EVERYONE loves getting a good deal when they go out whether it’s a one-night stay, trip to a local restaurant or holiday.
But without knowing it, there are ways that airports, hotels and restaurants are making you spend more without even knowing it.
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Airports
There are few times when going through an airport is seamless, it’s generally queue after queue and then a long wait until your gate number appears.
But did you know that this is a tactic for you to spend cash?
By creating a longer wait time between security and boarding, passengers get more time to wander through shops and restaurants which increases the likelihood of them buying something.
Having to arrive at airport hours before your flight also means that once you’re in, you’re in.
If you’re hungry, you can’t pop out for somewhere cheaper to get a drink or snack, so there’s no choice but to buy within the airport.
When it comes to shopping, duty-free can be a place to get cheaper products, but you aren’t necessarily saving money if you didn’t want to buy anything in the first place.
The shops in an airport are especially designed to entice you in and encourage you to buy. From the bright lights to the pyramid-shaped displays, it’s all pleasing to the eye.
According to Intervistas report, walkways in duty-free curve to the left because the majority of passengers are right-handed.
So when travellers walk through security with their suitcase, it’s in an anticlockwise direction. Products are displayed more on the right because passengers can see more on that side.
And if you’ve ever noticed that there are more people than seats in an airport, you’d be right.
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The lack of places to sit and relax means passengers are encourages to wander in the terminal and again, spend more money in shops or restaurants.
The Telegraph explained: “Some airports shunt passengers towards the shops by having slightly fewer seats than are needed at peak times, meaning people decide to browse rather than standing around by the gate.”
Hotels
When it comes to staying at hotels, one way they encourage you to spend is the classic upsell.
For example offering room upgrades for a better view or bigger bed can all contribute to spending more.
Along with upselling, another technique is cross-selling which is where hotel staff or sites will suggest other add-ons like dining credits at a discounted rate and spa treatments.
Hotels that have a bar, cafe and restaurant on-site will also encourage guests to spend more, and actually the ease of its locations means visitors don’t even have to leave the hotel.
Then there’s loyalty programmes, which aren’t necessarily as cost effective as you are led to believe.
While not spending directly in a hotel, a loyalty program is where you collect points through spending – the more you buy, the more points you get.
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Restaurants
Even restaurants have methods of making you spend more, the first being with strategic pricing.
It’s one of the oldest tricks in the book, but using prices like £19.99 rather than £20 make you think a meal, or drink is significantly cheaper.
Some restaurants might use expensive food as decoys, having one overpriced item will make others seems more reasonable, even if they aren’t.
Another method is the fixed menu which can seem like a good idea, but they may include items that you might not have ordered otherwise.
A strategy called bracketing is used within the industry too, this is where two portions will be offered, usually ‘large’ and ‘small’.
However, the customer doesn’t know how much smaller the ‘small’ portion is, they’ll assume it’s the best value as it costs less.
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But in actual fact, the restaurant wanted to sell the smaller portion at the lower price all along, and used the bigger portion with the higher price as comparison.
After taking your order, the wait staff might ask if you want an additional side like chips or veg, which could spark a last minute order.
The same goes for dessert, quite often staff will appear with a pretty menu hoping for last minute and impulse orders.
When it comes to drinks, staff will often avoid asking if you would like tap water, opting for sparkling or still instead, which will be bottled and at a cost.
Even setting the mood can encourage you to spend, feeling relaxed in a restaurant with soft music will mean diners will want to stay seated for longer.
Here’s the little-known way hotels are trying to make you eat less at the breakfast buffet.
Plus, check out our Sun-approved booking tips, plane hacks and travel products that can save you hundreds on holiday.
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