Is Duty Free Shopping Still Worth the Effort?
If you're like me, you only really consider the benefits of duty free when you're waiting for a flight. All those glistening bottles of spirits, fragrant perfumes and beautifully packaged chocolates certainly look desirable. But can you really get a great deal in duty free? Or is it just a last-chance-saloon for buying presents for the folks back home?
One of the only ways to ensure you're getting a bargain is to make a note of the desired item's price before you go; but that is perhaps something that only the most dedicated of shoppers do.
A cursory glance at the prices of most airport electronics, for instance, is unlikely to make the average shopper salivate; there are so many online discount stores that can better duty free prices, even with postage figured in. And up-against-it high street shops often do well against airport prices too.
However, there are some exceptions. At time of writing, for example, a 256GB Apple 13" MacBook Air retails at Heathrow's Boutique for £879.00. The same product on PC World costs £949.00.
Equally, a search for the CANON 1200D IS DSLR camera at Heathrow's Boutique reveals a price tag of £329.00 – a full £20 cheaper than PC World.
Alcohol – and particularly spirits – are also big targets for airport shoppers. Here, however, a cursory check reveals that making direct comparisons is tricky. Duty Free emporiums often have 'exclusive' products that you won't find in shops such as ASDA or Tesco. But the ever-popular Johnnie Walker Red Label is available for £15.99 for 1 litre at Heathrow; Tesco.com offer a 70cl bottle for £18.00: that's a considerable duty free saving in this instance.
That other favourite, cigarettes, can also be bought for considerably less than in the high street or supermarket – not difficult considering a 20 pack can cost up to £9 including tax.
Fragrances are a big hit with those who didn't quite manage to grab a souvenir from their destination country. Heathrow offers ARMANI Code Ultimate Intense EDT for £48.20, but a quick search on Google reveals the same product for just £41.50 from FragranceDirect, inclusive of delivery.
So, as many of our annual travel insurance customers will be aware, the classic duty free experience still has plenty of merits – especially in the heavily taxed arenas of tobacco and alcohol, but with many other products it's worth shopping around online and in your high street.
To ensure you make a saving on a particular product, it's a good idea to check around for prices online and in shops first, then take a look at duty free. Many duty free shops provide prices online too, so you can compare before you even set foot inside the duty free. However, prices listed online are often provided "as a guideline" – although they usually prove accurate.
*Online prices correct as of 26.05.14
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