12 Ways Airports Are Secretly Manipulating You

[DGUtley]

12 Ways Airports Are Secretly Manipulating You -- Next time you fly, pay close attention to the airports. Their design may be more intentional than you think.


Over the years, airports have evolved from bare-bones transportation hubs for select travelers to bustling retail centers for millions. They’re being designed to both complement and influence human behavior. Everything from the architecture and lighting to the trinkets on sale in the gift shops is strategic. Here are a few tricks airports use to help travelers relax, get to their gates safely and on time, and hopefully spend some money along the way.

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https://getpocket.com/explore/item/1...nipulating-you

[Common]

I hate airports and airlines and I avoid it as much as possible

[gamewell45]

I hate airports and airlines and I avoid it as much as possible

I haven't flown out of an airport in decades now; Amtrak is my best friend.

[Adelaide]

It makes sense. There are a handful of places where herding people seems like an art form - balancing moving huge numbers of people through a secure environment while promoting things like sales and remaining calm/not problematic.

I think that airports are great at putting out items fliers need but probably forgot or could not get through security - things like pillows, snacks, and water always tend to be located closest to the external portion of a shop. I have found the duty-free shops in Europe to be superior to those in North America (and I've been to a lot of airports). I am never interested in duty-free items when I fly in the US or Canada but when I have been flying back to the US/Canada, I find there is more temptation. You pretty much always have to walk through a huge duty-free shop when flying international, regardless (with an exception for flying between the US and Canada, in my experience).

I find security to usually be okay, although something stupid almost always inevitably happens when I pass through Pearson because I am a US resident and their stupid machines are too stupid to read my Alien ID or Visa. I end up in a massive line of people who are neither Canadian nor American and have fewer US border/customs agents assigned to manage it (Pearson in Toronto has US border patrol/customs in the building - so does Heathrow in London). Most people are not in this position, though. And as the article says, having multiple lines at that point of security/customs does actually make it feel unfair (as demonstrated by my own feelings, hah).

[Green Arrow]

I don’t care if they harvest my organs while I wait for my flight, lol. Flying is still my preferred mode of travel.

[Cotton1]

I love airports. People watching, overpriced drinks. Its just fun and a bridge to knowing I am leaving one place to enjoy another. Its a form of escapism for me.

[FindersKeepers]

I knew some of these marketing ploys but I learned a few new ones as well. Good share.