Explain to me like I’m five: why do airports have restaurants outside of the security checkpoint? I.e., a Burger King right when you enter the airport but before you go through security. I would be too stressed about facing a long security line post-meal!
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They generally don’t have restaurants before security. The vast majority of restaurants are after security so passengers can eat while waiting for their flight, or between flights during a longer layover.
Thinking back on the last several airports I’ve been to, I can’t recall any that had food outside security, but every one of them had at least a small food place inside the security zone.
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While most restaurant shops, bars, etc will be after security for people waiting for a flight or on a layover, Larger Airports will have a few restaurants outside of security primarily for those waiting to pick up passengers or those waiting at the airport for an extended period.
Sometimes a person will arrive at the airport to pick up not knowing a flight was delayed, and it makes sense to sit at the bar or grab a meal while waiting rather than leaving and coming back (depending on the parking fees)
On longer trips people will often have to leave the security zone (domestic) to get re-checked for the international part of the trip and can eat at the non-secure restaurant in between. Although generally people tend to go straight through security these days to avoid delays.
It’s also handy for people wanting to meet up with a local friend during a longer lay over. But again, most people prefer to not have to go through security again for no reason.
At my local airport there’s one restaurant outside of security that’s rarely busy, and a local donut shop chain that slings snacks and large amounts of coffee to those waiting to pick up a passenger.
But the same airport has a bar, a lounge, several restaurants, plus a duty free and convenience store on the other side of security. Some in the domestic zone, and some in the international
Other answers already mention that people who don’t travel sometimes want to eat, too.
But also: The restaurant *before* security on your way *in* is also the restaurant *after* baggage pick-up (and immigration and all other shenanigans) on your way *out*.
As a frequent flyer there have been many situations when I arrived hungry late at night and stopped for takeout before leaving the airport.
I’ve been in several situations where I made it to the airport with someone I’m dropping off or I’m there to pick someone up, but there’s still an hour or more till the actual time. I’d very much rather sit inside at a relatively comfortable place with food than in the car waiting. Especially if I’m dropping someone off, having some food with them before they leave, but without actually worrying about catching the plane (because the bags are already checked in and all) is great.
I presume I’m not the only one in this situation, hence the restaurants.
First off, don’t forget most airports were designed before the current TSA headaches, when security was much quicker. And some people want to eat before waiting in lines, want to eat with somebody dropping them off or picking them up, maybe meeting somebody at airport during a layover, etc.
I just wanted to supplement the other answers with some history that most airports were built before the TSA and crazy security theater existed. Airports were designed to be like shopping malls, and to take advantage of their captive audience and duty free status. Restaurants played a large part of that, and spaces with kitchens and utility hookups were designed in.
To your point about being stressed about getting through security, they didn’t tend to have crazy long lines (and shouldn’t, otherwise they make an even more vulnerable target than an airplane, outside the security cordon to boot). During peak travel times there were lines and slowdowns, but not quite as bad as these days.
Another consequence of the security cordon is that all personnel, food and equipment have to be screened, so managing a restaurant inside security is quite a bit harder. You may have noticed that frequently there are reduced menus from what you’d expect, and very, very few non-microwaved food options.
It is as simple as the fact that people will often be spending time landside before going through security, and will be often want access to facilities like restaurants.
In general they won’t be as critical for most travellers – you arrive at the airport at the correct time, check in and make your way through security, and only then once you have gotten that time consuming party of the system it of the way relax and look for food and so on.
But not everyone will operate like this. When travellers arrive early (especially those travelling a long distance to the airport and wanting to avoid the risk of being late) the check in may not actually be open yet for their flight, so they will have time to kill land side, or people will choose to wait pre-security so that they can stay with the people dropping them off for a while longer. It also means there are facilities available for people waiting to collect passengers coming off planes and who are having to wait around.
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