Travel plans are going wrong for most Americans

Vacation woes can cause huge stress while people are away from home, and it turns out that most Americans who traveled over the past 12 months had something or other go wrong.

A recent study by Talker Research, which was commissioned by AXA Partners, found that seven in 10 Americans who traveled in the past year ran into some sort of trouble, such as lost luggage, damaged personal items, or flight delays and cancelations.

Some 2,000 adults across the U.S. were polled, and flight delays proved to be the most common issue for flyers, with 46% of respondents revealing that they had faced flight disruptions.

Additionally, 28% lost a piece of luggage during travel, while 15% had reservations changed without notice and 11% had personal belongings damaged.

Four in 10 people said that travel issues completely derailed their trips. Among the reasons listed for such disruptions included hurricanes, lost luggage, car breakdowns, blizzards and even missing pilots.

In total, 77% said that travel is uncomfortably expensive today as the study also found that the average person spends $1,120 on their travel arrangements, which they typically make eight weeks in advance.

Some 52% of respondents said they give up on premium car rentals if they need to, while half give up on premium seating, 46% go without in-flight entertainment, and 45% without luggage fees.

“We can always hope that our trips are nice and smooth, but it’s hard to predict when the unpredictable might happen,” said Stephen Samataro, chief revenue officer at AXA Partners. “When the cost of these trips are seemingly always increasing, there’s a sense of urgency to make sure you’re getting every cent’s worth — but when the unexpected happens, it can have dire consequences beyond just what you’re paying.”

While less than half (42%) decided to get travel insurance, a vast majority (92%) said that the travel insurance they purchased was worth it. The survey showed 25% were compensated for lost luggage, 20% for damage to personal belongings and 21% for a personal injury.

Some 58% admitted they were concerned about an unexpected event or accident occurring while they were traveling, with 63% revealing that they would be left feeling frustrated if something were to happen.

“I believe having peace of mind goes hand-in-hand with travel,” Samataro continued. “People deserve to enjoy their travels without the added worry and stress of something going wrong.

“The survey shows that a majority of people are likely to have some disruption in their trip, and when that occurs, there’s nothing that can bring an immediate sense of relief like having your entire trip covered by insurance.”

The research included respondents who had traveled within the U.S. and internationally over the past 12 months. The study was conducted online between September 13 and September 19, 2024.

Has a dream vacation turned into a nightmare? Whether it’s a missed flight or lost luggage, we want to hear about your travel disasters. Let us know via life@newsweek.com, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.