Americans are showing greater concern about weather risks when making travel plans, according to a new survey from Aon Affinity.
The study reveals that 56% of Americans report being less likely to book travel to certain destinations due to potential weather events like hurricanes or blizzards—up from 49% in 2019.
The survey, conducted by The Harris Poll in September 2024, found that among the 80% of Americans who traveled in the past year, 60% experienced some type of travel disruption. Weather-related delays accounted for 44% of these disruptions, a significant increase from 28% in 2019.
Demographics play a key role in weather-related travel concerns. The survey shows that women (61%) are more likely than men (52%) to avoid certain destinations due to potential weather issues. Age is also a factor, with baby boomers (ages 60-78) showing the highest level of weather-related travel concerns at 66%, compared to 47% of Gen Z (ages 18-27) and 48% of millennials (ages 28-43).
"We're seeing a shift in how travelers approach leisure travel as climate risks grow," said Beth Godlin, president of Aon Affinity Travel Practice. "Our data shows that more than half of Americans, especially women and baby boomers, consider the potential for severe weather more critically than their counterparts when choosing their destinations and determining how and when to safeguard their plans."
The survey also revealed that more than one-quarter (26%) of travelers who purchased travel insurance did so specifically due to concerns about bad weather or natural disasters impacting their trips.
The findings are based on responses from 2,076 U.S. adults aged 18 and older, with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.
Editor’s Note: This article was generated by AI, based on a press release distributed by Aon Affinity. It was fact-checked and reviewed by a TravelAge West editor.
