5 ms·

I'm apparently the weirdo, since -- in pre-Covid times, to be clear -- I liked explicitly scheduling longer layovers, ideally 90+ minutes, so I could look aroun

I'm apparently the weirdo, since -- in pre-Covid times, to be clear -- I liked explicitly scheduling longer layovers, ideally 90+ minutes, so I could look around and find a place for a sit-down meal. Almost any larger airport I've been through, and even some of the smaller ones, had at least a few restaurants which were spinoffs of local restaurants in that area, with their own unique menus, kitchens specific to the restaurant, and sometimes surprisingly good food. I actually looked forward to traveling sometimes. In general, I've found that the fast food places in airport "food courts" are the worst food experiences you get in American airports: the prices tend to be seriously jacked up and the menu options are more limited. This isn't to say that the sit-down places are bargains, but they're usually not so much more expensive than quick service that it isn't worth the price (to me) for the better food and more relaxed atmosphere. I have, for the record, never seen a $28.50 beer at an airport. I'm pretty sure I've seen $12+ beers. You can blame that on the concession operators, but you can also blame it on the airport authority that lets them do that; there are some counties that control how much, if at all, airport outposts of chains can raise prices compared to their non-airport locations in the same county.

2Gkashmiri 5y ago
In indis at least, there is this "airports authority of india" which leases shops to well retailers and stuff. What they do is, they set a monthly rent and that has to be paid. So last 2 years there hasnt been any air travel but guess what, AAI demands their rent. As a result, I have seen 60+ year old shops fold because they cannot pay the rent when there is no income. Either that or they have to Jack up the prices to make up for the rent paid for the time no one was flying causing high prices.
koyote 5y ago
> I liked explicitly scheduling longer layovers, ideally 90+ minutes, so I could look around and find a place for a sit-down meal I usually do the same and there's some great stuff available in places like HKG or SIN. It's a bad idea in a place like ZHR where a simple burger cost nearly 30CHF...
- jeffbee 5y ago
  Beef is expensive in Switzerland :=) There is a Confiserie Sprüngli in that airport, and that's where I always pick up a sandwich. It's as good as the ones in town.
  - CaptainZapp 5y ago
    And prices are the same. As they generally are in ZRH airport shops. Sprüngli has also rather good salads, btw.
- snovv_crash 5y ago
  That's the normal price of a burger in Zurich though, nothing to do with airports.
  - koyote 5y ago
    That's a good point, but I think people doing layovers might not take that into account. e.g. you might be flying from cheap place to cheap place like Poland to Thailand with a layover in Zurich and think "if I have a long layover in Zurch, I could grab some lunch." Or maybe it was just me, forgetting how ridiculously expensive Switzerland is :(
    - reustle 5y ago
      That's simply the cost of flying around the planet in an almost spaceship.

2Gkashmiri 5y ago

In indis at least, there is this "airports authority of india" which leases shops to well retailers and stuff. What they do is, they set a monthly rent and that has to be paid. So last 2 years there hasnt been any air travel but guess what, AAI demands their rent. As a result, I have seen 60+ year old shops fold because they cannot pay the rent when there is no income. Either that or they have to Jack up the prices to make up for the rent paid for the time no one was flying causing high prices.

koyote 5y ago

> I liked explicitly scheduling longer layovers, ideally 90+ minutes, so I could look around and find a place for a sit-down meal I usually do the same and there's some great stuff available in places like HKG or SIN. It's a bad idea in a place like ZHR where a simple burger cost nearly 30CHF...

jeffbee 5y ago
Beef is expensive in Switzerland :=) There is a Confiserie Sprüngli in that airport, and that's where I always pick up a sandwich. It's as good as the ones in town.
- CaptainZapp 5y ago
  And prices are the same. As they generally are in ZRH airport shops. Sprüngli has also rather good salads, btw.
snovv_crash 5y ago
That's the normal price of a burger in Zurich though, nothing to do with airports.
- koyote 5y ago
  That's a good point, but I think people doing layovers might not take that into account. e.g. you might be flying from cheap place to cheap place like Poland to Thailand with a layover in Zurich and think "if I have a long layover in Zurch, I could grab some lunch." Or maybe it was just me, forgetting how ridiculously expensive Switzerland is :(
  - reustle 5y ago
    That's simply the cost of flying around the planet in an almost spaceship.