Cost of Food and Drinks at Airports

EightOfHearts

When we have an early flight we would prefer to have a simple breakfast in somewhere like Wetherspoon,s which is not as cheap as the high street but will not break the Bank. Our problem is the timing. You never know how long it will take to get through Security and the you often have to queue, especially early in the morning to get a seat or order. After that you are in the laps of the Gods to see how long it is before your breakfast is served. we have friends who work at gatwick and they tell the food outlets are meant to serve your food within 15 minutes of ordering, but this timescale is sometimes not met. You have no comeback so having paid you could forfeit your food to catch your flight. We always take a round of sandwiches each as back up.

PaulPonting

I don't think anybody out of choice would eat in the departure lounge of an airport. The food is always over priced and often not a good quality. However if you have had a long journey to the airport you want something to eat for sustenance which is a necessity. We agree that timing and not having to queue is very relevant, as you do not want to risk missing your flight, because of the wait for your food to be served. We have nearly been caught out once on this issue. For this reason we always go somewhere where you receive your food when you pay, for example Pret a Manger or McDonalds.The advantage of a sandwich is you can take it with you.

ladymarmalade

I don't mind paying if I'm getting something which is good quality which has sadly not been the case whenever I have travelled. I hate mcdonalds and all that lot too! Last year we flew from gatwick and had a Frankie and Benny's breakfast that was not a bad price and the best food I've ever had in an airport.

Doshwaster

OnMyTodd wrote: »

It is a matter of individual choice whether you eat at the airports or take your own grub. Where ever you eat "Airside" you will pay more than the high street. Sometimes if we have an early flight we will buy a breakfast an English breakfast at Wetherspoon,s but even there allow time to queue to place your order and the waiting for the food to be served at your table. Once you have paid that is it so if in any doubt about your available time, then another possibilty is McDonalds which is available in some UK Airport departure lounges.At least you receive your food when you reach the front of the queue and the tea and coffee is cheaper as well.

I was in Wetherspoons at Gatwick at 6am the other morning (can't beat a pre-flight beer or two!) and the place was packed considering it was mid-week and not really the holiday season. The service was pretty quick though with plenty of staff around.

My favourite airport for airside food is Heathrow T5 as there are so many options including a Gordon Ramsay restaurant and a Wagamama.

silvercar

shrimper1 wrote: »

I travel around Europe and expect have to ditch water before security, but went to India recently and I asked at security about water and he waved me through and we took it on the plane. Is this usuall outside of europe?

USA also ban liquids.

I had no problem carrying water at Tel Aviv airport, where security levels are high.

JohnWhite

Airport food is usually marginally better that that on the airline themselves, especially when flying by a charter or a low cost flight. It is still over priced, but if you need to eat, then you have to pay the price and grin and bear it. Like others who have commmented on this forum I prefer somewhere where I can collect my food as I pay for it, unless I have arrived in departure lounge with loads of time to spare. I have once cut it really fine to catch my flight through no fault of my own, due to an unacceptable delay to the delivery of our food. In that type of situation you are stuck. If you complain all the staff will do is say sorry and say they will chase it up, but you will not get the offer of a refund.The catering outlets are aware that time is of the essenge and will delay finding the Manager etc knowing you will have to get and go to catch your flight.

joebob

Boots mealdeal everytime bottle of pop sandwich and a slice of cake absolute bargain £3.79

TomLikesSausages

I would not chance again ordering a meal then waiting for it to be served at an Airport. The last time I did that I waited nearly 30 minutes for my food and the I just gulped it down and caught my flight. It was an absolute waste of money, especially adding in the concern that due the wait I could have missed my flight. Ever since I buy something either at Boots or in my opinion whilst slighly more expensive for better quality at Pret a Manager where it is freshly made.That is fine for the UK but for Overseas airport it is far more "Chanchy". They can be a lot more expensive, even for a poor quality sandwich which tastes as it has previously been frozen and are barely edible. Gran Canaria Airport was a prime example for this issue, the sandwiches were stlll very cold!!!

Magic_Moments

The cost of food at airports is always vastly overpriced and the quality is generally poor. We always try and avoid eating at airports, but occasionally especially if faced with a flight delay, then there is little choice but to pay up. We always buy a bottle of water, the price of which increased considerably when they introduced the liquid ban through security.

wilko116

Personally if we want sandwiches we will take them with us as it is much cheaper and you know what you are getting . Therefore we will never buy any sandwiches at the airport. Hot food like English breakfasts you cannot take so if on an early morning flight we will leave home early to allow us time to have a hot breakfast airside before boarding. We like to allow at least an hour before our flight is due to board to cover any delays in the food being served.