How much is that in-flight snack really costing you?

Ok, it’s a given that buying drinks and snacks on cheap flights can be a bit pricey. But hey, you’re on holiday; it’s nothing to worry yourself about…or is it? We’ve looked at some figures, and the markups seem to be getting a little out of control.

Breaking the bank for a  bite

The prices on everyday snack items have rocketed – excuse the pun – sky-high. A simple bar of chocolate costs S$4 when flying Scoot; 74% higher than you’d pay for the same item in a supermarket. And if you’re craving an instant hunger fix, the cup noodle varies between S$2 and S$5 depending on the airline and brand. It doesn’t sound like much until you consider that the markup is actually between 222% and 317% over the average supermarket price.

Going overboard with drinks prices

Relax with a drink? That may be more difficult than you think. The price of a simple can of beer – up to S$8 onboard as opposed to S$3 on the ground – is anything but relaxing. Strangely, JetStar Asia, Tigerair and Scoot charge S$6, S$7 and S$8, respectively, for the same popular brand of Japanese beer, a markup of about S$160% on average. At least at these prices you won’t have to worry about the risk of a hangover!

Non-alcoholic drinks, however, may leave you with a hangover of the financial kind. A S$1.40 bottle of water you’d buy at the supermarket will cost you S$4 onboard and it’s the same with soft drinks and fruit juices. But the worst offender of all? The humble tea sachet. Costing as little as 6c on the ground; a sachet plus boiling water costs as much as S$4 on most low-cost carriers, with AirAsia getting a special mention here for charging a comparatively low S$1.70 per cuppa.

Some food for thought

Debby Soo, KAYAK Vice President APAC has some great cost-cutting advice, “Low-cost carriers are providing a service when it comes to food and drink on board, which accounts for some of the markups we see. However, it pays off to plan ahead and eat before you board, especially for short flights. Also, travellers should bring empty plastic bottles through security into the departure area of Changi Airport, and then fill them up at the water fountains in order to stay hydrated on the cheap while flying.”

Basic item comparison

Notes to Editors:

Airline F&B prices are correct as of 16 May 2016 and are based on in-flight menus on the airlines’ websites. AirAsia prices were supplied in Malaysian Ringgit and converted into Singapore dollars on 16 May 2016. Supermarket prices are based on the best prices found in three main supermarkets in Singapore and were correct as of 16 May 2016. In some cases, prices are based on multi-pack purchases.