The thing that worries 63 percent of passengers the most is getting to the airport, which means they start to feel the pressure even before they set foot in the terminal. In 57 percent of responses, three out of five people said they were worried about losing their passport or missing their flight, while 61 percent were afraid of losing their mobile phone charger. You may be surprised to hear, but only 41 percent are worried about losing a child. The most common problem is actually excess luggage, with 19 percent of travelers admitting to being caught in the past. Only one in ten says he actually missed a flight, with the phenomenon being more common among 16-24 year olds.
Big geniuses for little kids
“We called it among the workers ‘Natav’s stupidity,'” says Roi, who used to work at Ben-Gurion Airport. “The second the passengers pass the checkpoint with their vehicle, they become more confused, no matter how many times they have flown.” The phenomenon in which passengers lose The head when they arrive at the airport is well known to the staff, who observe in amazement the conduct of the passers-by when they enter the terminal.
“People have no idea where to go after the baggage claim counter as if they have any other options,” continues Roy. “There were cases where they didn’t even understand what to do when we asked them for a passport. In general, sometimes I feel that something like 60-70 percent of the Israelis who are on the take-off floor don’t know if the landing floor is above or below them.”
According to Roi, the only exception to this phenomenon is duty free: “The Israelis there are like grown-ups. But when it comes to bureaucracies and the formal stations, they are simply lost.” The phenomenon, it turns out, does not depend at all on the passenger’s level of intelligence: “Even the greatest geniuses who have flown a million times become not themselves, it is simply less noticeable.”
Many passengers who arrive at the airport do not fully understand the consequences of their actions, and this momentary disconnection they experience often leads to strange results. “One of the flights was completely full and yet there was a free seat,” says Roy. “We sent a flight attendant there and after some searching they realized that there was a passenger – a young girl – who was just sitting on her boyfriend’s lap in his seat. They were seated separately with no choice, and she decided that she would be with him anyway, even if it meant sharing a seat with him. I’m pretty sure She didn’t even understand why it was a problem.”
“My heart is beating really fast and I’m starting to sweat”
Two major factors that contribute to this feeling of confusion and fear are the stress and anxiety that airports can induce. Passengers experience significantly higher levels of stress and anxiety in airports, compared to other public spaces. “My fear is mainly about the tests. Both the security and the passport control,” shares Einat, 30 years old from Givatayim. “Even though I know I’m not guilty of anything and I haven’t done anything wrong, I always have the feeling that someone is going to plant something in my bag or something like that.”
Another factor that contributes to stress is the lack of control that passengers often feel in airports. We are subject to the whims of airlines, security checks and weather conditions. This feeling of helplessness can be frustrating and can lead to anger and confusion. “After checking in and arriving at duty free there is a certain sense of independence,” explains Dor, 27 years old from Tel Aviv. “It’s just me in front of the world, a bit like a child learning to walk. There is some tension: Did I even arrive on the right day for the flight? Maybe I was accidentally a few hours late? What if I forgot important documents? Who will I ask, who will believe me, who will know me?”.
It is also important to remember that many travelers arrive at the airport after a long night of little sleep. Lack of sleep can significantly impair our ability to regulate emotions and can make us more sensitive to stress and anger. Even mild sleep deprivation can lead to increased irritability, impulsivity and emotional reactivity. Add to that screens with rows and rows of flights and gates, crowds of people running around, a huge and noisy space and you’ve got an experience that can stress even the calmest.
“When I arrive at the airport, suddenly all my independence disappears,” shares Sharon, 24 years old from Rishon Lezion. “Until I ask the crew what I’m supposed to do, I won’t be calm. Where to go, what to do, who to talk to – I don’t know. Even if I’ve already flown dozens of times, and even when I know exactly what my responsibilities are. Suddenly I’m checking every possible gate Although I know very well which gate I need.”
After the attack on the Twin Towers in 2001, airports around the world experienced a change in security procedures to make flights safer. However, the security check process became one of the most traumatic experiences of the trip: the quick retrieval of the laptop from the bag, taking off shoes while there was a long line behind, trying to remember what material the jewelry is made of and maybe you forgot a bullet in the bag from the reserve. “I always have the feeling that something will come up and that the FBI or Interpol are looking for me,” says Einat. I know it doesn’t make sense, but my heart is beating really fast, I’m starting to sweat, and in general I have classic signs of anxiety. My partner already knows this because we have been traveling together for many years, and he always reassures me and he has learned to deal with it. It gets better over the years, and in any case, the anxiety decreases when I sit down on the plane.”