Shopping the Airports

How good a deal is duty-free shopping at international airports? It depends on what your’re buying and where. Prices can vary widely. Some recent examples:

Johnnie Walker Red Label scotch* (1 liter)

Duty-free prices:

Frankfurt: $15

Hong Kong: $14

London: $16

Paris: $17

Rome: $13

Tokyo: $17

New York: $26

*

Retail prices in airport cities:

Frankfurt: $30

Hong Kong: $33

London: $29

Paris: $24

Rome: $15

Tokyo: $24

*

Chanel No. 5 perfume (7.5 ml)

Duty-free prices:

Frankfurt: $82

Hong Kong: $83

London: $61

Paris: $73

Rome: $69

Tokyo: $66

New York: $84

*

Retail prices in airport cities:

Frankfurt: $93

Hong Kong: $83

London: $78

Paris: $89

Rome: $86

Tokyo: $128

*

Hermes silk scarf (90 x 90 cm)

Duty-free prices:

Frankfurt: $245

Hong Kong: $220

London: $207

Paris: $229

Rome: $234

Tokyo: $189

New York: $245

*

Retail prices in airport cities:

Frankfurt: $282

Hong Kong: $220

London: $244

Paris: $259

Rome: $259

Tokyo: $285

* When necessary, prices have been prorated to one-liter size. London price is for equivalent blended scotch.

Source: Courtesy Conde Naste Traveler. Copyright 1996 by the conde Nast Publications Inc.