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Delaying taking that dream vacation because you don’t have a co-pilot? United is encouraging freewheelers to take the plunge with hacks for traveling alone and a new mantra: “YOLO [You Only Live Once], Fly SOLO.”
Valentine’s Day was last week, and United is already looking forward to a new holiday: National Plan a Solo Vacation Day on March 1.
The airline says that Google searches for “solo travel” have soared by 223 percent over the last decade.
Who’s Flying Alone?
Solo trips are particularly popular among Millennial and Gen Z travelers, who are waiting longer than ever to pair up but aren’t willing to sacrifice globe-trotting while they’re waiting for love. On TikTok, 1.3 million videos have been tagged #solotravel, and millions of viewers have watched travel influencers, often young women, share the secrets of going it alone.
Photo: Robert Penaloza / Unsplash
United is seeing the change: last year, 5 percent more people boarded its flights alone than in 2023. Among those travelers, Zoomers were most likely to fly solo (70 percent), followed by Millennials (65 percent) and Boomers (57 percent).
Top Solo Destinations
The carrier has found that solo travelers are among its most adventurous. Top destinations for trips alone include Brazil, China, Korea, India, and Nigeria. As the most international of the major U.S. airlines, with flights to nearly 70 destinations overlooked by its rivals, United says it’s uniquely positioned to serve these intrepid travelers.
Photo: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil / Courtesy of Agustin Diaz Gargiulo on Unsplash
It also offers a range of features within its app—from tailored travel recommendations to wayfinding—to give travelers the confidence to set off alone.
Worried about navigating a new airport without help? United’s Terminal Guide can deliver customized day-of instructions for getting through certain airports, from the best entrances to how to find your gates. The feature is surely more helpful than partners or family members with maps and vague memories of passing through that airport a decade ago.
United Airlines App / Photo: Courtesy of United Airlines
United also knows you have your hands full as a solo traveler, keeping track of gates, departure times, etc. Its app is integrated with Live Activities on Apple devices, giving travelers access to their boarding pass, gate, seat number, and a countdown clock to departure on the lock screen of their iPhones and on the device’s Dynamic Island, all without opening the United app. Live Activities is also available on Apple Watches, allowing travelers to keep real-time travel information right at their wrists.
As a solo traveler, you don’t have to accommodate a partner’s preferences when picking a seat. You can register that seat preference with United, and if none of those seats are available at the time of booking, you can choose to be notified if your ideal seat is vacated so you can tweak your booking.
Seamless Connections
Missed connections and long waits at an airport can be grueling for any traveler, but especially one on their own. United’s ConnectionSaver can prevent those near-misses. It sends passengers with tight connections personalized text messages with clear directions to their next gates and estimated walking times. The tool also identifies flights that can be held for connecting passengers without significantly impacting other travelers.
Photo: United Airlines. Courtesy of Denver International Airport.
Many people dreaming of solo trips are daunted by the planning. United makes it easy, with an interactive destinations map that lets customers compare and shop for flights based on their originating city, budget, and even travel interests such as beaches, hiking, and national parks.
United’s digital in-flight magazine Hemispheres also has an AI-powered trip planning tool that offers recommendations for every destination United flies to, including ideas about unmissable attractions, comfortable hotels, and great restaurants.
Photo: Courtesy of United Airlines
“We know our customers want to make memories all over the world and our goal is to help them do this as easily as possible—whether they’re traveling with a companion or flying solo,” David Kinzelman, Chief Customer Officer for United, said.
“When you travel with United, you have access to more unique international destinations than any other U.S. airline and the self-service features in our app mean you can explore a new city with confidence knowing that no matter where you are in the world, United has your back.”
Solo Travel Tips from Experts
United says many of its employees are experienced solo travelers, used to jetting off around the world on their own, particularly to Japan, a staff fan favorite for trips alone. It recently quizzed these wandering employees about their top tips for flying solo and is passing them on:
- Safety First – Be aware of your surroundings, research the destination ahead of time and avoid areas that are unsafe and consider sharing your location with family and friends back home.
- Be open-minded – Read about the local history prior to your arrival and learn basic customs and greetings.
- Plan ahead but be flexible – Create a plan with what you want to see, eat and do at your destination, but always leave extra time in case you want to try something different.
- Soak it all in – Solo traveling is a great way to reflect on life and grow as a person.
- Download apps before your trip – Save on international data by researching and downloading any apps you need before you leave home. Don’t forget the United app!
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