Eating at the Airport

Anyone who has traveled has been forced at one time or another to have a meal at the airport. We all try to avoid it, but sometimes you just don't have a choice. For me, whenever I have a long flight followed by a layover I end up having to purchase airport food. Here is one such story:

Frequent traveler Sammy Tawil walked up to a sandwich shop at New York's John F. Kennedy airport shortly before boarding a recent flight, though he says he wasn't really hungry. But knowing he wouldn't eat for hours, Tawil reluctantly bought a tuna sandwich, pita chips and iced tea. Total: $17.31, with tax.

$17.31 for fast food? These places know we are stuck behind security and have no options and even less time, so they hit us where it hurts! I have been to some airports where I have been able to go to a sit-down resturaunt and have a wine or beer with my meal and spend around the same price as Sammy's sandwich!

Some airports just choose to allow unfair pricing, plane and simple! What are the worst culprits? Here is a recent list for three items: 20-oz. water bottle, Starbucks tall latte, and McDonald's Big Mac value meal.

For the water, the best option was Phoenix ($1.34) while the worst was San Francisco ($2.79). Seattle, not surprisingly has the most affordable coffee ($2.25) while Denver was the priciest at $3.49. What about that fast-food classic, the Big Mac? Atlanta won at $5.11 while Los Angeles was an overpriced $6.79!

Whats the moral of this story? Pack your own sandwiches, snacks and bottled drinks at home if possible! Otherwise, try and go to a sit-down establishment because you will pay a similar price but at least get a place to sit and your food brought out to you.