One in five Brits now carefully curate their airport outfit
21% of Brits admit to choosing a specific ‘airport outfit’ for their journey
For many Brits, the airport is more than just a gateway, it’s now part of the holiday experience itself.
A new survey from Manchester Airport reveals that one in five holidaymakers (21%) now dress up specifically for their flight, with ‘airport outfits’ becoming a style statement in their own right.
The new trend has been attributed to social media, with platforms such as Instagram and TokTok awash with curated travel looks and outfit inspiration.
From coordinated loungewear sets to statement accessories, Gen Z travellers in particular are taking style cues found online and turning the terminal into their own runway this summer.
The research also shows that the average traveller mentally switches into ‘holiday mode’ almost an hour (50 minutes) before arriving at the terminal, with over half (53%) saying they’re already in the zone before stepping inside the airport.
Once there, browsing World Duty Free (41%) is the UK’s number one pre-flight ritual, followed by buying a coffee or a pre-flight drink (40%) and shopping for last minute travel essentials (26%).
Top ten pre-flight rituals:
- Browsing world duty free (41%)
- Buying a coffee or drink (40%)
- Shopping for travel essentials (26%)
- Taking photos/selfies (25%)
- Wearing an airport outfit (21%)
- Visiting a specific restaurant or bar at the airport (19%)
- Listening to a playlist (18%)
- Switching phone to do not disturb (16%)
- Letting the kids explore activity zones (11%)
- Watching planes take off (9%)
The findings shine a light on how the airport experience kicks off a holiday and builds excitement for a trip abroad.
To mark this, Manchester Airport unveiled a giant 6ft deckchair installation in Chester, within the airport’s ‘activated’ radius, the ultimate photo opportunity for future travellers to kick back and get in the mood for a holiday.
Jennifer Byrne-Smith, Director of Customer Operations at Manchester Airport, said:
“This survey confirms what we’ve long recognised, people love to get their holiday started at the airport, whether it’s indulging in a pre-flight meal, picking up a luxury item at World Duty Free or simply taking in the airfield views and enjoying the atmosphere.
“That’s why we’ve committed to a significant investment worth £1bn in enhancing the passenger experience across our terminals, from upgraded dining and retail options to more comfortable and efficient spaces, ensuring every journey starts on a high.
“We’re proud to connect the North to the world and to give people travelling through our airport a world class experience. The airport plays a significant role in ramping up that pre-holiday excitement, and from the moment our passengers arrive at the airport, treating themselves is a big part of that tradition.”
With so many travellers seeing the airport as an important part of their getaway, Manchester Airport is proud to be the place many holidaymakers ‘activate’ their holiday experience, long before they reach their destination.
For further information, please visit the website here: https://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/competitions-and-offers/retail-food-drink-offers/.