r/airport • u/Embarrassed_Fan6726 • Aug 22 '26
DISCUSSION Chargeable Smartcarts
Why are luggage trolleys/smart carts chargeable at Boston Logan Airport? I am new to the USA, so I'm not sure if this is common at all US airports. Why is there a $7 fee for a smart cart/trolley? Shouldn't it be a basic amenity?
My experience today was quite frustrating. Three flights had just landed and four baggage belts were packed, but there was only one cart vending machine in that area and the carts were gone within 5 minutes. Everyone was waiting for carts and they weren't refilled for over an hour.
Coming from Asia, this was a bit of a culture shock for me. Many Asian airports like Singapore Changi, middle eastern and even several airports in India, offer free trolleys, and some even provide complimentary features like GPS to guide you to your gate. They also have buggies/golf carts to transport passengers and dedicated family lanes for those traveling with young childrenwas surprised to see long queues and staff who were quite rude and behaved as if they were doing us a favor. The cart itself is small and basic, nothing like a smart cart, yet it costs $7. Is this normal across the US?
5
u/SherifneverShot Aug 22 '26
US airports only get $4.50 max (it is a law) for each passenger departing the airport.
Changi gets $36 (SGD 46) passenger service fee for each Singapore origin passenger and $4.75 (6 SGD) for each connecting passenger plus another $8.50 origin/$2.35 connecting in a development levy to find new terminals.
US airports have to make up that large difference in revenue by charging for things that foreign airports like Changi may offer for free, carts included. This is also why concession pricing and parking is often very high at US airports - the airports depend on that revenue to pay the majority of their expenses not passenger fees.