From making online check-in feel simple to finding small ways to stay calm before take-off, these practical tips will help ease any pre-flight nerves.
There are plenty of reasons to take a trip on your own. Perhaps retirement has opened up a little more time, the children have flown the nest, your circumstances have changed or perhaps you simply fancy choosing exactly where to go and when.
You would be in good company: nearly one in five UK adults took a holiday by themselves in the past year, according to ABTA’s latest Holiday Habits research. Even if the holiday is appealing, the prospect of the flight can still feel like the part to get through first.
The good news is that a little planning can make the journey feel far more manageable.
For many people, the worry isn't the flying itself, it's not having anyone familiar beside them if anxiety strikes.
"It's the feeling that if anxiety or panic starts, there won't be someone familiar there to reassure them," says Ian Murton, clinical hypnotherapist and travel anxiety expert. "That can create a sense of vulnerability and make people much more aware of every physical sensation or anxious thought."
He says the key to keeping your fear in check is to break the journey into small steps and create a checklist.
“Step one might be booking the flight, step two researching where you’re going, step three packing, then getting to the airport, checking in, going through security and eventually boarding,” Murton suggests.
“Tick each one off as you complete it and focus only on the next step. Thinking about the entire journey all at once can quickly become overwhelming.”
"Most of the fears we experience are created by what we imagine might happen, rather than what is actually happening," says Murton.
"Those thoughts are predictions, not facts. You don't have to believe or act on them."
"Positive affirmations can sometimes backfire if you use them to convince yourself that you must feel calm," says Murton. "If you tell yourself, 'I'm a calm, confident flyer,' and then feel anxious, it can seem like proof that it hasn't worked.
"It's often more helpful to recognise that you can feel some anxiety and still be a perfectly capable flyer."
The flight may only take a few hours, but a smoother solo trip often comes down to the bits at either end. When you’re choosing flights, think about how you’ll get to the airport and, just as importantly, how you’ll travel onwards once you land.
“I avoid early morning/late night flights if at all possible to make the journey to and from the airport as easy as possible,” says Helen Davis, 59, a clinical hypnotherapist from Petersfield.
There is no single best arrival time but the main thing is to have a plan for getting from the airport to your accommodation. Check whether your hotel offers a transfer, book a taxi in advance if that suits you, or save the details of the train, coach or local transport you plan to use.
A connection can save money, but it can also make the journey feel more rushed. If you have a choice, allow plenty of time between flights, especially at a large or unfamiliar airport. A little extra breathing room gives you options if your first flight is delayed and means you can make the connection at your own pace.
Saga Travel's shared chauffeur service or Saga Cruises chauffeur service provide door-to-door private transfers included as standard for customers across mainland UK, Scotland, Wales, and select islands.
Choosing your seat comes down to personal comfort, not one single "best" option.
"Some of our customers prefer to be near the accessible lavatories, some prefer to be as close to the front as possible, some prefer an aisle seat for easy in and out access, and some prefer a window so they don't restrict anyone's access," says Amelia Anderson, Senior Global Communications Executive at British Airways.
An aisle seat can make it easier to get up, stretch your legs or reach the toilet without disturbing anyone.
"I choose an aisle seat when travelling alone for easy access to the loos," says Davis. "I can get up to go to the bathroom or stretch my legs as often as I want without annoying someone who will hold it against me for the following week!"
Don’t forget as well that cabin crew are there to help you make your journey more comfortable.
"Crew are more than happy to assist with retrieving items from customers' bags in the overhead lockers, especially if they are travelling with an accessibility requirement," says Anderson. "The crew will have been made aware in advance of any customer needs."
Special assistance is available at every stage of the airport, from check-in through to boarding and on to your seat. Booking it in advance means help is arranged before you arrive, which can take the pressure out of navigating an unfamiliar airport alone.
It also covers getting off the plane and through arrivals at the other end.
It's easy to overlook the details, so double-check your passport's expiry date, especially for destinations with stricter requirements.
Check your luggage allowance too, particularly your carry-on, so you're not caught out at the gate. "Make sure you can transport all your own luggage, fit it inside a toilet cubicle and keep one hand free whenever necessary," says Davis.
Feeling anxious in a crowded airport is a completely normal response to a loss of control, says Niloufar Esmaeilpour, clinical counsellor at Lotus Therapy.
"One of the most effective ways to reduce airport anxiety is to plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time before departure,” she says. “Arriving early removes the pressure of rushing and gives your nervous system space to settle."
Focusing on what you can control helps too.
"Check in online ahead of time, keep travel documents easily accessible and monitor flight updates so you feel informed rather than caught off guard," says Esmaeilpour. "When we feel organised and prepared, our sense of control increases."
Davis does something similar: "I get to the airport with lots of time to spare and have something to eat before boarding. I usually buy a sandwich and water to take on board too."
This is your time to relax in the airline staff's care, so let yourself enjoy it. Yoga teacher and breathwork expert Alex Cvijovic suggests a simple technique to help you settle.
"Bring your awareness to the sensation of air entering your nostrils, then gently exhale through pursed lips, as if blowing through a straw, allowing yourself to sigh out any tension,” she says.
Murton says widening your vision can also help calm you down if anxiety suddenly hits.
“Rather than focusing narrowly on what’s directly in front of you, allow your gaze to move outwards and become aware of what you can see in your peripheral vision on both sides,” he says.
“This can help reduce the brain’s threat-focused attention. At the same time, use a physiological sigh – two inhales through the nose followed by a long, slow exhale through the mouth. Continue both for a minute or two, until you notice yourself beginning to feel calmer.”
Not every journey runs exactly to plan and it helps to know what you'd do if it doesn't. If your gate changes or your flight is delayed, pause, check the airport screens or your airline's app for the latest information, and remember that staff are used to helping people find their way. If a connection feels tight, head straight to the next departure board or ask a member of staff rather than trying to work it out alone.
If you feel overwhelmed at any point, grounding yourself in the present moment can help. Esmaeilpour suggests the "5-4-3-2-1" method.
"Identify five things you can see, four you can touch, three you can hear, two you can smell and one you can taste,” she says. “This helps anchor your attention in the present moment."
If your phone battery is running low, look for a charging point near your gate, or ask at an information desk, most airports have somewhere you can top up.
It's fine to stop, find a quiet corner or a member of staff, and give yourself a moment before carrying on.
Be prepared for a queue when you get off the plane and through immigration. If you've booked special assistance, they'll be waiting for you. At the luggage carousel, some airports offer porter services if you need help.
If you're heading to the EU or Schengen area, factor in the new Entry/Exit System too. First-time visitors now register a fingerprint and facial scan at the border, a one-off process that can mean a longer wait than you're used to. Read our full guide to what the EES means for your journey.
Once you're through arrivals, take a moment before you set off. Check your address, your transport plan and your next step, so you're heading off with a clear head rather than in a rush.
Joyce Connor, 61, a professional makeup artist and solo traveller based in Reading, Berkshire, says "I love getting on the plane in my prebooked seat. I just totally disconnect and watch movies or sleep.
"If I'm with someone else I won't have the same experience of being self indulgent on the plane. It also means I can sometimes afford to upgrade to a better seat if I'm travelling solo."
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