Airport anxiety searches up 250% as travel expert warns bank holiday travellers: here's what to check before you fly

Searches for 'airport anxiety' have surged 250% in the past three months [2], and recent research from Go.Compare suggests the worry is well founded.  

Around two-fifths (41%) of Brits who changed their holiday plans this year did so by shifting their travel dates. Among key factors for these changes were worries over airport disruption and international crises. 

Rhys Jones, travel insurance expert at Go.Compare, said: "Travel anxiety is genuinely reshaping how Brits holiday in 2026. Gatwick alone expects 900 or more flights on its peak August days this summer. [3] And the most practical antidote to travel stress isn't avoiding disruption - it's knowing exactly what you're entitled to claim when it happens. A few minutes spent checking your policy before you leave could save you hundreds if things go wrong." 

One million more passengers flew through UK airports in Q1 2026 compared to the same period last year [4], putting more pressure on already stretched infrastructure.  

Gatwick is the UK's most stressful summer airport, with an average departure delay of over 31 minutes [5], and the likelihood of experiencing a flight delay on any given journey is as high as 37%. [6] 

Rhys has shared his top tips on how to reduce travel anxiety before you fly: 

1. Know your airport - and build in extra time

Not all airports carry the same disruption risk. With one million more passengers flying through UK airports this year than last, congestion is only increasing. Knowing your airport's track record before you travel changes how much buffer time to build in, and whether your travel insurance is adequate for the journey ahead. 

2. Check what your travel insurance covers before you leave - not after

Standard travel insurance typically pays out for reasonable expenses including food and drink after a two-hour delay, but most travellers only discover this after they've already spent money at the airport without keeping receipts. Documentation matters: without written confirmation of a delay from the airline and receipts for any expenses, a valid claim can be difficult to process. Check your policy before you go and keep your insurer's contact details saved on your phone. 

3. Check the FCDO advice for your destination

Checking Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice before departure is one of the most skipped pre-travel steps. Yet travelling against official FCDO advice voids travel insurance entirely, not just for issues related to the warning but for every aspect of the trip. With bank holiday destinations potentially affected by ongoing travel advisories, this is worth making a pre-departure habit 

4. Don't assume cancellation cover only applies if you cancel

Some travellers assume cancellation cover only kicks in if they cancel - not if the airline does. Travel insurance often covers additional costs when an airline significantly changes or cancels a flight, including overnight accommodation if a passenger is stranded. With 27% of Brits already having changed their plans this year due to disruption concerns, checking whether a policy includes airline cancellation cover is more important than ever. 

Rhys added: "Before you head to the airport this bank holiday, check whether your policy covers delays and what the threshold is, whether you'd be covered for overnight accommodation if your flight was cancelled, and whether the FCDO has issued any advice for your destination. If you haven't compared your travel insurance recently, now is the time to do it." 

Travellers can compare travel insurance policies at https://www.gocompare.com/travel-insurance/