Why airport shops poach their customers [Roundup]

News and notes from the Internet:

• The average tip in restaurants is now under 20% with the lowest tips in California (17.4%) and Washington State (18%).
• Operating airports is expensive. Not only are rents astronomically high and airports typically take a hit in revenue (which is often passed on to the airlines), it’s difficult to hire workers (hence why they’re more expensive) and you’re typically limited to monopoly suppliers for lots of inputs.

  However, because airports in the United States are government-owned, high prices are unpopular, and there are often street pricing rules that require passengers to pay no more than 10% more than they pay at the airport would. Retailers play games to make the numbers work.

  Now $12.99 at the airport. I remember a time when they gave you at least the second half of the wrap. CLASS pic.twitter.com/xlVdckqgCB

  — SEAN (@121_5MHz) September 19, 2023

• I showed up The Miles To Go podcast discussing the changes to Delta SkyMiles and Sky Club along with Clint Henderson from The points guy.

• It looks like British Airways is currently renovating the cabanas in the London Heathrow Concorde Room and hopes to reopen them eventually.

  

• And that’s after the opening of a second JFK Sky Club
  

  this @Delta Changes at Sky Club can’t come soon enough

  Always a ridiculous line at JFK Terminal 4 no matter what day or time pic.twitter.com/RET7b6OVG3

  — Ali DiBarba (@alisaysdance) September 18, 2023

• New hotel construction project of a struggling public pension fund, a prerequisite for bribery? Your last hotel investment went so well.
• Tourist calls the police after being surprised by a $1,000 restaurant bill $20 an ounce of crab, the restaurant showed them the whole crustacean and they thought the price would be…$20.

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