Why do airports make me anxious?

“In combination with the time constraints and travel pressure (from both everyone around you, and your travel companions), someone in an airport may have a lot of anxiety simply about navigating the space, getting to where they need to go, being in a crowded environment, and the journey of actually getting to your ...



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People may experience travel anxiety because of the unknown. For example, they may wonder what would happen if they ran out of money, got lost, or became ill. Having a plan in place for worst-case scenarios may help ease these fears.

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A huge part of feeling anxious at the airport is the lack of control. If you aren't a frequent flyer and don't know exactly where your favourite spots are and how to navigate the airport, it can feel stressful. Whilst it might not always feel like it, steps have been put in place already to reduce airport stress.

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Although it is normal to feel anxious when faced with unfamiliar situations such as traveling, an individual should speak with a doctor if they find that anxiety is restricting their life. Doctors may recommend lifestyle changes, planning, therapy, or medication to help ease symptoms.

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So many travelers struggle with this fear, so the best way to cope is to find a seat with plenty of space. The least crowded section of the plane is first or business class. But if upgraded flying isn't in your budget there are still options. Try sitting in an aisle seat in an exit row towards the front of the plane.

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One in three people said that the most stressful part of travelling was during the flight, with a further 35% saying they found landing the most stressful. Boarding, finding your seat on the plane and the flight itself all came at the bottom of the list, making them the least stressful moments whilst travelling.

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What bothers airline passengers the most? Manspreading, body odor, and even the sometimes beloved tradition of clapping when the plane lands made the list. According to Only Wanderlust, the common airline passenger annoyances in order are: The Kicker — Your seat being kicked.

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The key symptoms of travel phobia are excessive fear and avoidance of travel situations. These symptoms overlap with those of PTSD. In particular, persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma and fear and other negative emotions in response to trauma reminders are common PTSD symptoms.

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The sights and roads are unfamiliar, and it's easy to get turned around or lost. When you travel, this kind of experience is repeated and amplified. Whether it's a new city, state or country, the unfamiliar can trigger anxiety or a panic attack. One way to manage these experiences is to plan ahead as much as possible.

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People often come to us requesting the doctor or nurse to prescribe diazepam for fear of flying or assist with sleep during flights. Diazepam is a sedative, which means it makes you sleepy and more relaxed.

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Aerophobia is a fear of flying. It's very common, affecting more than 25 million adults in the U.S. Psychotherapy can usually help people overcome their fear and fly without extreme anxiety or panic attacks.

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What airline has the most crushes? American Airlines is at the top of the list, with 11 accidents, which caused 858 fatalities. Two of these accidents came directly from the 9/11 attacks in September 2001.

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Here's the ranking of US airlines from MOST complaints in May 2022 to LEAST complaints in May 2022:
  • American Airlines (575 complaints)
  • United Airlines (400 complaints)
  • Frontier Airlines (301 complaints)
  • Delta Air Lines (281 complaints)
  • Spirit Airlines (269 complaints)
  • JetBlue Airways (244 complaints)


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Theirs is existential anxiety—a generalized fear of something that sublimates into every thought they have about flying an airplane. After many years of helping aviators deal with similar afflictions, it became apparent that many pilots are experiencing anxiety “about” their anxiety.

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“The aircraft is designed to take the stress and strain of turbulence. For example, it's like designing a car with good enough suspension to drive over a rough surface road with potholes.” In short, pilots are not worried about turbulence - avoiding it is for convenience and comfort rather than safety.

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Even experienced pilots feel uncomfortable at times. It's completely normal for new pilots to get anxious in the aircraft.

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The best seat on the plane to avoid turbulence is either over the wings or towards the front of the aircraft. The wings of the plane keep it balanced and smooth, whereas the tail of the aircraft can bounce up and down more. The closer a passenger is to the front of the plane the less turbulence they would usually feel.

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Five Tips to Reduce Stress While Traveling
  1. Plan Your Journey. Try to find a comfortable routine. ...
  2. Enjoy Your Downtime. Airports are some of the most stressful places in the world. ...
  3. Give Yourself Extra Time Before and After the Flight. ...
  4. Don't Assume Something Will Go Wrong. ...
  5. Have Something to Look Forward to When You Get Home.


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How to Handle Travel Stress
  1. Before you check in for your flight, check in with yourself. ...
  2. Pinpoint what is it is about travel that makes you stressed. ...
  3. Make a packing list and check it twice. ...
  4. Download your games and books in advance. ...
  5. Keep yourself sustained by prepping food. ...
  6. Print out important documents before you leave.


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