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Airport staff can buy duty-free items, and sometimes even below duty-free prices. However, they are not exempt from normal passenger duty limits, and some airlines place stricter duty-free limits on their crew than on passengers. There are staff-only shops located in the employee-only areas of airport terminals, which sell duty-free merchandise at discounted prices. Flight attendants also have access to great deals on items like liquor, cigarettes, and perfume, although the best deals are usually not found in the normal duty-free section of an aircraft. In some cases, airport staff have been known to misuse their staff passes to access restricted areas and buy duty-free items at discounted rates for resale, which can result in legal consequences.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can airport staff buy duty-free items? | Yes, airport staff can buy duty-free items, but this may depend on their specific role. |
| Discounted prices | Staff may receive discounts on duty-free items, with further discounts on leftover items at employee-only airport stores. |
| Location of staff shops | Staff shops are often located in the airport employee-only parts of airport terminals. |
| Examples of discounted items | Items such as liquor, cigarettes, perfume, cosmetics, bags, and food can be purchased at discounted prices. |
| Misuse of staff pass | In some cases, airport staff have misused their staff passes to access restricted areas and purchase duty-free items for personal gain or resale. |
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What You'll Learn
Some flight attendants get great duty-free deals
While some flight attendants can access great duty-free deals, others are banned from buying duty-free goods entirely. Most cabin crew can buy duty-free items, sometimes even on a flight, and they are often the best customers for duty-free shops. However, they are still subject to duty limits, and some airlines impose stricter limits on crew members than passengers. For example, a flight attendant from Air Lingus was sacked for attempting to buy 2,000 duty-free cigarettes (exceeding the limit of 40).
Flight attendants can access staff-only schemes, such as direct purchases from the aircraft bar, where they can buy beverages at heavily discounted prices. Some airlines that serve premium drinks to first-class passengers allow flight attendants to buy miniature bottles of luxury spirits or high-end wines at a fraction of the regular price.
Airports also offer discounts to staff, with some destinations famous for crew discounts of up to 40%. These discounts, coupled with the already low duty-free prices, make duty-free shopping a desirable perk for flight attendants. Additionally, unsold duty-free items, such as perfumes, jewellery, and makeup, are often sold at staff shops in airports at even bigger discounts.
While duty-free shopping is a perk for some flight attendants, it is not a guarantee, and policies vary across airlines.
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Others are banned from buying duty-free
While most cabin crew can take advantage of duty-free shopping, others are banned from buying duty-free goods entirely. In Singapore, a technician working at Changi Airport misused his staff pass to buy duty-free items at a discount for the purpose of reselling them online. The technician, Wang Chong, was issued an Airport Seasonal Pass, which allowed him to enter restricted areas only for official duties or business. However, he abused his position by entering these restricted areas for non-work purposes and buying duty-free items. As a result, he was sentenced to three weeks in jail and fined S$8,000.
Similarly, a flight attendant at Irish carrier Air Lingus was sacked for attempting to buy 2,000 duty-free cigarettes, far exceeding the limit of 40. This example highlights that while cabin crew may have access to duty-free shopping, they are still subject to rules and restrictions, and violations can have consequences.
It's important to note that duty-free shopping is not just limited to the airport or aircraft. Some airlines have employee-only shops located in the airport terminals, where flight attendants can find even bigger discounts on duty-free merchandise. Additionally, there may be staff discount or crew purchase schemes that allow flight attendants and pilots to purchase beverages at significantly reduced prices.
However, it's worth mentioning that some airlines impose stricter duty-free limits on their crew than on passengers. Therefore, while duty-free shopping can be a perk for cabin crew, it is not always guaranteed, and they must adhere to the rules and regulations set by their respective airlines and airports.
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Staff shops sell duty-free items at discounted prices
Staff shops located in the airport employee-only parts of airport terminals sell duty-free items at discounted prices. These shops are often located in restricted areas of the airport that can only be accessed by staff for official duties or business.
The items sold in these staff shops are typically those that were previously sold onboard aircraft, and they are offered at even bigger discounts than in the duty-free shops accessible to passengers. For example, perfumes and makeup sets may eventually be sold for under half of their original price. At the end of the year, staff shops frequently have a big clear-out, resulting in even cheaper deals.
In addition to staff shops, flight attendants can also purchase duty-free items, sometimes even while on a flight, just like passengers. They often have access to great deals on items like liquor, cigarettes, and perfume. However, it is important to note that some airlines place stricter duty-free limits on their crew than on passengers. For instance, a flight attendant from Air Lingus was sacked for attempting to buy 2,000 cigarettes, far exceeding the limit of 40.
While duty-free shopping can offer significant savings on high-tax items such as alcohol, tobacco, fragrances, cosmetics, and designer products, it is important for staff to be aware of any duty-free allowances or restrictions in their home country to avoid unexpected duties or legal consequences.
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Flight attendants can buy duty-free items on a flight
Flight attendants can buy duty-free items, sometimes even on a flight, just like passengers. In fact, they are some of the best customers for duty-free shops, with their access to great deals on items like liquor, cigarettes, and perfume. However, it is important to note that flight attendants are not exempt from customs limits or country-specific rules on bringing items across borders. Not all flights qualify for duty-free purchases for flight attendants, especially for European airlines operating within EU airspace. Some airlines even prohibit their cabin crew from buying duty-free items altogether, imposing stricter duty-free limits on their crew than on passengers.
There are normally two additional methods that flight attendants use to buy items below duty-free prices. Firstly, some airlines allow their flight attendants to purchase a small amount of the beverages they offer passengers, such as miniature bottles of luxury spirits or high-end wines, at the end of a flight at hugely discounted prices. Secondly, there are staff shops located in the airport employee-only parts of terminals that sell duty-free merchandise once sold onboard at even bigger discounts. These shops are perfect for purchasing leftover duty-free items at the end of the year, when they frequently have clearance sales.
While duty-free shopping can be a perk of the job, flight attendants should be aware of the rules and regulations around it. They may have to declare any duty-free items when they return to their home country and abide by specific airline policies regarding duty-free purchases.
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A Changi Airport technician misused his staff pass to buy duty-free items
A Changi Airport technician was jailed for misusing his staff pass to buy duty-free items. The technician, Wang Chong, was a 23-year-old Chinese national working for the logistics company Beumer Group in the Terminal 4 baggage sorting area of Changi Airport. As part of his role, Wang was issued an Airport Seasonal Pass, which allowed him to access restricted areas for official duties or business.
However, between March and November, Wang misused his pass to enter the departure transit area of Terminal 2 on eight occasions for non-work purposes. During these instances, he purchased cosmetics, bags, and food at a 10% staff discount. Wang's actions were in breach of his access rights, and he entered these restricted areas a total of 48 times without triggering an alert.
Wang's motive for misusing his staff pass was to resell the discounted items online, earning approximately S$20 for each item sold. He pleaded guilty to eight counts of failing to comply with the direction in protected areas, with an additional 40 similar charges considered for sentencing. As a result, he was sentenced to three weeks in jail and fined S$8,000.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, airport staff can buy duty-free items, sometimes even on a flight, just like passengers. They are often the best customers for duty-free shops.
Yes, airport staff can get discounts on duty-free items. There are staff-only shops located in the airport employee-only areas of airport terminals, which sell duty-free merchandise at discounted prices.
Yes, flight attendants can get great duty-free deals. They also have access to staff discount or crew purchase schemes, which allow them to purchase beverages at the end of a flight at discounted prices.
Yes, some airlines place stricter duty-free limits on staff than on passengers. For example, an Air Lingus flight attendant was sacked for trying to buy 2,000 duty-free cigarettes (instead of the limit of 40).
Yes, airport staff can be jailed for misusing their staff pass to buy duty-free items. For example, a technician at Changi Airport was jailed for three weeks and fined S$8,000 for misusing his staff pass to buy duty-free items at a discounted rate for resale.
