The storyline of Home Alone might not be as far-fetched as first thought — as a quarter of Brits have experienced a last-minute gate-dash to catch a flight, research by London Luton Airport has revealed
The plot of Home Alone may not be as implausible as initially believed, with a quarter of travellers admitting to having made a last-minute dash to the gate to catch a flight.
Much like the McAllister family’s frantic rush to catch their holiday flight in the beloved 1990 film, which was voted the top Christmas movie by respondents, 18 per cent have also experienced the intense stress of being late to the airport.
According to a survey of 2,000 adults who have flown, 13 per cent have either missed an early morning alarm before a trip or hit the snooze button, which famously led to the family leaving son Kevin, played by Macaulay Culkin, home alone. The study was commissioned by London Luton Airport, which has recreated iconic scenes from the film to remind passengers to plan, pack and set an alarm in advance to ensure nothing or no one is left behind.
The survey also revealed that despite 78 per cent of people making lists before a trip, 51 per cent have forgotten an essential item at home.
Three per cent even confessed to temporarily and accidentally leaving someone behind.
Medication, boarding passes, and even passports are just some of the essential items holidaymakers forget at home. Other commonly forgotten items include travel adaptors, sunglasses, and toiletries, with 22 per cent blaming a lack of sleep for their forgetfulness.
During the festive season, 16 per cent have left behind Christmas presents, while 14 per cent have travelled without packing the cards. Moreover, 30 per cent have lost something at the airport, as per OnePoll’s findings.
However, 39 per cent were unaware that certain festive items, such as wrapped gifts, jams, chutneys, and snow globes, can’t pass through airport security. To help travellers out, London Luton Airport is offering wake-up calls to groggy passengers and providing free travel essentials at information desks throughout December.
The complimentary items include toothbrushes, combs, sleep masks, and wireless phone chargers. Clare Armstrong, head of guest experience at the airport, which has also shared a list of festive travel tips, said: “Christmas comes with additional pressures — and additional items to remember — meaning travellers are more likely to forget things.
“We hope our campaign will offer a simple and friendly reminder to passengers about how to plan ahead, what to pack and, of course, to set that all-important early morning alarm.”
1. Festive favourites
Airline policies can differ greatly, so it’s best to check their guidelines before packing festive items.
If you’re bringing presents, avoid wrapping them in advance as airport security might need to unwrap them for inspection.
2. A list-mas miracle
Make sure to write a checklist well in advance to ensure you have all your essential travel documents, confirmations, medication and gifts ready to go.
3. Silent night
Aim to get at least seven hours of sleep before flying to ensure you’re alert and refreshed for your journey.
4. Present panic
If you’re jetting off over Christmas and realise you’ve forgotten a gift, don’t worry!
You can grab any last-minute gifts or festive treats from Duty Free to save the day.
5. Ho Ho Go!
To avoid any last-minute hiccups if you’re in a hurry, book a slot with our prebook security service.