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Survey Finds 2 in 3 Americans Planning to Travel This Holiday Season
The holiday season is nearly here, and many Americans are making their travel plans. It’s no secret traveling around the holidays can be stressful, whether you’re flying, driving, staying with family, or renting a home.
With looming concerns of flight delays and cancellations, we surveyed 1,000 Americans about their travel plans and preparations. Our report, focused on holiday travel statistics, found nearly 2 in 3 (62%) are planning to travel this holiday season.
Holiday Travel Worries Across America
More than 1 in 3 (35%) Americans are worried about airport delays and cancellations during the 2023 holiday travel season. So far, 23% have already experienced a flight delay or cancellation this year. Despite the worries and experience with delays and cancellations, 84% of Americans are not planning to buy travel insurance.
When it comes to flying, 56% of travelers are checking a bag and 42% of them are worried their checked bag will get lost. Nearly 1 in 5 (18%) are taking precautions and putting a tracking device in their bag. Lost bags are not the only concern, as 31% of travelers are worried about COVID-19 and 38% plan to wear a mask when traveling.
The average American has spent $892 on flights so far in 2023. In fact, travelers are budgeting an average of $2,005 for this holiday season. Nearly half (45%) will use points or rewards to help save on travel and the average person has saved $515 in 2023 by using those rewards.
Some travelers are willing to pay more for convenience and peace of mind as 3 in 4 will reach deeper into their pockets to book a direct flight and 62% are willing to pay more to sit with family members while flying.
U.S. Airports with the Most Delays and Cancellations
Travelers have long understood that holiday travel can be a bit of a gamble, with delays and cancellations often causing headaches. It’s known some airports are prone to delays and cancellations more than others. We analyzed U.S Department of Transportation data and compiled a list of the busiest U.S. airports, the airports with the most delays and those with the most cancellations. To start, here are the top 5 busiest airports in the country:
1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
2. Dallas/Fort Worth International
3. Denver International
4. Chicago O’Hare International
5. Los Angeles International
When it comes to the airports with the most delayed departures, those topping the list may surprise you. According to the U.S Department of Transportation, a flight is considered delayed if it departed 15 minutes or more after the scheduled departure time. The top 5 U.S. airports with the most delayed flights are as follows:
1. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International
2. McCarran International (Las Vegas, NV)
3. Orlando International & Denver International
4. Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall
5. Chicago Midway International
The top 5 U.S. airports with the most canceled flights include:
1. Dallas Love Field
2. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International
3. Newark Liberty International (Newark, NJ)
4. LaGuardia (New York, NY)
5. Dallas/Fort Worth International
How Are Americans Planning To Travel This Holiday Season?
Our survey found 62% of Americans are planning to travel with 42% planning to travel by plane, and 54% going by car. In fact, there may be even more people hitting the road during the holidays as 2 in 3 say they’re more likely to drive if gas prices drop during the holiday season. Nearly half (44%) of people will be traveling for Thanksgiving and 84% are traveling in December.
As for where people are headed for the holidays, 38% are going to a nearby state, 25% are headed across the country, 25% are staying in the same state, and 12% are traveling internationally. Many Americans (58%) are opting to stay with family, 21% will stay at a hotel or resort, 10% with friends, 9% in rental homes, and 2% in other places.
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Methodology
In October 2023, we conducted a survey of 1,005 people from across the U.S. about their holiday travel plans. Among respondents, 50% identified as male and 48% as female with an average age of 41.
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Fair Use
When using this data and research, please attribute by linking to this study and citing IPX1031.
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