Stocking up on snacks for a flight or tucking into a pre-travel breakfast is all part of the airport experience - but it could be making quite the dent in your holiday budget.
That's because according to new research from Holiday Extras, the average UK family of four is shelling out £100 on pre-flight snacks and meals.
UK travellers are spending around £26.30 each while killing time before boarding their plane. This is quite the leap compared to pre-pandemic, when they were spending around £21.
Meals and snacks were the top culprits when it came to the most popular choices, although 78% of those surveyed admitted they always splash out on a 'last proper cup of tea' before heading abroad.
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The temptation of duty free is also proving tricky to resist, with nearly half of Brits admitting they bought items either on impulse or just to pass the time.
Still, for the majority of travellers it was stocking up on food and drink that saw costs add up before they'd even boarded their flight.
In some cases, it could actually work out cheaper to simply book yourself and your family into an airport lounge, where free snacks and drinks are included. (Not to mention all of the other extra perks such as comfier waiting areas and quieter spaces if you're looking to escape the airport's hustle and bustle).
According to Holiday Extras, there are airport lounges in the UK you can book from £15 per adult, or £9 a child - which works out much cheaper than splurging an average of £100 on food.
Elizabeth Hogg, Chief Operating Officer at Holiday Extras explained: "Our latest research suggests that not booking an airport lounge before you fly could actually be a false economy. We offer airport lounges from as little as £15 for an adult and £9 for a child, and even the more expensive airport lounges start from £26.
"In the two years since we first ran this survey, UK air travellers have gone from spending £21 waiting to board to spending £26 - and that’s mostly on things they could have enjoyed in a lounge as part of the price!"
You can find out more on holidayextras.com/airport-lounges.
Looking for more travel bargains? We've got you covered with guides to all the latest holiday deals and cheap flights, from the latest sales and discounts we think you'll love, to extra tips for snapping up bargains no matter what time of the year you're booking a getaway.
What's your pre-holiday airport ritual? Let us know in the comments below.
