Prices charged at airports are often a source of surprise for travelers, but a recent case has put the issue back in the spotlight after a simple McDonald’s menu was identified as one of the most expensive in the world. The situation was shared by two travel content creators, who were visibly shocked by the prices charged at an airport very popular with tourists.
The protagonist of the episode was Chelsea Dickenson, known on social media as “Holiday Expert”, accompanied by her friend and co-host of her podcast, James Robinson. The duo was traveling when they decided to visit a McDonald’s restaurant at Antalya Airport, in Türkiye.
According to Chelsea, quoted by the British newspaper The Mirror, they had already heard that that restaurant was considered one of the most expensive McDonald’s in the world, but they had a hard time believing it. “We are in what they say is one of the most expensive McDonald’s in the world. It’s at Antalya airport and they say it costs a fortune, but this can’t be real,” he said, skeptically, in a video shared online.
Prices that left travelers in disbelief
As they approached the automatic order screens, Chelsea and James explained that the prices were indicated in Turkish lira and that they would convert the values to pounds to understand the real impact on the wallet.
The first choice was a medium Big Mac menu, one of the chain’s most popular products. In the UK, a burger costs around £4.89 (around €5.70), rising to approximately £7.50 (around €8.75) when fries and a drink are included. However, at the Turkish airport, the same menu appeared with a price of 887 Turkish liras, equivalent to around 15.34 pounds (approximately 17.95 euros).
The difference in prices left the duo visibly surprised, especially as it was a product identical to what is sold in thousands of the brand’s restaurants around the world, according to the same source.
Not even the Happy Meal escaped
Curiosity led them to also check the price of a Happy Meal, traditionally associated with more affordable meals for children. In the United Kingdom, this menu usually costs between 3.49 and 4.49 pounds (between approximately 4.10 and 5.25 euros), depending on the option chosen.
In Antalya, the value indicated was 665 Turkish lira, which corresponds to around 11.50 pounds (approximately 13.45 euros). Despite the shock, James decided to go ahead with the purchase to see what the menu included. “I wanted to see what the toy was,” he explained.
Shortly afterwards, he showed the contents of the box, revealing that the prize was a small Playmobil llama to ride. “This is what you paid 11.50 pounds”, around 13.45 euros, commented Chelsea, laughing, upon seeing the finished toy.
Was it worth the price?
The food tasting followed. The fries, according to both, tasted exactly like they would at any other McDonald’s. The burger was not impressive and fell short of expectations created by the high price. Clearly unconvinced, Chelsea left a blunt warning for anyone passing through the airport: “Make sure you eat before you arrive at Antalya Airport.”
Reactions on social media
The video quickly generated comments among followers, according to . Many shared similar experiences at airports, while others admitted they would never pay those prices for fast food. “The most traumatic place in the world,” wrote one user. Another commented: “No way, I’m too cheap for that.”
Also read:
