After T1 security at ABZ, WHSmith is basically the shop
Once you clear security in Aberdeen T1, retail shrinks to WHSmith, a bar, and not much else, so this branch ends up doing all the last-minute jobs: drinks, snacks, paperbacks, and phone bits before short-haul flights. It sits airside in the main departures area, a few minutes’ walk from most gates, and it’s the place people hit when they realise they forgot a magazine or headphones.
Opening hours track the flight wave, with WHSmith typically open from the first departures around 04:30–05:00 until the evening schedules wind down after 20:00. Stock is the standard UK airport mix: bottled water, meal deals, crisps, sweets, plus newspapers and bestsellers. Expect airport pricing: Reddit threads call out higher prices than high-street WHSmith, especially on 500ml water and meal deals.
Reading-wise, you’ll find current top‑10 paperbacks, Sudoku and crossword books, and at least a couple of Scottish titles alongside the usual business and travel magazines. For tech, there are basic Lightning and USB‑C cables, travel adapters and powerbanks, usually from mid‑range brands, with prices sitting several pounds above what you’d pay online. Don’t rely on this branch for niche titles or specialist electronics.
Regulars flying through ABZ often bring an empty 500ml or 1L bottle through security and refill at the airside water fountains instead of paying WHSmith rates for drinks. Watch out for multi‑buy promos that still work out more than a supermarket single price. One practical play: grab any snacks or reading in town, then use this WHSmith only for true emergencies like a dead charging cable or a forgotten magazine.