For many of us, packing a bag, figuring out our 3.4 ounces of liquids, and getting to the airport are enough of a stressor that we can’t even imagine showing up without having a booked ticket in hand already. But that’s what what 56 percent of Americans do: they come to the airport without a confirmed destination!
According to Skyscanner, a metasearch engine and travel booking tool, there’s a real trend of spontaneous travel. It may make some of us clutch our (sustainably sourced, eco-friendly) pearls, but there are people who enjoy breezing into the airport and checking out the boards (or looking on their phones) to pick where to fly.
A lot of that can be chalked up to the pandemic and so-called revenge travel. After all, 75 percent of Skyscanner’s survey respondents said the Covid-19 pandemic made them want to be more spontaneous – and what’s more off the cuff than being willing to board a plane for a destination chosen at whim?
Additionally, 46 percent said that travel was an area of their lives in which they wanted to be more spontaneous. That kind of makes sense: travel to any destination is fulfilling, even if it’s an underrated place, so spinning the dial randomly means you’ll still have a good time.
And finally, 62 percent of those surveyed said that a ‘desire to have more fun’ led them to be more spontaneous in general.
There’s definitely a financial benefit to choosing your flight at the airport last minute. You can shop for flights by cost rather than destination. And experts say that psychologically, selecting the trip at the airport itself provides a pretty heady rush – for one thing, you’re thrilled by your own spontaneity, and you’ve also sidestepped the preplanning decision making that can be laborious and dampen spirits.
So, hey, why not? Travel is all about adventure. Let’s all pack a bag (swimsuit, parka and a raincoat for all possible climates?) and show up at our closest airport with an open attitude and a blank passport page.