Duty-Free Shops: Deal or No Deal?

Are airport duty-free shops a rip-off -- or is it actually possible to find a decent travel deal at one of those ubiquitous duty-free stores?

Freelance writer Lisa Cheng (formerly of Travel + Leisure) tackled the tough topic for Frommers.com, which gained the attention of both USA Today and Rudy Maxa of the radio show "Rudy Maxa's World."

Since I edited the piece, I was asked to share some of Lisa's findings on last Saturday's "Rudy Maxa's World" broadcast. Listen to learn if it's worth buying designer bags, watches, cosmetics, cigarettes, or other items at airport duty-free shops. (I come on at the 23-minute mark).

Photo Caption: Duty-free cigarettes and alcohol are for sale by the departure gates at New York's JFK Airport. Photo by Amy Chen

More Self-Service Kiosks At Airports, Please

It's been a rough week for air travel. First, a blizzard blew through the East Coast and Midwest, canceling hundreds of flights. Now a thwarted terrorist attack aboard Detroit-bound Northwest Flight 253 on Christmas Day has renewed interest in (and criticism of) airport security.

In the past three weeks, I've been in and out of four airports. And not that I'm counting or anything, but that's two delayed flights, one canceled flight, and several phone calls to get rebooked. Not horrible, all things considered.

Maybe it's because I've spent too much time at JFK lately, but I'm now intrigued by self-service kiosks from companies like Best Buy and Sephora. I used to wonder who would be suckered into buying anything from those kiosks. But with increased security measures on the way, I know I'll be looking to leave more things at home, even if it means having to buy items after the checkpoint or at my final destination.

The Sephora kiosk, for example, sells this Philosophy travel-size set for $35, the same that you'd pay at a Sephora store or at Sephora.com.

I hope to see more affordable brands roll out similar self-service kiosks in airports. Better yet, I'd love to buy travel-size toothpaste and contact lens solution from an airport kiosk one day.



Photos: Amy Chen

Matching Luggage: Tacky or Classy?

Whenever I'm waiting at an airport, I play a game that I like to call Luggage Spotting. You see, I have an unhealthy obsession with luggage. I drool over wheelie bags the same way other girls collect designer handbags. Never mind that my Samsonite has survived more than 10 years of abuse—in the event it finally gives out, I want to be prepared with a replacement.

So I survey other people's luggage at airports, taking note of duffels, spinners, carry-ons, and totes that seem to be doing the trick. I also empathize with people who struggle with bags that always tip over. And I confess that I dream of having enough closet space to warrant one day investing in new pieces, preferably a matching set.

That dream (hey, don't knock my dream) screeched to a halt last weekend when I saw this guy at JFK with a set of matching Tumi luggage. A bit tacky, no? Not unlike perfume or jewelry, a little Tumi can go a long way...

Photo: Amy Chen

Up in the Air? Try on the Ground

If this is what holiday travel is going to look like, good luck to us all.

I've just returned from a quick weekend trip to San Francisco. It's been a while since I've experienced such a horrible breakdown in the system, but my return flight was, in a word, hellish. I spent four long hours at SFO before boarding the plane at 1:30 a.m. PST. The flight itself, thanks to strong tailwinds, was a miraculous 4.5-hour jaunt — so my cross-country trip basically took as long as the time I spent at the airport. Call me crazy, but that's just unacceptable.

While waiting for the plane to show up, I asked for–and was given—an upgrade to a seat with extra legroom (a $40 value). As the hours ticked by, I repeatedly asked the gate agent what other compensation could be given. The airline employees were firm in saying that due to weather delays, it was out of JetBlue's control. By this time, it was after midnight. I asked for water and restaurant vouchers. An employee fetched a case of bottled water, but said that all the airport restaurants were closed so any vouchers they could offer wouldn't help. I was then told that there was a ground delay at JFK so the incoming flight had sat on the tarmac for two hours. Somehow that information didn't comfort me much. If the weather on the East Coast was truly that atrocious, I wonder why JetBlue's flight to Boston took off on time. Note: I've contacted JetBlue, the FAA, and JFK airport to double-check that there was in fact a ground delay at JFK airport. No one has confirmed that yet.

I think my breaking point came when the JetBlue gate agent told me that she has worked for the airline for 5 years. "If you're flying to New York in the winter, you should expect delays," she said. Maybe she was trying to commiserate but somehow that response seems inadequate, especially since it hasn't even snowed yet. Does that mean that airlines should only operate seasonal service in the summer?

As for my next trip, I think I might pack an old bed sheet or something so at least I'll have something clean to spread on the floor as I join other stranded travelers on the ground.

Photo: Amy Chen

The Best Airport Gift Shop

Of all the retail stores in all the airports, my hands-down favorite is Muji to Go, an outpost of the Japanese home goods store that displays minimalism at its best. Located in JetBlue’s Terminal 5 at JFK, the shop opened last fall and is packed with affordable last-minute gift ideas.

If you can’t leave New York without some Big Apple paraphernalia, the store carries black-and-white cloth handkerchiefs imprinted with a city map ($8.50).

You’ll also spot simple but cute travel clocks and foldable cardboard speakers, as well as the usual travel accessories (socks, neck pillows) to help make the trip home a little bit more bearable. Yes, you could load up at other airport gift shops, but for the most part, you’ll walk away from this store with something you can use long after the vacation stupor wears off.

I’m hooked on the stationery and office supplies—other than the rainbow of gel-ink pens, I keep buying the recycled-paper notebooks ($3.50). I find that the blank pages are just right for taping in ticket stubs and other travel mementos.

Photo: Amy Chen

Holiday Travel: Should you check your bags?

CNN reports that this holiday season, air travelers may clog the overhead bins with more carry-on bags. If you've been on a plane recently, you already know that claiming the storage space above your seat is like something out of the Amazing Race.

It does seem that airports are now trying to enforce the airline limitations of one carry-on and one personal item. When I flew to San Francisco two weeks ago, I was stopped even before I could show my I.D. at the security checkpoint line. "Will that bag fit in the overhead bin?" an airport worker asked, suspiciously eyeing my bulging Eagle Creek backpack. Even after explaining that the outer removable pack was stuffed with magazines that I'd read and discard before boarding, I actually had to place my backpack into the luggage sizer to prove that it would in fact fit in the overhead bin (just like it has ever since I bought it a few years ago).

Unfortunately, the woman behind me wasn't so lucky -- she had a rolling suitcase, a purse, and a tote. "But they let me through at SFO," she wailed. The JFK airport worker stood firm and made the woman go back and check the extra bag (for a fee, of course).

So what should you do with your luggage when traveling during the holidays? Cast your vote here.

Photo: Eagle Creek via Buy.com