"Is the plane supposed to make that noise? Why does it seem like we’re banking so steeply? And, oh dear God, is this normal turbulence or do I need to start making my last phone calls?" These are the kind of questions that can plague an anxious flyer. And in case you’re curious where these anxiety-ridden passengers board their flights, a new study from travel guide LocalsInsider.com ranks America’s top 10 cities in terms of most anxious flyers.
To gather the data, 1,100 U.S. travelers were polled about the state of their nerves in 30 major metropolitan areas. As for the place where nails are bitten to the quick and foreheads are the most furrowed? It’s Miami. That may be chalked up to crowded terminals, language barriers in this international airport or just plain (plane? ha) stress.
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In second place of the list no one wants to be at the top of: Philadelphia, PA, where respondents have a tough time sleeping the night before a flight. Third place belongs to Nashville, TN, which sees increased airport usage as the city grows its tourism.
It goes without saying that news reports of plane accidents and near-misses are on most people’s minds. The study found that 57-percent of Americans say that these recent safety-related events make them feel more anxious.
Other general takeaways? Nearly 60-percent of Americans say they struggle to sleep the night before a flight, 75-percent feel some sort of nerves before a flight and “financial stress” hits when airfare climbs above $540. A whopping one in five people have canceled a trip because of their flying anxiety, and a full third only travel where they can drive rather than fly.
Tips to help curb fretting? The study encourages passengers to arrive at the airport early, pack the day before, take deep breaths, bring a good book or podcast to keep your mind distracted and avoid alcohol which can deepen your anxiety.
Here are the top 10 cities of anxious flyers:
1. Miami
2. Philadelphia
3. Nashville
4. San Antonio
5. Orlando
6. Charlotte
7. Las Vegas
8. New York
9. Detroit
10. Cincinnati