is it really that uncommon to cry at airports?

My bf lives in Leeds, and I live near Philadelphia. We get to have visits every few months, and every time I'm always crying as we're saying goodbye at the airport. I always get asked, what's wrong, am I ok, and have people looking at me funny, and it just makes me wonder, don't lots of people cry at airports? I mean, its not easy saying goodbye to someone we love, especially when we won't see them for awhile.

I just came back from visiting my bf yesterday, and when I went to check in for boarding, the lady checking passports and asking all the questions about the contents of luggage, if you knew the contents of all your bags and that no one could have put anything in them, etc. ran my passport and asked me all the usual questions as I was crying, then looked at me kind of funny, and asked if she could see my passport again. When she came back a minute later, she said "can I ask you something?" and when I nodded she said "why are you so upset?" and when I told her it was because I didn't want to leave my bf, she said, "oh ok" and basically not to be so upset (she said it in a friendly way), I can always come back. But really, it almost seemed to me like my crying was some sort of "suspicious" behavior to her. I'm not the only one to cry at airports, am I?

I just wondered if anyone else has had or known of any similar experiences, or if I'm the only one who bawls like a baby everytime I have to go back to the USA.

I bawl everytime and so does my fiance.  So, no, not weird at all.  Hope you cheer up soon! PM if you need to vent! 

I bawl everytime and so does my fiance.  So, no, not weird at all.  Hope you cheer up soon! PM if you need to vent! 

thank you   I've been sorting through our pictures and that's made me smile a bit, I just miss him so much   we're talking a bit about when our next visit will be though, I'll probably be going back again around the end of August to see him. I just can't wait till we'll finally have everything set so I can move there and we won't have to have anymore sad goodbyes.

Totally with you there!  We are sorting my move at the moment.  Still lots of months away, but, it keeps us going.

You arn't alone. I always feel weird when I'm crying my eyes out and people are staring. I've never actually been asked if I was okie or what's wrong. I gather my composure before I get to the plane mainly for that reason. I don't want to have to explain to people *people i don't know* what's wrong with me. It would make me cry even harder/more.

It's part of our lives

Keep ur head up things will get better!

thank you   I've been sorting through our pictures and that's made me smile a bit, I just miss him so much   we're talking a bit about when our next visit will be though, I'll probably be going back again around the end of August to see him. I just can't wait till we'll finally have everything set so I can move there and we won't have to have anymore sad goodbyes.

Hey end of August isn't that bad, that's only about 3 months. Took us 12 to see each other again and yes we were both crying when we left. We went on vacation in Amsterdam this April and his plane left for Wales before mine left for Boston. I was in the terminal waiting and bawling like a baby, had quite a few people staring at me too. I feel your pain.  :\\\'(

I'm a bawl baby.  When I leave my family, I cry sometimes, but now I have my husband with me.  But, yes, when we'd leave each other when we were dating, I'd cry. 

Definately not alone. My fiancee just left and went back to the UK on Thursday, and I was in tears when he left, in a small airport where it's so obvious it's ridiculous. There's been times where I have just the sniffles when one of us is leaving, when I'm trying my best to "be ok" for his sake (and so I don't have to deal with looks from security officers and the like as I leave, when I'm the one going)...but there's also been times where I've had tears rolling down my cheeks and am crying so much I don't even notice if anyone is looking at me funny. My reactions vary, I guess.

It doesn't really get easier as time goes on either...just more "normal." I was surprisingly okay on Thursday, and I won't be seeing him again until September or October, when he comes back so we can get married. Let me tell you, with the end of a 4 year LDR in sight, it's much better near the end!! Hang in there, there's many people here who understand your pain

Everytime Rich left (I could not go to the airport that is how bad it was) I would bawl like a baby.  It was awful.  Everytime. 

I don't normally cry in public, so it's not something I would do, although I certainly understand why someone else might be crying at an airport.

However, if I were speaking to someone who was or had been crying, I would think it would be insensitive not to ask them what was wrong or if they were OK.  It could have been that the passport lady thought you were suspicious, or it could have been that she was just worried about you (or maybe a little of both).

What I don't understand is people who cry in public and then seem surprised when other people react to it.

This past trip I made was the first time I've really cried in the airport. Not sure if was exacerbated due to pregnancy, but I cried when we landed in the US because it was so nice to see all the familiar stores and smells. I also cried because my husband came very close to a removal hearing when we landed in Dulles which could have meant we would never be able to move back to the US again. I was so upset, I cried for the next hour walking through the airport.  Must be more common in the US because no one batted an eye!

This past trip I made was the first time I've really cried in the airport. Not sure if was exacerbated due to pregnancy, but I cried when we landed in the US because it was so nice to see all the familiar stores and smells. I also cried because my husband came very close to a removal hearing when we landed in Dulles which could have meant we would never be able to move back to the US again. I was so upset, I cried for the next hour walking through the airport.  Must be more common in the US because no one batted an eye!

oh no! Sorry you had such a bad experience!  Glad it worked out though.

Hi Fireheart, where near Philadelphia do you live?  I'm from Philadelphia.

I cried a bit the last time I left my (then boyfriend) fiance at the Manchester airport--but the real crying started when I got on the plane.  It was like it didn't feel real until I was through security and on the plane.  I never thought about people watching me.

Years ago when leaving my ex to travel I cried at the check in desk.  The BA guy at check in just looked at me sweetlyand empathetically, he didn't seem to think I was suspicious--somehow I assumed he just knew that travelling can be very emotional for some people.

I hope crying is not seen as suspicious behavior now as I am naturally an emotional person.

What I don't understand is people who cry in public and then seem surprised when other people react to it.

It wasn't that I was surprised that people asked if I was ok, it was the fact that they acted like it was strange to see someone crying like that. That's why I was wondering, isn't it fairly common to see people crying at airports? Goodbyes can be really tough especially for people who are sensitive and emotional like I am. Even my bf gets teary when we say goodbye, and he's normally very composed, although he doesn't start bawling like I do.

Hi Fireheart, where near Philadelphia do you live?  I'm from Philadelphia.

I'm from Wilmington, DE, just a bit south of Philly, right when you cross the PA border. I used to live practically right on the PA border LOL