Flying out of Logan International already hits the wallet, but some passengers are paying even more than Massport says they should. A recent review found certain food and convenience items inside the airport ringing in well above Logan’s own pricing limits, and Massport has now ordered fresh spot checks as spring travel kicks into high gear.
Over a two-month review, Boston 25 News documented multiple items that appeared to overshoot the airport’s "street pricing plus 15%" standard. Among the finds: a Chick-fil-A sandwich in Terminal A selling for $6.99 compared with $5.76 in Copley Square, a medium Diet Coke listed at $3.59 instead of $2.65 downtown, and a butter croissant priced at $4.65 at Logan versus $3.65 at a nearby Starbucks.
The review did not stop at fast food and pastries. Investigators also flagged a Hudson store in Terminal C selling a 20-ounce Dasani water for $4.19, which works out to roughly 62% more than a similar bottle at a downtown Target, along with a travel-size Tylenol for $10.29 versus $7.29 at CVS. Boston 25 News says it filed a public records request seeking dates and results of previous spot checks.
Who Enforces Logan's Pricing Rules
Massport sets the street-pricing standard, but it is MarketPlace, the airport’s concessions manager, that is tasked with watching the shelves. MarketPlace’s own terminal job postings explicitly include "Ensure Street Pricing Policy compliance" as a responsibility, a sign that the company conducts regular inspections and pricing reviews (MarketPlace).
Airport operators and vendors often point to the high cost of doing business behind security checkpoints - from rent to staffing to security requirements - as reasons prices tend to climb. Balancing those costs with a strict cap tied to neighborhood street prices can turn enforcement into a constant tug-of-war.
How Other Airports Cap Markups
Logan is not the only airport trying to keep terminal prices within shouting distance of what you would pay in town. Street-pricing policies are common across the country, but the allowable markup varies.
In New York, the Port Authority tightened enforcement around a "street price plus 10%" cap after a round of widely publicized complaints, while airports such as Atlanta have embraced a "street price plus 15%" model, according to The Guardian. Philadelphia’s airport leasing guidelines similarly point concessionaires to a "Street Pricing/Street Pricing Plus 15%" framework (PHL Food & Shops).
Consumer Protections
For Massachusetts travelers who feel like they are being overcharged, there is at least a bit of backup. The state’s Division of Standards enforces item-pricing rules that let shoppers report mismatches between a posted price and what rings up at the register. Official guidance explains how to file a complaint and request an inspection, giving customers a route outside of the airport’s own checks if they want to challenge a suspicious charge (Mass.gov).
After Boston 25 News shared its price findings with Massport, the agency told the station that a new round of spot checks was underway and that any businesses caught exceeding the 15% limit would be asked to lower their prices, according to Boston 25 News. The station says it plans to follow up on whether those checks actually bring prices back in line. In the meantime, travelers who spot what looks like an extreme markup are being urged to report it to Massport or to MarketPlace so officials can take a closer look.
