Singles, this is a good reason to get to the airport well in advance
Single and love to travel? Your next flight through Dubai International Airport could bring more than just a destination – you might meet your soulmate. And yes, this is based on actual research from AirAdvisor.
The research team released a study ranking the top 10 airports that are most likely to spark an unexpected connection. The analysis looks at how long travellers stay in the same areas, how often paths naturally cross, the availability of social spaces (bars, restaurants, cafes, etc.), and overall passenger volume.
It also took into account how internationally diverse the traveller pool is and passenger mood and comfort levels – basically, how relaxed and approachable travellers feel (based on consumer satisfaction on Google Reviews).
So, according to their report…
Here are the top 10 airports in the world where you may just bump into the ‘love of your life’
1. Istanbul IST (Turkey) – 8.3/10
2. Seoul ICN (South Korea) – 8/10
3. London LHR (United Kingdom) – 7.85/10 and Dubai DXB (UAE) – 7.85/10
4. New York JFK (USA) – 7.8/10
5. Tokyo HND (Japan) – 7.6/10
6. Singapore SIN (Singapore) – 7.45/10
7. Madrid MAD (Spain) – 7.25/10
8. Los Angeles LAX (USA) – 7.2/10
9. Bangkok BKK (Thailand) – 7.15/10
10. Paris CDG (France) – 7.1/10
*The world’s busiest airport is now Dubai International Airport*
So, how can travellers increase their chances of meeting someone at the airport?
Based on AirAdvisor’s Love Connection Score, here are some ways to naturally increase social interaction potential while travelling:
- Choose longer layovers instead of tight connections – this adds a little more free time to your schedule, allowing you to meet someone and strike up a conversation
- Spend time in social zones, not isolated gates – head to the airport’s bars, cafés, food courts and shared lounge areas. These spaces generate more casual conversation than quiet boarding gates or remote waiting zones.
- Stay ‘socially available’ – in other words, stop scrolling through your phone, put the book away, and remove the headphones. These reduce eye contact and give off the vibe that you do not want to be approached.
- Sit in a shared seating space – open seating areas and community tables encourage small talk with less pressure.
- Use the airport to your advantage – shared delays, long lines, or a casual ‘Where are you headed?’ can make the perfect first conversation starter.
Oh, and just an FYI…
According to AirAdvisor’s research, these are the airports that do not have the potential for any social connections:
Cancun International Airport (Quintana Roo, Mexico) – Despite handling huge numbers of passengers, Cancun Airport lands at the very bottom because most passengers seem to be in full holiday mode. There’s also little connecting traffic and very few reasons to linger.
Sydney Airport (New South Wales, Australia) – Passengers here at Sydney Airport just arrive and leave and don’t spend much time hovering in shared spaces. The airport may be lively and social, but it doesn’t really set the stage for romance.
Ngurah Rai International Airport (Bali, Indonesia) – Travellers arriving here have one goal: get to the hotel quickly. Transfer traffic is limited, time in the terminal is short, and social life tends to kick off later at resorts.
Images: Generated with Gemini AI
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