In-flight food and drink are known for being more expensive in the air as the airline increases the sale prices.
A recent investigation by travel search engine KAYAK.co.uk has found just how much more they cost on a flight, with the mark up being as much as 8900 per cent in some cases.
Not only that, but airlines have jacked up the prices by 50 per cent in just two years, as passengers face even steeper costs.
What item comes out the worst for being overpriced?
A cup of tea was the worst offender, with one airline charging customers £2.70. With teabags costing £1.35 for 40 at Tesco, this mark up was found to be the highest when it costs up 3p to make a cup of tea.
Even other airlines who charged the least at £2.30 still revealed a 7566 per cent mark up.
A bottle of water for £2.68 on a budget airline that is just 36p at a supermarket faced a 644 per cent mark up, whilst popular fizzy drink of Coca Cola saw 505 per cent, comparing 38p supermarket prices to £2.30 on a plane.
Many passengers ask whether you can take your own food on a plane. As long as it isn’t over 100ml when classed as a liquid, passengers are free to take their own meals onboard.
Food costs don’t escape the increase either; a muffin for £2.50 on an airline was 900 per cent more expensive than just 25p in a supermarket.
A bag of peanuts, whilst a contentious snack thanks to allergy sufferers, increases from 48p to £1.80, a price difference of 275 per cent.
When comparing the price difference over the past two years, it seems the simple chocolate bar has been hit the worst, increasing from £1.20 on a number of flights to £1.80; an increase of 50 per cent.
Thankfully a cup of coffee has decreased, with some airlines reducing it from £2.70 to £2.50.
Neil Cartwright, travel expert at KAYAK.co.uk, explained that whilst there must be some mark-up, the costs show the extreme prices that passengers face on a flight.
He said: “When we’re on flights, passengers are pretty much the definition of a captive audience, making it tempting for airlines to charge as much as they think they can get away with.
“However, we do recognise that airlines are providing a service by offering food and drink to passengers.
“By planning in advance and taking your own snacks, you can end saving a lot of money that can then be used on holiday instead.
“It’s slightly trickier with drinks as you can’t take these through security, but purchasing these in the terminal before getting on the plane can help you avoid the sky-high in-flight prices.”
