Mid Life Travel Pro

There’s expensive, and then there’s expensive – and if you’ve spent anytime in an airport of late you’ll know that grabbing a quick snack, or enjoying a pre-flight glass of wine can put a dent in your travel budget.

You know the feeling. You’ve already paid for your flight, probably paid to check a bag, and maybe paid for a seat selection. Then you have a four-hour layover, you’re hungry, and suddenly you’re staring at a sandwich that costs 20 bucks.

Add a coffee, a bottle of water and maybe a glass of wine because, well, you’re on vacation, and you can easily spend $40 or $50 without really having eaten much of anything.

And if you’re traveling as a couple or with kids? Ouch. It’s a real budget buster!

Long layovers are sometimes unavoidable, particularly when you’re flying internationally. But with a little planning, you can make them a lot less expensive.

Here are some of the things I do – or at least try to remember to do – to avoid spending a small fortune eating and drinking at the airport.

Bring More Food Than You Think You’ll Need

I’ve learned not to rely on airport food.

Even if I’m planning to buy a meal during my layover, I always bring snacks in my personal item. Flights get delayed. Lines get ridiculously long. And sometimes the only thing near your gate is a kiosk selling pre-packaged sandwiches that don’t look incredibly appetizing!

I like to bring things that travel well and don’t take up much room: protein or granola bars, crackers, nuts, trail mix, pretzels, dried fruit and individually wrapped snacks. I particularly like these Kodiak Granola Bar (yummy), Chomps beef sticks, and I’ll forever be a Cheez-It’s girl!

For a really long travel day, I’ll sometimes bring something more substantial for the first part of the trip, such as a sandwich or wrap. 

You can bring food through TSA. The main thing to remember is that liquids and spreadable foods can be subject to the liquid rules, so peanut butter, yogurt, hummus and similar foods can be trickier than a good old-fashioned sandwich.

And bring a couple of treats. There is nothing worse than being six hours into a travel day, desperately wanting something sweet and paying $7 for a candy bar you could have bought at your local grocery store for $2. 

Never Pay Airport Prices for Water

This is probably the easiest airport money saver of all.

Bring an empty reusable water bottle through security and fill it once you’re airside. Most major airports now have water bottle filling stations, often right beside the drinking fountains.

I always travel with one – and recently I’ve switched from a regular water bottle to a wide-mouth thermos. I like using this because I always travel with a few tea bags in my personal item and this also works for drinking hot tea either on the plane, or in the airport – all I need to do is ask for some hot water:)

Apart from saving money, it means I’m much more likely to actually drink enough water during a long travel day instead of rationing the tiny cup handed to me on the plane.

Just make sure the bottle is completely empty before you go through security.

Eat Before You Get to the Airport

This sounds obvious, but it makes a huge difference.

If I have a morning flight, I try to eat breakfast at home before leaving. If I’m flying later in the day, I’ll eat before heading to the airport whenever possible.

Walking through security already hungry is practically a guarantee that I’m going to buy something.

If I know I have a long layover later, I’d much rather save my airport spending for one proper meal than spend $15 here, $9 there and another $6 somewhere else because I’ve been grazing all day.

Check Your Credit Cards Before You Travel

This is one people often overlook.

Before paying for airport food, check whether any of the credit cards already sitting in your wallet come with airport lounge access or other travel benefits.

Some premium travel cards include lounge memberships or access to certain airport lounges. Depending on the lounge, you may find meals, snacks, coffee, soft drinks and sometimes alcoholic drinks included.

If you already have access as part of a card benefit, a long layover is the perfect time to use it.

I wouldn’t necessarily recommend paying a hefty annual fee for a credit card just so you can get a free airport sandwich. But if you already have the perk, absolutely take advantage of it.

Don’t Automatically Assume a Lounge Is Too Expensive

Even without complimentary lounge access, it can sometimes be worth doing the math.

Suppose you have a five- or six-hour layover and you know you’re going to buy lunch, coffee, snacks and perhaps a couple of drinks.

At airport prices, that can add up very quickly.

If a lounge offers a day pass and includes food and drinks, compare the price with what you realistically think you’ll spend in the terminal.

Sometimes the terminal will still be cheaper. Sometimes the lounge surprisingly wins – especially if you also get comfortable seating, Wi-Fi and somewhere to charge your phone!

The important thing is not to think of the lounge fee as an extra expense. Compare it with what you would otherwise spend during those hours.

Download the Airport App or Look at the Airport Map Before You Go

Not all airport terminals are created equal.

I’ve made the mistake of seeing a restaurant near my arrival gate and thinking, I’d better eat here because there might not be anything else.

Then 15 minutes later I walk around the corner and discover an entire food court, or my favorite place to eat.

Before you buy anything, take a quick look at the airport website, app or terminal map. See what’s available near your gate and elsewhere in the terminal.

You may find cheaper fast-food options, grab-and-go markets or simply a much better choice a few gates away.

This is especially useful when you have a long layover because you have time to explore a little instead of settling for the first place you see.

Look for Airport Versions of Familiar Chains

When I’m trying to keep costs down, I tend to look for places where I already have a rough idea of what things should cost.

Coffee shops, fast-food restaurants and familiar casual chains can sometimes be a better bet than airport bars and sit-down restaurants.

Airport locations may still charge more than their regular locations, but you can often put together a decent meal without spending restaurant prices.

And don’t forget to check the chain’s app. Depending on the location, you may be able to use points, rewards or offers you already have.

Think Twice About the Airport Cocktails

This one hurts me a little because there is something about sitting at an airport bar with a glass of wine or a margarita that makes me feel like the vacation has officially started!

Unfortunately, airport alcohol can demolish your food budget.

One drink can easily turn into two, and once you add a tip, you may have spent the same amount as you did on your meal.

I’m not saying skip the vacation drink altogether. I certainly don’t always!

But if you’re watching your budget, decide ahead of time what you’re going to have rather than spending four hours slowly ordering another drink every time your glass is empty.

One celebratory vacation drink? Lovely! Four airport margaritas because your connection has been delayed again? Your credit card may not be quite so enthusiastic – and you’ll probably land at your destination with a killer hangover, which isn’t a great way to start your vacation!

Check Whether Your Airline Gives You Anything During a Delay

If your long layover has become much longer because of a flight disruption, don’t immediately start paying for meals.

Depending on the airline, the reason for the delay and where you’re traveling, you may be offered meal vouchers or other assistance.

Ask. The worst they can say is no.

If you’ve already spent $30 on dinner and then discover you could have had a meal voucher, you’re going to be annoyed.

Don’t Forget About Food in Your Carry-On After an International Flight

This is one area where you need to pay attention.

Bringing snacks through airport security is one thing. Carrying food across an international border is another.

Different countries have different rules about bringing in fruit, meat, dairy and other agricultural products. If you’re traveling internationally, make sure you know what needs to be eaten, discarded or declared before going through customs.

That apple you grabbed in the airport lounge may not be worth the hassle.

Give Yourself an Airport Food Budget

This may sound slightly boring, but it works.

Before I leave, I like knowing roughly what I’m willing to spend during my travel day.

Maybe I bring breakfast and snacks but allow myself $30 for dinner during my layover. Or perhaps I know I want that glass of wine at the airport, so I budget for it and bring more food with me.

The point isn’t to make travel miserable in the name of saving $5.

It’s to spend your money on the things you actually enjoy instead of accidentally blowing $70 because you were hungry, thirsty and trapped in Terminal B for five hours.

My Ideal Long-Layover Strategy

If I know I have a long airport layover coming up, my plan looks something like this:

I eat before leaving home, pack plenty of snacks, bring my empty reusable water bottle and check the airport ahead of time to see what food options are available.

Then I choose one thing I actually want to spend money on.

Maybe that’s a proper meal. Maybe it’s coffee and something sweet. Maybe it’s a glass of wine while I sit by the window and watch the planes.

I’m not suggesting you shouldn’t spend any money at the airport. If I have a long layover, I’m probably going to want a decent meal or a glass of wine while I wait – and that’s fine. I’d just rather spend my money on something I actually want than realize I’ve somehow spent $60 on bottled water, snacks and a not-very-good sandwich.

A little planning before I leave home means I can still enjoy myself at the airport without spending a ridiculous amount of money before I’ve even reached my destination. And I’d much rather save that money for the actual trip.

And one last note for anyone traveling with kids. Mine are older now, but when they were small – and extremely picky eaters – I always packed food I knew they would actually eat, even if that meant a bag full of their favorite Nutella sandwiches, chips and treats.

Our flights to the UK were long and boring enough for them without adding food battles into the mix, and I knew the airplane meal was probably going to go down like a ton of bricks. So Nutella sandwiches it was!

There’s nothing worse than dealing with a hangry child halfway across the Atlantic, and in my opinion, a long-haul flight is definitely not the time to insist they try something new. Pack what you know they’ll eat, bring plenty of snacks and save the healthy eating battles for when you’re back on solid ground!