Americans Delay Summer Travel Plans as Budget Concerns and Deal-Hunting Take Priority

This summer, many Americans are holding off on booking travel in hopes of scoring better deals—a trend that’s worrying airlines and hotels.

Despite a drop in airfare prices, flight and hotel bookings are down or flat compared to last year. Economic uncertainty is pushing consumers to delay decisions, travel less, or stick to more affordable, local destinations.

Major travel companies like Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Marriott, and Booking Holdings have revised their forecasts for the year as demand falters. Airbnb noted shorter booking windows, with travelers making last-minute plans instead of committing early.

According to data from Flighthub, summer flight bookings are down 10% year-over-year, even though airfares have declined by about 7%. Long-haul destinations, like Sydney, Australia, are seeing even steeper price drops—up to 23%.

However, the unpredictability of demand is giving travel executives pause. “You can’t store an airline seat,” said Kayak CEO Steve Hafner. “If it’s not sold before takeoff, that revenue is lost.”

Hotel bookings are also trending downward, especially in major U.S. cities. Hyatt and Marriott both reported weakened short-term demand, with Hyatt noting that bookings slump about a month before travel dates and only rebound late. Marriott’s pricing power is also softening, with room rate growth expected to slow in 2025.

A weaker U.S. dollar is further discouraging international travel. Since January, the dollar has slipped about 10%, making overseas trips pricier for American tourists. Deloitte reports that while Americans initially planned to spend more this summer, by April, those expectations leveled off to match last year’s budgets.

Some travelers are scaling back entirely, opting for local trips. Others, like New Jersey-based Rachel Cabeza, are waiting for last-minute deals before planning anything international. “If we do go abroad, it’ll be spontaneous and only if flight prices drop,” she said.