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I know why but it kills me that airports around the world don't just let "normal restaurants" come in and do their thing. Like mentioned in comments, even known

by rtpg 5y ago

I know why but it kills me that airports around the world don't just let "normal restaurants" come in and do their thing. Like mentioned in comments, even known stuff is basically run by a mega-franchisee so you don't even get the good stuff for the most part. I get that some airports, there are logistics issues and whatnot. But the airport premiums for food that is just so messy is super frustrating. I like how Narita at least has a bunch of restaurants before security that are not nearly as awful as what is behind the gates, but come on...

ajmurmann 5y ago
"I know why" What's the "why"? Airports are infrastructure and shouldn't be corporations that maximize profits at all costs. As the airport operator it should be pretty easy to create a well-functioning market. Just avoid given to many businesses inside the airport to the same operator and make sure they compete to the death.
- rtpg 5y ago
  The reason is because airport operators, quite simply, don't care. There is a company that shows up and says "we can provide restaurants for everything in your airport". You check off the box of "provide services behind the security gate". They get to take their big profits. And it's a captive market! What, you're not going to take a plan out of Dallas cuz you hate DFW? No! You're in Dallas! You don't have that much of a choice in the first place. Airport operators of course benefit from _some_ customer satisfaction (in the same way that airliners feed people to keep the peace in the planes themselves on int'l flights). It's not like there's _no_ feedback loop. But "my beer is too expensive" is not going to register very high on their concerns. There are also "legitimate" issues around how (especially behind security gates) there are logistics costs in running stuff. It's not like your delivery person can easily just show up at your doorstep with your frozen steaks or whatever you need to make food. But if they can put vending machines with reasonable costs at the top of Mt Takao, I feel like they could do a _bit_ better here.

by rtpg 5y ago

ajmurmann 5y ago

"I know why" What's the "why"? Airports are infrastructure and shouldn't be corporations that maximize profits at all costs. As the airport operator it should be pretty easy to create a well-functioning market. Just avoid given to many businesses inside the airport to the same operator and make sure they compete to the death.

rtpg 5y ago
The reason is because airport operators, quite simply, don't care. There is a company that shows up and says "we can provide restaurants for everything in your airport". You check off the box of "provide services behind the security gate". They get to take their big profits. And it's a captive market! What, you're not going to take a plan out of Dallas cuz you hate DFW? No! You're in Dallas! You don't have that much of a choice in the first place. Airport operators of course benefit from _some_ customer satisfaction (in the same way that airliners feed people to keep the peace in the planes themselves on int'l flights). It's not like there's _no_ feedback loop. But "my beer is too expensive" is not going to register very high on their concerns. There are also "legitimate" issues around how (especially behind security gates) there are logistics costs in running stuff. It's not like your delivery person can easily just show up at your doorstep with your frozen steaks or whatever you need to make food. But if they can put vending machines with reasonable costs at the top of Mt Takao, I feel like they could do a _bit_ better here.