Passengers gouged on airport water? Yes, charge legal papers

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Mar 6, 5:42 PM EST
Passengers gouged on airport water? Yes, charge legal papers

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A court fight over retail operations at one of the nation's busiest airports led to a charges Friday that passengers are being gouged on bottled water prices.

Legal papers filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court by boutique retailer Kitson Stores said Hudson Group, which operates many shops at Los Angeles International Airport, is exploiting travelers with "hugely" inflated water prices.

The two sides have been exchanging accusations over business operations and licensing arrangements at the airport, which attracts 70 million travelers annually.

Kitson says New Jersey-based Hudson refused to sell bottled water at the airport's two Kitson shops it operates at $2.55 for a liter. Instead, Hudson charges consumers $5 a bottle at the stores, the court filing said.




Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_PRICEY_AIRPORT_WATER?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-03-06-17-42-15

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

1. If more people than not would pay $20 a bottle, that is what they would charge

This is capitalism.

[pnwmom]

3. No, it's not capitalism because there is no competition. People can't bring in water

from other sources because of security rules.

This is a kind of monopoly and should be regulated as such.

[Travis_0004]

12. Drinking fountains?

I always bring an empty water bottle though security then fill it up at a drinking fountain.

[erronis]

17. I'm sure they'll remove the drinking fountains ---

Could be poisoned by terrorists!

[uppityperson]

14. I've a couple vapur collapsible water bottles I travel with to fill at fountains.

[jberryhill]

22. Yep. I carry a canteen.

Some airports now have canteen filling stations. O'Hare has them and so does Charlotte.

[christx30]

16. Split the difference by calling it what it is:

Crony capitalism. Like Rick Scott ordering drug testing for welfare applicants. While owning a very large drug testing company. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/rick-scott-drug-testing/

[skepticscott]

8. Let's face it, BUYING a bottle of water at the airport is dumb

Bring an empty bottle (that you paid 20 cents for full at the grocery store) through security and fill it on the other side.

[yourout]

2. Rental car insurance is the biggest scam for travelers IMHO.

Just went on a trip and Dollar would not let me rent a car without their insurance.
My insurance provider said we were covered but Dollar claimed it was not transferable and would not get me the car without it.
$163.00 for insurance for 5 days.
And that was the CHEAPEST package.

[pnwmom]

4. That's a good reason not to rent from Dollar. Other rental agencies will accept your insurance. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

5. Argh. Thanks for the info. n/t

[jberryhill]

7. Are you under 25?

[yourout]

18. Nope....I'm 52

[jberryhill]

21. Damn

I've had to be very insistent at times that I want no coverage of any kind, but I didn't think anybody in the US will require it if you decline. They'll make you sign five copies of the Magna Carta, and reluctantly so.

[Stainless]

15. That Car Would Be Returned With Severe Abuse!

Believe me, Dollar would spend more on fixing problems than I would spend on their insurance.

[bloomington-lib]

6. All bottled water is over priced. That's why they're in that business.

[skepticscott]

9. If people saw direct comparisons

Between what bottled water costs per gallon if you buy single bottles (anywhere from $15-25) and what things like milk, orange juice and soda (or gasoline) cost per gallon, they'd never buy it!

[former9thward]

11. They are in that business because of demand.

People who lack science skills think drinking water from the tap is somehow 'bad' for you. That is nonsense. But people have bought into it. Water filtration devices are not needed either. But people buy them.

[Art_from_Ark]

23. Tap water is not the same everywhere

I've had tap water in Louisiana that had a heavy sulfur taste to it, and tap water in Massachusetts that tasted like rust. And the tap water in Los Angeles just tasted like crap.

[former9thward]

25. Tap water is safe to drink everywhere in the U.S.

Yes, some tap water has different tastes to it because of different mineral contents. Minerals which your body needs. If you would prefer spending money on bottled water that has no minerals and then spending money on vitamins to get those minerals, its your money.

[jberryhill]

28. I'm surprised no one has called you a shill for Big Fluoride

[candelista]

33. For me, the issue is not the safety but the taste.

That's why I use a Katadyn Gravidyn.. It removes most of the bacteria and all the bad chemical taste, which in my water district is very unpleasant. You can see one at the link. It's expensive (I paid about $300) but it's lasted for 5 years without ever changing the ceramic filters.

http://www.katadyn.com/usen/katadyn-products/products/katadynshopconnect/katadyn-water-filters-endurance-series-products/katadyn-drip-gravidyn/

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated in any way with the company, nor do I have investments in it.

[Major Nikon]

46. Carbon filtration need not be expensive

I recommend getting a standard 10" filter system, because the filters are non-proprietary. At most hardware stores you can get a below the sink filter holder for about $20-25 and 10 micron carbon filters are less than $10 each and will last a long time. 5 micron filters are a bit more expensive and don't last as long.

Some people need more elaborate systems if their water is too hard or have other problems, but most people's taste problems can be solved by the system described above.

[Art_from_Ark]

38. So would you rather drink tap water that tastes like crap

or filter out as much of the foul-tasting elements as possible?

Let me introduce you to the concept of carbon filtering:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_filtering

And personally, I can get all the sulfur I need from eggs, and all the iron I need from dark green vegetables, pumpkin seeds, mollusks, and even tofu. I don't want that stuff befouling the taste of my water.

[former9thward]

39. Then don't drink it.

Problem solved. The water where I live (AZ) tastes fine.

[Art_from_Ark]

40. I try not to drink it

Which is why I try to use water filtering devices when I am in an area where the water sucks. Contrary to what you claimed in your post I originally responded to, legitimate home water filtering systems do have a use and are not just a waste of money.

[former9thward]

41. Every ad I have ever seen for filtration devices

implies the water from the tap is unsafe to drink. That is false and yet another attack on science.

[LanternWaste]

42. Confusing "imply" and "infer" can be convenient when one has little more than anecdotal evidence.

Confusing "imply" and "infer" can be convenient when one has little more than anecdotal evidence.

[former9thward]

44. Are you saying health departments in all U.S. cities are in a massive conspiracy?

They all say tap water is safe to drink. That is science not "anecdotal evidence."

[Major Nikon]

45. Safe =/ tastes good

Perfectly safe drinking water can taste bad for a number of reasons.

[former9thward]

47. Yes, you are correct.

And buy bottled if that is your concern. Where I live the water is fine out of the tap for my tastes.

[Major Nikon]

48. A simple carbon water filter is far cheaper in the long run

...and will correct the majority of taste quality issues with most tap water. Very hard water is more expensive to correct, but still cheaper than bottled water.

[former9thward]

49. Yes, but I would rather have the minerals that make the water hard.

With today's foods many people are mineral deficient which leads to other problems.

[Major Nikon]

50. A simple carbon filter doesn't change water hardness to any large degree if at all

Those molecules are quite small and will easily pass through most carbon filters. Calcium and magnesium are the minerals that make water hard, and with very hard water they can be sufficient to contribute to the dietary requirements for those minerals. So while there can be a health benefit to very hard water, most people will find that very hard water just doesn't taste very good and therefore may not drink enough of it to make a difference.

[Politicalboi]

10. That is a shame, but it's to be expected

Casinos in Ca charge $7.00 for cigarettes. Little do they know, people will still buy them at $10.00. LOL! Doesn't the airport have drinking fountains? It's not like there is NO water to drink. I look at it is that the airport has expensive stuff like food and drinks. Don't go thirsty or hungry if you can't spend the money.

[Nye Bevan]

13. I bet movie theater soda has an even higher profit margin,

as long as we are talking about "price gouging".

[Archae]

20. Try sports arenas.

When I went to a baseball game at Miller Park in Milwaukee, they were charging $6 a bottle for bottled water.
We brought our own.

[erronis]

19. Just wait until the air on the plane requires a pre-payment

I can imagine that at around 20,000 feet there is an announcement:

For all cabin-class passengers, we are entering a zone of decreased oxygen. You may experience dizziness or blackouts. Please don't panic - we'll try to revive you as we approach the destination.

However, if you would like to keep breathing during this segment of the flight (estimated at 2.4 hours), you can request additional air to be delivered via your oxygen mask. Please have your credit card ready for the robo-attendant who will be working its way down the aisle.

[Hekate]

24. I can testify to that. I can't bring in my own bottle of water, it gets thrown away before my eyes

So I am stuck with whatever the airport concessions want to charge. It just adds to the generally disgusting experience of flying, when driving is simply not an option.

I'm glad somebody's fighting back.

[former9thward]

26. Bring an empty bottle.

Fill it up at a drinking fountain inside security. Easy solution.

[SheilaT]

27. I don't get why people feel the need to buy

bottled water all the time, especially when so much of it is basically tap water from some other place.

And I've read that re-using the plastic bottles the water comes in isn't such a hot idea in the first place.

[christx30]

29. I buy a bottle of water

at the beginning of the week and refil it from the filtered tap we have here in my office. No ill effects except for a slightly heavier wallet.

[SheilaT]

30. But why even buy that first one?

Bring a cup of some kind to work, and fill it there.

[christx30]

31. Because I never remember when I'm at the store.

I remember when I'm standing in front of the vending machine at work and have to choose between yet another coke, and the Desani.

[SheilaT]

34. So you inhabit a place where there are no sources of running water at all?

No water fountains?

You really have choices beyond buying sugar water or paying for tap water.

[wheniwasincongress]

32. I suggest

https://shopreduce.com/collections/waterweek sells sets of 5 water bottles, all dishwasher safe, BPA-free plastic!

[Jim Lane]

37. For me it's the taste.

I pay a dollar a gallon at the grocery store for water that I'll actually drink, because the tap water where I live now doesn't taste as good as what I'm used to.

[Gormy Cuss]

35. Hudson Group is price fixing and that shouldn't be allowed.

I hope that Kitson wins.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

36. The rent for those kiosks in airports is outrageous from what I hear

They charge to make a profit, but they don't have to make that profit off of me. I bring a bottle of water, drink it before I go through the line, and then refill it with fountain water. And if I don't like the flavor of the fountain water, I add in a little lemonade mix.

[geek tragedy]

43. passengers get gouged on everything at the airport. even currency exchange nt

[brooklynite]

51. Simple answer...don't buy water

More complicated answer...complain to the airport authority, and the Government officials that oversee the airport authority. Some airports require pricing to be consistent with the surrounding community.