High anxiety
A recent survey conducted by UK airport parking operator Airport Parking & Hotels (APH) delves into the travel anxieties of British adults.
A recent survey conducted by UK airport parking operator Airport Parking & Hotels (APH) delves into the travel anxieties of British adults.
The survey, which took in responses from 1,800 people, discovered the leading drivers of anxiety for UK travellers in the 24 hours prior to flying, be that for a leisure trip or a business venture. The top cause of anxiety was forgetting essential travel documents such as passports, with 31 per cent of survey participants citing this, while the second was traffic en route to the airport, with 26 per cent of travellers saying that this had caused them some worry while planning a trip.
Contrary, perhaps, to received wisdom, forgetting to turn off electrical appliances was not a particularly popular worry, as only 10 per cent of respondents said that this caused some anxiety before flying. However, airline baggage policies were cited as a major worry, with 23 per cent saying they were concerned their luggage might be heavier than official limits, and 21 per cent having jitters over inadvertently packing in contravention of hand luggage restrictions.
“Even the most seasoned traveller can experience travel anxiety before arriving at the airport,” said Nick Caunter, managing director at APH. “However, there are many ways to help ease departure day stress, such as planning ahead and putting together a packing list, to ensure nothing is forgotten. Staying at an airport hotel can help get the holiday off to a stress-free start, as arriving at the airport the night before also avoids worrying situations such as delays on public transport and taxis not turning up.”