{"id":138807,"date":"2025-09-15T11:57:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T11:57:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/138807\/"},"modified":"2025-09-15T11:57:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T11:57:11","slug":"new-airport-divorce-trend-set-to-be-the-trick-to-avoid-holiday-arguments-would-you-try-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/138807\/","title":{"rendered":"New ‘airport divorce’ trend set to be the trick to avoid holiday arguments – would YOU try it?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By HAYLEY MINN, DEPUTY TRAVEL EDITOR<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 06:31 EDT, 15 September 2025 | Updated: 06:58 EDT, 15 September 2025 <\/p>\n

Couples\u2019 holidays should be calm and romantic \u2013 but the stresses of travel can often lead to arguments even at the airport.<\/p>\n

But, if you\u2019re looking to head abroad without a row, you may want to think about an \u2018airport divorce\u2019.<\/p>\n

The strategy, involving splitting up after security and only reuniting once at your seats on the plane, is one that a Sunday Times journalist and his fianc\u00e9e, Morwenna, have become fond of using.<\/p>\n

Huw Oliver said it was beneficial, due to the fact that his fianc\u00e9e enjoys duty-free shopping at the airport, while he likes to sit around looking at the departures board.<\/p>\n

And he finds it really beneficial.<\/p>\n

He wrote in his column: \u2018If you\u2019ve already spent the whole holiday together\u2014or you\u2019ve arrived at the airport two hours early\u2014there\u2019s not much left to talk about.<\/p>\n

\u2018It gives you a break.\u2019<\/p>\n

Licensed clinical professional counsellor Anne M. Appel confirmed an \u2018airport divorce\u2019 is very likely to save couples from arguing, as studies from the Journal of Travel Medicine and the Journal of Air Transport Management show that travellers tend to experience increased anxiety in airports.<\/p>\n

\"Couples\u2019 <\/p>\n

Couples\u2019 holidays should be calm and romantic \u2013 but the stresses of travel can often lead to argument even at the airport. But, if you\u2019re looking to head abroad without a row, you may want to think about an \u2018airport divorce\u2019<\/p>\n

She said in the Sunday Times: \u2018Airports are stressful. They are basically pressure cookers.<\/p>\n

\u2018You\u2019re racing against the clock, standing in endless lines, and you have almost no control over what happens next.<\/p>\n

\u2018Add in additional stimuli like noises and crowds\u2014and the fact that most are already tired by the time they arrive at the airport\u2014and you\u2019ve got the perfect storm for conflict to arise.<\/p>\n

\u2018What looks like a small preference\u2014shopping versus sitting\u2014actually ties into deeper values like freedom versus security, and those are hard to compromise on in a hurry, as we revert to our most natural tendencies and can dig in our heels.<\/p>\n

\u2018Airport divorce is brilliant.<\/p>\n

\u2018The genius is that it trades enforced togetherness for planned autonomy. Each partner gets the control they crave in an environment designed to take it away.\u2019<\/p>\n

However, Appel says airport divorce isn\u2019t for everyone \u2013 as many people experience anxiety around travelling alone.<\/p>\n

\u2018Being together provides a sense of safety, which helps to regulate stress levels.<\/p>\n

\"Licensed <\/p>\n

Licensed clinical professional counsellor Anne M. Appel confirmed an \u2018airport divorce\u2019 is very likely to save couples from arguing, as studies show that travellers tend to experience increased anxiety in airports<\/p>\n

\u2018It also allows the more confident traveller to model calmness and provide reassurance.\u2019<\/p>\n

For those interested in trying the airport divorce technique, Appel says you must have a clear, agreed structure.<\/p>\n

\u2018There must be a clear agreement on a meeting time at the gate or whatever is mutually agreed upon in advance,\u2019 she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s not about being apart. It\u2019s 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.\u2019<\/p>\n

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