More Americans are choosing to arrive at the airport early. It’s not just to make sure they have enough time to catch a flight: A new survey found that many want to enjoy the airport itself.
In a survey conducted Sept. 21 by luggage shipping and delivery service Send My Bag, more than 57% of 1,000 American respondents said they had arrived with time to spare specifically to eat, shop, visit a lounge or enjoy other amenities. The reasons were relatively evenly spread.
Send My Bag founder and CEO Adam Ewart believes the trend stems from airlines continuing to raise fees, prompting travelers to look for other ways to improve or streamline their experience.
This summer brought widespread increases in checked-bag fees for U.S. carriers. Last month, United Airlines began offering a lower tier for its first-class cabin with more restrictions.
“You’re worried about additional charges and so on, and that’s obviously very stressful,” Ewart said. “It seems like the airports are just trying to swing it right back around the other way.”
Airports have added amenities in recent years, including an outdoor skating rink at Denver International Airport during winter and a microcinema at Portland International Airport. Airports also continue to renovate and evolve.
Ewart also points to the growth of credit cards that offer lounge access. Lounges are no longer limited to the most frequent flyers and status holders, and more travelers have access than ever. Some are increasingly crowded, often with long lines.
Others are becoming more luxurious. Delta One Lounges, for example, are limited to passengers ticketed in Delta One. One estimate projects the global airport lounge market will grow from $5 billion in 2025 to $20 billion by 2034.
Choosing More Than Just an Airline
The survey found that almost 60% of travelers chose to fly out of a particular airport based on the airport itself, rather than the airline or flight route.
Ewart is one of them. For a recent flight from the United Kingdom, he chose Bristol Airport over London Heathrow because he wouldn’t have to take liquids out of his carry-on bag for the security CT scanner. “So I’m going to go to that airport and not have to fop around, you know, pulling everything out of my bag at the security line,” he said.
Easier navigation was the leading reason travelers were intentional about their airport choice, cited by 28.3%. Another 26.1% pointed to more comfortable spaces, while more than a quarter cited shorter security and wait times.
“(Airports are) no longer just trying to grab a quick something on the move; it’s just designed, I think, to hold you there,” Ewart said. The longer travelers stay, he added, the more likely they are to browse boutiques or duty-free shops and spend money.
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