TRAVEL has split into two systems: one for people who know how to navigate a dysfunctional industry, and one for everyone else. What was once a straightforward purchase – go to an airline’s website, buy a ticket, go on your trip – is now an exercise in optimisation and risk hedging. 

According to Bloomberg Intelligence, which has surveyed the 2026 vacation plans of 1,000 adults, 66% expect to spend more on vacations in 2026 than they did the year prior.