Six ways to save yourself money at airport – and | U.Ok.Finance News
With the summer season vacation season in full swing, thousands and thousands of Brits are plotting their escape from the day by day grind. Yet, with costs on the rise from check-in to check-out, everyone seems to be feeling the pinch. Data from the national statistics workplace confirmed air fares rose by 7.9% between May and June 2025, marking essentially the most important increase since 2018.Fortunately, there are a number of ways to cut prices at the airport, with some serving to to save a “small fortune”. From currency exchanges to airport lounge entry, listed here are a few ways to make some financial savings earlier than your journey overseas.CurrencySimon Phillips, managing director at No1 Currency, instructed Express.co.uk: “Never, ever leave it to the airport to buy your foreign currency. They might be convenient, but airport bureaux de change pay very high rents to be in the terminal building, and they recoup this cost by offering poor exchange rates to travellers who are effectively a captive audience.”“It’s best and normally the best worth to swap your kilos for native currency earlier than you journey. Exchange charges range between completely different journey money suppliers, so do store round to discover those close to you with the best charges. Good suppliers will charge no commission, and offer a click on and acquire option or a secure home supply service.”When abroad, use a fee-free travel card that gives you the real exchange rate. Many digital banks like Monzo or Starling let you spend abroad with little or no extra fees.Food and drinkThere are several ways to beat the inflated food and drink prices at the airport, and they involve some preparation.Nicholas Smith, holidays digital director at Thomas Cook, said: “Bringing your own snacks can also save a small fortune, if you stay a short time at the airport. Airport food is notoriously overpriced, and airlines often charge extra for meals – particularly on budget carriers.“Look out for Boots or WH Smiths, who are usually present in the large terminals and offer sandwich meal deals at relatively normal prices.”Airport lounge accessHe also noted that packing sandwiches, fruit, and reusable water bottles (filled after security) can be even better on the wallet. However, Mr Smith pointed out: “If you plan to stay a very long time at the airport, you may find pre-booking an airport lounge more economical – these usually come with food and drink and can be a pleasant way to kill time.”Look for deals on sites like Lounge Pass or Holiday Extras, and check for discount codes and offers.No1 Lounges is offering customers a 15% discount to celebrate the opening of its two new locations in Heathrow Terminal Three and Jersey. When booking directly through No1 Lounges, use the code MYLOUNGE-LHR3 and JERSEY at checkout. These offers are available until August 16 and August 31, respectively.For other No1 Lounges locations, Daily Express readers can use the code DEXP15 for 15% off passes. The offer is available until midnight on Sunday, August 31, 2025. Bookings must be made directly through No1 Airport Lounges, and the discount cannot be used in conjunction with other offers.Also, some credit cards or bank accounts, such as Barclays and NatWest Premium, come with free airport lounge access, so make sure to check this, too.TaxisPeople usually find the cheapest flights are offered for very early mornings or late evenings, but this might not save you money overall.Mr Smith said: “We recommend factoring in the likely extra costs of taking these flights. For example, if you normally get a train to the airport, it may not be possible for these early morning flights. Do the extra costs of getting a taxi outweigh the savings of the flight?”When reaching the destination, Mr Smith urged people to avoid catching taxis directly from the terminal. He said: “If you do make sure it’s a reputable taxi and agree to the prices upfront. Apps like Uber could help you navigate your journey to your lodge with more peace of thoughts.”He added: “Airport transfers may be even inexpensive than the taxis, and we suggest you pre-book these.”Travel insurance coverageDon’t overlook journey insurance coverage. Experts recommend shopping for it as quickly as you e book your journey, not the day earlier than you fly. This means you’ll be coated if something goes unsuitable earlier than you allow the nation.New analysis by Tesco Insurance confirmed over a third (36%) of Brits have both misplaced or had an merchandise stolen overseas, together with passports and devices. This is a expensive error, as changing these belongings can value a whole lot, if not hundreds, of kilos.Alex Cross, chief buyer officer at Tesco Insurance, stated: “The best way to stay protected is to plan ahead: invest in tracking devices like AirTags, secure your luggage properly, and ensure your travel insurance covers your belongings – including gadgets – from the moment you book.“Travel insurance is an important consideration for any trip you take, even if it’s just a short city break. While it comes in handy for things like cancellations or damage to your luggage, it’s invaluable if the unexpected does happen and you need medical treatment.”You can use an online comparability device to discover the most cost effective insurance coverage, such because the Money Saving Expert web site. Be sure to examine the circumstances of your coverage too, as chances are you’ll discover some suppliers gained’t cowl you in sure circumstances, comparable to when ingesting alcohol or participating in excessive sports activities.Download the airline appTo increase the chance to snap up even more financial savings, Mr Smith stated: “Don’t forget to download not only your travel agency’s but also the airline’s app before you fly.“Not only can you access boarding passes and receive real-time updates, but some airlines also offer exclusive in-app discounts for meals, upgrades, and duty-free shopping.”
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