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Travel Advisors See Robust Outlook for Multigenerational Travel

Travel advisor Wendy Chambers (lower right) recently traveled to St. Croix on a multigenerational trip with her family. 

As the pandemic continues to drive multigenerational and extended family travel, some travel advisors see their 2022 and 2023 bookings surpassing pre-pandemic sales and anticipate an even longer-term boost for the niche.

“My outlook for multigenerational for the next four to five years is that it’s going to boom,” said Nicole Sicard of Paradise Haven Travels in Hampton, GA. Sicard’s business is concentrated heavily in multigenerational travel.

Kristi Emo, owner of Your Dream Escapes in Fresno, CA, also sees a sunny outlook – especially post-pandemic. “It’s going to be huge. I think advisors should be promoting that. Just say [to clients]: ‘Wouldn’t you like to picture your family here altogether?’”

It started last year Sicard said her requests for multigenerational travel resumed about a year ago, back when hopes still ran high that 2021 would mark the pandemic’s end.

“The biggest thing everybody wanted to do when we thought we’d get out of the pandemic in 2021 was to plan reunion-type travel. Not everybody was keen about traveling out of the country, but they definitely wanted family multigenerational type travel. Being away from their extended family and friends has caused people to really look at and value the time they have with their family,” Sicard said.

She sent one family group travel to the Dominican Republic early this summer and has a number of multigenerational groups booked to travel in November and December to the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Florida theme parks.

Even as Covid’s Delta variant has spread, her multigenerational clients continue to book for 2022 and 2023, to destinations all over the world.

For next year, Sicard has groups booked for travel in January, February, March, September, and October, plus about 20 potential bookings for summer that she’s working on quotes for. “And I’m still getting a lot of calls and requests,” she added. She anticipates that her multigenerational bookings for 2022 and 2023 will exceed her 2019 sales.

Sicard’s most promising recent sale was for a 10-day luxury experience to Dubai in 2022. “It’s parents, children, and grandchildren, and it’s still growing – they’ve opened it up to friends. That’s looking like a pretty good booking,” said Sicard, whose multigenerational groups typically range in size from 10 to 20 people, with a total spend of $25,000 to $30,000 per trip.

Trends in multigen Wendy Chambers of Victory Travel in Westport, CT, also has seen healthy interest in multigenerational and other extended family travel. Inquiries started coming in late last fall, and the demand has “just carried on into ’22,” said Chambers, who recently returned from her own 10-member multigenerational trip to St. Croix.

By early in 2021, Chambers had booked a number of multigenerational groups for the upcoming winter holidays, including to St. Lucia and to a Montana ranch. She’s also seeing growth in two-generation sibling trips. “I have 14 going to Maui for the oldest daughter’s 50 th birthday in January – all of the siblings and their children. I’m seeing more of that.”

One shift Chambers noted is an uptick in bucket list requests for multigenerational families. “People are deliberately working to leave a legacy,” she said. The family trips that Chambers is planning for next spring and summer include a Galapagos vacation, an African Safari and a beachfront villa vacation in Croatia. “People are saying, ‘We don’t know what’s going to happen. Let’s do this while we can.’”

That same sentiment may explain why price doesn’t seem to be much of a concern for her multigenerational clients. “I have yet to have any multigenerational family when I’ve presented them with a trip say, ‘too expensive.’ And it is expensive because you’ve got 15 people and usually one payer.”

Closer to home, bigger groups Emo of Your Dream Escapes said her multigenerational clients have been more restrained, especially when she started hearing from clients this spring. “They were more cautious about when they booked and what they booked. Nobody wanted to go far away. They didn’t want a long flight, and some are still nervous about being on planes for a long period of time.” Others were deterred by unexpectedly high prices.

Cruises have been of little or no interest to her multigenerational clients, both because of lingering Covid concerns and because cruise line vaccination requirements put cruises out of reach for families with children under 12.

Still, Emo said that her multigenerational travel outlook for next year is good, especially for spring break and summer travel.

“Hawaii is my number one specialty, and I have several larger families going next summer – 10, 12, 14 people in multiple rooms and condos. They hope everything will be better by then.”

Overall, beach destinations, including Mexico and Jamaica, have been especially popular with her multigenerational clients during the pandemic, Emo said. “Because of Covid, there has been a focus on going where they can be outside and have fun in the sun.”

One positive trend she’s seeing is bigger groups. “Some are adding more family members than they’ve traveled within the past,” said Emo, whose multigenerational bookings comprised about 40% of her pre-Covid volume.

Lodging preferences Because of Covid, multigenerational groups are requesting more villas, house rentals, and condos than is typical, advisors reported. “They want more of a secluded, controlled environment,” Sicard said, noting that Covid considerations are also driving requests for private transfers and private excursions.

Chambers sees other factors spurring requests for villas and adjacent condos. “They just want to be together. It’s not necessarily that they’re afraid of Covid,” That urge for simple togetherness is also why some groups are planning fewer activities than usual, she said. “They’re hanging out. They want to have a pool, be near the ocean. They want to just be together.”

Emo’s clients are also asking for rental houses or smaller condo complexes, but some have the unrealistic expectation that they’ll come with the usual resort amenities. That necessitates a longer conversation. “There’s a lot of back and forth about what type of experiences they want and what type of compromises they can make – where can they just be with their families and not with thousands of other people.”

In Canada, it’s wait and see Eric Cohen of Infinite Departures in Richmond Hill, Ontario, is also upbeat about the long-term prospects for multigenerational travel, despite the fact that his business is way off right now.

In normal times, multigenerational family travel constitutes at least 60% of Cohen’s business, most of it to the South Pacific. But several factors have conspired to drive down his sales, including Canada’s more conservative stance around travel during Covid, restrictions in Australia and New Zealand, and the unavailability of vaccines for children under 12.

“We do get inquiries for 2022, but it has not translated for us into bookings, partially because Australia and New Zealand are still basically locked up tight. We’re expecting things to change in December [when Qantas plans to resume operations], but it remains to be seen how quickly the kids can be vaccinated,” he said.

Cohen said that while he has resumed marketing, he’s waiting for Covid numbers to start decreasing and for destinations to reopen before he really starts to push.

As for the long-term outlook? “I see huge pent-up demand. I’m definitely still optimistic,” he said.

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2023 summer travel trends: why multi-generational travel is booming

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By Abby Long, Managing editor

The Drum Network article

This content is produced by The Drum Network, a paid-for membership club for CEOs and their agencies who want to share their expertise and grow their business.

July 26, 2023 | 4 min read

Listen to article 4 min

Based on fresh research, Abby Long of digital agency PMG looks at how audiences are prioritizing leisure trips and ‘multi-generational travel’.

How are consumers' travel plans evolving? / Luke Dean-Weymark via Unsplash

A notable trend among travelers is the growing desire to seek out once-in-a-lifetime experiences that go beyond traditional sightseeing and tourism. People are looking for immersive, authentic, and transformative experiences that allow them to engage in local communities and cultures.

As travelers seek to broaden their perspectives, the desire to create lasting memories is playing a significant role in shaping summer travel plans, especially among families with children.

More families than ever are traveling for leisure

Recently, we at PMG conducted a survey of 2,000 US adults , asking about their summer travel plans and how the state of the US economy is impacting their discretionary spending. Of those surveyed, 1552 (77.6%) say they plan to travel for leisure this summer, demonstrating their keen interest in exploring new destinations and enjoying vacation experiences.

Meanwhile, an incredible 87% of American families with at least one child are prioritizing leisure travel and actively planning a summer vacation with the family this year.

Significantly, roughly 90% of US adults aged 35 to 44 (men 93%, and women 86%) are planning to travel. Several factors likely underpin these results. One is that individuals in this age group often enjoy a more stable financial situation, established careers, and greater flexibility in personal commitments, contributing to their ability and desire to explore new destinations and book leisure activities.

Other include that people in this age group may be likely to regard summer leisure travel as respite from family and work responsibilities, and seeking to prioritize travel plans accordingly. According to YouGov, more than two-fifths of US consumers (43%) are looking to get away from home when traveling – a trend especially true among parents with at least one child. At least half of parents say that they are “just looking to get away” or “just need a vacation away from home” (52%), according to the research agency’s latest travel poll.

Multi-generational travel is booming

Multi-generational travel has become incredibly popular as families seek ways to spend more quality time together. Some are even booking big-ticket adventures. Safari company African Travel, for example, reports a 20% increase in safari bookings from last year, with 40% of trips arranged and paid for by grandparents to help make a bucket-list experience possible for their families. Among international destinations, YouGov reports that the United Kingdom tops the list as the most popular summer getaway spot among American families, followed by Italy, Barcelona, and Germany.

As parents finalize the family’s summer itinerary and look for last-minute ideas and new inspiration, searches on Pinterest for family-centric travel and experiences like summer vacation ideas (+9,546%), travel packing ideas (+266%), things to do in summer (+251%), and camping must-haves (+223%) have skyrocketed in the weeks leading up to the start of summer.

There’s no single, defining attitude among travelers this year, except a collective desire to get out and explore. Today, people are motivated to travel and visit different destinations and cultural capitals around the world – making up for lost time by enjoying newfound flexibility, especially in the international market, as the broader industry sheds pandemic-era restrictions and national borders reopen for more tourists.

For more insight into the latest 2023 summer travel trends, check out PMG’s latest report .

Content by The Drum Network member:

PMG is a global independent marketing services and technology company that seeks to inspire people and brands that anything is possible. Driven by shared success,...

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2023 US Family Travel Survey Results

Written by Family Travel Association

The 2023 Family Travel Association annual family travel survey highlights post-pandemic trends, positive attitudes and opportunities for growth.

Today, the Family Travel Association released findings from its 2023 U.S. Family Travel Survey on family travel trends. Produced in partnership with the NYU School of Professional Studies, Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality and Edinburgh Napier University, the survey polled over 3,300 parents and grandparents about their travel plans, behaviors and attitudes, and summarizes a variety of travel trends in the industry.

The results show that the family-travel market will continue the robust growth it has enjoyed since the end of the pandemic—81% of parents said they are likely to travel with their children in the next year, and many families are planning to increase (or at minimum, maintain) their level of travel spending.  Despite these strong spending forecasts, affordability is said to be a challenge to family travel by 59% of parent respondents.

One trend that remains strong: interest in travel advisors for trip planning – 38% of parents have used a travel advisor to book at least one family trip in the past three years and 71% of parents indicate that they are willing to use a travel advisor in the coming years, which is an increase over 2022.

Large family groups are a big contributor to the market growth, with over 50% of parents saying they are planning to travel with grandparents and children. The top choice for “multi-generational” travel (grandparents, parents, and children) continues to be beach vacations. Whereas “skip-generational” travel (children and grandparents, without the parents present) lean towards museums and cultural attractions.

According to Peter Bopp, Director of Research for the FTA, families are increasingly aware of the positive impacts of travel. “This year we probed parents on their children’s recovery from the pandemic and what role family travel plays in helping that recovery—88% of parents reported that family travel is helpful to their children in overcoming some of the lingering impacts of the pandemic. In addition, 84% of parents reported that family travel helps make their children more adaptable and open to new experiences, 62% say that it gives them a more positive outlook on life, and 61% say it helps them with their social skills.”

Lynn Minnaert, Professor and Head of Subject, Tourism and Languages, Edinburgh Napier University and co-author of the survey, also notes: “Our survey shows that parents plan to maintain or increase their spending on family travel in the coming year. However, despite this strong forecast, we see families are starting to express concerns about affordability and the rising cost of travel, and that they are starting to change their travel behaviors. For example, 50% of our respondents say they will avoid hotels and airlines that charge extra fees, 49% say they will pay closer attention to cancellation and refund policies, and 36% say they will choose more affordable accommodations than they did in the past.”

In addition, each year, the U.S. Family Travel Survey asks respondents to rate the travel industry on how well it serves the needs of traveling families. This year, they gave the industry at B+ (better than last year) and noted several areas of friction they would like to see addressed:

• The challenge and added cost of being seated together on flights.
• The scarcity of family rooms or connected rooms in hotels.
• The high cost of family travel, and the desire for lower-cost options and discounts.
• The need to improve the quality and level of service across the industry (with regular reference to the labor shortage across the sector).
• The dislike of hidden fees and charges that make pricing lack transparency.

“Being a parent of two young kids, it’s empowering to see that family travel has positive impacts on the social-emotional development of children, while also helping to offset many negative lingering effects of the pandemic,” said Anna Abelson, Adjunct Instructor at the NYU SPS Tisch Center of Hospitality. “Parents deal with many anxieties in children and young people, and family travel is a valuable parenting tool for tackling these and other issues. For example, the survey revealed that family travel makes children less isolated (58%), encourages them to be more adventurous with food (48%), and makes them more comfortable around strangers (44%). It’s hard to overestimate the role of family travel.”

The 2023 US Family Travel Survey represents responses from more than 3,000 parents and grandparents in the U.S. and was conducted in the Summer of 2023 by the Family Travel Association (FTA) and the NYU School of Professional Studies Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, in partnership with Edinburgh Napier University, and with support from Telecharge, The Shubert Organization, Trafalgar Tours/The Travel Corporation Family of Brands, and Club Med (prize partner). This is the eighth year for the annual survey, and this year’s sample included a larger percentage of respondents in higher income brackets with more advanced educational backgrounds than in prior editions.

A summary of the survey highlights includes:

• International family travel is making a strong comeback post-pandemic.
• Beach vacations (54%), visiting family and friends (49%) and visiting museums and cultural attractions (41%) are the three most common family travel types.
• The most common booking window (33%) for booking a family trip is two or three months before departure .
• Summer remains the most popular travel season, followed by spring break.
• When asked in which type of accommodations they planned to stay in the coming year, hotels were the most-selected answer (84%). Resorts come in second at 50%, and vacation rentals third at 47%.
• Domestically, the most popular states for family travel are California, Florida, Hawaii and New York .
• 71% of respondents indicate that they are willing to use a travel advisor for their family travel needs in the next two years, which is an increase over 2022 (52%). These findings indicate that the position of travel advisors in the family travel space is strong.
• 80% of respondents agree that travel has helped their children see the world from a broader perspective, 67% agree that their children have become more interested in other cultures because of their travel experiences, and 62% that travel has helped their children to be more confident.
• 88% of parents feel that family travel is helpful to their children in overcoming some of the lingering impacts of the pandemic.
• 50% of parents say they will avoid hotels and airlines that charge extra fees .
• Over half of the grandparent respondents (54%) say that they plan and organize their multi-generational travel experiences.
• Over three quarters of the grandparent respondents (79%) say that they plan and organize their skip-generational travel experiences.
• Hotels are the most common lodging option (53%) for multi-generational travel, followed by vacation rentals (43%) and resorts (31%).
• 76% of respondents plan to travel internationally with their children in the next two years. Europe is the most popular continent for family vacations (1. Italy; 2. United Kingdom; 3. France), Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean also remain popular.

For more information and to access a copy of the survey, click and download here or contact the Family Travel Association at [email protected] .

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Multigenerational Travel Statistics Shows Growth

Multigenerational travel , fueled by the demographics and psychographics of today’s baby boomers and societal trends, is a major growth market. Family members are traveling together to destinations throughout the country and around the globe.

Consider these statistics from MMGY Global’s Portrait of American Travelers study:

• 40% of all active leisure travelers have taken at least one multigenerational trip over the last year.
•  25% of all leisure travelers are grandparents and 37% traveled with their grandchildren.
• Grandparents travel almost 25% more than the average leisure traveler, taking four or more trips yearly.
• 22% of grandparents traveled with their grandchildren alone.

Nancy Schretter

These figures portray a market size of substantial proportions. More than 20.8 million travelers in the United States alone traveled on a multigenerational trip of three or more generations according to the Preferred Hotel Group. Those numbers will continue to climb, as 77 million Americans are expected to turn 65 years of age over the next 18 years.

In today’s fast-paced world, travel is increasingly seen as the best way for extended family members to bond. Families are living farther apart geographically than any time in history, so a multigenerational trip can often be the only option for families to gather in one place. In addition, researchers say the “togethering” trend reflecting an increased commitment to spending time with loved ones has been an important factor.

Today’s grandparents are more active, living longer and want to share memories – rather than things – with their children and grandchildren. In addition, many grandparents are financially able to travel and are willing to underwrite some or all of the vacation costs, with 67% saying that children are never too old to be treated to a family vacation.

Many tour companies are benefiting from this trend. Todd Smith, director of AdventureSmith Explorations, says multigenerational bookings have grown at a rate of 35% per year over the past three years. Norwegian Cruise Line reports that multigenerational groups comprise approximately 15-20% of guests on many of their cruises.

 So how can leisure travel group organizers harness this trend? 

Here are a few tips:

1) Know your customers’ needs.

Take the time to understand the specific needs of the multigenerational travel market and get an accurate profile of the interests, abilities, preferences and dynamics of those going on the trip.

2) Work with family travel specialists.

Organizers who don’t want to handle their own intricate trip details can work with companies that focus on the family and multigenerational travel market. Austin-Lehman Adventures and Wildland Adventures, established leaders in family travel tours, are experiencing significant, steady growth in multigenerational trip bookings. Other companies specializing in family travel include Thomson Family Adventures, Adventures by Disney and Tauck Bridges.

3) Choose the right destinations and great guides.

Dan Austin, director of Austin-Lehman Adventures, says, “Picking the perfect destination, led by perfect guides” is particularly important for multigenerational travel. Austin-Lehman maintains at least a 6-1 guest-to-guide ratio with guides who can relate to “both the young and the young at heart.”

4) Create itineraries offering opportunities for all ages.

The best multigenerational itineraries offer something for everyone. Monika Sundem of Adventure Life notes that multigenerational travelers require options, “so while younger ones in the family are off doing a zipline, less agile members are free to go on a short guided rainforest hike.”

5) Offer customized private itineraries.

Kurt Kutay, president of Wildland Adventures, says that while some of their family adventures work well for multigenerational travelers, many groups request customized private itineraries since most are large enough to meet the minimum size requirements for favorable group size tier pricing.

Nancy Schretter is managing editor of the Family Travel Network (www.familytravelnetwork.com) and an industry consultant in family and multigenerational travel.

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9 Ways to Bring Every Generation but Leave the Family Drama at Home

Travel’s big rebound has many extended clans planning long-delayed trips. Here are some tips on how to make sure grandparents, parents and grandchildren all have a great time.

By Julie Weed

Three generations packed in a van, navigating winding roads and family dramas: It sounds like a scene from Season 2 of “The White Lotus.” But the show’s fictional Di Grasso clan isn’t the only extended family hitting the road together as Covid retreats. Real-life parents, grandparents and grandchildren are packing their bags for long-delayed multigenerational trips.

Audrey Fine, a consultant in Seattle with children in their 20s, couldn’t have been happier to revive her clan’s tradition of traveling together to places like Hawaii, Cuba and Spain after a pandemic pause. Late last year, one octogenarian grandparent, eight parents, and 14 grandchildren and a few of their partners converged in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, from eight U.S. cities. They spent time hiking, playing family card games and catching up in a gathering that Ms. Fine said she had been looking forward to all year.

Bookings for three-generation travel shot up beginning last year, said Franziska Wirth, the director of sales and partnerships at Insight Guides , which connects travelers with local travel advisers. “In 2021 we had a lot of inquiries but not that many bookings,” she said. Now, she said, “the over-65 crowd is coming back, and they are bringing their families.”

Multigenerational trips are approaching pre-pandemic levels, according to AARP’s Travel Trends studies , which track why, where and when those over 50 are planning to travel. And while some families are meeting up at lower-priced locales like beaches, others are booking big adventures to make up for lost time. African Travel Inc., a company that arranges safaris, says bookings are up 20 percent over last year, and at least 40 percent of its trips are arranged and paid for by grandparents. Sherwin Banda, the company’s president, says grandparents are excited to celebrate milestone events like anniversaries or make a bucket list experience possible for their families.

Those planning multigenerational trips expect to spend an average of $6,500 on travel this year, “which is close to pre-pandemic spending,” said Patty David, vice president for consumer insights for AARP. “They’ve saved up their money, and they’re just pretty excited to travel again.”

While quarantine, testing and vaccine requirements have mostly been lifted, Covid and the flu are still circulating, so planning can still feel fraught. Heidi Hellring, a retired lawyer in Maplewood, N.J., said there was “a lot of discussion” when it came to precautions for her annual family trip to North Carolina last summer. “What do we do, how do we do it and how do we ensure it’s safe? It was difficult and very stressful.”

In the summer of 2020, only five of the more than 30 family members made it to the 12-bedroom beach house they had rented in the Outer Banks. Ms. Hellring said she and her husband, Nate, “drove 10 straight hours and brought our own sheets and blankets” as a precaution against Covid.

In 2022, the group was back in force, renting two houses for 36 family members ages 1 to 89, Ms. Hellring said. The annual get-togethers have always been “a big deal” she said, because they let young cousins growing up in far-flung cities get to know one another.

As multigenerational travel roars back, so does a tricky topic: money — who is paying for flights, lodging, meals and activities, and how luxurious those aspects will be.

It’s important to understand the amount that family members can and want to pay for a group vacation, said Arleta Cosby, the chief executive of Cosby Travel Consultants, a travel agency in Virginia. “If you just present a plan, some will opt out due to cost,” she said, and might even be too embarrassed to disclose their discomfort, so there’s little chance of addressing it for the next trip. The most important thing, her clients tell her, is to “be inclusive,” she said, so she suggests booking less-fancy places that everyone can afford.

There can be some behind-the-scenes machinations. Ms. Fine said her in-laws began the travel tradition by inviting the extended family on an all-expenses-paid vacation. Over the years, Ms. Fine’s generation began paying the airfare for themselves, their children and now their children’s partners. And these days, there’s more discussion about where everyone wants to go, rather than relying on an invitation from the older generation, she said.

Thinking about getting the whole extended family together to make up for lost time? Here are nine tips:

Start planning at least six months in advance

Coordinating school and work vacations for multiple branches of a family and creating an inclusive itinerary should start about half a year before the trip, said Ms. Wirth of Insight Guides. A professional travel agent can make suggestions, track details and manage communications, she said.

You don’t have to book, or fly, together

Groups of 10 or more may find discounted airfares, but those often come with significant change restrictions, said Ellen Regenstreif, a travel adviser who plans multigenerational trips for ProTravel International , in Beverly Hills, Calif. It’s usually easier for each family branch to make its own reservations, she said. As for the sticky question of who sits where, Ms. Regenstreif counsels grandparents who want to fly business class that it’s OK if the whole clan isn’t with them at the front of the plane.

Schedule activities all can join

Riding in a van with a guide and a driver for sightseeing may be easier than taking a walking tour on cobblestone streets. Elders may enjoy family time poolside or watching kids take surfing lessons if they can’t join in. “If grandma sleeps late, plan energetic activities in the morning and then come back and collect her,” Ms. Regenstreif said.

Don’t try to see too much

Scheduling one day of leisure for every three days of activity can give elders a chance to recharge and give young kids some downtime “just to play in the hotel room,” Ms. Wirth said. She also suggests spending more time at fewer places rather than aiming to see every city and site because “six-hour car rides usually aren’t fun for anyone.”

Free time matters

“ You don’t all need to be doing the same things at all times,” said Ms. Fine, who has gone on more than 20 vacations with her extended family. She has found that “a mix lets people spend time together but also do what’s important to them.” Young children may get cranky in the afternoon and need a nap. So may some adults. Teens may want to shop rather than tour another museum. Some families segment the day with a group activity in the morning, free time in the afternoon and then a group dinner.

Cooking’s cheaper, but dining out is special

Cooking together can save on dining costs and avoid the hassle of making reservations and arranging group transportation, but staying in every night might make the experience less of a vacation, Ms. Regenstreif said. “Experiencing the food culture and interacting with people is part of the experience,” when traveling, she said. A hybrid approach of some cooking and some dining out usually works, she said. Also consider varying your dinner companions, Ms. Fine said: “You don’t all have to eat together every night.” The younger generation may want to venture out on their own, or grandparents may want time alone with the grandchildren.

Discuss sharing costs and remember to say thank you

If one branch of the family, or grandparents, are picking up the tab, Ms. Regenstreif suggests that each part of the group pay for dinner one night, buy snacks on a tour day or find another way to say thank you. When costs are being shared more widely, the family should discuss how finances will be handled in advance, she said, “and do it in whatever way is comfortable for the group,” whether that is taking turns making grocery runs or keeping a more detailed spreadsheet of who’s been paying for what.

Be mindful of health concerns

For minor illnesses, be sure to pack basic medical supplies like a thermometer, a pulse oximeter, disposable masks, Covid self-tests and over-the-counter symptom relievers like cough medicine, said Rebecca Acosta, a nurse in Manhattan whose Traveler’s Medical Service helps people prepare for trips. If any family members come down with Covid or another contagious bug, the advice is the same as at home, Ms. Acosta said: Isolate the sick people if possible, treat their symptoms, and ask them to wear masks in shared spaces. If they are having trouble breathing or experiencing other serious symptoms, take them to an emergency room, and if they have a significant pre-existing condition, check in with their home physicians, Ms. Acosta said. To keep the rest of the family healthy, open the windows to increase fresh air and move activities outside if possible. You’re still on vacation, so “try to set things up so you can avoid risk but keep enjoying yourselves,” Ms. Acosta said.

Make space for everyone

Each family has its own needs when it comes to lodging. A common kitchen or hangout area may be a high priority for teenage cousins, while families with young children may want separate spaces so they don’t have to worry about making too much early-morning noise. There’s a price range for every lodging category, and it’s important to weigh the trade-offs, Ms. Regenstreif said: “When you go for a lower price, you may be giving up on location, amenities, size, or other important factors.”

When choosing a destination, think about the aspects of the family that need the most attention, Ms. Regenstreif said. Accessibility issues may be important. Alvaro Silberstein, a co-founder of Wheel the World , which specializes in accessible travel, advises those with medical or mobility needs to keep medications handy (not in their checked luggage), reserve airport wheelchairs in advance, and make sure lodging offers elevators or ramps and showers with grab bars.

And don’t forget that some family members, for example those who identify as L.G.B.T.Q. or those in an interracial relationship, may not feel comfortable in certain destinations. “The goal is to pick a place everyone can be themselves,” Ms. Regenstreif said. “Making a trip beautiful is to respond to each person’s needs but also create a dynamic that works for everyone.”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2023 .

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The Alaska Highway:  On an epic road trip, a family plots a course from Alaska to the Lower 48, passing through some of Canada’s most spectacular scenery .

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Japan:  A new high-speed train stop unlocks Kaga, a destination for hot springs, nourishing food and traditional crafts , as an easy-to-reach getaway from Tokyo.

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The who, what, why and where of multigenerational travel.

August 19, 2014 by Travel Maestro 1 Comment

Multigenerational travel is growing – as quickly as a toddler can make a mess, as fast as a supermom can organize a carpool, as rapidly as a grandpa can impart his quiet wisdom. Traveling with family is a rich and rewarding experience, so naturally more “multi-gen” families are taking vacations together.

Multigenerational travel is typically defined as taking a trip with three or more generations, but grandparents traveling with grandkids count as well. Covington Travel has seen an increase in extended families traveling together over the last couple years and the trend is supported by industry-wide statistics: 40% of travelers went on a multi-gen trip in the last 12 months. Are you one of them?

What’s Driving Multigenerational Travel?

So why are more families traveling together these days? Today’s world demands a fast pace of life to squeeze it all in. Often both parents are in the work force. Kids are active in sports, clubs and extra-curriculars, and teens have after-school jobs and busy social calendars. Family time is at a premium . At the same time, baby boomers are healthier and wealthier than previous generations and they value travel and family.

Multigenerational travel is largely driven by grandparents who enjoy an active lifestyle, have some disposable income, and want to share experiences – not material goods – with their kids and grandkids. They want to build memories and introduce their grandchildren to the world on a global scale. They also want to provide their grown children (parents of the grandchildren) with a break from the hectic pace of their daily routines.

While grandparents often pay for multi-gen trips, the reverse is true, too. There are many prosperous boomers who invite their parents to travel with them on family trips. A heavy majority (77%) of multigenerational trips are planned around a milestone event – celebrating significant birthdays or anniversaries, retirements and destination weddings.

What Do Multi-gen Travelers Want From the Experience?

As mentioned, today’s family group wants to spend time together, so they are less interested in checking kids into a kids club to keep them occupied while the adults go about their vacation. Instead, they are looking for experiential activities that integrate all members of the family. Adventures by Disney includes activities that engage all ages by learning about local history, seeing native performance art, or tasting regional specialty foods.

Multigenerational travel can be complex, so families are often looking for turnkey services that are easy, yet have something for everyone. Pre-packaged tours that specialize in family travel, such as Tauck Bridges and Globus Monograms take the burden of managing transportation, accommodations and itinerary planning off of the head of the family.

Value is important as well, particularly for the family member that is footing the bill. Meals and excursions can add up quickly for a large group – or even a couple hungry teenagers – so having a defined meal plan, or certain tours and activities included helps keep the budget under control. Cruises   and all-inclusive resorts offer high value for multigenerational groups.

Many families like to include an element of social responsibility to their vacations. They may arrange to volunteer in an orphanage or school for several days and then spend the balance of their trip at their leisure.

Where Are Multigenerational Travelers Going?

In the U.S., Orlando , with its Disney and Universal parks, is the “granddaddy” of family-friendly travel destinations, but other cities like San Diego and Chicago rank high with multi-gens as well. Beach vacations to North Carolina’s Outer Banks or Florida’s Gulf Coast are always popular choices, and national parks like Glacier National Park and Yellowstone offer activities for many interest.

With multigenerational travel increasing, the Caribbean and Mexico are paying attention and specifically designing family-friendly resorts and packages. There are many outstanding all-inclusives to choose from. Cruise lovers know that cruising is a high-value vacation, so that’s naturally become a favorite for multigenerational travel, too.

Europe also draws many families to its history, art and culture. Villa rental in Italy is a favorite, as is river cruising in France.

When a larger budget is available, Africa, Galapagos and Antarctica   are top choices for a nature and wildlife focus. For active adventures, Australia   and New Zealand are multi-gen favorites.

There are so many great destinations for multigenerational travel, whatever your price point. Orchestrating a trip for multiple ages and interests requires good research and planning to make sure everyone is comfortable and has fun. Covington Travel has advisors who specialize in group travel and particular destinations, so when you are ready to plan multigenerational travel for your family, contact our experts for help arranging a trip they’ll never forget!

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More families are bringing grandma and grandpa on vacation. Is multigenerational travel a good idea?

Far more than previous generations, current parents — largely millennials but also some Gen X- and Z-ers creeping in there too — are taking multigenerational vacations , complete with kids and grandparents along for the ride . On the surface, it looks like a win-win, with parents (hopefully) getting some vacation child care out of Grandma, while grandparents supposedly soak up more quality time with grandkids. But how helpful is it to have such an unwieldy travel group — and is everyone just overwhelmed? Here’s what travelers of any generation should know about planning a big family vacation — and pulling it off with fewer risks, more rewards and everyone’s mental health intact.

The multigenerational travel trend

For plenty of families, like Dr. Sherry Katz-Bearnot’s, multigenerational travel had been a tradition for decades. “Even when our kids were little, we traveled with my parents,” Katz-Bearnot, a psychiatrist, mother of three and grandmother of two tells Yahoo Life of her vacations in the 1980s and ’90s. “We went to Colonial Williamsburg with the kids and my parents, and they loved it.” Thirtysomething years later, she’s recently returned from a successful trip to Europe with her grown kids and her grandchildren. And these days, more families than ever are hopping on the bandwagon.

Jared Benoff, owner of the travel agency Vacationeeze , says his business has seen a steady uptick in multigenerational travel in recent years. And while these trips used to be anchored to a milestone — say, a 60th birthday or a 50th wedding anniversary — they’re no longer for special occasions only, Benoff tells Yahoo Life. “Especially since COVID, we're seeing even more ‘just because’ trips,” complete with kids and parents and grandparents alike, he adds. “More people are realizing you don't need a reason to take an incredible trip together as a big family, and there's no better way to experience a place than together.”

The most popular multi-gen destinations? “Easy” bucket-list trips like Hawaii (a long haul to another world without the hassle of a passport) and backroads adventures with different levels of activity available. “Grandma and grandpa can do a walk with the little ones, and the parents can go out and do an arduous hike,” says Benoff. “Or they can decide to all do something together.”

Travel pro Ivan Saprov of the travel tech company Voyagu   adds a third theme to these top multi-gen trip picks: “We have observed a notable trend among our clients where grandparents and grandchildren are increasingly traveling together for cultural and ancestry trips , particularly when they have family connections,” he tells Yahoo Life. Like Benoff, Saprov has seen a rise in multi-gen bookings, and is confident that the trend will continue into 2024.

The benefits of multigenerational travel

For Washington, D.C., mom Laura Hinson, multigenerational vacations carry the promise of built-in child care. A year ago, she went on vacation to Australia with her 10-month-old daughter, her husband, his mother, his brother and sister-in-law and their children, plus an aunt and uncle and cousins.

“There were 17 of us total for three weeks,” Hinson tells Yahoo Life, noting that the critical mass of helpful adults was the best part. “There were just hands everywhere, for any kids. Wherever you went, there was a grandparent or aunt or uncle taking care of a child, giving the parents a break.”

Hinson was surprised how much she enjoyed the default communal living aspect in one giant Airbnb. “It’s the ideal way I imagine long-term living with extended family would go,” she says. “The older generation tended to stay put more. They would start the cooking, which allowed us to explore with our kids, and it was great to come together for a huge meal at the end of the day.”

Plenty of parents, of course, may be hesitant to combine generations — couldn’t that be a recipe for disaster? Clinical psychologist Melinda Blitzer reminds millennial parents that “even if you didn’t have the best relationship with your parents growing up, there can be some healing in your relationship by observing your parents with your children [and] being loving towards them." Blitzer adds, "There’s research about this actually, that grandparents tend to have a more positive relationship with their grandkids than their own children, because their feelings of responsibility and the tensions are diluted.” That said, this does not apply for individuals and families with a history of abuse or trauma.

The potential pitfalls

Despite the joys of free child care and cross-generational bonding, a family vacation with so many people is bound to have its problems. Blitzer says there's a "certain kind of regression that happens" when some people spend time with their family of origin, particularly for adult children in close quarters with their parents. She explains, “Old ways of being that are no longer adaptive might surface. It can make negotiating tension or conflict or advocating for your needs a little more complicated.”

Blitzer worked with a young mother who planned a trip to Italy with her husband, their 2-year-old and her own parents. She was completely overwhelmed with anxiety before the trip, plagued with worries about how her child would behave on the plane and whether her parents would help. Those worries proved to be unfounded, and instead the mother was surprised to find herself feeling envious when her parents did indeed help out — and that her toddler kept gravitating toward grandpa instead of her.

“Some jealousies surfaced in her,” Blitzer notes, “and she was trying to manage feelings of resentment about that. Just observing new dynamics can be surprising at times, or just remind you of old ways you might have felt aggravated with your parents.”

But remember: You don’t have to do this. It doesn’t matter if it truly is your parents’ 50th anniversary wish; if simply planning the trip is causing you anxiety, or putting pressures on your partnership, you can skip the trip entirely. Plan a vacation with a smaller group, or just stay home this round.

“I have a patient who had planned to go on vacation with their husband, child and parents,” Blitzer shares. “And the millennials in this case were in conflict about going on this vacation and how to negotiate space. So they decided not to go with the parents at all, which sometimes might be the better option, if the conflict feels too overwhelming. There are options.”

How to make a multigenerational vacation work

Multi-gen travel can benefit all involved, and the intrepid travelers and professionals who spoke to Yahoo Life had helpful tips for setting your Gen-A -to-Boomer trip up for success. The through lines of everyone’s experiences were: Set realistic expectations ahead of time, slow down, build in alone time, advocate for your needs and keep communicating — and maybe try to keep a sense of humor.

Set realistic expectations, and do it ahead of time

“Setting expectations in advance of how much time everybody expects people are going to be welded together is a really good idea,” Katz-Bearnot says. “My son and daughter-in-law were very good about telling us, ‘Wednesday night we want to go out to dinner on our own.’ So we took the kids out to a theater evening … which was fantastic.”

She also urges all three generations — mostly the two adult ones, but it can help to involve the kids in planning, too — to discuss all those expectations well ahead of time. “Don’t wait until you’re on the plane!” Katz-Bearnot laughs. “Have some conversations that might be uncomfortable beforehand. Everyone can express what they’d like to get out of the trip. And acknowledge that space is something that’s important to give people.”

Blitzer agrees, and adds that “it’s important for the middle-gen couple (the parents of the younger children) to have honest conversations between themselves about what they’re willing to tolerate. Then, after that’s in place, negotiate with the grandparents. Otherwise it could get sticky; one partner might feel disrespected if they’re not made a priority [or] if one partner sets expectations with their parents before consulting their partner.”

Don’t overextend. Do build in alone time.

For grandparents many years out from their own little-kid parenting phase, returning to constant contact with small and antsy humans may come as a bit of a shock to the system. Katz-Bearnot advises them to mentally prepare and remind themselves what kid days are like.

“Children have to be refueled and need down time,” she says. “Grown-ups have to be prepared — and flexible. They have to realize that, for a kid, what’s the most fun at that museum in Paris might just be the escalators. You could see the Eiffel Tower from those escalators! Kids can put a damper on speed or cultural experience, and that has to be OK. If you don’t want that, you have to tell your own kids that you want an afternoon to go off by yourself. And the biggest, most important thing is not to be in a rush.”

And know when to just laugh

Travel in general, explains Katz-Bearnot, “requires flexibility, openness, a sense of humor and a willingness to have adventures and to look upon things that are complete f***-ups as adventures.”

That holds true whether you’re traveling solo, with a partner or with 16 of your closest family members on the multigenerational trip of a lifetime. For all of these scenarios, Katz-Bearnot’s best piece of advice — and that of many seasoned travelers — is to shrug off what doesn’t really matter.

“[When it comes to] things that cause consternation,” she says, “you just have to think, what a great story this is going to make. ”

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What is Multigenerational Travel Like?

With summer on the horizon, now is the time to start planning your multigenerational trips.

Have you ever gone on a multigenerational trip with your entire family? Family vacations have come back in a big way; for both domestic and international trips, people go out and about. Borders all around the world are opening up, and families are planning and booking trips. With summer on the horizon, now is the time to start  planning  your multigenerational trips. We at AESU have three different multigenerational trips planned: our nine days in captivating Croatia, seven days in the Azores, and seven days of Alpine New Year’s celebration, so read on to learn all about multigenerational travel!

Plan Your Vacation Destination

The first step above all else is to plan where you and your family would like to travel to. There are plenty of countries that are widely regarded as great spots for families, so do your research while also taking into account each of your family members. We at AESU recommend Croatia, Portugal, and Austria for multigenerational travel. Our Croatia trip spans Zagreb, the capital city of  Croatia , where you can enjoy touring cathedrals, eating excellent food, and enjoying entertainment – all tailored to you and your entire family. We’ll also explore Plitvice Lakes National Park and Dubrovnik! Our other multigenerational trip spans across the Azores in Portugal. If you’re looking to enjoy nature with your siblings, parents, or other family members, then this trip is for you. This trip spans Ponta Delgada and Sao Miguel Island in the Azores. We also recommend checking out our multigenerational trip to Innsbruck,  Austria , for New Years. What better way to ring in the new year than with your close family members in a stunning country like Austria?

Remember to Schedule and Plan in Advance

While being on holiday with your family is fun, nothing is more difficult than getting parts of your family involved in the scheduling and planning process. Coordinating with work schedules, school holidays, or other dates can quickly become a chaotic experience. We highly recommend planning a multigenerational trip at least six to twelve months in advance, especially if more family members are planning on going.

To learn more about multigenerational travel and our different trips, give us a call today!

Explore the World with AESU!

Are you ready to plan the adventure of a lifetime? AESU offers unique, thrilling travel programs for college students and young professionals at affordable rates. Each trip is action-packed and informal—designed just for people your own age. We are also able to design custom tours just for your group.

Experience an exhilarating adventure! A few 2024 dates are still available at  www.aesu.com . Check out our most popular trips: the  Euro Focus  and  Great Escape  tours! If you have any questions or want help booking your next adventure, please contact AESU by calling 800-638-7640, or fill out the contact form found on our website. Follow AESU on  Facebook ,  X (formerly known as Twitter) ,  Instagram ,  LinkedIn , and  Pinterest .

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Categories: AESU World Travel | Tags: multigenerational , multigenerational travel , and Traveling This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 10th, 2024 at 11:46 am . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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Air Travel Consumer Report: March 2024 Numbers

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today released its Air Travel Consumer Report (ATCR) on airline operational data compiled for the month of March 2024 for on-time performance, mishandled baggage, mishandled wheelchairs and scooters, and 1st quarter oversales. The ATCR is designed to assist consumers with information on the quality of services provided by airlines. 

For March 2024, 0.9% of flights were cancelled, lower than the 1.3% cancellation rate for March 2023 and the 2.0% cancellation rate for pre-pandemic March 2019.  

DOT expects that airlines will operate flights as scheduled and that when they do not, airlines will provide consumers the services promised when a flight is cancelled or delayed because of an airline issue. After a two-year DOT push to improve the passenger experience, the 10 largest airlines now guarantee meals and free rebooking on the same airline and nine guarantee hotel accommodations. Consumer-friendly information regarding airline commitments to their customers is available on the Department’s Airline Customer Service Dashboard at FlightRights.Gov . DOT also pushed airlines to provide fee-free family seating and rolled out a new family seating dashboard that highlights the airlines that guarantee fee-free family seating, and those of the 10 largest that do not, making it easier for parents to avoid paying junk fees to sit with their children when they fly.

DOT recently announced two final rules that require airlines to provide automatic cash refunds to passengers when owed and protect consumers from costly surprise airline fees . These rules will significantly expand consumer protections in air travel, provide passengers an easier pathway to refunds when owed, and save consumers more than half a billion dollars every year in hidden and surprise junk fees. Provisions of the final rule on airline refunds were fortified through the FAA reauthorization bill that President Biden signed into law on May 16, 2024.

In addition, DOT is improving transportation for individuals with disabilities. In July 2023, DOT finalized a rule which requires airlines to make lavatories on new, single-aisle aircraft more accessible. Then, in February 2024, DOT issued a proposal to address other barriers that Americans who use a wheelchair encounter when it comes to air travel by, among other things, proposing to mandate enhanced training for airline employees and contractors who physically assist passenger with disabilities and handle passengers’ wheelchairs.

Further, when necessary, DOT takes enforcement action against airlines and ticket agents that fail to comply with the Department’s aviation consumer protection requirements. In 2023, DOT issued the largest fines in the history of the consumer protection office. This includes a $140 million penalty against Southwest Airlines for failing passengers during the 2022 holiday meltdown. That penalty, which was in addition to over $600 million DOT already ensured was refunded by Southwest to passengers, requires Southwest to establish a $90 million compensation system for passengers affected by significant delays and cancellations beginning April 30, 2024.  Additionally, DOT has helped return nearly $4 billion in refunds to travelers since the pandemic began.

In April, DOT announced the launch of the bipartisan Airline Passenger Protection Partnership with 18 state attorneys general to investigate airlines and ticket agents and hold them accountable when they violate aviation consumer protection laws. The partnership significantly expands the Department’s oversight capacity by establishing a new fast-track system prioritizing misconduct cases from state attorneys general who uncover unfair or deceptive airline practices. Through the partnership, DOT will provide state attorneys general with access to the federal complaint database and help ensure that airlines cooperate with state investigations.

Flight Operations

The 623,409 flights operated in March 2024 were 102.47% of the 608,387 flights operated in March 2023. Operated flights in March 2024 were up 2.47% year-over-year from the 608,387 flights operated in March 2023 and up 13.46% month-over-month from 549,439 flights operated in February 2024. 

In March 2024, the 10 marketing network carriers reported 628,786 scheduled domestic flights, 5,377 (0.9%) of which were cancelled. In February 2024, airlines scheduled 552,691 domestic flights, 3,252 (0.6%) of which were cancelled. In March 2023, airlines scheduled 616,234 domestic flights, 7,847 (1.3%) of which were cancelled.

March 2024 On-Time Arrival

In March 2024, reporting marketing carriers posted an on-time arrival rate of 78.7%, down from 83.7% in February 2024 and up from 75.4% in March 2023. The year-to-date on-time arrival rate for 2024 is 78.3%.

Highest Marketing Carrier On-Time Arrival Rates March 2024 (ATCR Table 1)

• Hawaiian Airlines – 87.2%
• Delta Air Lines Network – 84.8%
• United Airlines Network – 81.8% 

Lowest Marketing Carrier On-Time Arrival Rates March 2024 (ATCR Table 1)

• Frontier Airlines – 66.4%
• JetBlue Airways – 68.4%
• Spirit Airlines – 69.6%

For the first three months of 2024, the reporting marketing carriers posted an on-time arrival rate of 78.31% up from 76.89% for the same period in 2023.

March 2024 Flight Cancellations

In March 2024, reporting marketing carriers cancelled 0.9% of their scheduled domestic flights, higher than the rate of 0.6% in February 2024 and lower than the rate of 1.3% in March 2023. The year-to-date cancellation rate for 2024 is 1.7%.

Lowest Marketing Carrier Rates of Cancelled Flights March 2024 (ATCR Table 6)

• Delta Air Lines Network – 0.2%  
• Hawaiian Airlines – 0.6%   
• Allegiant Air – 0.6%    

  Highest Marketing Carrier Rates of Cancelled Flights March 2024 (ATCR Table 6)

• Frontier Airlines – 2.7%    
• Spirit Airlines – 1.7%    
• JetBlue Airways – 1.4%    

For the first three months of 2024, the reporting marketing carriers posted a cancellation rate of 1.7%, equal to 1.7% for the same period in 2023.

Complaints About Airline Service

The release of air travel service complaint data in the Air Travel Consumer Report (ATCR) has been delayed primarily because of the continued high volume of complaints against airlines and ticket agents received by the Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) and the time needed to review and process these consumer complaints. The Department is investing in modernizing its system for handling consumer complaints with the support of a Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) investment to improve the customer experience for the tens of thousands of consumers who use the system each year and enable OACP to more effectively engage in oversight of the airline industry. 

As DOT modernizes its system, given the continued high volume of air travel service complaints concerning airlines and ticket agents, DOT has revised how it processes consumer complaints received after June 1, 2023. From June 2023 until the date its system is modernized, DOT intends to revise the ATCR to display consumer submissions (complaints, inquiries, and opinions) as opposed to complaints for this period. The Department will continue to display civil rights complaints in the ATCR in a similar manner as before and anticipates publishing submission and civil rights complaint numbers for June 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023 in June 2024.

Tarmac Delays

In March 2024, airlines reported six tarmac delays of more than three hours on domestic flights, compared to 10 tarmac delays of more than three hours on domestic flights reported in February 2024. In March 2024, airlines reported one tarmac delay of more than four hours on an international flight, compared to two tarmac delays of more than four hours on international flights reported in February 2024. 

Airlines are required to have and adhere to assurances that they will not allow aircraft to remain on the tarmac for more than three hours for domestic flights and four hours for international flights without providing passengers the option to deplane, subject to exceptions related to safety, security, and Air Traffic Control related reasons. An exception also exists for departure delays if the airline begins to return the aircraft to a suitable disembarkation point to deplane passengers by those times.

The Department investigates extended tarmac delays.

Mishandled Baggage

In March 2024, reporting marketing carriers handled 43.1 million bags and posted a mishandled baggage rate of 0.52%, higher than the rate of 0.48% in February 2024, but lower than the rate of 0.58% in March 2023.

For the first quarter of 2024, the carriers posted a mishandled baggage rate of 0.58%, lower than the first quarter 2023 rate of 0.64%.

The Department began displaying the mishandled baggage data as a percentage (i.e., per 100 bags enplaned) in January 2022. This is consistent with the manner that the mishandled wheelchairs and scooters rate is calculated and displayed.     In the prior three calendar year reports (2019 to 2021), the Department calculated the mishandled baggage rate based on the number of mishandled bags per 1,000 checked bags. 

Mishandled Wheelchairs and Scooters

In March 2024, reporting marketing carriers reported checking 65,793 wheelchairs and scooters and mishandling 859 for a rate of 1.31% mishandled wheelchairs and scooters, higher than the rate of 1.30% mishandled in February 2024 and lower than the rate of 1.33% mishandled in March 2023.

For the first quarter of 2024, the carriers posted a mishandled wheelchair and scooter rate of 1.36%, lower than the rate of 1.40% in the first quarter of 2023.

To address many of the significant barriers and challenges experienced by passengers who use wheelchairs, the Department has proposed a rulemaking that, if adopted as proposed would make it an automatic violation of the Department’s Air Carrier Access Act regulations for airlines to mishandle a passenger’s wheelchair. This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking would also enhance training requirements for airline personnel who provide hands-on transfer assistance to passengers and handle wheelchairs. The proposal is available at https://www.regulations.gov , docket number DOT-OST-2022-0144.

Bumping/Oversales

Bumping/oversales data, unlike other air carrier data, are reported quarterly rather than monthly. For the first quarter of 2024, the 10 U.S. reporting marketing carriers posted an involuntary denied boarding, or bumping, rate of 0.27 per 10,000 passengers, lower than both the rate of 0.29 in the first quarter of 2023 and higher than the rate of 0.20 in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Incidents Involving Animals

As part of its IT modernization, DOT’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) is improving the options for covered carriers to submit their monthly and annual Reports on Incidents Involving Animals During Air Transport. While the new system is being developed, OACP is permitting covered carriers to delay submission of reports on incidents involving animals during air transport. Annual data on such incidents will be published when DOT receives carriers’ complete submissions of the 2023 data. 

In March 2024, carriers reported zero incidents involving the death, injury, or loss of an animal while traveling by air, down from the two reports filed in February 2024, and equal to the zero reports filed in March 2023.

Consumers may file air travel consumer or civil rights complaints online at   https://secure.dot.gov/air-travel-complaint , or they may mail a complaint to the Office of Aviation Consumer Protection, U.S. Department of Transportation, C-70, W96-432, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590.

The ATCR and other aviation consumer matters of interest to the public can be found at https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer .

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Use of generative AI for leisure travel planning in the U.S. and Canada 2024, by age

A March 2024 survey analyzed the share of leisure travelers in the United States and Canada who used generative artificial intelligence (AI) for trip inspiration or itinerary planning. As of that month, 59 percent of respondents under the age of 45 reported having recently used generative AI for such travel purposes. Comparatively, only 31 percent of those over the age of 45 stated they used AI for this purpose.

Share of leisure travelers who recently used generative artificial intelligence (AI) for travel inspiration and/or itinerary planning in the United States and Canada as of March 2024, by age

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Canada, United States

approx. 2,100

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