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A traveler pushes back after discovering unexpected charges on a bookstore receipt from a location inside New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The traveler, who posted to Reddit last week, shared a photo of a receipt from Bryant Park Market, a store operated by Hudson at Terminal 5 at JFK Airport.
The customer purchased “The Gales of November: The Untold Story of Edmund Fitzgerald” by John U. Bacon for $21.99, only to discover that there were additional, unexpected charges on the receipt.
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“I just wanted to buy a book before my 6am flight,” the user wrote. “And of course, they also charge additional fees!”
“A 3% surcharge was applied to your purchase. This fee is for employee and loyalty programs and does not constitute a tip,” the receipt states, as noted in the person’s online post.
A traveler at a New York airport sparked discussion after discovering an unexpected 3% surcharge on a bookstore purchase. (Gilles Sabrie/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
It shows that 66 cents were added as part of a 3% surcharge, bringing the taxable subtotal to $22.65.
The buyer then paid $2.01 in sales tax at the regular rate of 8.875%, bringing the total to $24.66.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey told Fox News Digital that the 3% surcharge for employee benefits and retention was authorized in December 2024 and has been in effect for more than a year.
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An official said the surcharge is designed to support annual wage increases for thousands of airport workers while helping retailers cover higher labor costs resulting from airport minimum wage requirements and the Healthy Terminals Act.
Fox News Digital also contacted Hudson, who referred questions to the Port Authority.
Reddit users have expressed frustration with the additional fees.
The receipt stated that the 3% surcharge supports employee and retention programs and is not considered a gratuity. (iStock)
“I hope they don’t keep you as a future customer,” one person wrote.
“These hidden fees are out of control,” said another. “They need to change the laws, so that things are valued at what they actually cost.”
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A third user wrote: “I would have canceled the purchase when I saw it on screen. »
Although the surcharge could be mistaken for a tip, Bryan Gildenberg, managing director of retail research and consulting firm Retail Cities, said it should not be considered a tip.
International terminal, train and control tower at New York John F. Kennedy Airport (Skyhobo via Getty Images)
“So I never really thought of it as gratification. And I don’t know if that’s the right way to think about it,” Gildenberg told Fox News Digital.
He added: “It’s really more of a surcharge that companies are allowed to charge to cover the costs of operating the airport. »
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Gildenberg, based in Washington state, pointed out that operating a store in an airport often costs more than operating one elsewhere, in part because employees face additional commuting challenges.
“In any captive environment, the likelihood of you getting great value for money is not very high.”
He said airport retailers are working to keep their prices comparable to those outside airports, despite higher operating costs.
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Travelers should buy essentials, Gildenberg said, before arriving at the airport whenever possible — and expect to pay more if they don’t have what they need.
“The two best words to keep in mind (when) shopping at the airport are the Latin words caveat emptor, which means buyer beware,” Gildenberg said.
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He described airport buyers as a “captive audience.”
“As in any captive environment, the likelihood that you will get good value for money is not very high,” he said.
An expert has advised travelers to buy essentials before arriving at the airport whenever possible, warning that shopping at the airport can lead to higher prices. (Jeff Greenberg/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Gildenberg said the negative reaction was part of a larger picture involving consumer frustration over rising prices.
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“I think there’s a lot of consumer anger and frustration about the price of things today,” he said.
Gn bussni
