IIUC, virtually all of the crazy airport prices come from management companies like HMS Host, Sodexo, etc - which manage most of the restaurants and stores in airports.

Their business model is - they big up the price of all the available spots such that no one can make money unless they charge exorbitant prices. After they capture the majority of the market, they're free to charge a ton of money.

How they haven't been charged for collusion and price fixing is beyond me.

Anyway, typically, if you find a huge brand like Starbucks or McDonald's - or a brand that owns all its locations (not franchised) like Chipotle, the prices will not be extreme.

> How they haven't been charged for collusion and price fixing is beyond me.

I'm pretty sure it's because they're cutting the (govt-owned/operated) airports in on the action.

Usually local government-owned. That shouldn’t be a factor with the Feds.

I think most investigations of operators on that level are done by state attorneys general.

They can be, but based off the description of events higher up the thread, I could see the Feds getting involved if this is accurate.

If you buy up all the retail space in one airport, I don't imagine that triggers interstate commerce law that would allow the feds to step in.

Why wouldn't it? All but the smallest airports have an effect on interstate commerce 6 virtue of flights going to other states.

And when taco bell is on the flight that would be a factor.

You underestimate how broadly the interstate commerce clause is applied.

Probably, but I don't think anyone knows how the Supreme Court would rule on the interstate commerce clause anymore.

The Starbucks in airports are usually still franchised (which otherwise is rare for Starbucks), and at least a few I’ve encountered are definitely operated by HMS Host.

Yes, but if you're Starbucks, you'll make an agreement with HMS not to overcharge too much.

It looks bad for you to be a >$100B company and trying to price gouge your loyal customers at the airport.

The McDonald's in Barcelona airport used to have normal prices but recently they've started ripping off too :(

I was pleasantly shocked to find a 7-11 in an airport that charged their normal price for coffee.

Certain airports (Salt Lake City, NY metro airports) make a choice to enforce pricing that is representative of outside pricing because the perception of gouging is so bad.

Portland (PDX) had really good prices last time I was there. Seatac is OK, they have affordable fast food options and their starbucks is only slightly more expensive than on the outside.

European airports are worse. I never spent so much on a coffee than at Zurich's airport. It was swiss markup over the usual swiss markup.

The last time I flew JFK - pre-pandemic, the prices were insane. $16 for a sub sandwich (not Subway). Tasted terrible. I've never been to NYC, so I don't know if this is what they charged outside.

Portland, as another commenter said, tends to have the same price in the airport as their restaurants outside.

> $16 for a sub sandwich (not Subway). Tasted terrible. I've never been to NYC, so I don't know if this is what they charged outside.

Definitely not normal. In most of Manhattan, you can get a quite good sandwich for less $14 or less.

The rest of NYC is going to be cheaper.

There is no price I would pay to eat Taco Bell before boarding a flight though.

Taco bell plays nice for me.

On the other hand, last time I took my family to Chipotle, my kid had liquid poo for 2 weeks with onset a couple hours after eating there. We have never been back since. That place scares the you know what out of me.

You're in a lot more danger of GI infection from fresh produce as in the Chipotle condiments than you are from highly processed, standardized, frozen & reheated fast food.

I don't get this joke. I eat Taco Bell occasionally and it's fine on my gut. I don't order the meat, though. Usually I'm getting a black bean crunch wrap with guac instead of nacho cheese.

I'm with you but it's a common enough sentiment that there's probably something to it, and I recall friends having issues over the years. For these people at best it's painful gas and at worst is [worse], so there is a large group of people who can't digest a particular common Taco Bell ingredient well.

I've seen speculation about undiagnosed lactose intolerance but frankly Taco Bell doesn't use that much cheese on their cheesiest items compared to say, a pizza, which is another very common food in the US and has way more cheese.

I haven't had taco bell in a couple of decades, but I used to have issues with the beef shortly after eating there (so probably not bacteria) but no issues with chicken. I suspect my body was not used to the grease, and that taco bell had particularly greasy beef.

I wonder if it's undiagnosed gallbladder issues too.

They’re not crazy in terms of the cost structure, it’s like the $20 hot dogs in a billion dollar stadium that is half funded by taxes and half funded by loans/bonds.

Someone has to pay back the loans and/or bonds plus interest… or a lot of someones chipping in with their hot dogs, tickets, drinks, etc...

I’ve never seen a Taco Bell in an airport. But Seattle SeaTac has a McDonald’s and its prices are pretty reasonable compared to other Seattle McDonald’s. Actually, at airport is about the only time we eat at McDonald’s these days.

I noted that the most expensive Taco Bell in the DC/MD/VA region is the one inside of Union Station near the Amtrak terminal.