What the July survey measured
Upgraded Points compared pretax app prices for five Starbucks items at one location in each of 53 major U.S. airports with prices at one Starbucks in each corresponding city. The basket consisted of a grande brewed coffee, a grande caffé latte, a bacon, gouda and egg sandwich, a strawberry açaí refresher and a birthday cake pop, according to the study. The results describe that July comparison; they are not a separate check of prices travelers would encounter today.
LAX and the wider range
In its account of the study, the New York Post reported that the basket totaled $34.95 at the sampled LAX Starbucks and $24.45 at the city location. The $10.50 difference amounted to 42.9%, placing LAX 10th among the 53 airports surveyed.
Across the survey, the basket cost an average of $6.15 more at airport locations, a 26.5% premium, Upgraded Points reported. Charlotte Douglas and Harry Reid International had the highest percentage markup, 56.4%; the basket was $34.95 at each airport versus $22.35 in the corresponding city. Pittsburgh International was the sole airport where the airport total was lower, at $21.85 compared with $22.35. San Francisco International’s total was $27.90, a 13.7% premium, according to the study.
A separate Burbank pricing dispute
Burbank’s new terminal, which opened October 13 after a $1.3 billion construction project, has also drawn attention over concession prices. The New York Post reported that a traveler said a bean-and-cheese burrito at Poquito Mas cost $25, compared with $11.95 at another location, and relayed other travelers’ complaints about meal prices. Those reports concern Burbank, not the Starbucks locations in the LAX study.
A separate View from the Wing analysis described Burbank’s general rule limiting food and drink prices to 15% above an estimated street-price benchmark. It also said the airport authority reported that concessions manager MSC Burbank LLC missed the deadline to provide benchmark data and that officials were working to secure compliance. The analysis discussed Harmeet K. Dhillon’s claim that she was quoted $25.60 for a turkey sandwich; it noted lower prices on a posted menu but could not confirm the sandwich’s price or whether the quoted amount included a tip.
