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Vacation trips traditionally fall over a number of days. The days immediately before and after major holidays are known to be some of the busiest at airports, as people post vacation and out-of-office notices and return home for the holidays.
But the new remote and hybrid work scenarios that many workers find themselves in after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a change in the way people travel for vacations. With many professionals now able to work from anywhere, few need to be away simply because they are not in the same geographic area as their offices.
This newfound flexibility has affected everything from the average length of vacation trips to the days travelers get to the airport. And many travel experts and industry leaders expect these changes to continue as the new normal. TravelPerk has compiled a list of five ways flexible working has impacted holiday travel trends from sources including Deloitte, The Washington Post and The New York Times. Read on to find out how flexible working is changing the face of vacation travel.
An increase in “workcations”
Flexible working is pushing many Americans to take longer vacation trips. Workers can take longer vacation trips because they can work from other destinations instead of taking vacation days. A Deloitte investigation revealed that travelers add an average of six days to their trips thanks to the flexibility of remote working. This is part of a broader trend of travelers mixing work and leisure on longer trips due to the ability to work remotely – what some travel experts call “workcations” or “bleisure” trips. About 1 in 4 travelers signaled their intention to work during their longest holiday trip.
Longer vacation trips
Overall, working remotely means travelers are taking longer commutes. Teleworkers are content to transfer days to their leisure trips, especially for holidays, during which they will work during the day but relax with their friends and family on weekends or in the evening. This trend is evident in recent travel data.
The most popular date to travel for Thanksgiving in 2022 was the Friday before Thanksgiving (November 18) rather than the Wednesday before (November 23), according to travel search engine Skyscanner. According to Skyscanner, commute times have increased by an average of 26%, with many workers reporting increased satisfaction and relaxation due to their ability to spend more time on vacation.
Increase in demand for midday flights
Flexible working has also changed the times of day people travel. When work was primarily done in an office, workers had to schedule flights later at night to spend a full day in the office before traveling. According to the New York Times, however, American Airlines has found that more travelers are booking flights in the middle of the day. While travelers were once more interested in flights departing before 8 a.m. or 4 p.m., interest is shifting to midday flights as they can now work remotely from laptops, even in the air.
A change in peak travel days
In the past, airlines have traditionally reported that passengers book travel more frequently on certain days of the week than others. This is especially true during the holidays. But flexible working has changed that, as travelers now have the flexibility to start their trips earlier and end them later. Travelers have discovered several benefits to more flexible travel dates. Among these are the ability to get cheaper airfares and the flexibility to travel on days of the week that are traditionally less busy, making the travel experience less stressful.
Growth of coworking spaces in airports
As people travel more during the work week, the need for more workplaces at the airport has become apparent. Thus, a new equipment arrives in some airports: coworking spaces. A major player in the airport coworking space is the IWG company, which has nearly 50 workspaces in airports around the world. Some spots, such as Amsterdam Airport Coworking, even have meeting rooms. The company said it plans to add more than 1,000 locations in 2023.
Other business offerings that cater to remote working could be on the horizon, especially as demand for flexible working remains strong. In October 2022, LinkedIn reported that on its platform, 64% of job seekers applied for at least one remote job and remote ads still attracted the majority of applications. As remote work continues to reshape the world of work, workcations, leisure travel and extended vacation travel will continue to change how and when we travel as well.
