I’ve recently started paying off my debts, which are fairly small but they exist, and living on a modest budget. I’m a frequent flyer and I LOVE the airport because I spend so much money there. I love to sit down at a restaurant and get some work done with a glass or two of wine. Normally, I’m having a nice meal, buying a snack for the flight, and 2-3 glasses of wine, and it adds up fast. It feels like a waste because it’s only as expensive as it is because it’s the airport.
But if I’m leaving the house at 4 to get to the airport at 5, flying at 8, and landing at 11, that’s 7 hours and I need to eat at some point. So I guess I’m wondering, what do you do on a tight budget? Obviously, I cut out the alcohol, but is there any way to enjoy yourself a little bit? Do people actually pack food for the airport? Are there any secrets to it or do I just need to stop being a baby?
What airport are you based out of and what airline do you fly? I stop by the lounge and do all of what you do, and it’s all ‘free’ with my credit card.
Bring food and/or eat before you leave and when you land. I fly a lot with Alaska Airlines, and even if you pre-order the food on the plane, it’s a better deal than the airport most of the time. You can get a decent light meal for about $10. Also, if you’re regularly drinking 3-5 glasses of wine a day, that may be a bigger issue than your budget. If it’s vacation, okay, but if this is a weekly/monthly work trip, it seems like excessive consumption.
Yes, I pack food for the airport or the flight. I find the airport food to be generally overpriced and not particularly interesting. I’d rather eat something more interesting at my destination for the money. If you want to cut back but not cut it entirely out, you could go for a meal with a single glass of wine and pack your snacks for the plane from home because the snacks at the airport aren’t anything special.
That’s a good point. I only buy them out of convenience, aka not thinking about it beforehand. Thanks. I think I’ll let myself do like, a coffee while I work.
Yes. I have an insulated bag that carries my cold stuff. Pieces of grilled chicken, grilled steak, and cheese. We’re allowed to have ice. Then I have flavored crackers, chips, and pretzels. I do buy bottled soda.
I bring leftover pizza and some snacks. I only get to the airport an hour before my flight because I don’t like sitting around. But if your airport treats are important to you, I’m sure you could find a way to keep them in your budget.