Why do we always cry on planes?

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 travellers have experienced. “I always cry on planes,” says Sarah Allard, Condé Nast Traveller’s 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 travelling. 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.

Why do we feel more emotional when flying?

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 organising the trip to maximise 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 days we have relaxed in mind and body which can be overwhelming emotionally and can lead to a physical release. For some, this will result in shedding a tear of relief or exhaustion,” she explains.

There are also more sentimental associations with travelling that can make us more likely to tear up. “Air travel may involve emotional triggers, such as saying goodbye to loved ones or coming back from a stressful business trip, in addition to travel fatigue,” explains James. “These emotional triggers, combined with the discomfort of travelling, can make people feel more vulnerable.”

This vulnerability could be a hangover from our parents’ and grandparents’ generations. They were the first to adapt to aviation as a reliable form of transportation, and many of their concerns were passed onto their children – many of us are still distinctly distrustful of an airplane’s safety systems. Plus, there are verified phobias associated with flying, from claustrophobia and acrophobia to aviophobia. The lack of control and nervousness about placing your safety into the hands of another can cause feelings of severe anxiety and nervousness.

Are there any physiological reasons we’re more likely to cry on a plane?

Dr Tara Swart, neuroscientist, advisor and author, explains that our emotional turmoil once we take off is linked to what happens to our bodies physically. “For some people, travel makes them nervous, but hypoxia is the main differentiator in air travel in terms of impact on the brain physiologically,” she tells us. “The lower than usual air pressure causes mild hypoxia in the brain (low oxygen levels). These affect our cognition and make us less able to regulate our emotions and manage stress. This is usually manifested by people crying when watching sad movies or generally feeling on edge.”

Other physical changes happen to our bodies when we fly, too. “The air pressure inside the ear is regulated by a narrow passage called the Eustachian tube, an opening that connects the middle ear with the nasal-sinus cavity, which helps to regulate pressure inside the ear in accordance with our surroundings,” James explains. “The process of adapting the pressure inside the ears causes the muscles controlling the Eustachian tube to open up, which can result in a painful popping sensation and can even cause the eardrum to stretch.” It’s an uncomfortable feeling, resulting in irritation and a reduced ability to handle stress or emotion, and, therefore, an increased risk of crying as a result – “This can be why children often tend to cry more during the flight, for example, as the smaller the Eustachian tubes, the more discomfort caused.”

On top of this, “airplanes keep their humidity levels at about 10-20 per cent to prevent structural damage to the plane, which is quite a bit lower than the 35-65 per cent humidity which humans are comfortable with,” James continues. “Dry air means that we lose more water through evaporation and breathing, which can lead to mild dehydration, often resulting in mood imbalances and feeling more emotional.”

Is there a link between loss of phone signal and heightened emotions?

Airplanes are one of the few places where we are forced to switch off from the outside world without any internet connection or access to social media (although that is rapidly changing). For most of our day-to-day lives we are constantly switched on, so remaining uncontactable during a flight could allow us to tap into otherwise suppressed emotions. “In today’s world, sitting on a plane is often a time for us to be still and not have the distraction of social media, emails and being busy, which can create a sense of vulnerability which can be very anxiety provoking,” Jo tells us. “This is likely to be worse if we tend to use social media and being busy as methods to soothe ourselves and avoid difficult feelings as a way to manage our anxiety.”

“While most planes have WiFi now, a period of digital detox (and a long enough flight) could lead to some contemplation of things we haven’t dealt with in daily life,” Tara explains. The lengthy flight duration, emotive movie plotlines, and a certain amount of anonymity is a sure-fire way to open the floodgates. Most people on flights are absorbed into their own movies, books or podcasts and unlikely to notice if someone sheds a tear or suppresses a sob while huddled up in their own seat. An enforced period of disconnect could force people to “gauge with suppressed emotions and reflective consciousness, which can lead to overthinking and crying,” James says.

Considering all of the above, it’s no surprise that many of us get teary-eyed on flights. While, for some, crying in public may be an uncomfortable experience, expelling pent-up emotions and leaning into suppressed feelings is all-too-often abandoned in our hectic, overstimulating lives, and the benefits of allowing yourself to do so can be hugely beneficial to your overall health – a Harvard Medical School blog post reported repressed emotions could result in a less resilient immune system, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and mental health conditions including stress, anxiety, and depression. So, on your next long-haul flight, be sure to stick on a reliable tear-jerker and embrace the waterworks.