New research from lounge operator Collinson reveals that British travellers spend between £300-£350 in airport departure terminals annually.
The study by the owner and operator of Priority Pass and LoungeKey discovered that 97 per cent of Brits spend money at the airport before travelling, averaging around £50 expenditure per departure terminal visit.
This amounts to between £300-£350 over the course of one year for frequent flyers, classed as those who take between six to seven flights per year.
Airport spending is at its highest when it comes to food and drink purchases. Over half of respondents (56 per cent) spend the most money in this department, while 38 per cent spend the most on duty-free items such as perfumes and aftershave.
Books, magazines and newspapers follow behind at 36 per cent, along with alcohol (31 per cent) and personal accessories such as sunglasses at 20 per cent.
See a table below for further information on items purchased in the departures terminal:
When questioned on the reasons for the items purchased, 21 per cent of respondents said that the purchases were to “alleviate boredom” while 18 per cent attributed it to alleviating stress.
The research also found that most Brits are unaware of perks in airports, with just 28 per cent knowing that you can often shower in a lounge and 13 per cent aware that spa treatments are on offer. Additionally, only 22 per cent are aware that booking a lounge can unlock airport shop discounts.
For those who do use the airport benefits, 5 per cent use massage services, 7 per cent take a shower, and 11 per cent use the lounge for sleeping.
According to Collinson, those aged 25-34 are the most “in the know” when it comes to making use of airport benefits, with 63 per cent of respondents in this age bracket claiming to have used a lounge before.
Chris Ross, EMEA president at Collinson says:
“With Priority Pass and LoungeKey, we want to open up a world of travel experiences that enrich the overall journey. From airport lounge access, which offers travellers a quiet, connected space to relax or work in, with pre-flight bites, drinks and other added perks that help you refresh and revive, to in-airport experiences such as dining, gaming, or relaxation areas, making it the ideal way to elevate your travel experience.
“We are always looking for new innovative ways to be the perfect travel companion, including providing members the ability to book car rentals and airport transfers on arrival, as well as gain access to other wellbeing experiences, such as fitness app memberships. Our mission is to deliver premium airport experiences that allow travellers to love the whole journey”.
The research was carried out between 4-9 August 2023 by RWB, surveying 2,074 adults based in the UK.
Earlier this year Collinson reached a new global agreement with Plaza Premium Group, allowing members to access 63 lounges within Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.
