Comedian Kylie Brakeman is very serious about the price of airport snacks.
She noticed that Chex Mix, the essential travel snack, was sold at different airports at a wide range of prices, so she turned to the cloud to collect as much data as possible on the subject for “science.” I embarked on a sourcing adventure.
“I started doing science. Please feel free to report any data you have,” Brakeman said. I wrote to X. In her post, which has been viewed more than 2.5 million times, she shares her initial findings from three airports. An 8-ounce bag of Traditional Chex Mix costs $9.99 at LaGuardia Airport, $5.99 at Indianapolis International Airport and $4.76 at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
Brakeman said this price difference inspired him to research prices at all airports. And they never expected so many people to invest in data collection.
“I tweeted because I really wanted a bag of Chex Mix, but due to the economic situation I couldn’t afford it and I just wanted to know if anyone else felt the same way,” Brakeman told TODAY. com, adding that he frequently flies back and forth between Los Angeles and New York, often stopping for layovers in places like the Midwest.
“I’ve noticed that prices are always much cheaper in the middle of the country,” she continues. “LaGuardia State is an out-of-control, unregulated lawless state.”
Later that day, Brakeman thanked those who contributed to the “data leak” and added some conditions to his Checks Mix economic index. Participants only need to add data and take a photo of an 8-ounce bag of Traditional Chex Mix. Pre-tax price.
Brakeman after all Edited Her data is stored in a publicly available Google Sheet.
“As a scientist, I can only assume that everyone is fixated on 8 ounces. I threw away the data that had a bad vibe. BTW I got a C on the stats,” she wrote about X.
Update: Here is the information we have so far: As a scientist, I can only assume that everyone is fixated on 8 ounces. I threw away the bad data.By the way, I got a C in statistics. pic.twitter.com/QtTzG6oooA
— Kylie Brakeman (@deadeyebrakeman) February 6, 2024
Mr. Brakeman divided the applications into four categories. One she witnessed herself, one for which there is photographic evidence, one for which there is no photographic evidence but she suspects to be accurate, and one for which she is not sure if she can believe it.
Nevertheless, there are still those who doubt her highly scientific research, such as the Wall Street Journal, which poked more holes than Chex’s article.
WSJ reached out to a spokesperson for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to confirm the accuracy of the data. Social media users reported to Mr. Brakeman that Chex Mix was priced at either $12.99 or $14.99, but a spokesperson confirmed the actual cost of an 8.75-ounce bag at 3 Concourses was $5.99. did.
Brakeman then responded with a video. The comedian, dressed in his best at a press conference, spoke.
“My fellow Americans. You know by now that the Wall Street Journal disputed the data from my Chex Mix study. Here’s my official response: Oh, come on. Oh, shoot. “Really? Man. I thought I had it. Can you double check?” she says in the tongue-in-cheek video. “You can’t win against everyone.”
The Journal responded to the video with a tongue-in-cheek comment, saying that “fact-checking is an important part of the reporting process.” In another tweet, Brakeman added that he never thought he would be “covered in a financial magazine.”
Fact checking is an important part of our reporting process.
— Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) February 8, 2024
Why are airport snacks so expensive?
Regardless of its accuracy, Brakeman’s unofficial survey speaks to a larger problem: travelers find airport food prohibitively expensive. They feel used as hungry captive consumers.
Charging at LaGuardia Airport ($9.99 for Chex Mix) became a hot topic in 2021 Approximately $28 for a beer. In response to subsequent protests, the Port Authority prohibited airport operators from charging more than 10% of the “street price.”
According to a study conducted by the Airports Council of North America International (ACI-NA), more than 80% of airports have adopted a retail and concession pricing method called “Street Pricing Plus.” This allows vendors to “adjust their prices to reflect the additional costs” of operating within an airport environment. ”
An ACI-NA spokesperson told TODAY.com that about two-thirds of airports have pricing caps that are 10% higher than street prices, and airports typically set prices to ensure compliance. The company is said to be conducting an audit.
The spokesperson stressed that “pricing strategies are highly localized” and that “the cost of doing business in an airport environment is significantly higher than outside an airport.”
Brakeman, who stands united against airport price hikes, said he was “very fascinated” by the number of people online who helped him in his quest.
“This is a testament to community science and people who just want to get to the bottom of issues like this,” she says.
“I’m so happy that everyone stepped up to help. Everyone at the airport that day sent me something,” she continues. “I think a lot of people can relate because right now, airlines are pushing prices up from all directions and you can’t control it. I think a lot of people have felt that way.”
This article originally appeared on TODAY.com
