DUTY FREE

    At about 6:00pm on Monday 30^th June 2014, I arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to board the 11:00pm Airfrance flight to Paris where I can connect the 6:00am flight to London Heathrow Airport. At the entrance, I observed the security was tight, the securities made sure everyone entering the airport had their passport and tickets to their destination in order to be precise they are actual travelers. Baggage was passed through the scanner to ensure they were secure and safe.

    Still at the airport I decided to get a perfume at a shops upstairs because a traveler friends told me things in the airport are cheap due to “Duty Free policy". On getting there, I figure out the place was deserted unlike the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport I knew back then when i was younger. I asked the attendant at the perfume shop “where is everyone”? She opened up to me that shop owners are discouraged with the affairs of the airport management. Due to security issues present in the country, visitors are no longer allowed into the airport thereby reducing patronage unlike before where shops were busy with diverse customers.

   I pointed at a smart collection perfume which didn’t have a price tag, I remember buying a smart collection perfume for 1,500naira elsewhere but she told me the perfume cost 13,000naira. This points out that the shops in Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport are not “Duty Free” due to the airport policy who put high prices for rentals making it unbearable for shop owners to sale and make profit. Meanwhile shops open from 4:30am and close late at night.

   I arrived at Paris on Tuesday July 1^st 6:00am. At Charles de Gaulle Airport (Paris main international airport) shops offer the very best of Paris without the need for customs rebate formalities. Shops are open from the first flight of the day to the last in all terminals to offer passengers the very best with a huge selection of products at tax-free prices. Products ranges from Perfume and Cosmetics, Wines, spirits and champagnes, Cigarettes and cigar cellar, French fine foods, fashion and accessories, watches and jewelry, Hi-tech electronics and many more. No customs rebate formalities from the first euro spent. When you purchase a product in an Aéroports de Paris shop, there are no formalities to complete. Your tax-free saving is automatically part of the purchase. The duty free price applies regardless of how much you spend. At Heinemann Duty Free shop, a DKNY Fresh Blossom Eau de Parfum Spray (50ml) cost €55 which is equivalent to 12,100naira.

   I arrived at London Heathrow Airport 8:00am due to some delays. London Heathrow Airport is a major International Airport serving London, England. It’s located in London Borough of Hillingdon in West London. The airport is known to be the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the fifth busiest airport in the world (as of 2014) in total passenger traffic, handling more international passengers than any other airport around the globe. What I saw in Charles de Gaulle motivated me to scout the shops in Heathrow to find out if Heathrow shops are Duty Free also. I entered a perfume shop and looked at Donna Karan Range “Be Delicious Eau de Parfum Spray” (100ml) cost £53.45 (14,966naira) meanwhile the Average UK high street price is £66.86 (18,721naira). At Heathrow Boutique an Armani Code Ultimate Intense EDT (75ml) cost £48.20 which is equivalent to 13,496naira.

 WH Smith at the departure exist sells snacks, drinks, magazines at a cheaper rate while British Pub Classics sells complete dishes ranging from £8.95 or below. 

   In conclusion, instead of getting some products in Nigeria Airport, why don’t you hold on and get it from the Duty Free shops at your International Airport destination. If you look closely you are saving yourself more money and better quality. 

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