Things You Should Not Buy on Planes or at Airports: Flight Attendant

When I joined the airline industry, I thought I’d learn all kinds of secrets about flying.

Although I don’t know everything, in my years of working as a flight attendant, I have learned a few solid tricks for spending less on flights and in airports.

Here are some of the best tips I’ve learned for saving money while flying.

Don’t waste money on bottled water at the airport

Plane travel can get expensive enough, from the checked-bag fees to the tickets themselves. So, don’t waste your money on an overpriced bottle of water at the airport.

You can’t take a full bottle of water through security, but you can take an empty one. Most airports have plenty of fountains, and many have special dispensers for refilling bottles with filtered water.

To keep your bottle full during the flight, just ask your flight attendant for a refill. If you’re lucky, they may even put ice in it. 

Skip the airport food, too

For some reason, many passengers fear bringing food through a TSA screening. However, it’s a great way to save money, as long as it’s solid, like a sandwich.

There are even restaurants and shops before security that advertise selling TSA-approved foods.

This is also a great way to avoid being so hungry that you buy in-flight snacks, which are typically super overpriced.

Keep in mind that if you’re flying internationally, it’s best to finish any food from your first destination before landing because some countries don’t allow fresh food through customs. 

If you fly business class, you may save by waiting to upgrade at the airport

I often advise people looking to fly business class to purchase an economy ticket at home and try to upgrade it at the airport.

As soon as you buy your economy seat, you may start receiving email deals to upgrade your ticket, but don’t rush. Wait until you get to the airport and ask for an upgrade at the counter or the gate.

Sometimes, if the plane is fairly empty and you’re part of an airline’s loyalty program, the gate agent can upgrade you to business class at no additional cost.

Just be extremely nice to the staff, and arrive early so seats may still be available. Even if you have to pay, I’ve found upgrading at the airport can be cheaper than buying a higher-tier ticket online.

This won’t always work, especially if a flight is in high demand or all the business-class seats are booked, but it’s worth a shot. Just don’t wait until you’re on the plane to ask about an upgrade — flight attendants don’t usually have that much power.

You can generally find better deals online than at the duty-free shop

Duty-free shops attract passengers at the airport because they allow travelers to buy items without paying local taxes. Some airlines also have duty-free catalogs on board so you can shop in the skies — but, in my experience, those prices can be even higher.

Items are often marked up at airports, so the savings are rarely as good as they seem unless you’re buying a heavily taxed luxury item or flying to a place with much higher prices,

Look up typical retail prices before you shop or, even better, skip the duty-free stores and look for better deals online.

Try freezing your liquids if you want to avoid checking a bag

If you have an important liquid that’s over 3.4 ounces but you don’t want to pay to check a bag, it may be worth freezing it before tucking it into your carry-on.

That way, when it goes through the TSA scanner, it can be treated as a solid. Even if it melts a little bit on the ride to the airport, as long as it’s stored properly and mostly still solid, it shouldn’t be a problem.

Parking at an airport may not be the best option, especially on long trips

Obviously, getting a ride from a friend or family member will be the cheapest way to get to an airport. Driving yourself may seem like the next best option — especially if you have a lot of luggage — but many don’t realize just how expensive parking can get.

Before you leave, it’s worth crunching the numbers to see whether a taxi or ride-share to and from the airport will be cheaper than parking. A lot of this depends on the length of your trip.

For example, if parking costs cost $70 a day and you’re on vacation for a week, you may end up spending more to leave your car in a lot than you would’ve paid to just grab a taxi to and from the airport.

It’s also worth looking into parking lots near the airport, but not at the airport — especially if you can squeeze in extra travel time. These may not be the most efficient option, but they’re often cheaper and offer shuttle services to take you to and from your terminal.

It’s almost never worth it to exchange money at the airport

Too often, passengers land at an international airport and realize they don’t have the right currency. However, airports are usually not great places to exchange your money if you want the best rate.

Try to exchange currency before your flight through a bank or other service. If you forget, exchange just enough money at the airport to get a taxi, then exchange the rest once you can get to a bank or another place with a better rate.

It usually pays to stay loyal to one airline

Frequently switching airlines could be costing you serious savings.

Whenever possible, it’s wise to stick with just one airline (or a group of airlines) when you fly. In addition to collecting miles you can use toward a later flight, loyalty can also earn you free checked bags, upgrades, and access to lounges with free food and drinks.

If you travel often, it could also be worth opening a travel-rewards card that partners with your carrier(s) of choice to maximize your perks.

This story was originally published in March 2022 and most recently updated on June 30, 2026.