As Brits prepare for the August Bank Holiday and the last great getaway of the year, World Nomads’ Travel Anxiety Report 2024 has found that 40% of Brits have said flight delays and cancellations are a major concern when travelling internationally. 

Sadly, over two-fifths (43%) of travelling Brits have already faced such disruptions, with only 33% confident they won’t encounter issues on their next trip.

For those affected, 25% admit to worrying at the gate, 22% seek a place to sleep, 14% feel lost on what to do, 10% frantically try to catch up on work emails and 16% are so frustrated they consider abandoning their trip altogether.

Following these findings, World Nomads has launched SmartDelay – a new feature available to all Standard and Explorer plan holders on both Annual Multi Trip and Single Trip Insurance policies. SmartDelay gives travellers access to over 1500 airport lounges or food and drinks vouchers if flights are delayed by more than 90 minutes. It also provides access for up to four additional passengers, if they are named on the policy and travelling on the same flight.

Jonathan Frankham, General Manager UK and Europe at World Nomads, says: “We know Brits treasure their holidays, but the increasing risk of flight delays and strikes can quickly turn excitement into stress. Our Travel Anxiety Report highlights that during delays, many travellers experience significant stress or might go as far as giving up a holiday altogether. SmartDelay is our way of transforming this stressful experience into a moment of relief. Lounge access provides somewhere to relax, have a bite to eat and stay connected. We think SmartDelay is a great new addition for travellers. Whether they’re taking that ‘once in a lifetime’ trip, are making last minute Bank Holiday plans, or are frequent flyers to a favoured destination, SmartDelay will provide a little something to look forward to if the dreaded delays hit.”

World Nomads launched an annual multi-trip policy in June 2024.