Travelling can be stressful at the best of times, but when carrying valuable or important items, anxiety levels can soar. A recent study by travel provider Arriva has revealed the extent to which stress affects British travellers, leading to a surprising number of lost belongings on public transport.

The research found that more than two-thirds (68%) of Brits feel stressed when travelling with expensive items. This heightened anxiety contributes to forgetfulness, with over 1 in 5 (21%) admitting to losing the same item twice on public transport. Buses and coaches emerged as the most common places where items go missing (43%), followed by trains (43%).

The most stressful travel experiences

Travelling to the airport was cited as the most stressful journey for more than a quarter (33%) of respondents, ranking above job interviews (26%), the daily work commute (10%), and the school run (8%).

In light of these findings, Arriva has examined lost property trends on its Greenline service, which runs from London Victoria to Luton Airport. The data uncovered some of the most commonly lost items in 2024, along with the most unusual ones.

What Brits lost on the way to the airport

Arriva’s analysis revealed that mobile phones were the most frequently lost items, followed by wallets, AirPods, power banks, and keys. Other misplaced belongings included identification documents, with passports and driving licences ranking seventh.

Among the more unusual items left behind on buses were two boxes of Lego, fridge magnets, a bottle of Madeira wine, vitamins, a disposable camera, and even an EasyJet jacket.

Significantly, several important identification documents were among those lost in 2024. These included two Polish passports, two Romanian ID cards, a US passport, a British passport, a Swedish driving licence, and a UK driving licence.

The most forgetful travel days

The data also highlighted certain days when travellers were more prone to forgetting their belongings. The most forgetful date of 2024 was 25 February, when 24 items were reported lost. Notably, this day also saw some of the most expensive losses, including Apple AirPods, a Louis Vuitton wallet, and a brand-new Apple MacBook.

Other peak forgetfulness dates included 9th February (14 items lost) and 2nd January (10 items lost). January, February, and September recorded the highest number of lost items overall, with 38, 20, and 16 items lost, respectively.

How stress impacts memory while travelling

Psychologist Dr Ravi Gill, who partnered with Arriva for the study, explained how stress can negatively affect memory, leading to misplaced belongings.

“Stress demands mental energy and attention, making it difficult to concentrate on tasks. When your mind is preoccupied with worries, there’s less cognitive capacity left for remembering details,” Dr Gill said. “High levels of stress force your brain to multitask between managing stressors and other tasks, leading to forgetfulness.”

She added that the release of cortisol – the body’s primary stress hormone – can impair memory retrieval. “While short-term cortisol can help you stay alert, excessive or chronic cortisol can disrupt memory formation.”

Dr Gill also highlighted how time pressure exacerbates travel stress. “The perception of limited time triggers the release of stress hormones, making people feel physically tense, mentally foggy, and emotionally on edge. The fear of missing a flight or an event amplifies this sense of urgency, activating the brain’s fight-or-flight response.”

Expert tips for managing travel stress

To help travellers reduce stress and avoid losing their belongings, Dr Gill shared her top five tips:

• Carry a safety object. A small sentimental item, such as a lucky coin, can serve as a mental anchor, providing comfort and stability.
• Plan moments of joy. Simple pleasures – such as a favourite snack, a curated music playlist, or a book – can help alleviate stress.
• Create a personal bubble. Noise-cancelling headphones playing calming sounds can transform a chaotic airport or train journey into a more peaceful experience.

With stress proving to be a key factor in forgetfulness, travellers are encouraged to adopt these strategies to safeguard their belongings and ensure a smoother journey in 2025.