How To Save Money at the Airport

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Countless articles have been written about how to save money on flights. But what about at the airport itself? 

After all, airports can be a major drain on your wallet. Between highly overpriced food and tempting shopping, you can suddenly find yourself spending all that money you saved. 

So let’s plug the gap. What simple rideshare hack can save you 20% getting to the airport? What secret free item at Starbucks could save you hundreds on coffee? Let’s cover these (and more!) ways to save money at the airport.

1. Rideshare to and From a Train Stop

Generally speaking, it’s significantly more expensive to Uber or Lyft to or from the airport than anywhere else. There are concrete reasons for this, too: high demand leads to surge pricing, and airports impose fees on rideshare companies (which are passed on to you). 

So, how do you avoid paying 30% more for an airport ride? 

Simple. Don’t take a rideshare to the airport. 

Instead, see if the airport has a free (or nearly free) train that can take you right outside the airport, and grab an Uber/Lyft from there. 

The same works in reverse. When I fly out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, I grab a Lyft to the Gateway Marriott, hop on the ATL SkyTrain, and take a free, relaxing ride right to Departures. 

Here’s the cost of Lyfting from downtown to the airport:

… and here’s the cost of Lyfting to the Marriott, which is one free train stop away: 

That’s a $14 or 20% savings. 

Even if you have to buy a one-way metro ticket, this hack will still end up saving you $10+ in most cases. That’s enough to buy an overpriced coffee in the airport! 

Or better yet, instead of buying coffee…

2. Bring a Thermos

There are numerous reasons why I prefer to travel with a thermos instead of a water bottle these days: 

1. Metal is more durable and mold-resistant than plastic.
2. Metal doesn’t contain BPA or microplastics.
3. Thermoses keep hot water hot and cold water cold longer.

Plus, a thermos saves you money.  

Think about how much it costs to get your caffeine fix at the airport. The occasional $8 cup of joe or fresh tea may seem cheap compared to a full meal, but over multiple trips (or cups), it adds up.

But with a thermos, you can bring your own tea bags or instant coffee from home for pennies on the dollar.

Of course, if you’d like to enjoy your coffee after you pass through security, you’ll need to find some hot water. So let’s cover that next. 

3. Know Where to Score Free Hot Water

One of my favorite airport discoveries from the past few years is that most places that brew coffee or tea (e.g., Starbucks, McDonald’s, Caribou Coffee) will give you a free cup of hot water if you ask nicely. 

This opens up a whole world of frugal possibilities. Now that you know this travel trick, you can bring tea, coffee, ramen, instant oatmeal, and more through security and make yourself a piping hot snack on the other side. 

Alternatively, if you have the space in your carry-on, why not bring a whole meal? 

4. Pack Food from Home

This is a golden oldie, but it’s 100% worth repeating since it’s such an enormous money-saver: Bring your own food to the airport. 

Some folks I’ve spoken to — even veteran travelers — refrain from bringing their own snacks and meals out of fear that TSA will confiscate them. But the TSA doesn’t care about solid food — only liquids. 

So, whether you bring a homemade sandwich or an entire 9×13” lasagna, they’ll wave you through. 

Of course, there are numerous advantages to bringing your own food. First, you’ll save a ton of money. On paper, airport restaurants are only supposed to charge around 15% higher than street prices, but an 11Alive investigation found that Chick-fil-A prices in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta were up to 30% higher. 

Second, even if you pass through an airport with a “street pricing” policy banning restaurants from charging higher than outside (Portland’s PDX promises this), bringing your own meal could save you from standing in a long line at Chili’s. 

Finally, bringing your own food puts you back in control of your diet. Personally, I like to combine quinoa, beans, and veggies into a container and eat it at the gate for a high-protein, high-fiber meal. That way, I’m not tempted by the glorious, wafting smells of the airport Popeye’s. 

READ MORE: 13 Tips and Tricks for Saving Money on Travel

5. Get a Credit Card With Free Airport Lounge Access

Hear me out on this one. 

Sure, the cheapest credit card that offers free, unlimited airport lounge access is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, which still costs a fairly big fee each year. 

Some other options include the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, and the legendary The Platinum Card® from American Express — admittedly all with very high annual fees.

These fees are the cost of a round-trip domestic flight. But having unlimited lounge access could be well worth the fee. 

For one thing, airport lounges offer free food and drinks, including alcoholic beverages. Sometimes, you’ll even find a full buffet. Free airport food could save you hundreds per year — even if you typically bring food from home. 

Second, you can bring up to two guests with you (sometimes more, depending on the card). That’s two more $17 sandwiches you may not have to buy in the airport for your kids. 

Lastly, many lounge programs come with a litany of other discounts. Priority Pass membership, for example, comes with discounted rates on rental cars, restaurants, and airport transfers. 

(Oh, and those credit cards come with a huge pile of other benefits, too, including $300+ in annual travel credits.)

To be fair, lounges don’t always meet the hype. Veteran travelers complain that they’ve become too crowded, and that the food is sometimes disappointing.

But you can ameliorate both drawbacks by pre-booking your space and seeing what food options are available in advance via the Priority Pass app.

READ MORE: Are Priority Pass Lounges Worth It?  

6. Check the Airport Amenities for Free Stuff

Before you buy that magazine or pay-per-view movie, consider what sort of amenities and entertainment the airport can provide to you and your family for free. 

There’s been a recent rise in cool, free stuff to do at the airport. To give some examples, Portland International has an indie movie theater, Chicago O’Hare has live music, and Singapore Changi has a climbing wall. 

And a golf course. And a swimming pool, jacuzzi, and tropical rainforest. That airport is nuts. 

Anyways, the point is this: If you’re traveling through a big airport, it’s worth seeing what there is to do for free. This could also be a healthy, no-cost activity for families looking for one last cultural experience before a long flight. 

The best place to find airport amenities is on the airport’s website. Here, for example, is Chicago O’Hare’s amenities page. 

7. Bring a Mini Toiletry Bag

If your flight gets delayed — or you eat a big, onion-y meal (like an everything bagel) — you don’t want to get caught without some basic toiletries to freshen up. 

Sure, basic essentials like toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, moisturizers, and dry shampoo are usually easy to find in airport gift shops, but if you find yourself rebuilding your Dopp kit in the terminal, the cost can quickly skyrocket to $30+. 

That’s why it’s good to have the basics with you at all times. It can save your travel budget, and if your breath is really bad, it can save your marriage. 

8. When Shopping, Compare Prices Online

Airport shops have well-lit, wide-open storefronts for a reason. They want you to wander in out of curiosity, boredom, or desperation and treat yourself to some mildly overpriced goodies. 

I say *mildly* overpriced because some airports actually have regulations on how much retailers can charge above “street value,” aka what they’d normally charge outside the airport. LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark Airports all supposedly have limits of 10%. 

But in some cases, being only mildly overpriced actually works in the retailer’s favor. If BOSE headphones aren’t ridiculously overpriced (say, $220 instead of just $200), you’re less likely to feel like you’re getting ripped off — and treat yourself to an impulse buy because you’re on vacation. 

So instead of giving in, try this instead: Find the price online, add it to your cart, and let it sit for a few days. If you still want it at the end of your vacation, go ahead and treat yourself (and get a lower price). 

That also gives you one less thing to lose — and one more thing to look forward to when you’re back. 

RELATED: Smart Tips for Protecting Your Electronics While Traveling 

9. Give Yourself an “Airport Allowance”

Make no mistake that airports are designed to get extra money from you. 

“Airports are trying to increase the portion of non-aeronautical revenue they draw,” writes Nathaniel Meyersohn in CNN. “Operators have added more stores, restaurants and bars, especially as more travelers take mass transit and rideshares to airports and parking income declines.”

As a result, by the time you’ve walked a half-mile to your gate, you’ve probably passed 31 retailers and 13 restaurants. In other words, 15 minutes of unskippable ads — some of which smell amazing. 

To keep your spending on a leash, give yourself an “airport allowance” of $25, $30, or $50 in cash. No credit cards. When it’s spent, it’s spent, and you can enjoy yourself at Chili’s and Bijoux Terner knowing you won’t run the risk of overspending. 

10. Ask the Gate Agent for an Upgrade

Finally, when you’re done with your home-packed lunch, free instant coffee, and your airport allowance, it’s time to try one last score. 

When you reach the gate, simply approach the gate agent, and in the warmest, friendliest tone ever, ask them if they might be able to upgrade your seat. 

There’s no hard data showing how often this actually works, but I’ve been doing it for 10 years and I’d say my success rate is about 30%. I also have zero status with any of these airlines because I tend to fly with five-ish airlines each year (I’m only loyal to the bottom line). 

Granted, some of these gate agents may have felt extra generous because they took pity on a 6’3” manchild cramming into coach. But many of them didn’t even look up from their computers — I just asked for a better seat and they handed me an exit row boarding pass before I even got the whole sentence out. 

It’s free, takes under 15 seconds, and can sometimes result in a $100+ upgrade. 

TL;DR: How To Spend Less at the Airport

Airports are like a sports arena or Disneyland. They know they have you as a captive audience for at least a few hours, so they can charge pretty much whatever they want for food, goodies, and even basic needs. 

The key difference is that airports (somewhat ironically) care far less about what you bring inside. A thermos filled with instant coffee and a healthy, homemade meal can save you $30 each way, and if you have lounge access, you may not even have to bring anything. 

You can also curb spending with an “airport allowance” and enjoy the free amenities instead of shopping. And when you land, take a rideshare from a train stop to save $15+. 

Aside from the time and stress you’ll save, all this cash adds up — and before you know it, you’ll have enough to visit Disneyland for real.

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Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.