The Best Airlines for Nervous Flyers
Ever wished your flight could be as relaxing as a day at the beach? Navigating busy airports with bulky luggage and squeezing into airplane seats aren't always the most enjoyable activities. Add in things like turbulence or noisy seat neighbors, and it's enough to make anyone a little uneasy.
But what if choosing the right airline could make all the difference? The travel experts at Bounce.com have uncovered which airlines are your safest bet for a smooth, stress-free journey.
Whether you're heading to sunny Santorini or a weekend getaway in Palm Springs, we’ve found the best airlines for nervous flyers.
What makes people uncomfortable on flights?
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To determine which aspects of flying impact people most on their flights, we surveyed over 2,000 travelers, asking what flying factors made them the most uncomfortable.
According to our survey, over half of travellers (51.6% and 51.5%, respectively) say screaming children and turbulence make their flying experience uncomfortable. This is over double the number of people who find busy airplane toilets unsettling.
Interestingly, randomly allocated seating puts almost three in 10 (28.1%) people on edge. Women are more likely to feel uncomfortable about it, with over 31%, compared to less than a quarter of men (23.4%).
While serving too much alcohol only bothers just under one in five (20%) of people, concerns about excessive alcohol service more than double with age. Nearly one in six (14.5%) 18–24-year-olds said it makes them uneasy compared to almost a third (34.8%) of those aged 65+.
The best airlines for nervous passengers
From the survey data, we have revealed the features that unnerve passengers (at least, the ones airlines can control).
So, we’ve compared major airlines across several factors, including a review score to check how their cabin crew is doing, seat statistics, and available support.
1. Singapore Airlines | stress-free score of 8.94
Singapore Airlines — based in Singapore Changi Airport — takes the top spot, and it’s easy to see why. With perfect review and safety ratings, alongside an overall stress-free score of 8.94 out of 10, this airline excels in passenger experience. One standout feature is its economy class seat width of 18.5 inches — the widest among the top 10 — which means more room to relax on long-haul flights.
While Singapore Airlines doesn’t offer a dedicated nervous flyer support program, it provides in-flight meditation playlists to help passengers relax. Offerings include curated Spotify playlists of nature sounds and instrumental albums that promise soothing rhythms.
2. Korean Air | stress-free score of 8.82
Coming in second with a stress-free score of 8.82 out of 10, Korean Air is another strong contender for nervous flyers. The airline provides one of the most generous economy seat pitches at 32.5 inches, meaning more legroom than competitors like Cathay Pacific (32.0 inches) and Japan Airlines (31.7 inches).
While its seat width of 17.8 inches is slightly narrower than Singapore Airlines, it still offers ample space for a comfortable journey, whether flying from Seoul Incheon Airport to Los Angeles, Paris, or Bangkok.
Korean Air also matches Singapore Airlines with a perfect 7/7 safety score and a 5/5 airline review rating, showing that passengers consistently feel safe and well cared for.
3. Cathay Pacific | stress-free score of 8.57
Finishing the top three is Cathay Pacific, based at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), with a strong stress-free score of 8.57 out of 10.
Like the top two, this airline doesn’t have a dedicated nervous flyer program, but it offers relaxation playlists onboard to help ease anxiety. However, it is the only airline in the top three to have an official partnership with Headspace, which allows it to provide meditation support while in the sky.
Its average seat pitch (32 inches) is shy of Korean Air’s, but its seat width (17.9 inches) is slightly better, meaning you have a good chance of having a comfortable economy experience.
How airlines can make people feel more comfortable
So, we know what factors make people uncomfortable on flights and which airlines do the best at removing these. But which features make people feel most at ease in the air?
Most passengers aren’t bothered about physical amenities like noise-canceling headphones or pillows and blankets, so these features are near the bottom of the list.
In fact, comfort items lose appeal with age. Features like pillows, blankets, and noise-canceling headphones show a steep decline in importance among older flyers, with scores as low as 4.8 and 5.3, respectively, for the 65+ group.
Instead, friendly cabin crew rank highest among passenger comfort preferences, with an 8.2 average rating. Seat selection follows closely at 7.8, showing that control over where you can sit is nearly as important as service quality.
Wi-Fi availability and in-seat power are most valued by younger age groups, scoring 7.0 to 7.3 for those under 35 but dropping to 5.9 to 6.0 for passengers aged 65 and over.
How many people know about the programs available?
For many, nerves before flying go beyond the anticipation of discomfort on the flight. A fear of flying can mean that some people completely avoid planes, no matter the destination.
However, there are support programs out there that promise to help with this fear. These include the Fearless Flyer program from easyJet, which promises a 95% success rate, and Flying Without Fear from Virgin Atlantic.
These programs aren’t always widely advertised, so how many people know about them and have used them?
Almost one in five (17.7%) nervous flyers don’t know about pre-flight support, while one in six (16.5%) haven’t completed a program yet. Of those who do know about the support available, women are more likely to seek it out than men (19.8% versus 15.0%).
Older generations rarely use these support programs. Under one in 50 (1.6%) people aged 65+ who are nervous flyers have used airline support programs, while almost one in six (15.1%) people aged 35–44 have.
This could be down to the fact that most older adults aren't as nervous when flying. Over two-thirds (68.9%) of people older than 65 say they aren't nervous on planes.
Nearly half of the respondents (48.3%) say they’re not nervous flyers and haven’t used this support, but almost one in 10 (9.5%) know someone who has completed the program.
Cody Candee, CEO and Founder of Bounce, on how to calm your nerves on flights:
“Flying can be nerve-wracking, but the right strategies can help make the journey more relaxing. A little preparation goes a long way in easing anxiety.
“Plan ahead for peace of mind. Knowing what to expect can reduce stress. Choose an airline known for smooth flights and good customer service. Arrive early to avoid last-minute rushes, and pick a seat that makes you feel most at ease — some people prefer window seats, while others like aisle seats for easy movement.
“Use relaxation techniques. Deep breathing exercises, guided meditations, or calming music or podcasts can help distract you. Many airlines, like Singapore and Qatar Airways, offer in-flight meditation playlists.
“Stay occupied. Keeping your mind engaged is key. Load your tablet with movies, books, or puzzles to distract yourself. If turbulence makes you anxious, remember that planes are designed to handle it safely. Think of it as bumps in the road rather than a sign of danger.
“Talk to the crew if needed. Flight attendants are trained to help anxious flyers. Let them know if you’re feeling nervous, and they can offer reassurance and help make your experience smoother.
“With the right mindset and simple tricks, you can turn flying from a stressful experience into a manageable, and maybe even enjoyable, one.”
Methodology
We used SeatGuru to find the average seat pitch and width of economy seats across all aircraft types.
Where there was a range on some aircraft, the lowest figure was taken.
We then collected the average airline review score from Skytrax and the safety score from Airline Ratings.
We manually researched which airlines offered support programs for nervous flyers and in-flight meditation apps/playlists.
To complement these findings, we surveyed over 2,000 UK residents, asking the following questions:
1. Are you a nervous flyer? If so, have you ever used an airline's pre-flight support program designed to support nervous flyers?
- Yes, I'm a nervous flyer, and I've used this support
- Yes, I'm a nervous flyer, and I haven't used this support
- Yes, I'm a nervous flyer, but I didn't know this support was available
- No, I'm not a nervous flyer, but someone I know has used this support
- No, I'm not a nervous flyer, and I haven't ever used this support
2. On a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is 'not very important,' and 10 is 'very important,’ how important are these features to making you feel more at ease during a flight?
- Friendly cabin crew
- Seat selection
- Interesting in-flight entertainment options
- Space to stand away from your seat
- In-seat power (to charge phones, tablets, laptops, etc.)
- Plenty of meal options
- Wi-Fi availability
- Useful amenities (e.g., toiletries, eye masks, ear plugs, etc.)
- Noise-cancelling headphones
- Pillows and blankets
- Mindfulness and meditation features in in-flight entertainment (e.g., guided meditations and instructional videos)
3. What factors, if any, make you feel uneasy or uncomfortable during a flight?
- Screaming children
- Turbulence
- Loud people around you
- Delays
- Smelly toilets
- Unfriendly cabin crew
- Overcrowded aisles
- Randomly allocated seating
- Cabin being too hot/cold
- Busy toilets
- Too much alcohol being served
- Pushy cabin crew trying to sell items
- Strong smelling foods
- N/A - nothing makes me feel uneasy or uncomfortable
- Other (please specify)
All data was collected and the survey was carried out in January 2025 and is correct as of then.
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