SAN ANTONIO – Anyone traveling through the San Antonio International Airport ahead of Labor Day weekend might want to pack snacks ahead of time.
In an effort to keep prices reasonable, the airport has a pricing policy for travel essentials. However, a KSAT investigation found travelers are still paying a high price.
KSAT Investigates
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The price of convenience
KSAT Investigates spoke with a traveler who stopped inside a convenience store in an airport terminal to grab a bottle of soda.
“What’d you think of the prices?” KSAT Investigates asked.
“It was crazy,” the traveler said. “$3.50 for a Pepsi is outrageous.”
There are dozens of places inside the airport to pick up last-minute souvenirs and snacks. More spots are expected to open.
“Being able to offer the right amenities to our passengers is really important,” San Antonio International Airport aviation deputy director Sam Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez explained vendors have to follow a pricing policy to keep prices within 10% of street pricing.
Earlier this summer, KSAT Investigates looked at the prices for a dozen travel essentials like drinks, medicine, and snacks.
KSAT Investigates tests the airport’s 10% pricing policy
KSAT Investigates compared the airport prices to the prices at Target, H-E-B and Walmart.
KSAT found the airport charged more than 10% for the same items found at the big box stores. Those findings were brough to Rodriguez’s attention.
KSAT Investigates reporter Daniela Ibarra looks at the price of travel essentials at the San Antonio International Airport. (Copyright 2026 by KSAT – All rights reserved.)
“Well, I think you’ve got to look at the different types,” Rodriguez said. “I’m not sure if you went to H-E-B and Walmart and some of the big stores. Our stores are not huge stores. You’re talking about a 60 to 100,000-square foot facility.”
Rodriguez said prices at the big box stores are not comparable to the airport’s pricing.
“My initial reaction to that is — you’ve gotta look at what’s the convenience store pricing,” he said.
After the interview, KSAT Investigates checked out the prices at a few convenience stores.
The Q Mart, located near the airport on Airport Boulevard, did not have any prices posted.
KSAT Investigates went to the QuikTrip convenience store on San Pedro Avenue near downtown San Antonio. At QT, several of the same items were still more than the 10% markup allowed under the airport’s pricing policy.
For example, a 20-ounce bottle of LifeWater at the airport is $4.59. The QT price for the same water was $2.49 (or 2 for 4) — an 84% markup.
A bottle of 24 caplets of Aleve was 27% more expensive at the airport than at the QT location.
The only item KSAT found was cheaper at the airport than at QT was a 4-ounce bottle of Pepto Bismol. The bottle costs $7.49 at the airport and $9.79 at QT.
KSAT Investigates emailed the airport’s public relations manager Tonya Hope twice to ask for a response to the findings. Hope has yet to respond to KSAT’s request.
For people frustrated with the price tag, Rodriguez said travelers can bring their own essentials.
“We’re providing that option, but you know, folks can bring their chips,” Rodriguez said. “I mean, there’s nothing that stops in terms of TSA (Transportation Security Administration) regulations to do that.”
Rodriguez said the airport issues a notice of correction to vendors that are not following the rules.
Read more reporting on the KSAT Investigates page.
Copyright 2026 by KSAT – All rights reserved.