Nothing at the airport is cheap. Somehow grabbing your own bottled water and a bag of chips turns into a “premium dining experience.”
But when you’re facing delays, crying toddlers, and that guy in front of you who still doesn’t understand how TSA works, a comfort snack can save the day.
A new analysis looked at keyword search data around airports across the U.S. to figure out which snacks travelers crave the most when they’re stuck at Gate C12. The results might not surprise you… but they say a lot about how we cope with travel stress.
Here are America’s Top 10 Airport Snacks:
- Oreos – The undisputed king of emotional eating.
- Jack Link’s Beef Jerky – The snack for people who pretend they’re on a rugged road trip instead of a delayed connection in Dallas.
- Cheetos Puffs – Proof that cheese dust is the real MVP of travel.
- Cheetos Crunchy Flamin’ Hot – For the bold, the brave, and those who don’t mind orange fingers.
- Twizzlers – Great for sharing, or for smacking your seatmate when the Wi-Fi goes down.
- Sour Patch Kids – A sweet-and-sour distraction from gate changes.
- Dunkin’ Donuts – Because caffeine and carbs are the only things keeping us functioning at 6 a.m.
- Welch’s Fruit Snacks – For parents convincing themselves this counts as “healthy.”
- Doritos Cool Ranch – The scent of these alone can clear an entire boarding area.
- Haribo Gummy Bears – Timeless, chewy, and a solid way to keep the peace on a long flight.
And the least-loved airport snack? Chobani Vanilla Yogurt.
Sorry, health-conscious travelers… apparently no one wants to balance their laptop, boarding pass, and a spoon while sprinting to their gate. (Interestingly, it did rank highest in Massachusetts, where maybe travelers are just better at multitasking.)
So next time you’re running late and debating whether to splurge on snacks, remember: Oreos top the charts for a reason. Sometimes a little sugar therapy is just part of the ticket price.