asher

Anyone see that programme saying that duty free is being claimed by the airport shops in the UK and not passed on to the customer when you show your flight ticket to shops?

I wasn't terribly shocked as I had noticed the prices weren't cheaper than the high street but I'm damned if they can scan my ticket in future.
Do you think Australia does the same?

spouse of scouse

Probably. Any reason to get their hands on your money, our government's straight in there!

paulry

The only things that I have ever found cheaper (of any significance) in any duty free area, anywhere has been for cigarettes. And since I haven't smoked for nearly five years, those shops now have nothing to offer. It's a wonder they're able to stay afloat.

Swerv-o

High street discounters are generally cheaper than Duty Free for booze. I don't buy perfume or fags, so can't comment on those.

Do the plain packaging regulations apply for cigarettes in airside duty free?


S

Amazulu

No

Amazulu

Disagree. Booze in airports in Singapore, KL and Thailand is cheaper than Australia and the UK

UK airports not so much but cheaper than Australia

Duty free booze at Australian airports is cheaper than Australian bottle shops

I only buy spirits at duty free

Agree about most other things but noticed some genuine bargains on electronics when I flew out of Perth the other week

Swerv-o

The last time I flew back through Sydney, a twin pack of Bowmore Legend was $120, the same price it is at my local bottle shop, but was only £22 a bottle in Tesco. So I bought a bottle there and stuffed it into my checked in baggage wrapped in clothes. happily it made it back safely


S

GarryP

70cl vs 1 litre?
Because if the duty free were 1L then it would be equivalent of £20 in Tescos.

Although I agree, the whiskey prices are a joke and putting a bottle from Tesco (or Waitrose) in your baggage makes more sense, if only for the selection.

spouse of scouse

Agree that booze is cheaper in Oz duty free than in bottle shops. Reverse in the UK, got the brother in law a nice bottle of whisky at Manchester duty free, and found it cheaper in Asda.

I've found that duty free booze in predominantly Muslim countries is expensive - Malaysia is expensive but Dubai is reasonable. Ciggies cheap as chips. I bought the same brother in law a carton of 200 ciggies in Dubai, good brand, US$20. They cost about that per pack of 20 in the UK.

Perfume used to be cheap at all duty free shops, even in Perth. It's not now - the only time I buy duty free perfume now is when I transit through Dubai because I can get my Chanel purse-spray refills much cheaper than anywhere else.

Until the new rule, you could get a 200 carton of ciggies cheaply in Oz airport duty free shops. Now, of course, you're only allowed to bring in 1 opened packet. See previous comment about the government and grasping hands.

paulry

Ah yes, I'd forgotten Singapore, KL and Thailand for booze. Previously, when I took the land border from Thailand to Malaysia we stocked up with beer at the duty free. I'll be doing that again in December so thanks for the reminder

Amazulu

UK supermarket spirit prices are good. I brought back 4 bottles of award-winning ALDI gin - under GBP10 a pop for 0.7l

Very nice it is too - comparable to Hendricks IMO

Their champagne is also under GBP10 and also pretty good - 3 bottles brought back (yes I was over my DF allowance!)

Amazulu

The Malaysian Islands of Langkawi and Tioman are also duty free

paulry

True. I've done Tioman a few times, loved the snorkeling but three times is enough for now even with the cheap beer to lure me there. Langkawi is too much of a tourist trap for my liking.

Beoz

But a lot easier to get to than Tioman

paulry

That is true. Its a mission to get to Tioman especially from KL/Malacca, whereas with Langkawi it's a simple Air Asia hop. I understand it used to be possible to reach Tioman via a single Sea Cat journey from Singapore.