Ban sunglasses.”

Methodology
Retail prices used were the cheapest found online, meaning the prices here may not be the same at all retailers
All prices as of 17/06/2019

About Finder UK

Finder is a personal finance website, which helps consumers compare products online so they can make better informed decisions. Consumers can visit the website to compare utilities, mortgages, credit cards, insurance products, shopping voucher codes, and so much more before choosing the option that best suits their needs.

Best of all, Finder is completely free to use. We’re not a bank or insurer, nor are we owned by one, and we are not a product issuer or a credit provider. We’re not affiliated with any one institution or outlet, so it’s genuine advice from a team of experts who care about helping you find better.

Finder launched in the UK in February 2017 and is privately owned and self-funded by two Australian entrepreneurs – Fred Schebesta and Frank Restuccia – who successfully grew Finder AU to be Australia’s most visited personal finance website (Source: Experian Hitwise).