November 3rd 2024.
Traveling can be a stressful experience, especially when it involves airports. The process of getting through security and waiting in line to board a plane is rarely peaceful. And to make matters worse, it turns out that four of the most stressful airports in Europe are located in the UK.
Back in April, Heathrow airport was named the third most stressful airport in Europe. But in a more recent study, it was revealed that it has climbed the rankings to take the number one spot. This West London hub is expected to see a record-breaking 83.8 million passengers in 2024, which means an average of 230,000 people per day. The number of landings and take-offs has also increased, with an average of 1,302 per day in the first nine months of the year. And in August, the airport experienced its busiest month ever, with almost 8 million people passing through its terminals. However, as they say, busier is not always better, especially when it comes to customer experience.
Heathrow was named as the most stressful airport in Europe according to a study by Preply. This study analyzed 25 of the biggest airports in Europe and took into account factors such as Google review scores, the volume of lost luggage queries, punctuality, and daily foot traffic. After evaluating all of these factors, Heathrow received an overall stress score of 6.4 out of 10. While it did score points for its decent Google review average of 4/5, it also had 34,700 searches for lost luggage in just one year. And with an estimated 65.74% of its flights leaving on time, it's no surprise that London's busiest airport earned its title as the "most stressful."
Unfortunately, the UK's troubles don't end there. Coming in at second place on the list is Manchester Airport, with an average stress score of 5.44 out of 10. However, if you're worried about your luggage, there were only 9,180 searches for lost luggage here. And 66.11% of its flights left on time. But its average Google review score was a middling 3/5, with 138 reviews specifically mentioning the airport as a stressful experience.
The top five most stressful airports in Europe, from the most to the least, include Manchester, Gatwick, Charles de Gaulle in Paris, London Stansted, and Liverpool John Lennon. Manchester's Terminal 3 was also ranked as the worst airport terminal in the UK, with a painful customer satisfaction score of just 38% and low ratings across the board for queuing time. However, its passport control queues did score slightly better. But the lack of seating and expensive shops were also sticking points, earning the terminal an overall score of 0/10. On the other hand, its Escape Lounge T3 received a solid score of 4.5/5 across 3,000 reviews on Google. This lounge offers a peaceful escape from the chaos of the airport for up to three hours.
In a break from the UK's dominance, the fourth most stressful airport in Europe was revealed to be Charles de Gaulle in Paris, with a total stress score of 5.16/10. But the top five list ends with London Stansted, which scored 5.14/10 when it comes to stress levels. This airport was actually ranked as one of the best for punctuality, with 67.49% of its flights leaving on time. And its average Google review score of 4.4/5 is also commendable. However, the distance to the city center (65.7km) may be a downside for those thinking they're flying into a London airport.
But there is good news for travelers flying from Liverpool John Lennon airport. It was named as the best airport terminal in the UK in a study by Bounce, a luggage storage company. This study used data from Which? on queues at the check-in desk, bag drop, security, and passport control. It also analyzed the efficiency of baggage reclaim, available seating, number of staff, the range of shops and their prices, and the number of toilets. All of these factors were given a score out of 5, which were then tallied up to an overall score out of 10. And lastly, a customer satisfaction score was given for each terminal. With an overall score of 7.71/10 and an 82% customer satisfaction score, Liverpool John Lennon airport took the crown.
In conclusion, while airports may be a necessary part of travel, some definitely cause more stress than others. And as travelers, it's important to be aware of these rankings and plan accordingly. After all, the goal is to have a stress-free journey to your destination. This article was first published on May 23, 2024. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing us at [insert email here].
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