Exchange pricing is built around convenience and urgency
Airport exchange desks operate in an environment where many customers need money immediately, may not know the local market, and have limited time to compare options.
That combination changes pricing power.
The rate is only part of the picture
Travelers often compare only the quoted exchange rate. But the real cost may also include a wide spread, service fees, minimum commissions, or poor buy-back terms.
Why this persists
Airport providers are not usually competing on precision. They are competing on immediacy.
For solo travelers, that means the useful question is not whether airport exchange is “bad,” but whether the premium being charged for speed and certainty is worth it in that moment.