Make sure you're not getting ripped off at airports and follow these great travel tips
As the popularity of travelling ‘hand luggage only’ has increased, with travellers trying to avoid the cost of checked in bags, taking miniature travel-sized versions of their preferred toiletries has become the only option for many.
However, research from TravelSupermarket has revealed that these ‘minis’ can cost up to 753 per cent more per millilitre (ml), than their standard-sized counterparts at UK airports.
In some cases, consumers are being forced to pay much more for a small, travel-sized version, than they would for the full-sized equivalent. For example on the high street, a standard 150ml spray can of Dove Anti-Perspirant costs £1.00. However the tiny, travel-sized version from the airport costs nearly double – £1.99 – for just 35 ml.
In most cases, however, passengers are in a no-win situation as they either have to pay out to put their bags in the hold, or travel hand-luggage only and shell out for miniatures."
The research investigated the cost of popular items such as shampoo, toothpaste and shower gel which are available in travel-sized bottles to comply with security regulations. While it is reasonable to assume that miniatures may be slightly more expensive per millilitre due to packaging costs, it appears that the industry could be taking advantage of the regulations and cashing-in with shockingly high prices for very small amounts of product.
For example, a 500ml bottle of Johnsons Top to Toe Bath for babies will usually cost £2.67 from Asda, whereas a tiny 50ml bottle from W.H. Smith’s at the airport costs £1.99. This represents a whopping mark-up of 645 per cent. It is the same story with mouthwash - a 500ml bottle of Listerine costs £3.00 from the high street, yet a 35ml bottle at the airport costs £1.05, a mark-up (per ml) of 400 per cent.
Unfortunately for consumers, prices over the last year seem to have skyrocketed. Research carried out by TravelSupermarket at airport Boots stores beyond security in 2011 found maximum mark-ups of 250 per cent. However recent research, carried out this month at both Boots and W.H. Smith’s found several products marked up over 400 per cent.
Other ‘mini’ essentials are also hugely overpriced. Charles Worthington hair serum costs £1.25 for 50ml at Asda, yet it will cost consumers £1.99 for a third of the amount (50ml) in mini format. Nivea Sensitive shaving gel costs £1.89 from Asda for 250ml, but £1.60 for a fifth of the amount (50ml) from an airport W.H. Smith’s.
Bob Atkinson, travel expert from TravelSupermarket, said: “Whilst security regulations are tight in airports in this day and age, consumers can easily get caught out paying over the odds for their toiletries. We found over 30 products where the mark-up was over 100 per cent – or double the normal price per ml.
“In some cases, you can completely ignore the travel-sized version altogether – for example a regular sized version of the most marked-up product – Charles Worthington hair serum – is 50ml, meaning it comes in under the regulations. So make sure you’re not paying four times the price when you don’t need to.
“In most cases, however, passengers are in a no-win situation as they either have to pay out to put their bags in the hold, or travel hand-luggage only and shell out for miniatures.
"Whilst you can of course buy your toiletries when you arrive on holiday, you won’t be able to bring back the full-sized versions and will probably waste most of it. You also may not be able to get the brand which you are used to, and in some resorts, prices will also be marked up quite significantly.
“However savvy travellers can get around this and my number one tip is to invest in and reuse small bottles which you can decant your products into before you head off on holiday,” he added.
Here are some top tips from TravelSupermarket:
- Don’t buy minis. Buy large bottles and decant what is needed for your time away. As well as avoiding the prices, it will help keep your luggage weight down.
- Take advantage of offers such as ‘three for two’ and ‘any item for a pound’ – these will bring the cost of miniatures slightly more in line with their normal size counterparts.
- Even if you are travelling with hold luggage, still only take what you need – this will leave room and weight to take other items. If you use your decanted toiletries whilst away, this will free up space for anything you have purchased whilst away.
- Sprays and aerosols can't be decanted, so for things like hairspray you will have to use minis if you want to travel hand luggage only – however you can get round shaving foams by buying shaving cream and putting into a small pot or use a roll-on rather than a spray deodorant.
- Perfumes also can't easily be decanted if they are eau de toilette, so a small one bought in duty free will work for you.
- Always remember, you are only ever allowed to take a maximum of ten liquid items per person of no more than 100ml in a sealable clear plastic bag in your hand land luggage.
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Shabana Adam @Shabana_FAM