Airports where you can take a shortcut to avoid duty free shops

[Gaelan]

Moderator note: split from

TPE cancellations to Manchester Airport

There's a story on my phone news feed from Yorkshire Live about a Huddersfield man who booked a TPE service to the airport for 26 April. He was vigilant in checking cancellations as he was aware of TPE's record. They managed to catch him out though and his train was cancelled shortly before...

www.railforums.co.uk

The last time I used it (and it was a while) there was a long trek through a duty free shop to get to the planes.
I did not feel particularly valued as a passenger.

Are there any British airports where this isn't the case? It certainly is everywhere I'm aware of (admittedly, just Edinburgh and several Heathrow terminals).

 

[yorkie]

Are there any British airports where this isn't the case? It certainly is everywhere I'm aware of (admittedly, just Edinburgh and several Heathrow terminals).

Gatwick South Terminal; I think after security you follow signs to lounges (even if you do not want to visit a lounge). I am sure there will be others!

 

[mpthomson]

Moderator note: split from

TPE cancellations to Manchester Airport

There's a story on my phone news feed from Yorkshire Live about a Huddersfield man who booked a TPE service to the airport for 26 April. He was vigilant in checking cancellations as he was aware of TPE's record. They managed to catch him out though and his train was cancelled shortly before...

www.railforums.co.uk

Are there any British airports where this isn't the case? It certainly is everywhere I'm aware of (admittedly, just Edinburgh and several Heathrow terminals).

LBA doesn't require you to walk through duty free.

 

[Gaelan]

LBA doesn't require you to walk through duty free.

Leeds Bradford Airport, for those unfamiliar.

 

[Alfonso]

Apparently there's a shortcut at Heathrow terminal 5 but only for first class passengers: link to headforpoints article: https://www.headforpoints.com/2015/04/18/why-british-airways-paid-1-million-to-build-a-door/

 

[westv]

LBA doesn't require you to walk through duty free.

Are you sure? When we were there in October 22 and March 23 there didn't seem to be any other route.

 

[SeanG]

I've just watched a video on Youtube about Gibraltar by Steve Marsh - and he says it is refreshing that you are not channelled through Duty Free

 

[Cloud Strife]

Stansted has a shortcut before 04:00. If you go through security, then walk along the corridor to the circular area before the entrance to the duty free shop, you'll see toilets in front of you. There's a sign for "fast track plus", but these doors are usually open before that time in the morning. You can then jump straight through without going through the shop.

Stansted isn't currently offering the Fast Track Plus system, so it's possible that the doors are open all the time, but I haven't passed through there after 04:00 recently.

 

[urpert]

To my amazement they have managed to make the Eurostar departure area at Bruxelles Midi even worse by installing a huge duty free shop right after security. This one has the unique distinction of everyone having to pass through twice (when entering the departure lounge then again when boarding is called) as it’s been built in front of the access to the platform escalators.

 

[Cloud Strife]

To my amazement they have managed to make the Eurostar departure area at Bruxelles Midi even worse by installing a huge duty free shop right after security.

Now this is interesting! Duty free shops on the land borders shouldn't exist in the EU, as they were banned in...2001 I think? I don't remember the exact date, but it was after duty free sales ended between EU countries in 1999. It's possible that it isn't a real duty free shop, but only one that pretends to be, like the "Travel Free" shops found on many EU borders.

 

[urpert]

Now this is interesting! Duty free shops on the land borders shouldn't exist in the EU, as they were banned in...2001 I think? I don't remember the exact date, but it was after duty free sales ended between EU countries in 1999. It's possible that it isn't a real duty free shop, but only one that pretends to be, like the "Travel Free" shops found on many EU borders.

I wonder if it’s technically within a British ‘control zone’ so not actually EU territory?

 

[PTR 444]

To my amazement they have managed to make the Eurostar departure area at Bruxelles Midi even worse by installing a huge duty free shop right after security. This one has the unique distinction of everyone having to pass through twice (when entering the departure lounge then again when boarding is called) as it’s been built in front of the access to the platform escalators.

I was there a couple of weeks ago and I recall only passing through it once after security. The escalator to the train was directly accessible from the departure area.

 

[urpert]

I was there a couple of weeks ago and I recall only passing through it once after security. The escalator to the train was directly accessible from the departure area.

You can definitely get to platforms 3&4 from the departure lounge but for 1&2 we had to go back through the shop.

 

[D2007wsm]

At Bristol you can avoid Duty Free by going through a door off of security, though it takes you to a corridor where you either have to go up the stairs or take the lift to the mezzanine floor.

TBH there, it is quicker to go through the Duty Free as it comes out where most of the inadequate amount of seating is. The first floor takes you to the bar which is very busy and various other eating establishments.

 

[D1511]

You can stroll past the 'duty free' at LCY no bother, which is just as well, as it is about the size of a newsagent and has nothing worth buying

 

[jon81uk]

Now this is interesting! Duty free shops on the land borders shouldn't exist in the EU, as they were banned in...2001 I think? I don't remember the exact date, but it was after duty free sales ended between EU countries in 1999. It's possible that it isn't a real duty free shop, but only one that pretends to be, like the "Travel Free" shops found on many EU borders.

The UK has left the EU, therefore once you've gone through UK passport control at Brussels you are outside of the EU and therefore the duty free shop can now exist. Hence it being added.

 

[Cloud Strife]

I wonder if it’s technically within a British ‘control zone’ so not actually EU territory?

I thought about this to begin with, but the ban in the EU covers the EU land borders, including railway crossings. While you do pass UK entry controls, it's still treated as part of the EU territory.

The UK has left the EU, therefore once you've gone through UK passport control at Brussels you are outside of the EU and therefore the duty free shop can now exist. Hence it being added.

No, it's not like that. The EU prohibits land (including railway) duty free shops within the territory of the EU, even if it's after exit controls from an EU member state. It's only permitted to locate duty free shops in sea or air ports. I've found reference to Brussels-Midi lobbying for duty free sales to be allowed there, but it seems that they haven't received permission for it yet.

From what I understand, the ban on land crossings having duty free shops comes from widespread tax evasion in the former land shops.

 

[jon81uk]

I thought about this to begin with, but the ban in the EU covers the EU land borders, including railway crossings. While you do pass UK entry controls, it's still treated as part of the EU territory.



No, it's not like that. The EU prohibits land (including railway) duty free shops within the territory of the EU, even if it's after exit controls from an EU member state. It's only permitted to locate duty free shops in sea or air ports. I've found reference to Brussels-Midi lobbying for duty free sales to be allowed there, but it seems that they haven't received permission for it yet.

From what I understand, the ban on land crossings having duty free shops comes from widespread tax evasion in the former land shops.

Is it just a coincidence then that the shop opened after brexit then? It certainly looked like duty free, although I didn't pay too much attention.

There is Duty free in Gare Du Nord in Paris.

 

[Cloud Strife]

Is it just a coincidence then that the shop opened after brexit then? It certainly looked like duty free, although I didn't pay too much attention.

It seems the trick behind that shop is to offer goods that can be sold with a VAT refund, so while it's not a duty free shop in the traditional sense of cheap cigarettes and booze, it still offers a "saving" to travellers.

They definitely seem to be lobbying for actual duty free sales there, so I suspect that it was more of a speculative opening than anything else.

 

[Cdd89]

Apparently there's a shortcut at Heathrow terminal 5 but only for first class passengers: link to headforpoints article: https://www.headforpoints.com/2015/04/18/why-british-airways-paid-1-million-to-build-a-door/

Terminal 5 doesn’t have a single duty free shop that all passengers must pass through inside of for a complimentary tour of perfume scents, which I assume is the definition we are using. Nor does Terminal 4.

Terminal 3 has two, and also two shortcuts. One from flight connections (follow signs for “express connections”), and one from departures (via the disabled passenger waiting area). To be fair I’ve never used the latter, you’d have to be pretty brazen to do so as you go through the waiting room itself, but it connects straight to the gate areas.

Gatwick South has been mentioned; the North Terminal also has a shortcut to the far-right of the security checkpoints that skips the duty free, again through the disability / special assistance desk. Unlike LHR T3 I regularly used this!

 

[Butts]

Use First Wing at LHR T5 and you go straight from check-in to the Galleries First Lounge via security - not a shop in sight.

 

[gabrielhj07]

Manchester T2 - Straight ahead after security, not right, upstairs and you're the other side of the shops.

 

[dastocks]

Gatwick South Terminal; I think after security you follow signs to lounges (even if you do not want to visit a lounge). I am sure there will be others!

At both LGW terminals following the route for people requiring 'assistance' (e.g. wheelchair-bound passengers) immediately after security got you to the departure lounge directly without negotiating the 'World of Duty Free' maze. I haven't been through either terminal for nearly five years so this may have changed.

 

[nlogax]

Those of us who used Glasgow during the pandemic may recall using the staff corridor situated after security while duty free was out of action. It was a pretty utilitarian route..the walls had recently been painted and partially lined with diamond plate which may have been for the benefit of passengers.

I do wish it would re-open!

 

[Howardh]

Ibiza and Jersey; two airports where you are through security and straight to departures, with the Duty Free shop tucked away; although at Jersey to get to your plane the DF is between you and the gate, either side of you; but at least there's an obvious and wide route through!!

Have a feeling Malaga (AGP) you don't have to go through DF - will look more carefully next time!

 

[Titfield]

I just want to go through an area which smells neural and doesnt assault my sense of smell.

 

[cactustwirly]

Apparently there's a shortcut at Heathrow terminal 5 but only for first class passengers: link to headforpoints article: https://www.headforpoints.com/2015/04/18/why-british-airways-paid-1-million-to-build-a-door/

I don't remember walking through duty free at either T5 security. It just brings you out onto the upper level of the main departure lounge

 

[Butts]

I just want to go through an area which smells neural and doesnt assault my sense of smell.

Try Barra or Tiree then

 

[Alfonso]

I don't remember walking through duty free at either T5 security. It just brings you out onto the upper level of the main departure lounge

Apologies, I was getting mixed up with the story of the magic door which gets you from check in to the lounge without going past the shops...https://www.headforpoints.com/2015/04/18/why-british-airways-paid-1-million-to-build-a-door/

 

[pitdiver]

My wife is a wheelchair user so we always ask for SA. We have managed recently to bypass DF at Luton, Gran Canaria and Fuertventura airports. With the help I might add of the SA operator.