Dear Chanel, why did you stop stocking iconic bags at Heathrow? You heartbreaker! The most favorite store for every Chanel shopper is the Chanel boutique in London Heathrow airport at Terminal 3. More about this later on.Located in the United Kingdom, near London, the Heathrow Airport is one of the most popular destinations to shop for designer handbags. Why? Because our favorite brands are located at the tax-free area. So why not shop Chanel, Hermes, Dior, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada at Heathrow airport.
Europe is already famous for shopping high fashion goods, because they’re cheaper than most of the countries due to the VAT refund policy. However, if you apply for VAT refund, you need to pay a fee to the company that helps you process the application. But if you buy directly at Heathrow airport, the VAT will not be included in the price and thus you don’t need to apply for tax-refund at all.
Price comparison Heathrow airport vs boutiques
To clarify what we mean by VAT free is better than a refund, we made a calculation between buying at Heathrow airport and at the boutiques.We took the current retail price of the Chanel Jumbo Classic Flap Bag, which is £4450 GBP (price as per June 2017). Then we create a calculation of Heathrow tax-free price and the price at the boutiques in the UK.Price Heathrow airport
Retail Price
£4450 GBP
Airport Tax-free Prices
£3708 GBP
Price UK boutiques with VAT-refund
Retail Price
£4450 GBP
VAT Refund
-£623 GBP
Retail Price – VAT Refund
£3827 GBP
So the bag costs £3708 GBP at Heathrow and £3827 GBP after you get the VAT refund.“Buying at Heathrow airport is less expensive”We took the Chanel bag as an example, but this is also an example for other designer brands like Louis Vuitton, Chloe, Hermes and so on. And it doesn’t matter what goods you buy, the prices at Heathrow airport for a brand-new items are cheaper than at the retail stores.
You can only buy VAT free if you leave the EU
Here’s the bad news, not everyone gets to buy VAT free at Heathrow airport. You get the VAT free prices only when you’re about to leave Europe to another country. So Heathrow must be your final destination.But how can they know?The SA will ask for your flight ticket when you are the cashier. If you’re qualified, they will offer you the goods without VAT and you can enjoy more discount.But if you’re not flying outside Europe, then the SA will give the same price as at the boutiques in London. So the prices will be with VAT. And of course, you can apply for VAT refund later on.
Airports have limited stock
Buying at airport is a great experience, but there is short supply of space and a lot of shops. The location is not cheap as well, so the stores can only carry limited stock. Usually, you will find a lot of small accessories like wallets, but the bags can be limited.Since 2013, Chanel has announced that they will stop selling iconic handbags at Heathrow. There are six types of iconic’s, which include the Chanel Classic Flap Bag, Chanel Reissue 2.55 Bag, and Chanel Classic Quilted Boy Bag. The WOCs, Mini Classic Bags as well as the Mini Reissue 2.55 Bags have all been spotted.
Shopping at Terminal 3
As you can see, there is lot of terminals. But if you’re looking for the crème de la crème, go to terminal 3 (T3). That’s where the boutiques are where you can find lot handbags.At terminal 3, make sure you get to level 1, the departure lounge. This entire section is Duty Free and there are numerous of boutiques, from Chanel, Gucci, Hermes, Louis Vuitton to Burberry and Mulberry.
T5 is the next stop to go if you have the time. It has boutiques like Chanel, Chloe, Hermes, Saint Laurent and Louis Vuitton. These stores are located at level 2. If you want to go to Harrods, go to level 3 (after check-in).
Subtract the prices by 16 percent and then you get the prices without VAT
Hi, thank you for the website, very helpful, I follow everyday!
I am going to land at London airport on terminal 2 from Sweden and go back to USA, can I go to terminal three? Since I have plenty of time in the airport. Have you ever heard about this? Is it possible?
Hi Becky, are you looking for a Chanel bag at terminal 3? Even if you cannot go there, you can call the Chanel boutique and they will deliver the bag to you. It happened one time with one of our community members.
Hi, Alex:
Thank you for the feedback. I did it! I want to share with you and your readers how easy to do it, well not that easy but you can do it.
After check in from the terminal two security and walk to the center shopping area in terminal two, find the people who wears purple suits, they are from shop and collect, tell them you need to go shopping at any stores in other terminal, they will take you there. Service is free, but you do have to but at least of 250 pounds of goods from any store. However if you want to buy Chanel, then you have no problem.
You do need to have about 2 hours in between flights to do so. As you need to check in then check out, take airport bus to the terminal three and get into security in terminal three, then shop then leave, take bus back to terminal 2 and security again.
Worth all the efforts? I do not know, as the SA told me for Chanel, you can call to reserve 24 hours ahead of time, but they do not deliver to your terminal.
I got a dark blue medium boy flat with silver chain at airport price, about USD 3561, A saving of 1100 I believe. I can send you the picture. I also got a wallet, the color and leather are special, I do not have idea which style, SA told me is a come back style, it is 50 pound more than regular wallet. I paid 787 usd. Also can send you the picture for it.
Update on policy of how many you can buy, you can buy as much as you want! But not same style, like you can only one boy bag, one shopping tote and one baby 2.55.
All on all it is always fun to shop in Chanel, any place any country!
Hope it helps,
Becky
Becky!!! Congrats!! And thanks for your extended review. Omg, you got the 2.55 reissue and the boy bag on Heathrow airport? Thats a great news to share, because a year ago, Chanel announced not to sell iconics there.
Thnqqq =D
I am leaving to London in 2 days! I want to buy a Chanel bag! Can I buy upon arrival or only departing?
You should be able to move to the terminal where Chanel is located, but you to show your ticket and passport. Remember that Chanel do not sell the iconic’s there, which bag are you looking for? P.s. its good to call the boutique in prior, so you know their stock.
Hi anyone knw price for chanel boy large size at heatrow airport
Please check the prices here: http://www.bragmybag.com/chanel-bags-prices/
Subtract the prices by 16 percent and then you get the prices without VAT
Hi, thank you for the website, very helpful, I follow everyday!
I am going to land at London airport on terminal 2 from Sweden and go back to USA, can I go to terminal three? Since I have plenty of time in the airport. Have you ever heard about this? Is it possible?
Thanks a lot!
Hi Becky, are you looking for a Chanel bag at terminal 3? Even if you cannot go there, you can call the Chanel boutique and they will deliver the bag to you. It happened one time with one of our community members.
Hi, Alex:
Thank you for the feedback. I did it! I want to share with you and your readers how easy to do it, well not that easy but you can do it.
After check in from the terminal two security and walk to the center shopping area in terminal two, find the people who wears purple suits, they are from shop and collect, tell them you need to go shopping at any stores in other terminal, they will take you there. Service is free, but you do have to but at least of 250 pounds of goods from any store. However if you want to buy Chanel, then you have no problem.
You do need to have about 2 hours in between flights to do so. As you need to check in then check out, take airport bus to the terminal three and get into security in terminal three, then shop then leave, take bus back to terminal 2 and security again.
Worth all the efforts? I do not know, as the SA told me for Chanel, you can call to reserve 24 hours ahead of time, but they do not deliver to your terminal.
I got a dark blue medium boy flat with silver chain at airport price, about USD 3561, A saving of 1100 I believe. I can send you the picture. I also got a wallet, the color and leather are special, I do not have idea which style, SA told me is a come back style, it is 50 pound more than regular wallet. I paid 787 usd. Also can send you the picture for it.
Update on policy of how many you can buy, you can buy as much as you want! But not same style, like you can only one boy bag, one shopping tote and one baby 2.55.
All on all it is always fun to shop in Chanel, any place any country!
Hope it helps,
Becky
Becky!!! Congrats!! And thanks for your extended review. Omg, you got the 2.55 reissue and the boy bag on Heathrow airport? Thats a great news to share, because a year ago, Chanel announced not to sell iconics there.
Thnqqq =D
I am leaving to London in 2 days! I want to buy a Chanel bag! Can I buy upon arrival or only departing?
You should be able to move to the terminal where Chanel is located, but you to show your ticket and passport. Remember that Chanel do not sell the iconic’s there, which bag are you looking for? P.s. its good to call the boutique in prior, so you know their stock.