With the winter holidays upon us – and more than 80% of Americans gearing up for annual Christmas celebrations – holiday travel is about to take off. Here are four quick insights from the CivicScience InsightStore™ about what to expect from this year’s crop of holiday travelers:

Nearly 1 in 3 Have Holiday Travel Plans

Holiday travel is alive and well this year. Ongoing CivicScience tracking after Thanksgiving and throughout December shows that 29% of U.S. adults have holiday travel plans, up slightly from this time last year (28%). 

New Year’s is also a reason to travel. Additional data show that New Year’s celebrators slightly outweigh Christmas celebrators among travelers: 67% of holiday travelers celebrate Christmas, while 72% celebrate New Year’s.

Join the Conversation: Are you traveling for the holidays this year?

Holiday Travelers Prioritize American Airlines 

Data from earlier in the season showed that around 3-in-10 holiday travelers would be taking to the skies. Certain airlines stand to benefit more than others. In a look at the four largest U.S. airlines, American Airlines leads, with 40% of holiday travelers who say they plan to travel with American. That’s followed by United (29%) and Southwest (28%), with Delta coming in last (22%).

GLP-1 Usage Is High Among Holiday Travelers

The rising usage of GLP-1 weight-loss medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy is expected to impact industries across the board, including the airline industry, where lighter passengers could mean financial benefits for commercial carriers. Data show that this year’s holiday travelers far over-index as GLP-1 medication users – 40% currently use or have previously used the medication, compared to just 14% of those not traveling this year.

Additional data show how GLP-1 usage varies among those who plan to fly on certain airlines in the next few months. For more in-depth consumer insights about the impact of GLP-1 on industries in 2024, check out the Ozempic and GLP-1 Consumer Tracker.

One in Two Turn to Ridesharing Apps 

After the airport, it’s likely many travelers will be using ridesharing apps such as Uber and Lyft to get to their final destination. Nearly 1-in-2 holiday travelers say that they use ridesharing services when out of town on personal trips, compared to less than 20% of those not traveling this month.

Want to see more in-depth consumer insights into the travel industry in 2024? Get in touch to learn how CivicScience solutions can help you stay ahead of the curve.

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