The sneaky mind games that airports, hotels and restaurants use to get you to spend more money

Published on September 16, 2025 at 12:47 PM
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EVERYONE loves getting a good deal when they go out whether it’s a one-night stay, trip to a local restaurant or holiday.

But without knowing it, there are ways that , and are making you spend more without even knowing it.

Aerial view of Heathrow Airport showing runways, taxiways, terminals, and parked aircraft.Getting a good deal can be hard and here’s how certain places will encourage spending People walking through the Duty Free shop at Luton Airport.The winding path of duty-free is even designed to make you spend

Airports

There are few times when going through an is seamless, it’s generally queue after queue and then a long wait until your gate number appears.

But did you know that this is a tactic for you to spend cash?

By creating a longer wait time between security and boarding, passengers get more time to wander through which increases the likelihood of them buying something.

Having to also means that once you’re in, you’re in.

If you’re hungry, you can’t pop out for somewhere cheaper to get a drink or snack, so there’s no choice but to buy within the airport.

When it comes to shopping, , but you aren’t necessarily saving if you didn’t want to buy anything in the first place.

The shops in an airport are especially designed to entice you in and encourage you to buy. From the bright lights to the pyramid-shaped displays, it’s all pleasing to the eye.

According to Intervistas report, walkways in duty-free curve to the left because the majority of passengers are right-handed.

So when walk through security with their suitcase, it’s in an anticlockwise direction. Products are displayed more on the right because passengers can see more on that side.

And if you’ve ever noticed that there are in an airport, you’d be right.

I dined at the world's most luxurious buffet - and made my money back in caviar alone
A gloved hand gives a hotel key to another hand.Offering room upgrades seem like a good deal, but you’ll be spending more Couple relaxing in a hotel spa bath.Add-on services like spa treatments is a way for hotels to upsell

The lack of places to sit and relax means passengers are encourages to wander in the terminal and again, spend more money in shops or restaurants.

The Telegraph explained: “Some airports shunt passengers towards the shops by having slightly fewer seats than are needed at peak times, meaning people decide to browse rather than standing around by the gate.”

Hotels

When it comes to , one way they encourage you to spend is the classic upsell.

For example offering for a better view or bigger bed can all contribute to spending more.

Along with upselling, another technique is cross-selling which is where hotel staff or sites will suggest other add-ons like dining credits at a discounted rate and .

Hotels that have a bar, cafe and restaurant on-site will also encourage guests to spend more, and actually the ease of its locations means visitors don’t even have to leave the hotel.

Then there’s loyalty programmes, which aren’t necessarily as cost effective as you are led to believe.

While not spending directly in a hotel, a loyalty program is where you collect points through spending – the more you buy, the more points you get.

Group of friends toasting wine at a restaurant table.Watch out for strategic pricing on menus

Restaurants

Even restaurants have methods of making you spend more, the first being with strategic pricing.

It’s one of the oldest tricks in the book, but using prices like £19.99 rather than £20 make you think a meal, or drink is significantly cheaper.

Some might use expensive food as decoys, having one overpriced item will make others seems more reasonable, even if they aren’t.

Another method is the fixed menu which can seem like a good idea, but they may include items that you might not have ordered otherwise.

A strategy called bracketing is used within the industry too, this is where two portions will be offered, usually ‘large’ and ‘small’.

However, the customer doesn’t know how much smaller the ‘small’ portion is, they’ll assume it’s the best value as it costs less.

Italian Mac cheese, mac and cheeseWait staff will often try to sell you additional sides temp you with dessert

But in actual fact, the wanted to sell the smaller portion at the lower price all along, and used the bigger portion with the higher price as comparison.

After taking your order, the wait staff might ask if you want an additional side like chips or veg, which could spark a last minute order.

The same goes for dessert, quite often staff will appear with a pretty menu hoping for last minute and impulse orders.

When it comes to drinks, staff will often avoid asking if you would like tap water, opting for sparkling or still instead, which will be bottled and at a cost.

Even setting the mood can encourage you to spend, feeling relaxed in a restaurant with soft music will mean diners will want to stay seated for longer.

Here’s the little-known way .

Plus, check out our .

Aerial view of Heathrow Airport showing runways, taxiways, terminals, and parked aircraft.Here’s how airports, restaurants and hotels encourage you to spend more

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