Does flying make your heart race more than a packed highway at rush hour, or is it the other way around? For many Americans, travel anxiety shapes how they get from point A to point B.
To understand what's behind the stress, we surveyed 1,003 people who traveled in the past two years. We explored what triggers the most anxiety, how people cope, and how factors like gender, age, and past experiences play a role. The results reveal what's fueling fear in the air and on the road.
Key Takeaways
- Flying on commercial airlines (48%) causes the most anxiety for travelers.
- Spirit Airlines is ranked as the most anxiety-inducing among American travelers (44%).
- Both men and women both feel safest flying on Delta Air Lines.
- 35% of respondents wish they could fly more often, but anxiety holds them back.
- 36% of respondents say travel anxiety affects their career or personal life, and 1 in 10 has turned down a job opportunity because of it.
- 42% of travelers say a past bad experience (like a crash, turbulence, or highway accident) made them permanently more anxious.
Airline Anxiety: Who Travelers Trust and Who They Avoid
Airline anxiety can shape everything from carrier preferences to flight decisions. Here's how travelers feel about different airlines and what factors cause their fears.
Spirit Airlines was ranked the most anxiety-inducing airline, named by 44% of American travelers. Half of the respondents said they actively avoid premium carriers due to crash history, safety concerns, negative media coverage, or bad past experiences. Budget airlines were less likely to be avoided for these reasons.
Turbulence stood out as the leading cause of airline anxiety, cited by 58% of travelers. Safety history followed at 47%, and service reputation came in at 36%. Nearly half (48%) said crash-related media coverage influenced their airline choices.
Seven in 10 travelers said they feel significantly safer flying with premium carriers. Delta Air Lines ranked highest in perceived safety for both men and women. However, women were more likely than men to feel safer flying with Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, and Alaska Airlines.
Regional preferences were also apparent. Northeasterners favored JetBlue, while Westerners felt safest on Alaska Airlines.
Travel Anxiety on the Road and in the Air
Travel anxiety looks different depending on people's transportation methods. From flying fears to driving stress, travelers reveal what makes them the most uneasy and why.
Flying on commercial airlines caused the most anxiety, reported by 48% of travelers. More than a third (35%) said they wish they could fly more often but feel held back by anxiety. Driving ranked lower overall at 14%, though Gen Z respondents reported higher driving anxiety at 17%. Travelers felt slightly more stressed when driving themselves (14%) than when riding as a passenger (10%).
Safety concerns were the top trigger for travel anxiety, cited by 60% of respondents. A lack of control came next (52%). Only 21% said travel costs were a major source of stress. A past bad experience left a lasting impact on many travelers: 42% said a crash, turbulence, or highway accident made them permanently more anxious. But not everyone felt more stressed afterward. Nearly half (48%) said a difficult trip didn't increase their anxiety.
Age and gender also influence how people experience travel stress. Those aged 35 to 44 years were most anxious about flying, while those aged 25 to 34 found driving more stressful. Men reported slightly more anxiety about flying, while women were 12% more likely to feel anxious when driving. Travel anxiety affected 36% of respondents' careers or personal lives, and one in 10 said it even caused them to turn down a job opportunity.
Coping With Travel Anxiety
Travelers encounter a wide range of stressors that spark anxiety before they even reach their destination. From reckless driving to unexpected turbulence, here's what Americans say causes the most panic and how they try to stay calm.
Reckless drivers were the No. 1 trigger for travel anxiety while on the road (66%). Twice as many travelers said turbulence was more stressful than bumper-to-bumper traffic. Running out of gas in an unfamiliar area caused twice as much panic as missing a flight, while flight delays were 1.6 times more stressful than unexpected road detours.
Driving through an unfamiliar city made 47% of drivers feel the most anxious. Only 7% of travelers said missing a flight was more anxiety-inducing than losing baggage. Despite these worries, 52% said they wouldn't pay more for a flight just to reduce anxiety.
Many anxious travelers (84%) said they plan their trips in a way that helps avoid or accommodate their fears. The most common tactic? Building extra time into their itinerary. More than half (52%) also found it helpful to listen to music or podcasts to manage travel anxiety.
Final Thoughts on Travel Anxiety and Choice
Americans aren't just choosing between flying or driving for convenience — they're choosing the option that feels least stressful. Safety concerns, loss of control, and previous bad experiences all weigh heavily on how people approach travel. From avoiding certain airlines to planning around specific fears, anxiety plays a powerful role in shaping travel behavior.
While most travelers find ways to cope, many still feel held back by their fears. Understanding these patterns can help travelers, employers, and transportation providers create better, safer, and more reassuring experiences. Whether it's turbulence or traffic, the way forward starts with recognizing what really causes anxiety and finding ways to face it.
Methodology
For this study, we surveyed 1,003 Americans who have traveled in the last 2 years to understand their thoughts, perceptions, and anxieties when driving or flying.
About JW Surety Bonds
JW Surety Bonds is a leading provider of surety bond solutions for businesses and individuals across the U.S. In the travel industry, we help agencies stay compliant with key financial and legal requirements by offering bonds like Airline Reporting Corporation (ARC) bonds and travel agency bonds. These bonds protect consumers and ensure travel professionals operate with transparency and accountability. Our experienced team and easy online platform make it fast and simple to get the bonds you need, so you can focus on moving your business and your clients forward with confidence.
Fair Use Statement
These insights may be used for noncommercial purposes, provided you link to the source.
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