British Airways Holidays new survey reveals 50% of UK working adults do not take their full annual leave allocation.*

The survey, commissioned by British Airways Holidays with YouGov Plc., found that more than a third of working Brits (36%) who did not take their full annual leave said it was because they ‘just didn’t get around to it’. Furthermore, a staggering 42% confessed that they have felt stressed about work whilst on holiday, and 46% responded that they have had to work on their leave. 48% have checked work emails whilst away and more than a third (39%) have gone one step further and responded.

With a cost-of-living crisis this winter and a recession on the horizon, no doubt many will be thinking it will be even harder to justify a getaway in 2023. However, a 40-year study by the European Society of Cardiology revealed that taking a holiday could help people live longer. The study suggested that men who took more than three weeks of leave per year were 63% more likely to live longer than those who took three weeks or less.**  Meanwhile, British Airways Holidays’ new YouGov Plc. survey also revealed that nearly 79% of those asked agreed that taking a break is good for their mental health. With this in mind, British Airways Holidays has launched a new campaign, that combines TV advertising, cinema, out of home, social media and radio. Behind the campaign’s humour is an important message that holidays should be taken seriously with people urged to prioritise time away for their own wellbeing. As well as competitive pricing, British Airways Holidays offers a 24-hour helpline, carefully chosen hotels and generous 23kg per person baggage allowance, taking the hassle out of holidays, so customers can relax, rejuvenate, and switch off. Full details can be found at ba.com/holidays

*All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 4,277 adults of which 2,410 are UK working adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 21st - 24th October 2022.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

** European Society of Cardiology study: Take a vacation – it could prolong your life (escardio.org)