Airport hacks: how to make it through without spending money

Want to make it through the terminal without spending any money? Try out our airport hacks, including:

• Bring an empty water bottle and pack your own food
• Wear bulky items and head straight to your gate

Spending a few hours in an airport can be a lot of fun, but it can also be a little pricey. First, you need to avoid unexpected airline charges around things like luggage and boarding passes. And when you're constantly tempted by expensive restaurants or glossy shops, it can be hard to make it all the way to your gate without unnecessary expenses. However, it’s certainly not impossible.

Navigate your way through the airport without spending any money with our airport tips and hacks.

10 airport hacks to save money

So, how can you get through an airport while spending as little money as possible?

1. Bring an empty water bottle

It’s vital to stay hydrated when travelling by air, but this can be an expensive business in an airport. The main issue is that you’re not usually allowed to bring a bottle of water (or any other sort of drink) through security. Indeed, the volume of liquid allowed in your hand luggage is limited to containers of 100 millilitres or less and these containers must fit into a single, transparent, resealable plastic bag no larger than 20 centimetres x 20 centimetres. So it’s hard to fit adequate drinking water in there, especially alongside the rest of your liquids.

However, buying water or other drinks once you’re through security in the airport, or on the plane, can be expensive. Fortunately, you can get around this by packing an empty water bottle (or two) in your hand luggage. After you’ve cleared security, head to the nearest drinking water fountain and fill up for free.

2. Pack your own food

This is one of the most effective airport hacks for saving money. Airport food can be pricey, so if your aim is to make it through without spending money, it’s a good idea to pack your own in your cabin bag. If your fare doesn’t include a meal and/or snacks, bring extra for the plane too.

Just bear in mind there are some restrictions around the types of food you can bring through security. For example, foods that are classed as liquids, gels, or pastes (for example soup, hummus, jam or olives in brine) are a no-go. However, you should be fine with solids like sandwiches, biscuits, fruit and vegetables.

It’s also important to check customs regulations at your arrival destination if you intend to bring any food into the country with you. Rules vary depending on where you took off from and where you will land.

3. Eat before the airport

If you’re only flying short haul, you can simply eat a meal right before setting off to the airport to avoid having to spend money in the terminal. However, you’ll still want to bring your water bottle and a couple of snacks – after all, it’s good to be prepared in case of delays. And remember to plan your next meal: where are you going to eat after landing?

4. Check in online

Some carriers (mostly low-cost airlines) charge customers an extra fee to print their boarding pass at check-in. This means you can save money by checking in online through the airline’s app or website and then either printing your boarding card at home before you set off, or simply using a digital boarding card on your phone.

5. Check airline baggage policies in advance

If you bring oversized or overweight baggage to the airport, you may be charged additional fees. Getting this right can be a little confusing, as luggage policies vary from airline to airline. What’s more, when booking your flight, there are usually several baggage options.

The best way to avoid unexpected luggage fees is to double check your booking and find out the exact size and weight of the bags on your ticket. Then, measure and weigh your bags before setting off to the airport. Furthermore, if you regularly fly with a specific carrier, consider investing in airline-approved cabin bags to ensure your bags are the right size.

6. Skip airport currency exchange counters

Airport money exchange counters are very convenient, but they do tend to be one of the more expensive ways to swap your pounds for foreign currency. If saving money is your priority, skip the currency exchange counters and get money from a cash point after landing. Just make sure you’re happy with the ATM fees and exchange rate before agreeing to withdraw your money.

A couple more airport travel hacks when it comes to currency:

• Use a travel-friendly bank card with low (or no) fees for withdrawing money abroad.
• Check your bank’s charges for card transactions abroad – if they offer low or no fees, this may be the cheapest way to pay during your trip.
• When paying for goods on your card, the card terminal will sometimes ask whether you’d rather pay in local currency or GBP. It usually works out as better value for money to pay in local currency.

7. Use small, refillable bottles for cosmetics

The restrictions on liquids at security mean that many holidaymakers choose to buy cosmetics like shower gel, shampoo and deodorant at airport shops once they’re airside. While this is a convenient way to ensure you’ve packed all the cosmetics you need, it can also be expensive.

Indeed, products in airport shops often come with a higher price tag than the same items on the high street. However, you won’t necessarily want to wait until you get to your destination to buy the essentials either, especially if you’re arriving late, don’t know where the nearest shops are or you’re not sure if they sell your preferred brands.

One of the best flight hacks is to invest in a set of refillable travel bottles for your cosmetics. This allows you to bring your favourite products from home while also saving money. Simply decant less than 100 millilitres of each product into each container and pop them all into one resealable plastic bag no larger than 20 centimetres x 20 centimetres.

8. Wear bulky items for more luggage space

Travelling with hand luggage only is one of the most effective ways to save money on your ticket, but it doesn’t give you a huge amount of space to play with. This is especially tricky if you need to squeeze bulky items – such as coats, boots or jumpers – into your bag.

You’ll be able to fit much more into your case if you wear your biggest and bulkiest items for the flight itself. You can also try to wear a few layers to save even more space. For example, you might choose to wear your boots, a couple of pairs of socks, jeans, a vest, t-shirt, jumper and coat, all at once. However, be mindful of safety rules – if you’re clearly wearing too many garments you may be asked to change by flight attendants as this can become a safety risk. It’s also vital to ensure you don’t overheat.

9. Head straight to your gate

If you’re aiming to make it through the airport without spending any money at all, you’re going to need to avoid the shops! Most airports have seemingly endless retail outlets selling perfumes, sunglasses, make-up, cosmetics, chocolates and lots of other lovely products. These retailers are not easy to avoid – often you have to walk through the terminal’s duty free shop just to get from security to your gate. And, as outlined above, you’ll also need to avoid the airport’s restaurants and bars.

The best way to avoid temptation is simply to head straight to your gate from security. There will normally be plenty of chairs around your gate, so simply pitch up there with your food and drink from home, and something to entertain you and wait for boarding to start!

10. Ask for free upgrades

Asking for free upgrades might not always work, but it never hurts to try. If you’re lucky, you could end up with complimentary items you’d otherwise have had to pay for, or even upgrades worth hundreds of pounds!

So, what sort of free upgrades can you ask for?

• Seat upgrades: while many people dream of suddenly being upgraded to First Class, did you know you can ask to be swapped to bigger or better seats in the same cabin? If you would like some more legroom, for example, you could ask to be moved to an exit row or bulkhead to allow you to stretch out a little. Or you could also ask to be moved to seats in a better location – for example, closer to the front of the cabin for easier boarding and faster disembarking.
• Cabin upgrades: flying on a plane that has a First Class, Business Class and/or Premium cabin? Free upgrades are admittedly rare, but not impossible (there’s a reason this is among the most popular plane hacks)! If your original cabin is too busy because it’s been oversold, you have frequent flier status, or you’re celebrating something special such as your honeymoon or birthday, you may have more of a chance of making it. It never hurts to be polite and friendly while enquiring too.
• Lounge upgrades: facing a long delay, or flying economy but have elite flier status? It’s worth asking whether you could be upgraded to a premium lounge.
• Food and drink: if you’re flying long-haul or on a premium airline, your food and drink will usually be included in the price of your fare. However, if you’re flying budget, you may be able to bag a complimentary drink on a special occasion, or extra snacks or bottled water if your flight is delayed.
• Comfort items: want a pillow, blanket, or headphones? It’s worth asking a flight attendant – these items may not always be available, but you’ll never know unless you enquire.
• Stuff for kids: some airlines carry things to keep little ones entertained, like colouring books, crayons and toys.
• Fast-track and priority boarding: wondering how to skip airport lines? While normally you’ll need to pay for these extras, if you’re travelling with little children or older people, you may be granted such perks for free.

For the best chance of bagging free upgrades, remember to be polite, realistic and to notify the crew of any special occasions. It’s also best to ask for a specific upgrade – for example, to move to an aisle seat, or get an extra blanket – and to avoid asking when the cabin crew look particularly busy.