Passengers are still routinely asked for boarding cards, and if they refuse, they can be asked to supply an end destination. If they refuse to provide this, the sale can still be processed as long as the products are not in the duty-free category. Photograph: iStock
“I am travelling to Italy. I wished to purchase some items in the retail area, sweets and such. As I am travelling within the EU, duty-free does not apply, and therefore, I am not obliged to provide proof of destination,” he says. “Nevertheless at every shop, I was explicitly told the shop would not allow me to make purchases without presenting my boarding pass. This occurred in every shop except WH Smiths, where the assistant at self-checkout used her code to bypass the demand.
He expresses concern that data is collected that could be of value to retailers, and raises concerns over potential breaches of GDPR legislation.Couple with infant devastated after losing more than €5,000 in home rental scamHe proposes a simple solution would be “notices at tills reminding passengers – and staff! – that boarding passes or proof of destination is required for duty-free purchases only. Any customer providing the information then does so freely.
The practice is not unique to Irish airports, and several years ago it emerged that in the UK many retailers operating in international airports were maximising their profits by scanning boarding passes and using the information to claim VAT back from passengers who travelled outside of the EU – back in pre-Brexit days – while refusing to pass rebates back to customers.