It’s the same feeling you get when you’re in a foreign city after you’ve taken a cab from the train station to the hotel… and you realize you could have walked. Now, the wind is out of your sails, while also leaving you feeling a little annoyed and embarrassed.
KareToTravel (@karetotravel) calls it an “anxiety tax” in her recent TikTok video, and that feels very real.
Just Gonna Pay For It
KareToTravel was worried about making her connecting Spirit Airlines flight. As she was boarding, she says she asked how full the flight was. In an email to BroBible, she shared, “He [the gate agent] told me he couldn’t move me for free, but that the emergency exit row was available for $29. I decided to take it for peace of mind.”
Since her TikTok has garnered 144,800 views, it seems there are a lot of folks who can relate to travel anxiety—especially this time of year. Over a caption that says, “I’m not saying the gate agent knew, I’m saying he didn’t warn me,” the video pans around an almost empty plane. The on-screen text says, “There are 20 people on this plane.” That means she could have moved seats for free—and likely without asking.
Recognizing the irony of the situation, the expression on KareToTravel’s face is one of mild annoyance. But it seems directed mostly at herself. Calling the money “travel anxiety” tax, she notes, “It resonated with people.”
In her email she also clarified, “I didn’t raise the issue with the flight attendants, as it wasn’t really a complaint in the moment, more of a hindsight realization. And yes, I did make my connection without any issues.”
Seat Ergonomics And Sympathy
The comments are full of everything from observations that Spirit has seats that don’t look much better than lawn chairs to the idea that the airline is closer to a city bus in the sky. But there’s a fair amount of sympathy, too.
“I’d be livid loool,” one wrote.
KareToTravel replied, “Girl I spent $65 on data that barely worked while I was there … it’s just been back to back. I’m typing this from the airport where my connection flight is delayed by an hour and a half.”
While another user offered this reminder: “It’s spirit, they charge for everything that’s kinda their whole thing.”
Dealing With Travel Anxiety
According to WebMD, “19% of people in the U.S. have an anxiety disorder.” So it stands to reason that travel anxiety is real. Even if you have no history of anxiety, “the idea of being outside familiar territory can throw you into panic mode,” reports the site.
Often, there’s no one, simple thing. For some it’s logistics, for others, it’s getting on a plane, and for others, it’s the fear of the unknown. However, some steps can be taken to mitigate those overwhelming feelings, notes the site.
- Know your triggers. Being able to identify them can help you control them.
- Pack a protein snack: low blood sugar makes everything worse.
- Practice relaxation techniques like deep, calm, breathing.
- Bring distractions.
And sometimes, you’ll find yourself paying for things you end up not needing. As KareToTravel says, “Anxiety leads you to pay for certainty, only to realize afterward it may not have been necessary.”
Totally relatable.
BroBible reached out to Spirit Airlines.
@karetotravel I’m not saying the gate agent knew… I’m saying he definitely didn’t warn me. $29 anxiety tax ✈️ I moved back even after paying so I could sit with my sister, niece and nephew and hang out a little longer