More than 40 percent of participants in a travel survey said they would be willing to pay more to fly on a 100 percent vaccinated flight or to stay in a 100 percent vaccinated hotel.
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The findings were part of the 2021 Winter Travel Survey conducted by WalletHub.
With the coronavirus pandemic on the minds of potential travelers, the survey showed more than two out of every five people surveyed were up for paying extra for safety.
“We’ve seen cities have success with vaccine mandates, and applying the idea to travel — at least as a specialized service where certain flights or hotel rooms are reserved for the vaccinated — could prove to be a moneymaker for airlines and hotel chains,” WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez said.
The idea has been floated on social media, but to date, no airline or hotel chain has actually proposed the idea.
The willingness to pay more for safety measures was just one of the findings in the annual survey. Among the other revelations:
27 percent of Americans won’t travel this winter because of COVID fears.
16 percent won’t travel due to a need to save money.
15 percent won’t travel simply because they don’t feel like it.
“Yes, the winter travel season will be very busy, despite many people having good reasons for not going away,” Gonzalez said. “A quick getaway just isn’t as simple as it once was, thanks to the financial, physical, and psychological fallout from the pandemic.”
Gonzalez said there are ways to save money this winter for those concerned primarily about the cost.
“The best way to save on winter travel is to compare, compare, compare,” said Gonzalez. “Compare prices for hotels, airfare, and any other transportation, accommodations, or activities you have planned. Compare destinations to find the best value. And don’t forget to compare credit card offers too.”
Despite the concerns about safety and finances, Gonzalez expects winter 2021 to be an active one for the travel industry. The survey showed more than two-thirds of respondents plan to travel this winter.
“Yes, the winter travel season will be very busy, despite many people having good reasons for not going away,” she said.
