Airports use this sneaky trick to make you spend more money
Airports are seldom a comforting place for travellers, with expensive food and stressed out passengers trying to make their flight. Even the seats, usually made of plastic and placed in long lines provide much relief.
What some passengers may not realise is that many airports use carpet throughout the terminals for a very specific reason. It is all to do with making passengers more relaxed, but not for their own benefit.
According to Mental Floss, it is so that passengers spend more without even realising. A carpet is often much more calming than hard flooring when rushing through the airport. Relaxed travellers spend 7 per cent more money on average on retail items, and 10 per cent more in Duty-Free. The wily interior choice means travellers are spending more than they would if they felt stressed.
Anyone who is stuck at the airport due to a delayed flight can often find themselves stuck in an overpriced restaurant or food chain. With no other options available, it comes as no surprise that Britons spent a whopping £82 per visit to an airport, according to a survey by LoveHolidays.com.
Frequent traveller Reto Fuchs has revealed on Quora how to avoid spending too much money by finding cheap airport food. He explained: “Follow airport employees. Not the ones with a lot of stripes on their shoulders. Just normal airport employees with a badge. ”
“They have to take their meals at the airport on a daily basis and they certainly don’t want to spend a lot of money.”
Whilst this may sound slightly creepy, he stated that even with the discount that they get as part of the job, they will still often go for the cheapest option.
He continued: “Following employees, even considering discounts, it still a good strategy.”