Plastic Bags for Fifty Cents at Airport Security

How’s this for enterprising? In case you haven’t heard, you can once again brings small containers of liquids and gels through airport security as long as you put the containers in a clear plastic bag. Well, while I was going through security this morning at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta, I noticed that a steady stream of people heading from the security table (set up at the entrance to screening area) over to a nearby shop. As it turns out, these people hadn’t brought plastic bags for their stuff, and an enterprising shop owner was selling small Zip-Locs for $0.50 apiece. Mix in a captive audience, and you’re talk about a very high margin business… You can buy a box of 100 bags for a couple of bucks (retail), and then turn around and sell them for fifty bucks! He was probably taking in more on bag sales than on all other sales combined.

Published on October 19th, 2006 - 5 Comments
Filed under: Travel
email this article email this article - bookmark it

About the author: Nickel is the founder and editor-in-chief of this site. He's a thirty-something family man who has been writing about personal finance since 2005, and guess what? He's on Twitter!

Related articles...

» From the Archives (October 14th – October 20th)
» Carnivals – Week of 10/23/06
» Are You a Registered Traveler?
» Upselling at the Airport
» Stamp Prices Set to Rise
» Standard Mileage Rate Increases for 2007
» Halloween Treat Ideas (or Not)
» Sometimes Cheaper is Better

Was this article useful? Please sign up to receive our content via e-mail:

You will receive only the daily updates, and can unsubscribe at anytime.

5 Responses to “Plastic Bags for Fifty Cents at Airport Security”

  1. 1
    jim Says:

    Yeah, you gotta take advantage if/when you can…

  2. 2
    mbhunter Says:

    Ahhh, the hapless traveler, once again left holding the bag.

  3. 3
    Catch a Gideon Says:

    Is there any rule/law against standing by the security gate and selling bags for 50 cents each? Here in DC there are no shops near one of the security gates, would be worth it for a 45 dollar a box profit.

    http://catchagideon.blogspot.com

  4. 4
    EdK Says:

    I was totally prepared heading to the UK, and I had all my 3 oz or less bottles in a quart bag.

    Ha on me! Coming home, the regs are different and I had to ditch my small liquids in the bag.

    I would have gladly been ripped off a buck or two to get my liquids into my carry-on.

    Flying sucks.

Leave a Reply

  1. < $10,000
 

Signup for free Newsletter

Disclaimer...

This website may receive financial compensation from the companies mentioned on its pages. The terms of third-party offers referenced on this website are also subject to change without notice. While we strive to maintain timely and accurate information, offer details may be out of date. Visitors should thus verify the terms of any such offers prior to participating in them. Please see our terms of service for additional details.