I’d like to think that I have realistic expectations of airport prices, as I expect to pay more for a drink or snack at an airport than at your typical retailer. However, a purchase at Miami Airport (MIA) today left me with my jaw on the floor…
In this post:
$20+ beef jerky at Miami Airport
We just flew out of Miami Airport, and Ford and I went into a store in the airside terminal, and he decided to buy some beef jerky (don’t ask why… but I promise there’s a semi-good reason!).
Specifically, he bought a 2.25 ounce bag from Lorissa’s Kitchen. The price wasn’t visible in any obvious way, but I figured that the typical retail cost of this might be $5 or so, and maybe at an airport concession it would cost somewhere around $7-9.
So, how much did this actually cost? $18.99 plus tax, for a total of $20.32.
That’s right, a 2.25 ounce bag of beef jerky cost over $20. For those curious, buying this directly from Lorissa’s Kitchen costs $4.99 for the same bag.
Does Miami Airport have pricing caps for concessions?
This brings me to a topic I’m curious about. Many airports have pricing caps for concessions, whereby retailers can’t charge more than a certain amount over what retailers outside of airports would charge. Now, admittedly this is hard to enforce, and it’s why we see violations at airports even with these rules.
But with Miami being my home airport, I can’t help but now be curious about the policy here, as I’m not sure what it is. Does the airport still have a cap on how much of a premium retailers can charge?
The last reference I can find to this is from late 2021, when Miami’s mayor committed to keeping caps in place, after previously considering removing them. Specifically, as part of a competitive pricing rule, retailers can only charge 10% or 15% above market prices in the Miami area. There had been talk of this being reversed, until it was discovered that most airports have such protections in place, so it would make Miami uncompetitive.
Does anyone have any insights as to what Miami Airport’s current policy is? Are airport retailers allowed to charge whatever they want, or are these limits still supposed to be in place?
Bottom line
I’m used to seeing inflated prices at airport concessions, though $18.99 plus tax for 2.25 ounces of beef jerky that retails for as little as $4.99 is a new record to me. I know that in the past Miami Airport had a cap on how much retailers could charge above a standard retail price, but it’s not entirely clear to me if that’s still in effect. If it is, it might be time to do a full-on audit the next time I pass through the airport. 😉
What’s the most outrageously priced snack or drink you’ve seen at an airport retailer?
Now that store is going to have a beef with you :-)
people need to stop supporting these outrageous prices. just stop buying this crap
I didn’t read all the comments so may e others have pointed this out…but I own a retail franchise company and we have looked at airport locations for many years. There are three main drivers of why things cost what they do at airports. As many have pointed out- captive audience. Second, the spaces are limited and thus you often have to know someone to get into a space there. These days that also often...
I didn’t read all the comments so may e others have pointed this out…but I own a retail franchise company and we have looked at airport locations for many years. There are three main drivers of why things cost what they do at airports. As many have pointed out- captive audience. Second, the spaces are limited and thus you often have to know someone to get into a space there. These days that also often means having a minority person involved even as a “silent” partner because minority status is required. Third, if you saw the rent in those spaces, your jaw would drop. Not a set amount of rent but upwards of 50% of sales dollars are usually charged. All these things end up with a $7 bag of snacks costing $20. We actually are in the beef jerky business coincidentally and we could never make the math work.
Good jerky is always expensive; if that stuff you bought for $18 was good then you got a fine deal.
As an example as to how it can be done, in DUB, they sell 500ml bottles of water for €1 in an honesty box system.
Agree with other comments, not sure why you purchased it in the end. Oh, just for the review or post I guess.
Why are you focusing on why he purchased it and not the price?
You live in a Republican state, what do you expect?
I have the same question about why was sales tax charged. Perhaps you should open a case with the Florida Department of Revenue.
I can't remember the last time I purchased anything at an airport.
It’s incredible how uniformly inflated the airport concession prices are. My home airport of LAX caps concessions at no more than an 18% markup compared to similar establishment / franchise in a 25 mile radius around the airport. Clearly either the venders have found a loophole or the city isn’t actually enforcing it. In the link below they even spell out penalties, but clearly this isn’t stopping it. I will say the new city comptroller...
It’s incredible how uniformly inflated the airport concession prices are. My home airport of LAX caps concessions at no more than an 18% markup compared to similar establishment / franchise in a 25 mile radius around the airport. Clearly either the venders have found a loophole or the city isn’t actually enforcing it. In the link below they even spell out penalties, but clearly this isn’t stopping it. I will say the new city comptroller did such a good job auditing the police helicopters. This should be his new project.
http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2017/17-0530_misc_1_05-05-2017.pdf
Prices will remain like this as long as their are buyers. Simple supply and demand.
Prices in the airport do not follow supply and demand. There is a captive audience.
The last time I bought anything at an airport, was years ago at the arrival duty free in Liberia/Costa Rica, because 1L Bacardi bottles are probably the cheapest anywhere on the planet, something like $ 9, limit is 5L. Apart from that, I just don't buy at airports. I just don't support rip-off.
Saw this at LAS on Monday. Highway robbery.
Knowing how MIA and the corrupt government here works, that the jerky is $20 for a reason: so that a decent cut of that goes into some county commissioner/Levine Cava's pockets.
We're talking about the airport with broken elevators and escalators galore. Poop water dripping from the ceilings. Shutdown SkyTrain with crumbling columns. But don't worry! Millions have been set aside for more friendly contracts with MCM (FIU bridge collapse company) because they kickback...
Knowing how MIA and the corrupt government here works, that the jerky is $20 for a reason: so that a decent cut of that goes into some county commissioner/Levine Cava's pockets.
We're talking about the airport with broken elevators and escalators galore. Poop water dripping from the ceilings. Shutdown SkyTrain with crumbling columns. But don't worry! Millions have been set aside for more friendly contracts with MCM (FIU bridge collapse company) because they kickback to the local government while literally killing residents.
It's easy to blame greedy corporations and corrupt government officials for things like this, but if we really care about the well-being of the employee at the store who can't even buy a bag of jerky after working for one hour, maybe we should stop participating in these schemes. The cost of living is truly out of control for them, not us
We're ultimately the enablers here.
Does rewarding a company like that really align with your beliefs?
Where's the tip???
Just left HNL on Hawaiian and purchased a 20 oz of Aquafina "Hawaii" water for $3.59. Ridiculous!
Honestly, this is why we carry our own snacks and a water bottle. I still get ripped off for sodas but try to keep that to a minimum.
The worst was a restaurant at JFK. 3 of us for breakfast, nothing major and the bill was over $130. Unfortunately was still under covid rules and not many options.
Sometimes the tip button is pre selected to 20% at the news stand checkout so before you hit the check and sign you have to press the no tip button.
Hopefully there at least wasn't a self checkout kiosk that forced a tip to be added for credit card payments, which is the case at EWR or some other airport concession stand that was reported.
What's the point of complaining here, since you've paid for the item?
The price you pay is the price you accept. If you weren't happy with the price, you should have refused. Instead by going ahead with the purchase, you've told the vendor you're fine with that price so they should keep charging it - or maybe even try for more - for all future customers.
So wait you're suggesting because he purchased something that means he shouldn't complain about the price? Weird take. Maybe he was hungry?
Well someone has to pay for the backroom deals (ie bribes) with the Miami-Dade County Commission. Their antics lately have been worthy of You Tube.
Today Miami Dade Mayor Cava announced major upgrades to the airport, including escalators and elevator replacements. SkyTrain not operational until March, and not all stations. We'll settle for working elevators and escalators Mayor Cava.
Welcome to MIA.
Did you tip the self service machine that sold it to you when prompted?
As a traveller, rip-offs really affect my view of a destination and my willingness to return. I tend to travel to destinations where honesty and transparency are the rule, so I can relax and enjoy myself.
For example, it took me 30 years to return to Rome after a railway ticket inspector attempted to rip me off. And I haven't returned to Turkey in 30 years after encountering multiple instances of deceitful pricing in the...
As a traveller, rip-offs really affect my view of a destination and my willingness to return. I tend to travel to destinations where honesty and transparency are the rule, so I can relax and enjoy myself.
For example, it took me 30 years to return to Rome after a railway ticket inspector attempted to rip me off. And I haven't returned to Turkey in 30 years after encountering multiple instances of deceitful pricing in the country when backpacking there.
This behaviour reflects badly on the USA, on Florida and on Miami. The relevant governing authorities should think how much their failure to act against these people is harming their city's reputation amongst holidaymakers.
I realize that you and Ford of gentlemen of some means, but why on God’s little green Earth would you go ahead and complete the sale given the price of that mediocre jerky? I would have had them cancel the sale.
I paid $20 yesterday at PVD for what turned out to be the most disgusting sandwich I've ever encountered. I threw most of it away. For me an AA AC membership is easily worth the annual $700 and the food quality is much better than the to go food in airports. I hate when I'm stuck in an airport with no AC.
My favorite concession at DFW is aunties pretzels mini dogs. The ones they used to pass around at cocktail hour of bar mitzvahs.
Good people in NH. I think we paid like $11.99 for a chicken Caesar salad at MHT. Fair enough.
How much did you tip? I hope at least 25% - that is appropriate for minimum wage employees who serve you. Or did you not tip at all and stiff the employees? [sarcasm]
lol that'd be peak American moment
"Many airports have pricing caps for concessions, whereby retailers can’t charge more than a certain amount over what retailers outside of airports would charge."
No thanks to price controls. If price controls are good for the airport why not have the federal government dictate weekly what every single product sold in the United States will cost?
In India all items are required to have prices printed as the MSRP. You will find many places selling at MSRP. The MSRP is an over inflated price since there are bigger chains that sell up to 25pct below MSRP.
It's not a weekly price that would be unworkable.
Are you okay after slipping down that slope?
I'm curious, since you seem to think that an Airport Terminal is a competitive area, rather than one where natural monopolies are granted, please describe for me what you think the process is to be able to set up a shop in an airport. They're like Disney World - a captive audience that only has choices restricted to those that have paid to play in the airport. It isn't anywhere near a competitive market, so...
I'm curious, since you seem to think that an Airport Terminal is a competitive area, rather than one where natural monopolies are granted, please describe for me what you think the process is to be able to set up a shop in an airport. They're like Disney World - a captive audience that only has choices restricted to those that have paid to play in the airport. It isn't anywhere near a competitive market, so necessarily it won't be able to reach a market clearing price/quantity.
Literally in Introduction to Microeconomics, they teach that cost-free entry and exit in the market and mobile labor and capital are basic requirements for a competitive market. An airport terminal isn't either of thse things.
If price controls are not good then why is Florida going to import prescription drugs from Canada?
I believe the Mpls airport has a cap on prices. I think the airport location can’t charge more than their non-airport locations. (Or at least that was the before Covid rule)
Have you seen how much they charge for a water bottle at MSP? It is arm robbery.
Well, at AUS a Luna Bar was $4 and this costs $1 at Trader Joe's = 4X markup at the airport. Sounds like they applied the same markup for the jerky. What is more obscene is that there's a sales tax on food items that would have no sales tax if sold in a grocery store in Florida.
My best guess here is they originally had a much larger package that probably retails for around $10 outside the airport and then settled on this price but at some point it got replaced with a smaller one but the price stayed the same.
At first I thought that not displaying a price was a one-off mistake for this product, but now realize it had to be intentional. Terrible.
Could be worse. My wife and I stayed at the Aria in December for 3 nights. Had a bottle of water in the room. Had to many drinks and needed water. Didn't want to go downstairs. I figured how much could this be 5 or 6 bucks? Nope, I found out next day that damn bottle of water cost me $25!
Beat em at their own game. Remove the tag, drink the water, then fill it back up from the tap, screw the cap and reattach the tag. 9/10 times housekeeping never checks … winning
Probably wouldn't work in Vegas - they're on sensors and you get charged as soon as you lift it off.
Nope. These are FIJI water bottles that are placed in the room. I ran into the same issue with Aria and assumed as a status matched Globalist water in the room would be free. Wrong and the mistake is indeed 25 USD per bottle. And they replenish every day. In fairness to Aria: they didn’t charge me in the end.
Airport pricing alone make having a premium card with lounge benefits (PP or any other) worth it. Save so much not having to eat/drink in the terminal.
Try that at Cancun airport. Just a couple weeks ago there was a 4 hour+ waiting list to get into the PP lounge there in the terminal for US bound flights where our phone number was taken to receive a message when our turn came.
We flew to NYC and then during our ride home from airport the text message came that its our turn for the CUN lounge :)
I had a Mexican meal for one, no alcohol, at Charlotte airport and it was $60 all-in. One entree, chips + salsa, and a soda if I remember correctly. The trick they employ is they ask you for the tip amount before displaying the total amount - to which they automatically add a service fee.
I believe NYC airports have that price gouging law. Came into effect after the infamous $20 LGA beer a couple years ago. Gary has a few posts on it.
Nobody reads Gary anymore.
OMAAT is where it's at.
We're not here for Ben. We're here for you, TravellnPenis.
Any true beef lover knows that corn-fed is more flavorful than grass-fed. Salt on a wound.
B...b...but gluten free!
I hate the trend of not showing prices at airport stores. As a result, I almost never buy anything from airport retailers. Buying snacks on board the flight tends to be cheaper than in the airport.
You should just save that $$ and fly on Delta more. Earn medallion status and valuable SkyPesos while you're at it. Quit spending money on needless concessions and give your hard-earned money to the deserving folks at Delta!