Older travelers embrace technology when traveling but remain cautious, study finds

SEATTLE — A new survey shows a large number of older adults are putting travel on their “to-do” list.

Many of them want to use technology to make their trips easier to take but they’re also afraid of someone taking advantage of them.

According to a new survey by AARP, more than 60% of adults 50 and older planned to travel in 2024.

“The good news is a lot of older people are traveling. Over 90% say they’re using some kind of technology and have some comfort level with it but we also found some real gaps,” said Tom Kamber, Executive Director of Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) from AARP.

Kamber said some senior travelers are hesitant to use digital travel tools.

“They’re concerned about using it safely particularly as they go from the planning stage to the booking stage to actually going on the trip,” Kamber said.

The survey found that 88% of older travelers are aware of mobile boarding passes but only 30% use it instead of a paper printout. About half of those surveyed are also interested in using AI to personalize their trips.

“We found when it came to booking, older people were not using those price comparison sites like Kayak or Expedia or Tripadvisor,” said Kamber.

Expert tips for using technology that can save people time and money:

• Download apps ahead of your trip.
• Remember to use tracking tools like AirTags for your luggage.
• Build an itinerary that everyone on your trip can see and share.

“Make sure somebody back home knows in real time where you’re going to be and what your contact information is. Technology really allows us to have that communications element that keeps us connected and safe throughout the trip,” said Kamber.