Tips for airport shopping while traveling

I might be taking a trip next week and I'm wondering if ppl have tips on finding/scheduling airport shops. I could potentially do a layover, so that would be 3 major airports i could hit in a day. I've not done airport shops before, so any advice on how they differ, things to keep in mind, etc. Also, what is the best way to find these? I use jobslinger, presto, gigspot, Volition, etc. Is there a couple companies that are known for these I should make sure I'm signed up for?

Thanks, all!
(I thought I'd seen this question ask)ed before but can't find it now.)

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

Try ctcss.

Mercantile has some, and I do them for HS Brands in NV...doing one the 9th. Depends on your location, just check around, you'll find them.

Live consciously....

Anyone know who has shops for SEA-TAC? I've signed up with CSE for other airports but not seeing shops at that airport.

My first tip is to pull up the airport maps so you know which terminals you can access. Airport shopping is like a casino shopping. You have to have a plan. You’d better be able to walk, quickly and for long distances. When I worked at SFO and LAX, I frequently walked between 3 to 6 miles a day.

Very good point about being able to acccess all the terminals. I will double check but I think I can get to all terminals once past security for my arrival/departure airports. So I can factor this in for possible layover airport options..

Try to stick with shops that are in the same terminal/boarding area your flight is in or check that other terminals are connected post-security. TSA allows passengers to go to any terminal with a valid same-day boarding pass, but some airports try to make up rules and not let you go through to another terminal (i.e. JFK and MIA).

Coyle, Albatross, SeeLevel, iSecretShop have airport shops too. CSE usually handles a lot of them.

I've honestly wanted to do airport shops before but I VERY rarely do them. There's just too much crap going on for me to add a shop to it. Travel days tend to be long. I don't feel like doing a report when I get home or to my destination. I always say I'm gonna do work on the plane but I rarely if ever do unless I'm in 1st. It's just too much of a hassle. There are a few shops I'll do, but not many.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

International Service Check has a shop available at Sea-Tac right now.

Something to definitely keep in mind. Don't pick up too many shops and factor in the time it'll take to complete the report. Account for possible delays for layover shops and if you can submit the report within the MSC's deadline. I picked up a shop at JFK once and the MSC required you to submit the report by midnight. My connecting flight got delayed, and I barely had enough time to do the shop during the layover before my flight to London started boarding. I had to rush to finish the report on my phone before the flight took off in order to meet the deadline (BA didn't have in-flight wifi on that particular aircraft...).

@bgriffin wrote:

I've honestly wanted to do airport shops before but I VERY rarely do them. There's just too much crap going on for me to add a shop to it. Travel days tend to be long. I don't feel like doing a report when I get home or to my destination. I always say I'm gonna do work on the plane but I rarely if ever do unless I'm in 1st. It's just too much of a hassle. There are a few shops I'll do, but not many.

I used to see many high paying airport shops at my airport but once I got badged there I hardly see them anymore and it is even harder to match the logistics of my time at the airport and the due dates of the shops. Now I see shops occasionally that seem to get snapped up and the pay is not so great.
Here's what to keep in mind...if you are taking restaurant shops, most of the menu prices are much pricier than the same restaurant in town. So the reimbursement may not cover much. Finding a salad or sandwich under $14 or $15 before tax and tip is difficult. Also I had to visit a food vendor and saved it for my last job so I could carry it home with me...at 8 PM in that terminal all the food shops except one closed down! The retail stores tend to be pricier too. A bottled drink is $4.95 at LAX instead of $2-$2.50 on the outside. The Duty Free shops also ...a one pound or so bag of chocolate, just Hersheys or the like in the duty free store is over $10.

Marketforce has airport shops. You can use the search feature to just see airport shops.

You might also look for valet & in flight shops while traveling.

I usually email my schedulers and tell them I'm traveling to my destination and ask if there are any airport shops I can assist with.

I've also typed in the airport zipcode in wherever msc platform to see if anything pops up.

Sinclair, Coyle, Ann Michaels, CSE, BARE, Nsite, Albatross all have airport shops.

@Monk-N-Nut wrote:

You might also look for valet & in flight shops while traveling.

I am assuming these come and go, but let me know if there is somewhere I can check. I have seen them pop up from time to time but just didn't really pay attention which company since wasn't travelling.

ctcss has tons of post security shops.

I would add that I generally only take shops for departing flights, since your personal arrival time at the airport is some you can somewhat control. I also know LAX well and so even if my flight moves over a terminal, I can still get to the shop.

Shops on arrivals and layovers are a gamble. Flights can run late...and the shop can be closed, or you just don't have enough time. I recently agreed to one of the airport burger shops for Pete and my departing flight got moved to a completely different terminal, and I could not access the shop since I was arriving from an international flight and had to come out through customs. Luckily it was mid-month and he was able to re-schedule, but I would have left him in the lurch if it was end of the month.

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login

Tips for airport shopping while traveling

Create an Account or Log In

Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies

Mystery Shopper Magazine