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Is baggage collection the most stressful part of the airport experience?

Sep 26, 2019

1 MIN READ
Alex Butler

Writer

I’m a packing-cube enthusiast, always trying to cram one more thing into my backpack before I hit the road. My dream trip would start in an amazing city where I can soak up the culture, followed by some relaxation in nature. Some of my favourite destinations have been Sri Lanka and Croatia. I'm originally from Canada, but since joining Lonely Planet in 2016 I’ve called Dublin home - or at least my home-base between trips.

Lonely Planet may earn a commission from affiliate links on our site. All recommendations and reviews reflect our own independent opinions.

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Travelling with carry-on only is a simple way to save money as more and more airlines add additional fees to check a bag – but it also might be a good way to skip the most stressful part of the airport experience: baggage claim.

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A survey of 1720 people by Priority Pass found that 49% of people find baggage claim stressful, the highest-ranking of any airport activity. However, it was closely followed by passing through security and waiting for a transfer, which saw 47% of people say they are stressful.

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When it comes to the biggest worry people have about travelling through the airport, the top one happens before they even get there. About 63% of respondents fret about getting stuck in traffic on their way to the airport, followed by having their luggage lost at 61%. The other standard fears are worrying about misplacing your passport or missing boarding at 57%.

What to do when an airline loses your luggage?

But how based in reality are these fears? Well, about 6% of respondents say they have actually forgotten their passport. Perhaps surprisingly, it’s business travellers who are most likely to forget their passport, with 16% having left theirs behind. Another mistake travellers make is overpacking their bags, with 19% admitting they’ve been over the weight limit in the past. Maybe one more reason to pack a carry-on.

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