I’ve Filed For ’Airport Divorce’ On My Next Holiday – You Should Too

You’ve probably heard about “Scandinavian divorce” – which happens when couples sleep apart for better kip and more space. 

Some swear by it during heatwaves like the one we’re facing now.

But a new term – airport divorce – has been taking over.

So what does that look like, and how can it help your relationship? 

What is an “airport divorce”?

It means you and your partner go through the sometimes-stressful processes of security, check-in, and even arriving at the airport separately. 

A colleague told me that their partner likes to reach the travel hub far, far earlier than she likes. My own beau can get a little flustered in airports, while I would rather crawl across the ocean floor myself than publicly stress out. 

Some people love a leisurely duty-free browse. Others like to march through security with laser focus, their passports and boarding passes constantly ready for inspection. 

An early-queuer and late-queuer relationship can feel impossible to manage in times like these, too. 

So, some, like Times writer Huw Oliver, have found a solution: just do your own thing, and regroup on the plane. 

Won’t that feel a bit... splintering?

Not necessarily. An “airport divorce” can be selective.

Maybe you agree on some things, like arriving about two hours before the flight and/or having a pre-plane tipple. These can, and I’d argue should, still be shared.

But I reckon most of us can agree that our airport self is not representative of our true character. Nobody needs to see the beast I become when the boarding gate changes last minute, least of all someone I’m about to share a hotel room with.

Besides, if you’re mostly enduring your partner’s dangerously leisurely shopping time or over-keen boarding queue approach out of a vague sense of duty, why not let that go (travel duty-free, if you will?). 

It might make your holiday together even more relaxing and enjoyable – and it means that finally, you’ll both be able to do it The Only Right Way.

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