More than a third of Britons who have flown now claim the airport experience is more stressful than the working week.

1. Results of our Airport Survey Revealed
Four million Britons give
up flying due to airport stress
More than a third of Britons
who have flown now claim the
airport experience is more
stressful than the working
week. Find out more…

2. Results of our Airport Survey Revealed
Our research revealed:
• 42% of people say airports make them feel stressed
• 23% find the prospect of getting on to their flight as stress inducing if not
more stressful than moving house.
• Because of this, one in ten of us are now avoiding flying altogether as a
result.
•The most nerve-wracking parts of the airport experience include:
• flight delays
• mislaying belongings
• getting to the gate on time

3. Results of our Airport Survey Revealed
CPP’s tips for avoiding airport stress:
1. Choose your airport carefully
Bigger airports tend to be busier which can mean higher stress levels.
Consider flying to a smaller, local airport to reduce transfer times and hassle.
2. Do as much as you can online beforehand
If possible check in online before you travel to reduce the amount of time
spent queuing when you arrive. If you do choose this option, remember to
print off your boarding pass.
3. Minimise parking time
Airport car-parks are huge, so consider dropping off all your passengers at
check in and having one person park the car to avoid unnecessary stress.

4. Results of our Airport Survey Revealed
4. Check in minimal luggage
With airlines increasingly charging for checked-in luggage, you can avoid queues
and save cash by taking carry-on luggage, especially for short breaks.
5. Opt for fast-track security
Some airports allow passengers to pay for the opportunity to fast-track
through the security gates; speeding up the airport process.
6. Take advantage of airport lounges
Airport lounges are a great way to relax and get that holiday feeling before
boarding the plane – you’ll be guaranteed a seat and get complimentary snacks.
CPP’s Airport Angel AirText service will even text you when your flight is
boarding to ensure you get there on time.
7. Have a boarding strategy
If you have pre-booked seats it may be worth boarding last, meaning you can
spend longer in the lounge and less time queuing at the gate. If you haven’t got
pre-booked seats, think about getting priority boarding or leaving a little more
time at gate to get to the front of the queue.

5. Results of our Airport Survey Revealed
But it’s no wonder that Britons are so worried about making it to the gate
on time…
• Over 2.9 million travellers have missed a flight in the past
• 20% have had to run to the gate with minutes to spare.
Studies have shown that the airport experience is having significant
physiological effects on a traveller’s anxiety levels – one previous
experiment using Heathrow airport saw holidaymakers’ heart-rates rise
to a level equivalent to doing intense exercise.
This was echoed by our research, which revealed that holidaymakers who
had visited more than one airport cited Heathrow as the most stressful,
followed by Gatwick and Manchester.

6. Results of our Airport Survey Revealed
Airports are inherently stressful places, according to Psychologist David
Moxon, who says that a number of factors combine to make airports
uniquely challenging to the human psyche. Moxon comments,
“Humans are wired to experience stress in situations where many feel
out of control – and airports, where you have to follow instructions that
are likely change at the last minute, and procedures that are
unpredictable, lead many to react with a stress response.
There is also what is known as an accumulation effect, resulting from
other anxieties that we may be harbouring. If you head to the airport
having worried about waking up on time, or what you’ve left behind at
work, the airport itself will seem more stressful as a result.”

7. Results of our Airport Survey Revealed
It’s not all bad news however…
Holidaymakers have come up with some ways that the airport could be
made a more pleasant experience – popular improvements include less
queuing, and cheaper and nicer food and more seats.
• 40% of travellers say a quiet environment or access to a lounge (35%)
would help to reduce their stress levels
• 42% would like to be treated as a first class passenger!
Visit our website for more information on airport lounge access.

8. Results of our Airport Survey Revealed
Research Methodology
ICM interviewed a random sample of 2005 adults aged 18+ online between 6-8 May 2011. Surveys were
conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults. ICM is a
member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Further information at
www.icmresearch.co.uk
1. According to research conducted for CPP by ICM, 9% agreed with the statement “I don't fly because I
dislike the airport experience”. The total adult (18+) population in Great Britain that has been through an
airport is 43,678,000. 9% of these equates to 3,979,000 people or close to four million.
2. According to the ICM research, 8% of Brits who have been through an airport find being in an airport more
stressful than moving house and 15% find it at least as stressful as moving house. Therefore a total of
23% find the airport as stressful if not more stressful than moving house.
3. According to the ICM research, 7% of Brits who have been through an airport have missed a flight in the
past, this equates to 2.9 million people
4. According to a study conducted by Chartered Psychologist Dr David Lewis in 2007. Four passengers
travelling through Heathrow had chest monitors fitted to record increases in heart rate, pressure pads
attached to their arms to monitor changes in blood pressure and sensors were attached to their finger-tips
to measure changes in physiological stress. Dr Lewis’ experiment showed passenger heart rates peaked
at four times their resting levels and physiological stress levels exceeded those recorded amongst Formula
1 racing drivers or free-fall parachutists.
5. According to data sourced from flightontime.info and collated by the Civil Aviation Authority, available at
http://www.flightontime.info/summer2010/index.html charter flights were delayed by an average of 29
minutes in summer 2010.