How much more do you have to pay to get your caffeine fix at the airport? Coffee-lover and travel journalist Sarah Pollok investigates. It was still dark outside when I walked to the counter of an Auckland Airport cafe and ordered a long black. At the time, $5 felt overpriced but this was expected in an airport.
However, the next day, the same order cost another $5 but I wasn’t trapped airside this time. Instead, I was at a central Wellington cafe and didn’t think twice about the price as I tapped my card. It was only later, back at the airport to fly home I realised that, despite feeling like coffee was so much more expensive at an airport, this may not be the case.
Currently, the ‘average’ price of a retail coffee is $4.75, according to Stats NZ. Now, any city-dweller knows this price has likely been tugged down by regional prices because a regular flattie in central Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch is rarely less than a fiver.
The question is, when you’ve arrived at the airport for a morning flight, or just need a cup of coffee, how much more do you have to pay? Using the price of a regular-sized flat white with normal (cow’s) milk, I set out to find the answer. How much does a flat white cost at Auckland Airport? The first stop was Auckland Airport’s domestic and international terminals. Landside, there are at least 11 spots to grab coffee, including McDonalds, Best Ugly Bagels and Retro Espresso.
Once you pass through security, there are at least eight .
