Credit: Fort Wayne International Airport
“It’s an airplane! That swims! And loves St. Louis!”
There’s something kind of evil about airport gift shops, don’t you think? So much miscellaneous junk that you would never buy in any other circumstance, yet the moment you spot it in a gift shop, it’s like the Ark of the Covenant. You just have to have it. I think we’ve all had buyer’s remorse over at least one airport purchase. I somehow managed to cajole my parents into buying a toy dog with shrill, squeaking bark. If you don’t want to feel that very particular shade of regret, then remember to steer clear of these items.
Neck pillows
There are two reasons you should bring your own neck pillow from home. First, the airport gift shop will almost definitely overcharge you for it. You could likely find the exact same pillows, if not better ones, for half the cost on Amazon. The second much more pressing reason is hygiene. Do you have any idea how long that neck pillow has been hanging on the rack, how many people have poked and squeezed it? Me neither, and I ain’t risking it.
Water bottles
It’s a pretty well-known fact about airports that they’ll overcharge you for consumables. Everyone needs water, and everyone wants water to bring on the plane. “But wait,” you may ask, “how can I bring water from home? Won’t security take it?” Yes, they will take water, but won’t take water bottles. Bring an empty bottle with you and fill it up at a water fountain. It’s far more economical, and it’s environmentally conscious!
Credit: Raleigh–Durham International Airport
Headphones
As with the water and neck pillows, if you try to buy any kind of tech at an airport, get ready for one heck of a markup. Bring your own headphones with you to use on the plane; as long as they have a physical jack, you should still be able to plug them in. If you don’t have your own headphones or yours are wireless only, then you’re better off just buying some earbuds on the plane. Yeah, they’re lousy, but at least they’re cheaper.
Souvenirs
Nothing says “I have no idea what your interests are” like a toy wind-up airplane. If you forgot to get a souvenir for the family during a trip, you might just need to suck it up and face the music. If you try to get some generic, kitschy junk from the gift shop, your family’s probably going to be more disappointed with you than if you just forgot entirely.
