It appears the “travel bubble” actually has not burst, with United Airlines reporting that it has seen a massive 30% surge in holiday season bookings to Christmas Markets in Europe compared to 2019. Let the good times roll for United and Delta…
United Airlines Reports Nearly 30% Surge In Bookings To European Christmas Market Destinations
United has shared that bookings to European destinations are up nearly 30% compared to 2019 and up almost 10% versus 2023, signaling a strong economy and that more Americans are opting to spend their money on experiences instead of objects.
United’s most popular European destinations during the holiday period include:
- Brussels (BRU)
- Frankfurt (FRA)
- London (LHR)
- Munich (MUC)
- Paris (CDG)
But among its 60 nonstop flights each day from its U.S. hubs, United is also seeing strong demand for cities like Amsterdam, Berlin, Edinburgh, Geneva, and Zurich, all of which host Christmas markets.
In addition, with its joint-venture partnership with the Lufthansa Group, United is selling more tickets to nearly 100 additional European holiday market destinations like Cologne, Helsinki, Salzburg, and Strasbourg, all of which can be reached with a one-stop flight from United’s U.S. hubs.
There’s also a partnership with Austrian Airlines to Vienna and of course, many partners serve Dresden, which is considered to have the first true Christmas market, the Striezelmarkt, originating in 1434.
The Strong Get Stronger
This is such an interesting season in the US aviation industry. While budget carriers like Spirit Airlines file for bankruptcy and the low-cost model is now severely questionable, carriers like Delta Air Lines and United seem to be thriving.
not only are people paying more for domestic travel on a full-service carrier, but the lucrative credit card details nad vast international route network have created a domino effect of success.
A demand of nearly 30% for winter travel is huge (assuming the yields have not been knocked down simply to fill airplanes) and bodes well for United’s continued international expansion.
CONCLUSION
According to a recent Deloitte survey, consumer spending on holiday experiences is expected to rise 16% this year, while spending on physical gifts remains flat. United is seeing this firsthand in a surge of holiday bookings to Europe. It appears that everything is lining up for United (and Delta) right now as other US carriers sturggle.
And, dear friends, I hope to be one of those travelers to a European Christmas Market, though I’ve got far more important things on my mind right now…stay tuned for that in December. It’s time for another duck trip and goose dinner, if you know what I mean…
> Read More: Nuremberg Christmas Market
European Christmas Markets. The greatest scam ever perpetuated on the rest of the world. All nearly identical stalls lined with Chinese made nic nacs while you freeze your butt off and drink cheap liquor with a bunch of drunk idiots. I have to hand it to the marketing arm promoting these trips though – It’s hilarious how they have created an aura of this being somehow so authentic and culturally immersive when they are all pretty identical and awful. It would be like American carnival people marketing to Europeans that summer carnivals in the U.S. are a truly authentic and charming American experience.
The most enjoyable Christmases are trudging though the snows to a small Austrian town for a genuine Christmas Market , visiting the school for a recorder concert by the kids , eating cherry strudel with hot drinks . Everyone smiling and saying “Gruss Gott” . Periodically a stray snowball hitting one on the back of the head , and everyone laughing . Singing with the townspeople outside the church in Oberndorf-bei-Salzberg during the snows after dark . Best Chrostmas memories of my life .
Ignore the cheap Chinese products and instead enjoy the food, drinks, and scenery. Some of my most cherished memories involve grabbing a currywurst and glühwein and talking to friends and family next to huge neo-Gothic buildings in the snow. While many are similar the cities aren’t, so its a great opportunity to just walk and enjoy life instead of having a massive itinerary. Completely different pace than other European trips, extremely relaxing and stress-free. Can’t wait to do it again in two weeks.
@Lost … Exactly . Christmas meals in Austria or Germany are full tummies worth remembering . Christmas concerts in Austria or Germany are musical experiences worth remembering .
Travel is not airports and meal services , nor rushing on and off airplanes .
Travel is immersion into the different cultures and places , and discovering new experiences , which will last a lifetime in memory .
How true, “Travel is immersion into the different cultures and places , and discovering new experiences , which will last a lifetime in memory .” Those are the benefits of travel to different cultures, whether to India or Thailand.
You can do that for less cost during January or February. And you certainly don’t need fake Christmas markets as the backdrop.
Without many snows , it doesn’t feel like a Christmas Market .
Look for the thick blizzards , and then it will feel like a Christmas Market . Especially in Munchen .
I don’t really care for the markets but love Europe in November until mid December. The cities are full of lights and decorations, stores have beautiful decorations, there are lots of food that are only typical of Christmas season that I love, etc… It is a great time to visit Europe.
@Santastico … Exactly so .
@Alert: Every holiday season, if I can’t make to Europe, I have my favorite things shipped home here in the US. I usually buy many food items at Fortnum and Mason in London and have my favorite local bakeries in Sicily and Puglia in Italy to ship me pastries and panettone that are absolutely delicious.
@Santastico … My all time Christmas favourite is Austrian or German sour cherry strudel , with hot extra-strong gluewein . My all time Christmas favourite hot chocolate is in Chartres , France , and I add Meyers dark rum .
It doesn’t really snow in November or December anymore, so I’m mostly of the mindset that these are basically just county fairs with alcohol, but that doesn’t matter… I don’t really get the appeal of a week in Europe spent going to the Louve, the Coliseum, the Eiffel Tower, and Big Ben, but people have been obsessed with that over the last few years. If Christmas markets have suddenly landed in the American psyche, then the demand makes sense. People love doing what everyone else is doing.
I very much think the European Christmas markets are a tourist trap. I am (was) a Bavarian trained glass blower. I had offers to appear blowing glass as a show pony attraction while vendors sold junk from china. Switched careers and never looked back. In my German heritage town we started a genuine Christkindlmart that is a juried craft market of local artists and foods. 2 days of nice Christmas stuff and great food.
How about security @ these markets ? I seem to recall a couple of past terrorist attacks. They seem to make for an easy target. I guess they’re not more risky than the usual venues for attacks ( rail stations, concerts, sporting events ) ..Just the brutal reality of today’s geo-polical condition…. But, besides that, Happy Holidays to one and All ( if you celebrate anything at all this time of year ! )….. lol
Everything about European Christmas Markets is safer than being in America. From the time you get on the plane you are safer than your commute to work. The train ride at your destination and your visit to the Christmas Market is orders of magnitude safer than running errands by your house.
Travelling And holidays are not simple anymore; Traffic congestion, crowds, prices. Unless you like that kind of thing.