45% of Americans skipping summer holidays

Al Jazeera reported on July 8 that 45% of Americans are skipping summer vacations because of rising airfares and car-travel costs, adding to signs of a softer U.S. summer travel season. The report said households were canceling trips, shortening them or opting for staycations as transportation bills rose. Other recent surveys point in the same direction, though they differ on the size of the pullback. Bank of America said summer travel remains intact overall but is becoming more uneven across income groups. (aljazeera.com) ### Where does the 45% figure come from? Al Jazeera said on July 8 that 45% of Americans are skipping holidays this summer because of higher travel costs, particularly airfare and the cost of driving. The outlet described a pattern of households pulling back on discretionary trips as summer prices rise. Omnisend’s June 2026 survey, cited in separate coverage published July 8, found a similar result: 47% of Americans had scaled back summer travel plans because of rising costs. (aljazeera.com) That survey said only 17% were taking major trips involving flights or paid lodging this summer. ### Which costs are pushing travelers to stay home? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said on May 21 that prices for gasoline and air travel were each up more than 20% from April 2025 to April 2026. (aljazeera.com) That measure gives the clearest official backdrop for reports of households cutting trips. Omnisend’s June 2026 survey said 46% of Americans who were reducing travel budgets pointed to gas prices as the main concern, followed by groceries and everyday bills at 29% and hotels or vacation rentals at 24%. (briefglance.com) Al Jazeera separately said rising airfares and car-travel expenses were central to the slowdown. ### Are people canceling travel altogether or just changing the trip? Omnisend said many consumers were not abandoning travel completely but moving to cheaper options, including shorter trips, day trips and staycations. (bls.gov) Travel Agent Central, citing a separate survey published in June, reported that respondents expected staycations, “quietcations” and micro-breaks to be among the most common summer travel trends in 2026. (briefglance.com) Bank of America said in its 2026 Summer Travel Outlook that consumers were adjusting “at the margin” rather than exiting the market entirely. The bank said some respondents planned fewer trips or cut back on accommodations even as overall travel intentions held up. ### Who is pulling back the most? Bank of America said lower-income households were much more likely to have no travel plans, with nearly 40% reporting none. (travelagentcentral.com) The bank also said its card data showed travel-related spending by lower-income consumers was down year over year so far in 2026. Deloitte said in its 2026 summer travel survey that rising travel costs were sidelining some travelers while pushing others to spend more to get away. (institute.bankofamerica.com) That points to a split market rather than a uniform downturn. ### Does this mean summer travel demand is collapsing? J.P. Morgan said on June 16 that demand for summer travel was “largely holding firm” despite rising gas prices and airport disruptions, though it also said budget-conscious consumers were showing signs of hesitation. (institute.bankofamerica.com) Bank of America used similar language, calling the season resilient but uneven. The next checkpoints will come from July consumer-spending data, airline earnings and any fresh fare and fuel readings. (deloitte.com) Those releases should show whether households keep downgrading trips or whether late-summer demand stabilizes as carriers and travelers adjust to higher costs. (jpmorgan.com)