2024 Travel Trends - A Surge in Senior Travel

With spring travel ramping up, spring-breakers might not be the only faces you see at the airport. A recent study by the AARP found that 65% of seniors plan to travel this year.

In 2023, seniors were the largest demographic group at the airport, surpassing Gen Z and millenials for the first time since before the pandemic. Recent trends prove that seniors are not only venturing out but are also becoming a driving force in the travel economy.

To accommodate the senior traveler market, the hospitality and travel industries must be able to provide accessible services and tailored experiences that cater to their unique needs. Strategies to do so include:

Enhancing Accessibility: 14% of older passengers have a disability - a majority of whom have mobility impairments. Providing accessible facilities across airport touchpoints ensures compliance with regulations and also improves the passenger experience, resulting in higher customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Fostering Loyalty: A study by Deloitte found that seniors are the most loyal demographic, showing the highest dedication to their preferred airline and only participating in less than 2 loyalty programs. As the demographic with the highest spending power (approximately $35 trillion in 2020), earning their favor is critical.

Catering to Skip-Gen Travel Groups: An emerging 2024 travel trend is skip-gen travel - aka grandparents and their grandchildren traveling together. Creating experiences that appeal to and accommodate both groups’ needs will double returns and returning customers.

Based on this year’s travel trends, we created Travelsist Silver. This service allows seniors 65 and older to use Travelsist for free at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and DeKalb-Peachtree Airport. Our Travelsistants are trained at providing accessible and empathetic service and can help seniors with disabilities, mobility impairments, heavy luggage and airport wayfinding to name a few. Find out more here.

‍