Lois Larson
It can be a challenge to find pads at airports, and they are often stocked only in pharmacies or convenience stores. Some airports provide free pads in their restrooms, but others have vending machines that can be unreliable or overpriced. It is always a good idea to keep a stash in your bag when travelling, but in case you need to purchase pads at an airport, it is worth checking if the airport has a convenience store or pharmacy, and whether it is before or after security.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pad availability at airports | Varies across airports |
| Free pads at airports | Some airports provide free pads in restrooms, including YVR airport and Citron Hygiene and Aunt Flow partner airports |
| Pad purchase options at airports | Some airports offer pads for purchase at drugstores, pharmacies, and vending machines |
| Pad accessibility in airport departure lounges | Limited access to pads in departure lounges; may need to purchase from shop staff |
| Pad availability on planes | Pads may be available in plane bathrooms or from flight attendants |
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What You'll Learn
Buying pads at Istanbul Airport
Istanbul Airport is one of the biggest airports in the world, with a wide variety of facilities and services. The airport offers a unique shopping experience with selected brands and a modern retail concept. While the airport resembles a large mall, with shops like Chanel, Vuitton, and Hermes, some travellers have noted the absence of a convenience store.
If you are looking to buy pads, you may be able to find them at the airport's pharmacies. There are 24-hour pharmacies in the city, and one traveller reported finding a chemist before passport control, by the R check-in desks. Another traveller noted that there are no shops selling useful things after security, so you may need to plan ahead and purchase pads before you get to the airport.
Istanbul Airport has arrival duty-free shops near baggage claim, which tend to be less crowded than those in departures. The duty-free area consists of nine sections, including Fashion Garden, Family Palace, High&Lux Hills, and Style Beach. Here, you can find luxury perfumes, electronics, fashion essentials, and cosmetics. However, some travellers have noted that the prices at duty-free shops are exorbitant and not worth the money.
If you are looking for other amenities at Istanbul Airport, the airport also has several health facilities, hair salons, SPAs, cosmetics shops, cafes, and restaurants offering Turkish and international cuisine.
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Free pads in airport bathrooms
Menstrual hygiene products are a necessity, and many people have expressed their frustration at the lack of access to pads in airports. Some people have had to resort to using toilet paper, or paying exorbitant prices for pads at airport shops. This has led to calls for free pads to be provided in airport bathrooms, just as toilet paper is provided for free.
Some airports have started to address this issue by providing free pads in their bathrooms. For example, Denver International Airport has installed "Pads On A Roll" in bathroom stalls throughout the terminal and in employee bathrooms. These pads are designed to mirror the logistics of stocking toilet paper in bathrooms and can be rolled off like a piece of toilet paper, without having to leave the stall.
Other companies, such as Aunt Flow, are also working to provide free, sustainable, and easily accessible period products in airport restrooms. Aunt Flow dispensers are ADA-compliant, rust-resistant, and use organic cotton pads and tampons. They have partnered with Citron Hygiene to provide period products in airports, and their products have been praised by users as clean, easy to use, and functional.
While progress is being made, there is still a need for more airports to provide free pads in their bathrooms. By doing so, airports can show that they care about menstrual health and are committed to providing an inclusive and equitable environment for all passengers.
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Pads in airport vending machines
Pads are a basic and constant hygienic need for women, and airports should provide them, just as they do toilet paper. However, many airports do not stock pads in their bathrooms, and they are often unavailable in airport shops. This has caused outrage among women travellers, who have started demanding free menstrual hygiene products in airports.
Some airports have started providing free pads in their bathrooms, either in baskets or through vending machines. For example, Houston's Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports have been providing free feminine products for over 10 years in their bathrooms, and they now offer them through vending machines as well. Similarly, Pune Airport in India has installed sanitary pad vending machines in its old terminal, and the new terminal is expected to have these facilities soon.
However, the implementation of these initiatives has faced challenges. For instance, women have complained about the vending machines at Pune Airport being non-functional. Additionally, some airports have removed pads from their bathrooms because people would pry open the dispensers and take all the products. Despite these setbacks, there is a growing demand for pads in airport vending machines, and it is hoped that more airports will prioritize the well-being of their menstruating guests.
While waiting for airports to catch up with this basic necessity, frequent flyers recommend travelling with period panties or wearing pads designed for bladder issues as a backup. Additionally, some planes have pads in the bathrooms, and flight attendants can also provide them upon request.
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Pads in airport pharmacies
Pads are not always readily available at airports. Some airports and public places have removed them because people would open the packaging and take them all. However, some airports, such as Istanbul Airport, do have pharmacies that sell pads and tampons, but these are located before passport control.
One option is to buy pads from vending machines in airport bathrooms. However, these can be extremely overpriced, and the machines sometimes don't work. Another option is to ask a flight attendant, as some airlines stock pads in the bathrooms or with flight attendants.
Some airports provide free, sustainable, and easily accessible period products in restrooms throughout the terminal. For example, YVR airport in Vancouver provides free pads and tampons in the bathrooms.
If you are unable to find pads at the airport, you can try asking airport personnel for help. They may be able to direct you to a nearby convenience store or pharmacy that sells pads.
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Pads in airport shops
Pads are not always readily available at airports, and even when they are, they can be overpriced. For example, a woman at Calgary International Airport had to pay $15 for a box of tampons because none of the menstrual hygiene vending machines worked in the bathrooms. In some cases, airports have removed pads from bathrooms because people would open the packaging and take them all. One airport made pads free in response to this issue.
Some airports, such as the new Istanbul Airport, resemble large malls, so it may be possible to find pads in a convenience store or pharmacy. However, in some airports, medicines cannot be sold after passport control, so it may be necessary to purchase pads before going through security. For example, at Ataturk Airport, there was an "employee market" located in the sub-level near the metro entrance that sold hygiene products, but no such market exists in the new Istanbul Airport.
It is always a good idea to carry pads or period underwear when travelling to avoid being caught out. Period underwear can be a good option for those who work in bag-free areas or who don't want to worry about carrying extra supplies.
Some airports, such as Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, have drugstores that sell self-care products, which may include pads. Munich Airport also has vending machines that sell hygiene products, and pharmacies and drugstores that sell hygiene products in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.
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Frequently asked questions
Some airports, such as Munich Airport, have vending machines that sell hygiene products. Airports like Istanbul Airport have pharmacies where you can buy pads before passport control. If you're at an airport with a large mall-like structure, there's a good chance you'll find pads at a convenience store.
Yes, some airports provide free pads in their restrooms. For example, YVR airport in Vancouver offers free pads in their bathrooms. Aunt Flow is an organization that provides free, sustainable, and accessible period products in airport restrooms.
If you're unable to find pads at the airport, you can ask a flight attendant for assistance. They may have pads available in the plane's bathroom. Alternatively, you can try using toilet paper or purchasing other hygiene products from the airport's vending machines, pharmacies, or convenience stores.
