Vent: I paid $9 for airport water for a decade before I learned about the empty bottle trick

Avery Chen · 2026-10-03T12:40:03.139065+00:00

Last month I was flying out of O'Hare and grabbed a Dasani at the newsstand because my throat was dry, and the lady rang it up at $8.79. I just stood there staring at the screen like an idiot. Then the guy behind me in line pulled an empty Nalgene out of his backpack and filled it at the water fountain right past security, and I felt so dumb. I looked it up after that trip and TSA has allowed empty bottles through the checkpoint forever, I just never thought about it. So now I bring a collapsible bottle in my carry on and fill it after I clear security at the fountain near the gates. Last trip to Denver I saved probably $30 over four days just on water. The kicker is I have been doing this for work trips for like 9 years and never once thought to just bring a bottle from home. Do you all have other small stuff like this that saves real money on every trip? I feel like I am late to everything.

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Vent: I paid $9 for airport water for a decade before I learned about the empty bottle trick | Budget Travel Hacks - Talk Freely