Duty Free Makes Shopping Less "Taxing"

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Jan. 9, 2012) - Serious bargain hunters know the best time to 'shop until you drop' is in January. For those flying this month and seeking a post-holiday deal, you can find fantastic price-breaks on luxury items, travel essentials or host/hostess gifts, especially if you're at Pearson, JFK or London/Heathrow, according to the latest State of Air Travel Poll from online travel leader FlightNetwork.com.

The poll sought to determine the world's best airports for Duty Free shopping while also determining the best deals to be found.

From maple candy and chocolate to Gucci watches and iPods - and, of course, alcohol - it seems Duty Free shopping is ideal for taking care of all of your holiday gift needs, no matter your taste or budget.

Respondents, 71.2% of whom say they shop duty-free once or twice a year, shared their all time best deals and finds at Duty Free, which included Veuve Cliquot Champagne, an emerald ring, two-for-one liquor, a bottle of Glenfiddich Scotch Whiskey (for US $12,) a leather jacket, Gucci and Mavado. "My vacation begins not at my destination but at the duty free shop," said one respondent.

Among Canadian airports, Toronto's Pearson International was deemed to have the best duty-free option, according to nearly half (47.1%) of respondents, with a respectable 26.8% choosing Vancouver International.

South of the border, New York's JFK airport was deemed to have the best Duty Free shopping by 29.8% of respondents, followed closely by LAX with 25.8%.

Outside of North America, London/Heathrow was the most popular, earning 26.2% of votes, while 16.3% preferred duty-free shopping at Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol placed third with 13.7%.

Canadians definitely like their liquor, with more than 3/4 of respondents (77.4%) saying they regularly shop for wine and spirits at Duty-Free. Other popular items include beauty products (30.2%), cigarettes (19.5%) and jewelry (17.5%).

About FlightNetwork.com (www.flightnetwork.com)

As one of Canada's leaders in online travel, FlightNetwork.com delivers the lowest airfares from the top airlines by offering consumers access to over 2 million bulk rates on cheap flights negotiated with major airlines. Its proprietary flight booking engine offers last second booking and the exclusive ability to 'mix and match' fares - the only Canadian online travel agency that allows booking on different airlines for departure and return flights to get the lowest fares possible. Backing up Flight Network's award winning online service are over 120 insightful travel specialists in the FlightNetwork.com call centre who ensure that customers successfully book the best travel deals.

FlightNetwork.com's Price Drop Protection plan is a unique, free program, exclusive to FlightNetwork.com customers on all economy flights and vacations. The Price Drop Deal is unlimited on domestic flights, up to $100 on USA and international flights. If you book a vacation package with FlightNetwork.com, Price Drop Protection allows you to track price drops after you buy and, when a price drop occurs, lock in the savings and receive a credit for the difference.

FlightNetwork.com CEO Naman Budhdeo was recently named to the 2010 top 40 under 40 awards, presented by The Globe and Mail and The Caldwell Partners. The awards recognize the leadership, vision and achievement of Canada's young leaders.