Martin Lewis reveals REAL reason you have to show boarding pass at airport shops

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TRAVEL HACKS: You don't always need to show your boarding pass in airport shops

Many holidaymakers are enticed by airport deals and promotions.

While it is possible to get a tax free bargain, some stores charge travellers inflated prices.

Consumers must hand over their boarding passes in duty free – but there are instances where you can swerve doing so.

On a This Morning segment, Martin Lewis spoke about the common travel misconception.

The Money Saving Expert founder told the ITV show: “You do need to show (your boarding pass) when buying anything in a Duty Free shop – even if it isnt alcohol or tobacco.

“Youre potentially being exempted from duty, so HMRC needs to know where you are flying to, regardless of what youre buying. So if they ask dont resist.”

This information is also available on the HMRC website, which explains: “Duty-free shops can sell goods where the excise, customs duty or VAT has been suspended, usually alcohol and tobacco.

“Sales in duty-free shops are tightly controlled and HMRC requires these outlets to know where the passenger is travelling to before completing a sale.”

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But while holidaymakers are required to show their boarding details in duty free, this doesnt mean you must in all airport shops.

Some stores that dont offer VAT-free products may still ask to see your booking information.

This allows them to make more of a profit on your purchases – as they can claim back the tax.

In these instances, you are not required to hand over your passes.

Martin Lewis said: “In other airport shops, you dont need to show your boarding pass, even though they often push you to do so.

“Many people are rude to duty free staff over this confusion. The reason for this is if youre travelling outside of the EU they can claim the VAT back…

“I was involved in campaigning for people not to show boarding passes in these shops, unless they split some of that gain.

“Some now do – to an extent. For example in WH Smiths if youre going outside the EU and are buying an individual item costing over £6 you get the VAT back, in Boots it's over £5.”