Travel tips: The cheapest place to buy duty-free items

In my opinion, the best marketing gimmick used by the duty-free stores in Israel is the ability to purchase items, leave them in the airport and pick them up on the way back.  No shlepping, no possibility of melting chocolate or broken glass in your suitcase, and lots of happy kids upon your return.  However, that doesn't mean that you are getting a great price for that convenience.  In fact, it may surprise you but some of the lowest prices for alcohol, perfume and cigarettes can be found on the airplane. Surprised? I surely was.

When you think about it, it is quite convenient to shop from the traveling cart on the airline.  You don't have to worry about liquids, you have the items brought to you, and you have the luxury of browsing through the catalog at your leisure.  

What items are cheapest where?  Perfume is a very competitive item within Israel, so if you know what you want to purchase, compare prices before you go.  Cigarettes, on the other hand, are most definitely cheaper on the flights.  Regarding alcohol, you should also compare prices before you go- some products were cheaper on the plane, some in the duty-free store, and some in local stores in Israel.

British Airways offers a service where you can make your purchases from three months to five days before your flight.  Your products can be delivered to your flight (departure or arrival) or to a British hotel or other street address.

Here is Yisrael HaYom's price comparison, performed on September 4, 2014:

Source: Yisrael HaYom