- 1 in 3 (30%) fearful flyers opt for UK staycations instead of travelling abroad
- 7 in 10 (70%) haven’t tried any methods to combat their fear, despite being aware that help is available
- Top factors contributing to travel anxiety are take off and landing, anticipating turbulence and feeling out of control
- Travel insurance expert at Confused.com, Tom Vaughan, shares tips around managing nerves ahead of holidays
Booking a holiday should be exciting; a chance to escape busy work life and explore new destinations. However, for nervous flyers, anticipation can turn to dread, with nearly three quarters (74%) reporting they’ve found it difficult to look forward to and enjoy their holidays. Travel insurance experts at Confused.com recently surveyed 2,000 nervous flyers to understand how their travel behaviour is impacted and uncover the most common coping strategies.
Fearful flyers plan holidays closer to home
The study revealed that for 71% of nervous flyers, their fear impacts their travel behaviour, with many basing their holidays around avoiding flights. 1 in 3 (30%) respondents have opted for a UK staycation instead of a holiday abroad, while over a quarter (27%) only visit destinations that are a short flight away. Almost a quarter (24%) shared that they’ve taken a different mode of transport instead of flying (e.g. car, boat, eurostar), even though this usually increases journey time. Additionally, 1 in 10 (10%) reported they don’t plan to travel abroad again because of their fear.
Flying confidence support available isn’t being utilised
Despite nearly three quarters (72%) of nervous flyers being aware of available support - such as therapy, counselling, hypnotherapy and flying confident courses - over two thirds (70%) have never tried any methods to address their fear.
Instead, they turn to in-flight coping mechanisms to distract themselves. The most common activity is listening to music, which 1 in 3 (31%) said has successfully helped them feel calmer.
| In-flight activity | Nervous flyers who’ve tried it |
|---|---|
|
Listening to music
|
49%
|
|
Watching TV shows / movies
|
42%
|
|
Reading a book or magazine
|
39%
|
|
Sleeping
|
39%
|
|
Talking to a travel companion
|
33%
|
Take off and landing are the biggest challenges
In terms of what contributes to flying fear, taking off and landing top the list, with over half (55%) of respondents identifying them as a concern. Anticipating turbulence, feeling out of control and news about crashes closely follow, each mentioned by nearly half (49%). A fear of heights is another common factor, reported by two fifths (40%) of nervous flyers.
Confused.com travel insurance expert, Tom Vaughan, shares tips for nervous flyers:
“If you choose to travel by plane, there are a few steps you can take to increase your comfort in the lead up to the trip:
- Plan your journey in advance: You should check what travel documents are required soon after booking the trip and acquire them or ensure they’re valid e.g. passport, travel authorisation and visas. Plan the travel day itself including how you will get to the airport, allowing plenty of leeway to avoid rushing and allow for unexpected disruptions. It’s also worth checking you have adequate baggage allowance so you’re not caught off guard, as well as booking your aircraft seat in advance, so you can be next to your travel companion(s).
- Make sure you’re covered by travel insurance: Having insurance in place can give you peace of mind that you’ll be financially covered if anything unexpected happens while away, like falling ill or having belongings stolen. If your travel anxiety is severe and you’ve had a consultation with your doctor, received treatment or been prescribed medication for it, you must inform your insurer. This way, they can give you the right level of cover and your policy won’t be invalidated.
- Consider seeking support: If you’re struggling with flying nerves, there is support available. This ranges from appointments with mental health professionals, to airline run or online / app-based flying confidence courses. There are even YouTube and TikTok videos on the subject. Speaking up to your travel companions or informing aircraft staff can also be a good idea so they are aware of how you’re feeling and can try to provide comfort.”
- ENDS -
For more information please contact:
Rianna Monteagudo at rianna.monteagudo@rvu.co.uk
If you use any of the information within this release, we kindly ask that you provide a link to Confused.com travel insurance as the source.
Methodology:
A survey of 2,000 UK adults who are nervous / scared of flying was conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Confused.com between 22nd to 30th January 2026.
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