A travel habit dubbed the “airport divorce” — in which couples separate after clearing security and meet again at their seats on the plane — is being promoted as a way to reduce arguments before holidays, proponents and a therapist say.
The technique was described by Sunday Times columnist Huw Oliver, who said he and his fiancée, Morwenna, have used it to avoid friction at busy airports. Oliver told readers that his partner enjoys duty-free shopping while he prefers to sit quietly watching departure boards, and that planned time apart before a flight “gives you a break.”
Licensed clinical professional counsellor Anne M. Appel backed the idea in the Sunday Times, saying airports are inherently stressful environments that can increase the risk of conflict. "Airports are stressful. They are basically pressure cookers," Appel said, citing crowds, noise and time pressure as common triggers that exacerbate anxiety. She pointed to research published in the Journal of Travel Medicine and the Journal of Air Transport Management showing that travellers tend to experience elevated stress in airport settings.
Appel described the airport divorce as trading "enforced togetherness for planned autonomy," allowing each partner some control in a situation that otherwise strips it away. She added that seemingly small differences in airport preferences — such as shopping versus sitting — can reflect deeper values like freedom versus security, which are difficult to reconcile quickly when stress levels are high.
However, Appel cautioned that the strategy is not suitable for everyone. Some travellers feel more anxious when alone, and for those people staying together can provide safety and emotional regulation. "It also allows the more confident traveller to model calmness and provide reassurance," she said.
For couples who choose to try an airport divorce, Appel emphasised the need for clear ground rules: an agreed meeting time at the gate or another predefined arrangement so separation does not become a source of worry. "It’s not about being apart. It’s about managing unnecessary stress and annoyance that you know will result in conflict and allow[ing] each partner to show up at the start of a vacation in as relaxed a state as possible," she said.
Travel commentators and therapists have long advised couples to plan and communicate to reduce pre-trip tension, and proponents of the airport divorce frame it as a pragmatic addition to those approaches. The practice reflects broader attention to how the travel environment itself — from queues and delays to sensory overload — can shape behaviour and relationships in the moments before a journey begins.
As with other coping strategies, experts say the approach should be adapted to individual needs and comfort levels, and should be agreed upon in advance to ensure it eases rather than increases stress.