Passengers gouged on airport water? Yes, charge legal papers
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
(5,018 posts)This is capitalism.
pnwmom
(109,021 posts)from other sources because of security rules.
This is a kind of monopoly and should be regulated as such.
Travis_0004
(5,417 posts)I always bring an empty water bottle though security then fill it up at a drinking fountain.
erronis
(15,429 posts)Could be poisoned by terrorists!
uppityperson
(115,681 posts)jberryhill
(62,444 posts)Some airports now have canteen filling stations. O'Hare has them and so does Charlotte.
christx30
(6,241 posts)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
(13,029 posts)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
(7,534 posts)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
(109,021 posts)Judi Lynn
(160,656 posts)jberryhill
(62,444 posts)yourout
(7,534 posts)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
(718 posts)Believe me, Dollar would spend more on fixing problems than I would spend on their insurance.
bloomington-lib
(946 posts)skepticscott
(13,029 posts)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
(32,121 posts)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
(27,247 posts)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
(32,121 posts)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
(62,444 posts)candelista
(1,986 posts)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
(36,827 posts)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
(27,247 posts)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
(32,121 posts)Problem solved. The water where I live (AZ) tastes fine.
Art_from_Ark
(27,247 posts)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
(32,121 posts)implies the water from the tap is unsafe to drink. That is false and yet another attack on science.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)Confusing "imply" and "infer" can be convenient when one has little more than anecdotal evidence.
former9thward
(32,121 posts)They all say tap water is safe to drink. That is science not "anecdotal evidence."
Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)Perfectly safe drinking water can taste bad for a number of reasons.
former9thward
(32,121 posts)And buy bottled if that is your concern. Where I live the water is fine out of the tap for my tastes.
Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)...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
(32,121 posts)With today's foods many people are mineral deficient which leads to other problems.
Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)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
(15,189 posts)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
(25,406 posts)as long as we are talking about "price gouging".
Archae
(46,369 posts)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
(15,429 posts)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
(90,978 posts)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
(32,121 posts)Fill it up at a drinking fountain inside security. Easy solution.
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)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
(6,241 posts)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
(23,156 posts)Bring a cup of some kind to work, and fill it there.
christx30
(6,241 posts)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
(23,156 posts)No water fountains?
You really have choices beyond buying sugar water or paying for tap water.
wheniwasincongress
(1,307 posts)Jim Lane
(11,175 posts)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
(30,884 posts)I hope that Kitson wins.
TexasMommaWithAHat
(3,212 posts)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
(68,868 posts)brooklynite
(94,911 posts)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.