Travel booking windows increasing as consumers look ahead

Travel booking windows are lengthening as the industry recovers, according to a report from Skyscanner.

While the volume of bookings for travel three months or more before departure lags 2019 levels slightly, there is a 24% rise in bookings in EMEA between a month and 59 days in advance and a 38% increase in bookings between two months and 89 days ahead of travel.

By contrast, the booking window of less than a week has declined and the number of bookings in the one week to 29 day segment is also increasing.

Booking patterns for the Americas is showing a similar pattern, with bookings between a month and 59 days up 31%, while the volume of bookings made between two months and 89 days has increased 44%.

The 90-day and more booking segment is also increasing, with the Skyscanner data showing a 15% improvement for the first three months of 2022.

The booking window of between seven and 29 days accounted for 29% of the volume as of the 12th week of 2022, while the volume of bookings made less than seven days before departure declined 46%.

Unsurprisingly, booking horizons across Asia Pacific lag other regions, with the volume of bookings between seven and 29 days before departure at 37% currently compared to 27% in 2019.

The volume of bookings made less than a week ahead of departure also remains high at 25% compared to 2019’s figure of 15%.

Research from Expedia Group Media Solutions also reveals the trend toward longer planning and booking horizons.

The company says in the first quarter of 2022, the global share of searches in the 180 days and over window increased 190% while the zero to 21-day search window was down 15% over the previous quarter.

The lengthening booking horizons have also been noted by major hotel brands, with Hilton saying during a recent earnings call that it has gone from the majority being booked within seven days during COVID's worst days to about 50% within seven days in April.