WHSmith is facing accusations of “price gouging” after reports that some items in its airport shops cost substantially more than similar products sold elsewhere in departure areas. The Daily Mail says travellers are charged about £4 for a 750ml bottle of Evian water in WHSmith, while cheaper prices are available in the same airports’ departure lounges.
The reporting also claims that WHSmith charges about £2.69 for Polo mints, with other outlets offering lower prices, including figures cited as low as £1.80. The outlets reference multiple airports, including Gatwick, Heathrow and Glasgow, suggesting the pricing differences are not limited to a single location. While the article focuses on the scale of the mark-ups and the comparison with alternative sellers inside departure lounges, it does not provide detailed evidence of wider pricing practices beyond the cited examples.
Overall, the accounts center on price comparisons for a small set of consumer goods—such as bottled water and confectionery—available to air passengers, with the main angle being the reported gap between WHSmith and other shops in airport departure areas.
