I have been noticing that food at East Coast airports is better priced than food at west coast airports. WHY?

The food is well priced at IAD, DCA, BWI, PHL, EWR, JFK etc..

The food is overpiced at LAX, LAS (starbucks), SEA. And way overpriced at SFO.

I think that most of the airports should try to monitor what these places are charging its pax and make sure it does not get out of hand.

Like $3 for a cup of starbucks coffee at LAS or $8.50 for a combo at McD LAX.

They monitor the prices at IAD and DCA and I feel that the food is well priced there.

What do you think?
Ben

Depends on how greedy those who run the airport are (or not). Some airports make sure that prices are no more than in-town prices at the same outlets, others let the concessionaires gouge. SEA used to be worse: a small pizza at Pizza Hut (HMS Host Marriott IIRC) 15 years ago ran me over $6.

Some airports enforce "market rate" or "downtown" pricing and more airports are going this route as leases come up or new terminals/concourses are renovated/constructed. So the airports get less money for rent, but customers aren't completely gouged.

I think that most of the airports should try to monitor what these places are charging its pax and make sure it does not get out of hand.

Like $3 for a cup of starbucks coffee at LAS or $8.50 for a combo at McD LAX.


What do you think?
Ben

i think you are looking at the wrong henhouse. i would bet almost anything that once labor and rent is factored out, the price of the starbucks on mcd is very close to the same.

follows with the taxes on an airport rental car.

privately owned prisons charge a huge surcharge as rent on the payphones in the place. some are as much as $2-3 per call.

I was actually shocked when I ordered a meal at Burger King in PHX terminal 4 recently - it was actually cheaper than the usual road-side BK I frequent near my home. Go figure.

Do the same at LAS and see how that works out for ya! :D :D :D

JP
I was actually shocked when I ordered a meal at Burger King in PHX terminal 4 recently - it was actually cheaper than the usual road-side BK I frequent near my home. Go figure.

Do the same at LAS and see how that works out for ya! :D :D :D

JP

Or check out the soda machines at LAS and be prepared for $$$

out of hand...Like $3 for a cup of starbucks coffee


Out of hand? I don't think I could have ANY kind of Starbucks coffee anywhere in the UK for as little as $3.

I'd just like to have something decent to eat. Choices everywhere are pretty much greasy fast food or take 90 minutes to eat at a TGI Fridays (which isn't that much better than fast food). They've got great food in some international airports, why is it so hard to get something decent here in the US?

Out of hand? I don't think I could have ANY kind of Starbucks coffee anywhere in the UK for as little as $3.

That is because of the stupid conversion rate for USD to GBP

Do the same at LAS and see how that works out for ya! :D :D :D

JP

I paid $8 for a Chicken Tender Meal at the D Concourse BK

That is because of the stupid conversion rate for USD to GBP

Or maybe because of a stupid conversion rate for Starbucks coffee to GBP.

I'm ok with a 10% premium on street prices, but hate being gouged just because I can't leave the airport. I haven't noticed anything outrageous lately, but haven't eaten at LAX or LAS lately either.

The food is well priced at IAD, DCA, BWI, PHL, EWR, JFK etc..


I guess our definitions of "well-priced" are different. I think F&B charges at DCA, EWR and JFK are ridiculous.

Or maybe because of a stupid conversion rate for Starbucks coffee to GBP.

It's not really exclusive to starbucks, either. You can't have a double espresso anywhere in the UK for less than £1.50.

It's not really exclusive to starbucks, either. You can't have a double espresso anywhere in the UK for less than £1.50.

It's what the British public are willing to pay (and what it allegedly costs to do business there).

A somewhat-poor comparison is using The Economist's Big Mac index. (http://www.economist.com/finance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9448015) which I don't think takes into account a lot of things. I haven't eaten at a Mickey D's for some 7 years now (last time was 12 Sept. 2001) but I do remember promotions of Big macs going for $2 or even 2 for $2?

I'd just like to have something decent to eat. Choices everywhere are pretty much greasy fast food or take 90 minutes to eat at a TGI Fridays (which isn't that much better than fast food). They've got great food in some international airports, why is it so hard to get something decent here in the US?

Well, there is a Gallagher's Steakhouse at EWR...and Legal Sea Food at BOS isn't bad.

Most municipal owned venues charge their concessionaires a % of the take as part of or in addition to the rent. So naturally, that concessionaire wants to recover that surcharge, so, you the consumer pays for it in the form of higher prices. The cycle just continues to grow as the vendor must pay more and more to the landlord!

Also, as to the quality of the food....I am in the food business. Most of what you buy from nearly every food vendor at airports is pre-prepared product, except maybe hot dogs and some fries. The point is: they buy frozen goods, from frozen burger patties to Mexican food that they simply reheat and serve. Many white table cloth restaurants also buy frozen pre-prepared ravoli and other supposed fancy foods, add a canned sauce and call it home made! It is one majorly huge business. My caution to you, if you want good food: do not order anything that can be pre-prepared off the premises and merely reheated or sauced, etc. Sometimes that is very hard to do.
KX

Most municipal owned venues charge their concessionaires a % of the take as part of or in addition to the rent. So naturally, that concessionaire wants to recover that surcharge, so, you the consumer pays for it in the form of higher prices. The cycle just continues to grow as the vendor must pay more and more to the landlord!

KX

I think cost of living and wages would also influence food prices. If food workers in airport A are earning 7.50 per hour and workers in airport B are earning 10.50 per hour then it isn't hard to figure which place will be more expensive to dine in.

Well, there is a Gallagher's Steakhouse at EWR...and Legal Sea Food at BOS isn't bad.

How does Gallagher's compare to real Gallagher's? I passed up an op to go
there in favor of meeting up with AusTXHiker.

At DCA there are 3 sit down restaurants all before security and right next to the checkpoint.

UsAir Gates-Legal Seafoods

AA/UA Gates-TGI Fridays

DL/CO Gates-- California Pizza Kitchen.

Most municipal owned venues charge their concessionaires a % of the take as part of or in addition to the rent. So naturally, that concessionaire wants to recover that surcharge, so, you the consumer pays for it in the form of higher prices. The cycle just continues to grow as the vendor must pay more and more to the landlord!


Also true, I believe, for mall stores. The mall takes a % of revenue in addition to base rent. That would explain why chain prices tend to be higher in mall food courts. It doesn't explain why menus are often limited, though. I guess because you're a captive diner to some extent, just like at the airport.

I was actually shocked when I ordered a meal at Burger King in PHX terminal 4 recently - it was actually cheaper than the usual road-side BK I frequent near my home. Go figure.

:confused:

I'm through PHX T4 at least 8-10 times per year, and I'm thinking your local BK must jack up its prices, because those prices are 1.5 - 2 times what I pay around here, and I'm pretty sure its more than a BK in Phoenix.

OTOH, PHX T4 has a Paradise Bakery which makes excellent sandwiches, soups, salads, & pastries. It's landside, though. DEN has 2 Paradise Bakeries.

The point is: they buy frozen goods, from frozen burger patties to Mexican food that they simply reheat and serve. Many white table cloth restaurants also buy frozen pre-prepared ravoli and other supposed fancy foods, add a canned sauce and call it home made! It is one majorly huge business. My caution to you, if you want good food: do not order anything that can be pre-prepared off the premises and merely reheated or sauced, etc. Sometimes that is very hard to do.
KX
Ain't that the truth. I am currently receiving the mail for a defunct restaurant and see the trade mags - pretty much everything is sold as frozen and presentable as a house specialty.

PDX's restaurants charge the same prices airside as they do downtown. Figure in the fact that Oregon has no sales tax, and eating at PDX is a bargain.:)

How does Gallagher's compare to real Gallagher's? I passed up an op to go
there in favor of meeting up with AusTXHiker.

It's very comparable with their Manhattan and Las Vegas locations. Personally, I would not place Gallaghers on the same level as some other steak houses, but it is perfectly acceptable, and beats Burger King !

Very easy: Monopoly power and a captive audience.

It's tough to leave the airport during a 2hr connection and they're all owned by the same HMS/Aramark type operators.

So, they can charge what we'll pay.

At least Dulles/BWI have the "Don't pay anymore in the free world that you do here" pricing ^ ^

Ain't that the truth. I am currently receiving the mail for a defunct restaurant and see the trade mags - pretty much everything is sold as frozen and presentable as a house specialty.

I was looking at a trade magazine at my local butcher the other day. They have these machines to make burgers so they look hand-made (rough uneven edges and all).


As far as pretend home-made foods, I am sure going through the 400,000 item Sysco catalogue (http://www.slate.com/id/2160284/) will make one wonder. I've long heard that some stews, soups and sauces served in better restaurants are boil-in-a-bag, desserts at many restaurants are made by someone else, etc.

privately owned prisons charge a huge surcharge as rent on the payphones in the place. some are as much as $2-3 per call.

i know someone who made a collect call, 1 minute, from a county prison, over $6...