Money Saving Tips at UK Airports

Westin

Just an update to this thread following my trip through Gatwick North last Thursday.

No need to buy the bottled water post-security
The water fountains are back! - so once again you can take an empty plastic water bottle through security and fill up your bottle with water once airside. In the North Terminal the water fountain is outside the toilets closest to the small Boots/Ted Baker store/Fat Face store.

Gatwick Airport have now 'enhanced the customer experience' and opened a new set of toilets in the departure area as you clear security. The new area has no water fountain The old toilet area is closed and although the old fountain is visible it is no longer connected to a water supply.

I do find it frustrating that UK airports seem to make it difficult to find water fountains airside, or simply don't provide them. By contrast when using four difference Chinese airports last month, not only were there an abundance of points to fill plastic bottles with cold and filtered water within terminals but also an option to obtain hot water for tea (the Chinese seem to travel everywhere with tea flasks) or to make a pot noodle. Nice touch!

The BAA are no better. T5 LHR also had two water dispenser machines in departures when I went through there at the end of August. Both were out of order.

I'm sure the lack of a water fountains is purely down to the airports greed in wanting us to support their retailers and buy bottles of water.

It does however grate on me when these same airports try to big up their 'green' credentials and tell you how they care about the environment and want to improve their carbon footprint/social responsibility etc etc. yet seem to turn a blind eye and ignore one simple enviromental friendly action they could be positively taking which would greatly reduce the number of plastic water bottles being purchased, used and thrown away every day.

Anyway, rant over....

The free newspapers are still available! Current choices are Daily Mirror, The I, Evening Standard, Metro.

[Deleted User]

Does anyone know if re-setting your computer clock an hour earlier during your free wifi time will get you extended use ?

And it's a real shame WH Smith abandoned their self-pay newspaper box.I used to load up on everything available for a long-haul flight and then just put a couple of coppers in the box.

Voyager2002

Deleted_User wrote: »

And it's a real shame WH Smith abandoned their self-pay newspaper box.I used to load up on everything available for a long-haul flight and then just put a couple of coppers in the box.

Perhaps that is why they abandoned it! Money-saving is great, but not when it involves stealing.

Carmen

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Perhaps that is why they abandoned it! Money-saving is great, but not when it involves stealing.

Just about to say this Voyager

Horlock

Deleted_User wrote: »

Does anyone know if re-setting your computer clock an hour earlier during your free wifi time will get you extended use ?

And it's a real shame WH Smith abandoned their self-pay newspaper box.I used to load up on everything available for a long-haul flight and then just put a couple of coppers in the box.

I was under the impression you could still walk in to WHS and walk out with a pile of newspapers under your arm without paying if you have no conscience about stealing - they don't tend to have electronic tags on them.

glider3560

Westin wrote: »

Gatwick Airport have now 'enhanced the customer experience' and opened a new set of toilets in the departure area as you clear security. The new area has no water fountain The old toilet area is closed and although the old fountain is visible it is no longer connected to a water supply.

Stansted also removed the water fountains in the main terminal as part of their "improvements". There is now only one water fountain in departures, which is in one of the satellite buildings, so only useful if your flight departs from near there. The water fountains in baggage reclaim haven't worked for years.

Luton, on the other hand, has proper taps (not just a fountain) immediately after security. I've never seen anyone use it, apart from me. I suspect most people don't know you can take empty bottles through security*.

I travel quite a lot (both leisure and work) and begrudge paying over £1 for half a litre of water every time. Most airports overseas seem to have free drinking water available.

Greece even regulates the price of airport water: €0.35 for a 500ml bottle (although you often have to ask for this as they'll have the unregulated 750ml bottles on display).

* = I now "hide" the bottles inside my carry on bag. The people who direct you to the security lanes at Stansted (the ones who think they're important, but they're not) seem to think empty bottles are prohibited. Of course the actual security staff have no problem with them, whether in or out of your bag, but it stops the queue person trying to tell you off for doing nothing wrong.

Westin

Deleted_User wrote: »

Does anyone know if re-setting your computer clock an hour earlier during your free wifi time will get you extended use ?.

I suspect TTGS is playing the Jester but you can double your free wifi time if you sign up with a user account under "MyGatwick" at https://www.gatwickairport.com.

melanzana

Often wonder how much people's flights and accommodation cost?

To be so anal about free water is beyond belief seriously.

Moto2

melanzana wrote: »

Often wonder how much people's flights and accommodation cost?

To be so anal about free water is beyond belief seriously.

I often wonder what's happened in the last few years that means people can't bare to not be within easy reach of a bottle of water for a few hours.

glider3560

melanzana wrote: »

Often wonder how much people's flights and accommodation cost?

To be so anal about free water is beyond belief seriously.

When you fly regularly, it all adds up. Especially when you're flying for work and can't reclaim it.

Moto2 wrote: »

I often wonder what's happened in the last few years that means people can't bare to not be within easy reach of a bottle of water for a few hours.

The lack of humidity in the cabin air can lead to dehydration. I definitely feel dehydrated when flying, even after a short distance. It can also be hours (up to 7 or 8) between passing security and reaching your non-airport destination.