Higher Airfares and Luxury Travel Costs Are Reshaping US Travel Plans for 2026
New Internova data shows higher costs in premium air, luxury hotels, and expedition cruising are reshaping how travelers plan and prioritize trips in 2026.
Photo: Orva Studio / Unsplash
Rising prices across premium air travel, luxury hotels, and expedition cruising are changing how Americans approach travel in 2026, according to new research from Internova Travel Group. The findings point to a market where demand remains steady, but decisions are becoming more deliberate as travelers weigh cost, timing, and trip design more carefully.
The data comes from The Internova Index: North American Traveler Insights, based on analysis of millions of bookings and a survey of 4,000 travelers. While overall interest in travel is holding firm—27% of respondents expect to travel more in 2026, and just 6% expect to travel less—the way trips are planned is shifting. Travelers are taking fewer trips but putting more thought into each one, with a sharper focus on value and flexibility.
Price pressure is most visible at the top end of the market. The average long-haul business class ticket now runs about $4,500, up from $4,385 in 2023, while economy fares have edged slightly lower, widening the gap between standard and premium cabins. On the hotel side, North American luxury properties saw average daily rates rise 4.9%, compared with a 1.8% decline at premium hotels, further separating high-end accommodation from the middle of the market. Internationally, luxury rate growth has been even stronger, particularly across Europe.
Cruising shows a similar pattern. Expedition cruise prices have climbed more than 20% since 2023, far outpacing the roughly 5% increase for contemporary cruises. The growth reflects sustained demand for smaller ships and remote itineraries, but also places these experiences firmly in a higher-cost bracket than they occupied just a few years ago.
As a result, travelers are adjusting their behavior rather than stepping away. Shorter trips, selective upgrades, and greater emphasis on trip planning are becoming common, especially on longer-haul and international journeys where costs can add up quickly.
“Travelers are not stepping away from travel, but they are becoming far more intentional about where and how they spend,” said Henry Gilroy, the executive vice president of strategy at Internova Travel Group. “As prices rise, especially at the premium end of the market, we’re seeing travelers rely more heavily on expert guidance to help them prioritize value, flexibility, and meaningful experiences.”
For suppliers and destinations, the research suggests a market increasingly defined by polarization: strong demand at the value and premium ends, with growing pressure on mid-tier offerings squeezed by rising costs and changing expectations.
