Why Do We Always Cry on Planes?

11.03.2024 - 22:01 / cntraveler.com / Sarah Allard

If you’ve ever settled in for a long-haul flight and begun watching a movie only to find yourself sobbing after the opening credits, you’re not alone–it’s an occurrence that many travelers have experienced. “I always cry on planes,” says Sarah Allard, Condé Nast Traveler’s UK digital editor. “No matter what kind of headspace I’m in if I’m watching a movie with any sentimental or emotional theme, it’s only a matter of time before the tears start falling. On my last long-haul flight, I watched Aftersun and thought I might die from holding in the sobs.” Amber Port, audience growth manager for Condé Nast Traveller, agrees. “I watched Past Lives in the cinema, and while I was moved, I didn’t cry—but then I rewatched it on the plane and was silently sobbing by the end of it. I’m not sure what changed, but something did.”

As it turns out, there are scientific reasons behind this emotional phenomenon. “The reasons why we cry are varied and complex, and the act of crying is a psychological and physical process,” chartered psychologist Dr. Jo Perkins tells us. “So it’s perhaps not surprising that people report being more prone to crying on planes, given the many pressures that we experience both psychologically and physically ahead of and during a flight.”

Flying is not an enjoyable experience for many people, which adds to the discomfort and heightened emotions when traveling. James Roy, a neuro expert from Brainworks Neurotherapy, admits, “It is no coincidence that people are more likely to cry on a plane than anywhere else, as flying for some can be an uncomfortable and painful experience.” Below, we look at the physical, emotional and psychological reasons why so many of us get teary-eyed at 38,000 feet.

However frequently you may fly, the process is inherently stressful. Whether it’s the worry of forgetting to pack something, the fear of missing your flight, the constant panic that you’ve left your passport at home, the pressures of organizing the trip to maximize your time and money, or making sure all of your personal or work deadlines are completed ahead of your journey – there are plenty of things that can make you feel more tense before a flight.

“The psychological and physical effects can start to build up days or sometimes weeks before the flight from the many aspects of planning required for a trip,” says Dr Jo. “All the various anxieties can result in a range of physical changes—compromised sleep, changes in appetite, digestion, the release of stress hormones and tiredness, for example. Our psychological and physical state is exacerbated on the day of travel, which is typically physically as well as psychologically demanding.”

“When we finally sit down on the plane, it might be the first time in