Sneaky fee on airport purchase sparks outrage after traveler shares receipt: 'Out of control'

A traveler reported an unexpected 3% surcharge on a bookstore receipt from Bryant Park Market, a Hudson-operated store at JFK Airport’s Terminal 5. The purchase was for a book priced at $21.99.

The receipt shows a 3% Employee Benefits and Retention Surcharge, described as not a gratuity and intended to support wage increases for airport workers and offset higher labor costs from minimum wage requirements and the Healthy Terminals Act.

The surcharge added 66 cents to the subtotal, bringing it to $22.65 before sales tax. Customer paid $2.01 in sales tax at 8.875%, for a total of $24.66.

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed the surcharge was authorized in December 2024 and has been in effect for more than a year; Hudson referred questions to the Port Authority.

Reaction on social media included frustration over hidden fees and calls for clearer pricing, with some commenters comparing the surcharge to non-tipping charges and noting a perception of higher costs in airport retail environments.

Retail expert Bryan Gildenberg described the charge as a surcharge rather than a gratuity, intended to cover operating costs in captive airport retail settings, and advised travelers to plan ahead for higher airport shopping costs.