Airport Rip Off! – One Big Scam!

Prepare yourselves for my rant – because I’m boiling! and it ain’t due to the recent heatwave !

I’ve just returned from a short holiday to Spain – which was lovely by the way.  I flew with Easyjet from Bristol to Malaga.  With just a small suitcase which is well within the dimensions permitted (including wheels…….).  I am after all a stickler for the rules and know that you are only allowed one piece of hand luggage and all liquids/gels/pastes must be in containers of 100ml or less.

Fine I get it….  However, and here’s where the rant starts, as it just doesnt make sense to me…….

Since when did the Airlines/Airports decide to charge you for a clear re-sealable plastic bag?  They used to be regularly handed out to passengers as you approached Security?

And why only one per passenger??   That may be sufficient for a man perhaps, who generally has less toiletries than a woman when travelling light.       But us girls have our make-up to consider.  Mascara, Lipsticks, Blushers, Face Cream, Eyeliners, etc etc, all classed as liquids, pastes and gels. Together with deodorant, perfume, toothpaste, moisturiser, shampoo, conditioners, shower gel – how the hell do you fit all of that into ONE plastic bag 20cmx20cm”?????   I mean where’s the sense?  Is it a security risk to have more than one plastic bag? How?  I can’t think of any reason except to make more money out of us passengers, and that makes me MAD!   After all, we dont have all this palaver when we board a cruise ship!

Talking of making money – here’s another nonsense, I just dont understand the logic to.    You are only allowed one piece of hand luggage onto the aircraft.  That excludes your handbag, however big or small.  Except if you are a Speedy Boarder (Paid more money) or a member of their Loyalty Club (Paid more money).  The airline also has the right to insist your hand luggage be put in the hold for ‘security reasons’ if there are too many to fit in the overhead lockers.

However……

You are allowed to take a plastic bag filled with liquids/pastes/gels over 100ml, including alcohol – provided these were purchased Airside (Paid more money).  Hang on! What about security?  What about the overloaded overhead lockers??   Seems it doesnt matter once you are Airside and – you’ve guessed it – Paid More Money!

And!  I havent finished yet! There’s a lot more rant in me!   Have you seen the prices of goods in the so called ‘Duty Free Shop’!  Outrageously expensive!  What is the point except to extract more money out of you whilst you are a captive audience waiting for your flight?  The Daily Mail ran an article recently about Airport Rip Off’s and it seems they can charge what they like, which 9 times out of 10 is much more than the prices paid either Online or in the High Street!   Sometimes as much as 74%!    And then there’s the phrase ‘duty free’, which implies that items are exempt from the payment of national taxes — on the understanding that those who are buying them are taking them out of the country. 

But if you’re travelling within the EU, there is no tax saving on these items.!  One Big Scam!  

So before you part with your money, get out your smartphone and check the price on Google, Mysupermarket.co.uk or Amazon and see if it really is the bargain it claims to be.  Or better still – Dont Fly!  Just Cruise!  Click here to see why Cruising beats Land Holidays!:  http://goo.gl/V9a7sd

Gina