May 23rd 2024.
As summer approaches, many of us are eagerly planning our vacations. But let's be honest, the thought of navigating through an airport can be quite daunting. And if you're traveling to Europe, you may want to brace yourself for some extra stress, as four out of the five most stressful airports are located in the UK.
Heathrow airport, which saw a whopping 79,151,723 travelers in 2023, has been named the most stressful airport in Europe. This bustling hub in West London sees an average of 216,854 passengers per day. In fact, in April 2024 alone, there were 4,253,739 passengers booked to fly through Heathrow. These numbers are enough to make anyone anxious.
A recent study by Preply analyzed 25 of Europe's biggest airports to determine which ones caused the most stress for passengers. Factors such as Google review scores, lost luggage queries, punctuality, and foot traffic were taken into account. For Heathrow, the final overall stress score was 6.40 out of 10. While it received a decent Google review score of four out of five, the 34,700 searches for lost luggage and a punctuality rate of 65.74% contributed to its top ranking as the most stressful airport.
Unfortunately, the UK doesn't fare much better in terms of airport stress. The second most stressful airport in Europe is Manchester, with an overall stress score of 5.44 out of 10. While there were only 9,180 searches for lost luggage here, the airport's punctuality rate of 66.11% and an average Google review score of three out of five contribute to its high stress levels. In fact, 138 reviews specifically mentioned Manchester airport as a stressful experience.
And the hits just keep on coming for the UK, as the third most stressful airport in Europe is Gatwick. Despite a relatively high Google review score of 3.8, only 62.17% of flights leave on time. With an average daily foot traffic of 112,048, it's no surprise that Gatwick has an overall stress score of 5.40 out of 10.
In a refreshing change of pace, the fourth most stressful airport is actually located in France. Charles de Gaulle Airport, which was previously ranked as the most stressful airport in Europe, has dropped to fourth place with an overall stress score of 5.16 out of 10. With a daily foot traffic of 184,716, navigating through the crowds can be a stressful experience.
Rounding out the top five is another UK airport, London Stansted. This airport may have a high punctuality rate of 67.49%, but its distance from the city center (65.7km) and an overall stress score of 5.14 out of 10 make it one of the most stressful airports in Europe.
But it's not all bad news for UK airports. Liverpool John Lennon Airport has been named the best airport terminal in the UK, with an impressive overall score of 7.71 out of 10. This airport also received an 82% customer satisfaction score. This ranking was determined by analyzing factors such as queue times, efficiency of baggage reclaim, available seating, staff numbers, and prices of shops.
So, if you're flying from Liverpool John Lennon this summer, consider yourself lucky. As for the rest of us, let's just hope for a smooth and stress-free airport experience. And if you have a particularly stressful airport story to share, we'd love to hear it! Please email us at [insert email address].
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