Is duty free cheaper?
Fewer Discounts Than You Think at Duty Free
Ever had to walk through duty free at the airport to get to your gate? It's often like a zoo, with people stocking up on liquor, candy, and souvenirs they believe to be cheaper than anything they could've gotten at the store or on the street. You can also buy duty-free items on your actual flight by skimming through a catalog. But is duty free cheaper always?
A CNN story says "No," unless you're nabbing something like jewelry, perfume, or cigarettes. Everything else is suspect -- the only "deal" you're getting is not paying tax. The story says a bottle of Chanel No. 5 perfume costs roughly $4 less in duty free with a United flight. Other sources in the story reported actually paying more for cameras and candy, the former going for as much as $40 higher at duty-free.
In 2009, Esquire answered the question "Is duty free cheaper?" with a slideshow of the best airports and shops for buying discounted items. Chanel No. 5 at Hong Kong International is among the best, along with Tiger Balm in Singapore's Changi Airport and Lacoste shirts at Tocumen Airport in Panama City.
Where have you gotten good duty-free deals?
"Shopping at a mall that's hidden behind metal detectors and surrounded by airplanes is already exciting. Add the possibility of saving money and fliers know: It's hard to resist the lure of duty free at the airport......But experts say if you're looking for a deal, proceed with caution..."
