Back To News/PR Index
|

|
Switchfly Trend Report: Consumer Travel Predictions for 2020
|
5% of Americans Expect to Have Space Traveled in the Next Six Years
|

• Computers will book on default your favorite place to sit in planes, and your car and hotel preferences – 39%
• Travelers will use facial recognition software during check in – 37%
• Making travel plans will require only one-click of your smart device (e.g., smartphone, smart watch, smart glasses) – 37%
• Computers will know who you want to travel with – 20%

When it comes to age, the expectation of how people think they will book travel in 2020 varies across generations. Millennials (ages 18-34 years), for example, are the most likely to rely on a smartphone to book travel in the future. Conversely, Generation X (ages 35-44 years) will turn to a computer and Baby Boomers (ages 65+ years) intend to use a travel agent in 2020. Wearable technology like smart watches and smart glasses fall within a budding category that both Millennials and Generation X are at equal pace to expect using in the next five years to book travel.
|

|
“Technology is the through line in the evolution of travel. Our trend report demonstrates that consumers recognize that as fact, with younger generations like Millennials and Generation X—who are more immersed in tech-oriented lifestyles than their elders—naturally taking the lead in that outlook,” said Daniel Farrar, CEO, Switchfly. “Right now mobile is primarily being used for research and inspiration, but the ability to plan a trip while on the go is streamlining the entire travel experience. With the growth in mobile into booking over the next five years, brands will have a huge opportunity for customer re-engagement throughout the travel lifecycle.”

Outlook Good for Domestic & International Travel
When it comes to the ways that consumers think their travel experience will have improved by 2020, half (51%) of Americans think they will visit more domestic destinations while nearly 4 in 10 (38%) say they will visit international destinations. For global travelers, this is a huge leap when you consider that in the month of May 2014 the US Department of Commerce’s Office of Travel & Tourism Industries (OTTI) reports[1] 5.9 million Americans traveled internationally—equating to roughly only 2% of the nation’s current population[2] of 318 million.

The nation is not only thinking about traveling between countries, Switchfly discovered. A small but ambitious portion of the US (5%) admits to anticipating having traveled into space around low Earth Orbit by 2020. Another 3% of Americans expect to have visited either the international space station or Mars. Examining age groups and gender among this particular audience reveals Millennial men specifically lead more than any other generation in expecting to experience space travel within the next five years.

Direct Communication to Stand Test of Time
Two-thirds (66%) of Americans today also expect to call hotels or airlines directly in the year 2020, and 4 in 10 (41%) expect to talk to a real person when they do so. Conversely, 18% say they expect to talk to a robot that will be more helpful than a person. An additional 16% believe when they call a hotel or airline direct they will encounter personalized offerings such as talking to someone who sounds like your best friend, family member or someone you find attractive.

Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of Switchfly from September 2-4, 2014 among 2,017 adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Dan Jackson.

About Switchfly
Switchfly, Inc. is a global technology company that powers travel shopping and loyalty redemption solutions for some of the world’s most recognizable brands across airlines, hotels, financial services and ecommerce. World-class products delivered via a flexible software-as-a-service platform let clients easily launch and maintain a complete omnichannel travel and loyalty experience superior to any online travel agency. Tailored to their customer needs while maintaining a full brand match, Switchfly solutions drive customer engagement, enhance brand loyalty and increase profit. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in San Francisco, the Company generates more than $1.25 billion USD in revenue for its clients annually and facilitates the redemption of more than 35 billion reward points and miles annually. The company’s global client roster includes American Airlines, Emirates, JetBlue and LAN Airlines; IAG Avios, Lufthansa Miles & More and United MileagePlus; InterContinental Hotels Group and Starwood Hotels; Expedia, Orbitz, Priceline and Groupon. For more information, visit www.switchfly.com.

[1] Source: US Department of Commerce’s Office of Travel & Tourism Industries, “US Citizen Traffic to Overseas Region, Canada & Mexico 2014”: travel.trade.gov/view/m-2014-O-001/index.html

[2] Source: United States Census Bureau, “Population Clock,” September 19, 2014: www.census.gov/popclock

Contacts:
Grayling for Switchfly
Dan Jackson, 415-442-4032
or
Jessica Nelson, 415-442-4024