There isn’t a person in Australia that hasn’t used Skyscanner to find the cheapest fares for a long haul flight.
When you live Down Under, any savings on exorbitant airfares is welcome and I often use it as a jumping board to book tickets.
In a recent report commissioned by the global travel marketplace, Gen Z Aussies are travelling more than ever, with over half (53 per cent) prioritising travel over other life experiences.
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The report, which surveyed 1,000 young Australians aged between 18 and 25, sheds light on the travel behaviours and factors considered by young adults who are planning to embark on their first independent trip without their parents or guardians.
The findings revealed a strong inclination among the group to embark on their first trip as an exciting key coming-of-age milestone, with more than half having already done so before the age of 21, and at least 1 in 3 who plan to do so in the future.
Skyscanner Travel Expert Jarrod Kris said the first trip overseas represents a significant milestone for young adults worldwide.
“For many young people embarking on their first trip overseas may occur after receiving their first paycheck, while for others, it could be a celebratory excursion following graduation,” Mr Kris said.
“In launching this report, we aim to better understand the tools needed and available to support their travel preferences, while also providing them with valuable resources to plan effectively ahead of their trips and capitalise on great travel deals.
“Planning can sometimes be overwhelming for a traveller taking charge for the first time, which is why we aim to assist through our First Trip resource hub, directing them towards our full suite of tools and guides to make the experience seamless. Search features on Skyscanner like setting up ‘Price Alerts’ or using the ‘Cheapest Month’ tool, can help save an average of 31 per cent on flights for Aussies.”
From the research it would seem young women are leading the travelling pack.
A whopping 62 per cent of young Aussie females have travelled or are planning to travel overseas (compared to 56 per cent of males) and of this cohort, 35 per cent did so before the age of 18.
Only 27 per cent of males surveyed that are 18 and under have travelled without a parent or guardian.
During a time when social media often influences the decisions of many Gen Z Aussies, Skyscanner found that only 20 per cent would be swayed by social media, movies and influencers.
So where are they getting their advice? From parents and guardians — with almost 60 per cent of these Gen Z Aussies going to their caregivers when it comes to travel.
When thinking about their future, 58 per cent of the group are likely to use their travel to work interstate or overseas for a period.
In fact, almost 40 per cent of young Aussies are using their first trip abroad to discover the places they’d like to live or work in the future.
Gen Z Aussies are a budget conscious bunch, with almost 70 per cent of young Aussies funding their first trip overseas using their own personal savings.
Only 26 per cent of young Aussies are travelling using money from their parents.
To book your next flight, visit Skyscanner’s website here.
