Australia’s best airline for nervous flyers – here’s why

Taylah Darnell Taylah Darnell
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Say goodbye to flight anxiety by booking with this comforting carrier.

Some of us can’t help it. We white-knuckle the armrest during takeoff. Turbulence hits and our life flashes before our eyes. And when the plane finally touches down, we breathe a sigh of relief. That’s just what it’s like being a nervous flyer.

If you’re vigorously nodding your head in agreement, you’re not alone. But Bounce.com is providing an antidote, revealing which Australian airline is the best for people who think flying is the worst.

Which Aussie airline is best for nervous flyers?

While we’re pretty lucky to have a great range of airlines to choose from in Australia, it doesn’t change the fact that flying can be scary for some. The anticipation of being in the air can even taint the excitement we feel in the lead-up to a holiday. However, opt to fly with Virgin Australia and those nerves should significantly decrease.

Virgin Australia plane taking off into the sky
Virgin Australia is officially the best Aussie airline for nervous flyers. (Image: Ryan Fletcher)

Recent research conducted by Bounce has shown it’s the best airline in Australia for flight anxiety, with an overall stress-free score of 7.84 out of 10. Determining factors included seat width, safety scores, reviews and in-flight programs, with Virgin Australia receiving an airline review score of four out of five and seven out of seven for its airline safety score.

Everything from loud people, smelly toilets and excessive alcohol consumption to delays, flight cancellations and unfriendly cabin crew was considered. But screaming children and turbulence came out on top, with over 50 per cent of passengers reporting both factors cause increased feelings of anxiety.

“If turbulence makes you anxious, remember that planes are designed to handle it safely," says Cody Candee, CEO and Founder of Bounce. “Think of it as bumps in the road rather than a sign of danger."

Why pick Virgin Australia if you’re an anxious flyer?

Virgin Australia was the only Aussie airline that made the list, with its nervous flyer program making it a real stand-out. Available on all flights, the comforting scheme provides a number of soothing benefits to calm nerves and reduce stress before and during the journey.

Virgin Australia plane taking off into the sky
Not many people know about Virgin Australia’s nervous flyer program. (Image: SCM Jeans)

Those who opt into the program will receive an email one week prior to the flight with a list of helpful travel tips, as well as a text message on the day with some words of wisdom and support. Once on board, cabin crew are already aware of your needs and take extra care throughout the flight to make sure you’re doing okay.

“Talk to the crew if needed," continues Candee. “Flight attendants are trained to help anxious flyers. Let them know if you’re feeling nervous, and they can offer reassurance and help make your experience smoother."

You’ll also have full access to guided meditations designed specifically to assist nervous flyers through the Smiling Mind app, plus a range of other behind-the-scenes tactics to ensure your trip is a stress-free as possible. And while it’s scary to think your life is in someone else’s hands (a fully trained and certified professional with a pilot’s license, mind you), many nervous flyers don’t realise they can take some power back, too.

A woman on a plane using her tablet
Use in-flight entertainment and personal devices for distraction. (Image: Imgorthand)

“Plan ahead for peace of mind," encourages Candee. “Knowing what to expect can reduce stress. Choose an airline known for smooth flights and good customer service. Arrive early to avoid last-minute rushes and pick a seat that makes you feel most at ease."

“Keeping your mind engaged is key. Load your tablet with movies, books or puzzles to distract yourself. With the right mindset and simple tricks, you can turn flying from a stressful experience into a manageable and maybe even enjoyable one," Candee says.

A Virgin Australia plan4e flying with the moon in the background
Let Virgin Australia know you’re nervous eight days before departing. (Image: SCM Jeans)

To join Virgin Australia’s program, all you have to do is identify yourself as a nervous flyer eight days prior to your departure date. This can be done through the guest contact centre or by filling out the airline’s service request form.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

Which other airlines made the list?

Singapore Airlines came out on top with an overall stress-free score of 8.94 out of 10, followed by Korean Air with a score of 8.82 out of 10. Next was Cathay Pacific in third place, then Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways and easyJet.

Virgin Australia ranked seventh in the world, succeeded by Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and SWISS, rounding out the top 10.

Taylah Darnell
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to visit places like Norway and New Zealand, her favourite place to explore will forever be her homeland.
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This luxe trawler tour is redefining Victoria’s seafood experience

    Chloe Cann Chloe Cann
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    Victoria’s ‘mussel capital’ is the source of exceptional shellfish used by top chefs far and wide. Step aboard a beautifully refurbished trawler to see how these plump and juicy bivalves are sustainably cultivated.

    A curtain is slowly winched from the placid, teal waters just off Portarlington, like a floating garland beside our boat. The ropes heave with blue mussels, the star attraction of our tour. But as we reach to pluck our own, it’s quickly clear they’re not alone; a mass of weird and wonderful creatures has colonised the ropes, turning them into a living tapestry. ‘Fairy’ oysters, jelly-like sea squirts, and tiny, wriggling skeleton shrimp all inhabit this underwater ecosystem.

    We prize our bivalve bounty from the ropes, and minutes later the mussels arrive split on a platter. The plump orange morsels are served raw, ready to be spritzed with wedges of lemon and a lick of chilli as we gaze out over the bay. They’re briny, tender and faintly sweet. “This wasn’t originally part of the tour,” explains Connie Trathen, who doubles as the boat’s cook, deckhand and guide. “But a chef [who came onboard] wanted to taste the mussels raw first, and it’s now become one of the key features.”

    A humble trawler turned Hamptons-style dreamboat

    inspecting bivalve bounty from the ropes
    Inspecting the bounty. (Image: Visit Victoria/Hannyn Shiggins)

    It’s a crisp, calm winter’s day, and the sun is pouring down upon Valerie, a restored Huon pine workhorse that was first launched in January 1980. In a previous life she trawled the turbulent Bass Strait. These days she takes jaunts into Port Phillip Bay under the helm of Lance Wiffen, a fourth-generation Bellarine farmer, and the owner of Portarlington Mussel Tours. While Lance has been involved in the fishing industry for 30-plus years, the company’s tour boat only debuted in 2023.

    holding Portarlington mussels
    See how these plump and juicy bivalves are sustainably cultivated.

    It took more than three years to transform the former shark trawler into a dreamy, Hamptons-esque vessel, with little expense spared. Think muted green suede banquettes, white-washed walls, Breton-striped bench cushions, hardwood tables, bouquets of homegrown dahlias, and woollen blankets sourced from Waverley Mills, Australia’s oldest working textile mill. It’s intimate, too, welcoming 12 guests at most. And yet there’s nothing pretentious about the experience – just warm, down-to-earth Aussie hospitality.

    As we cruise out, we crack open a bottle of local bubbles and nibble on the most beautifully curated cheese platter, adorned with seashells and grey saltbush picked from the water’s edge that very morning. Australasian gannets soar overhead, and I’m told it’s not uncommon for guests to spot the odd seal, pod of dolphins, or even the occasional little penguin.

    The sustainable secret behind Victoria’s best mussels

    blue mussels off Portarlington
    Blue mussels sourced just off Portarlington.

    Connie and Lance both extol the virtues of mussels. They’re delicious. A lean source of protein and packed with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, iron, selenium, and zinc. They’re cooked in a flash (Connie steams our fresh harvest with cider and onion jam). And they’re also widely regarded as one of the most sustainable foods in the world.

    Portarlington mussels with lemon and chilli
    Mussels served with lemon and chilli.

    “Aquaculture is [often] seen as destructive, so a lot of our guests are really surprised about how environmentally friendly and sustainable our industry is,” Lance says. “[Our mussels] would filter 1.4 billion litres of water a day,” he adds, explaining how mussels remove excess nitrogen and phosphorus from the water. “And through biomineralisation, we lock carbon into mussel shells.”

    a hand holding a Portarlington mussel
    Mussels are a sustainable food.

    Despite their glowing list of accolades, these molluscs have long been seen as the oysters’ poorer cousins. “It was a really slow start,” explains Lance, who says that in the early days of his career, “you could not sell mussels in Victoria”.

    But word has slowly caught on. Chefs as globally acclaimed as Attica’s Ben Shewry and even René Redzepi of Noma, Denmark, have travelled to these very waters just to try the shellfish at the source, sharing only the highest praise, and using Lance’s mussels in their restaurants.

    guests sampling Portarlington mussels onboard
    Sampling the goods onboard. (Image: Visit Victoria/Hannyn Shiggins)

    According to Lance there’s one obvious reason why the cool depths of Portarlington outshine other locations for mussel farming. “The water quality is second to none,” he says, noting how other regions are frequently rocked by harvest closures due to poor water quality. “We grow, without a doubt, some of the best shellfish in the world.” And with Lance’s bold claims backed up by some of the industry’s greatest names, perhaps it won’t be much longer until more Aussies uncover the appeal of Portarlington’s mussels.