A ‘diabolical’ advert at a US airport is every anxious flyer’s worst nightmare

It’s a passenger’s worst fear (Picture: Shutterstock / M-Production) We’ve all been there: you’re sitting at your gate, coffee in hand, ready to board your flight, when that sudden, cold wave of panic hits. Did I unplug the hair straighteners? Is the back door locked? Are the taps running? Has my passport mysteriously vanished from my bag? For most of us, pre-flight jitters are just a mild annoyance we try to shake off before takeoff. But a new advertisement spotted at a US airport is making that universal travel anxiety inescapable — and travellers are completely losing it. An advert by Notre Dame Federal Credit Union spotted at South Bend International Airport in Indiana says: ‘Did you leave your oven on? Sorry, have a nice trip!’ The company, which offers loans, savings accounts and insurance, has certainly caught the attention of passing travellers. Fun marketing or pure evil? (Picture: @mollysorourke) TV showrunner Molly O’Rourke shared a video of the sign on Instagram, captioning it simply: ‘Why would you do this?!?’ calling it ‘anxiety inducing,’ and her post has since reached over 957k likes and 12k comments. What did people think of the advert? Though a few laughed, and even questioned what the advert’s aim was, the majority online were horrified. ‘The “Sorry, have a nice trip” … Gaslighting takes on a whole new meaning,’ said @tiffanybees. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. ‘This would send me straight home,’ said @hexandwaxcandleco, while @maeganhanlon added, ‘Genuinely, why the f would they do that?’ ‘This would ruin me,’ exclaimed @ericchristian, and @Iainibones called it ‘truly cruel’.On Reddit @mrduncansir42 said: ‘That’s diabolical,’ which 114 people have upvoted. Marketing genius? Whether it’s a masterclass in guerrilla marketing or a stroke of pure evil, it’s got everyone talking. But is this a good thing? ‘There is a difference between using tension or discomfort creatively and deliberately poking at a very real source of anxiety because you think it might make somebody look twice at a poster,’ marketing expert Chris Wilson-Cambata tells Metro. ‘Anxiety is a proper issue for a lot of people. It is not a clever little marketing device. ‘The test I would apply is very simple: does the joke work because it is funny, or because you have made somebody momentarily worried? If it is the latter, you are not being provocative or memorable. You are just being a bit of a d*ck.’ On the most basic level, Chris argues this ad might skip the core purpose of advertising: ‘To create some kind of positive association with you.’ ‘If the most memorable thing your brand does is make somebody halfway to their gate suddenly wonder whether their house is burning down, I am not convinced that is a particularly sophisticated communications strategy,’ he says. However, marketing expert Megan Dooley has a different opinion. Cruel or not, the ad has captured worldwide attention (Picture: Shutterstock / Ladanifer) ‘This is a clever piece of marketing, because it weaponises a feeling that almost everyone has felt as a traveller,’ she tells Metro. ‘It works commercially because it’s designed to be filmed and snapped, not just seen. A static banner at the airport wouldn’t have got anywhere near this level of reach, because it’s not the ad itself but the traveller’s reaction that turns it into content.’ Would this ad send you running straight back to the terminal exit, or do you appreciate the dark humor? Hilarious and clever marketing!Check Terrible, it causes unnecessary anxiety.Check Indifferent, just a harmless joke.Check Sign up to The Getaway Expert, your exclusive seven-day guide to travelling with confidence from Metro's travel editor, Alice Murphy. She continues: ‘This ad gets away with toeing the line because the payoff – “sorry, have a nice trip!” – immediately winks to the audience and signals it’s not a genuine threat.’ Whether you find it brilliantly disruptive or downright cruel, one thing is certain: the ad has done its job, ensuring that long after travellers board their flight, Notre Dame Federal Credit Union is staying firmly on their minds. Our Top Shopping Picks I tried L'Oréal Paris's new PDRN serum and my skin looked glossier after one use This new Cricut gadget turns your favourite photos into stickers in minutes From kitchen hatches to burgundy walls – the biggest home trends for 2027 Oodie’s cosy blanket sale has arrived just in time for Christmas shopping Save over £700 on Simba's top-rated mattresses in this limited-time sale Just remember to double-check your stove before you leave for the airport. How to soothe airport anxiety Pre-flight panic is completely normal, but a nagging thought shouldn’t hijack your entire trip. Rather than stressing for the next week, travel company co-founder Richard Young tells Metro: ‘Give a spare set of keys to a family member, neighbour or trusted friend who can check the house if you wake up in the middle of the night worrying about whether you left the oven on or forgot the hair straighteners, which is a surprisingly common one.’ Sarah Rodrigues, from Avanti Travel Insurance, adds: ‘Make a short list of the essentials you really need like your passport, medication, tickets, and important documents – rather than trying to prepare for every possible scenario,’ adds travel expert ‘Build a simple leaving routine and stick to it. Switch off appliances, check the windows, lock the door and do your final check once. Repeating these same steps every time you travel means you’re less likely to worry that you’ve forgotten something.’ More travel from Metro Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Arrow MORE: Mum accused of killing son, 2, ‘was planning Disney trip hours before his death’ Arrow MORE: Woman’s head bitten by stranger ‘like a zombie’ in random attack Arrow MORE: Avanti West Coast to enter public ownership – what it means for you The Getaway Expert Your exclusive seven-day guide to travelling with confidence from Metro's resident travel expert, Alice Murphy.